Lotus on the Trail

Rasta Road

2009-06-09T13:23:00.003-05:00

We call this trail the Rasta Road because of what we found toward the end of the road:

We take this drive frequently because the road leads to a secluded campground on the Flambeau River. There is a water pump at this campground. We have no water on our property so when we run out of what we hauled from the city, we take drive to this pump. The water is very cold and refreshing. It smells like it's loaded with minerals, but the taste is pure and clear.

The remains of logging in the area can be jarring. Yet, it is nice to see the area start the growing process again. It's also a good area to spot birds and other wildlife.

But, soon the road leads back into the thick of the woods. In just one week it seems like the trees popped into their leafy glory, causing the road to slim and the woods to darken. We actually saw a porcupine on the side of the road, but it was too quick and sneaky to get a picture. That was a first for me -- seeing a porcupine out in the wild and it seemed to waiting to say hello on the side of the road.

The river is just wonderful here. This is place where a lot of canoers stops for the night. We had the place to ourselves on the afternoon we wandered down to get the water.

It was one of those trips where everything seemed magical with an impossible array of green color everywhere.

Spring changes...

2009-05-22T10:45:00.001-05:00

Please join me here: Lotus Living Local

Emerald Ash Borer

2009-05-15T13:08:00.004-05:00

Back in February I saw these interesting markings on some logs partially buried in the snow. Now I know that these are the signs of the emerald ash borer infestation that has hit this state. Too bad that there is so much damage caused by these beetles. I'd much prefer to think of them as abstract art, if not for the imminent death of the ash trees.

Hot Potato

2009-05-11T10:46:00.001-05:00

spring color

2009-05-04T11:56:00.002-05:00

Ice out

2009-04-29T10:50:00.003-05:00

Egg drop

2009-04-18T11:32:00.003-05:00

These two little eggs dropped from the tree this week. I've read that wood ducks can lay a clutch with up to 26 eggs. The Big D reminded me that the momma duck will throw non-viable eggs from her nest. I hope there are plenty more thriving in the nest. Go here to see the momma.

It's fairly amazing to see ducks in the city, even a city known for it's lakes and rivers. We have a big old elm tree in the back yard that must be at least 90 years old. Plenty big to home a number of creatures including squirrels and ducks and even a sleeping raccoon.

We haven't been woken by the momma duck in at least a week. I hope that she hasn't left because she lost two of her eggs. Maybe she's just quiet because she's busy with the business of incubating eggs. It's a lot of work!

a good place

2009-04-08T10:06:00.003-05:00

I knew that I was a good place in my life when I realized that all my meetings are scheduled for Wilde Roast Cafe!

She's back!

2009-03-30T11:12:00.004-05:00

We woke at sunrise to the sounds of a duck apparently having an identity crisis. The noise was loud and right outside our bedroom window. It was so loud that eventually I had to get up and take a look. Expecting to see the duck on the ground, I was surprised to see it on the roof of our neighbor's house. I crept through the house to grab my camera so that I could capture this odd sight so early in the morning.

Yep, she's back for another season. Last year while we were away at our trailer, our other neighbor saw a bunch of little baby duckies fall from the huge backyard elm tree. She, the neighbor, watched as they came together and made their way to the river. Um, the river is several miles away! So these little ducklings with their mama had to cross several busy streets on their way to the Mississippi.

Looks like she back and scoping out another nesting spot in our tree.

She didn't quit with all her honking and yapping. And I was surprised she didn't wake the entire neighborhood. But then, most people have their windows closed as the temps still go down close to freezing at night. I am so happy that we decided to leave our bedroom window open last night. She's a great alarm clock, but I seriously hope she doesn't plan to make all this noise every morning.

After the sun rose, the duck moved to our rooftop. All the neighbors leaving for work took a few minutes to gaze at the loud, ducky assessment of the future home site.

She knew I was watching as I walked around the house to catch a few more shots. Pacing back and forth on the very tip of our roof, she seemed to be debating location, location, location.

The rivers are rising

2009-03-25T10:25:00.006-05:00

A sure sign of spring is the rise of the rivers. Along the border the St. Croix rises over the banks every spring. It's expected, but this year the river may rise higher than usual. In some years the water rises as high as the pavilion.

This last weekend the ice was still floating and there is rain and snow forecasted this entire week, so the water is just going to keep on rising.

Covering the walkways and the river road, and threatening the foundations of the bridge.

This is beautiful for me, but it is because I am a spectator, a visitor on my way over the border. I do not live on the banks of the river, my home and neighborhood is not in danger of being overtaken by the flood waters. Further north and west of me, the Red River is flooding at records levels. Sandbag operations are urgently trying to protect the homes, college and high schools kids are let out of school to help the community, volunteers from all over the state are rushing up to meet the rage of the river.

The river paddle-boats are still locked in the ice, yet nonetheless rising in their slips.

As the ice flowed down the river, it broke up against the cement column. It was an odd noise seeming to come out of nowhere. It took me a while to realize that the sound was created right in front of me. The Big D made some comment about jumping on the ice and floating down the river. This one was way too thin for such an adventure.

It was a beautiful day on the river last Saturday. Today, the news is full of the Red River flooding combined with blizzard like conditions. My prayers go out to those folks. I pray that they efforts are worthwhile and they can avoid the sort of disaster that hit the region over ten years ago.

For the BSG fans...

2009-03-23T14:39:00.002-05:00

...I know the location of the 13th colony.

They settled in the middle of Wisconsin!

Apparently they are mating and it seems they are renting the venue to humans.

the last of the TJ?

2009-03-19T08:32:00.002-05:00

Both of us, in different stages of our lives, wanted to drive a Jeep. Both of us, for one reason or another, were deterred from our desires to own a Jeep. Even when we married and moved away from the influence of other people's decisions, we shied away from buying a Jeep. Then finally I got a full-time job with the University, we had some extra cash and so decided to take the plunge. We bought our Jeep in 2006, but never could we have imagined how much it changed our lives.

Now, I hear that 2006 was the last year that Chrysler made the TJ model. Is this an instance of serendipity? I know that it was extremely fortunate that we got our Jeep when we did. And to tell you the truth, I don't like the new models, they are boxy, hummer-like.

For us, this was an investment in our future. This would enable us to roadtrip and roadtrip in a way that led off the road to places I only imagined I could get to on a horse. It was an investment for our safety. How many times had we wandered into a muddy situation, a questionable road with only a rental car or the truck? Too many, I say.

But what about the environmental impact of our purchase? Well, I can tell you that the Jeep gets the same gas mileage as our old Saturn. When we bought the Jeep we also made the decision to travel the US, see more of this beautiful country and forgo plane tickets. So, buying the Jeep offsets the carbon foot print left behind by big airliners.

When will Chrysler come out with a Jeep that gets better gas mileage? Why not a hybrid of some sorts? It seems to me that the development focus has been to compete with the Hummers. A bad decision I think. Especially now when there is an urgent need to find alternative energy sources, trying to break our collective dependence on fossil fuels.

power to the people

2009-03-18T09:01:00.006-05:00

I like DIY projects. A couple of years ago I started to make my own garden pavers with concrete molds. It started with Buddha head molds and a small bag of concrete.

[Oops! There's my toes in the bottom of the image. Hey, I think I like that shade of nail polish. I'll have to go find the bottle.]

Then when winter hit, the Big D took over the mold and made some frozen ice sculptures. Last year I discovered concrete poetry kits and started taking quotes and short poems and stringing them together, laying them out on patches of the lawn.

Could this be Art? Lawn Art? art with a capital 'A'? Or just a way to cover the front slope of the yard where the grass is withering away and being taken over by weeds? Whatever it is it sure makes people pause as they walk by our house.

Somehow I'd forgotten about these when they were covered in three feet of snow. This week as the temps rose into the 60's I saw again how people would pause in front of our house. I went out to check what the heck it was and delightfully found again my attempts at art. Ok, now I've decided that it is art with a lower-case 'a'.

It was nice to move on to a project that entailed physical labor - mixing the concrete, pouring into molds, etching letters into the bricks, and experimenting with concrete dyes to find swirly effects. I had spent ten years struggling with the mental labor required to complete my dissertation. Working with concrete brought balance to my life. Sweating out the toxins of stress with the exertion of physical labor was exactly what I needed as I contemplated what to do with my post-doc life. It literally brought joy to my life, something that was in short supply during the graduate school years.

And for me, this project on the front slope was a tribute to Obama and multicultural America. The experimentation with concrete dyes created a range of "skin colors" on the Buddha heads.

I thought that perhaps I would make poetry bricks to pave the path through my garden, or even the paths up at the woodland retreat in Wisconsin. And I made huge progress in making the bricks, but after I laid them out, I realized very quickly that they are very breakable. It only took one step to reveal the fragility. I don't know exactly what to do about making them stronger, less breakable. Maybe I need some different concrete, maybe they just need to weather and age before I walk over them.

See? I broke this one about one minute after I laid it out in the garden. I was pressing down with my foot to bury it down into the dirt. "Love as thou wilt" is the sacred precept from the Kushiel trilogy. Placing it here in the garden adds a new dimension as the garden wilts to its Autumn state of being.

As the weather warms, I wonder what happened with my plans to make lots of poetry bricks throughout the winter. It is a great hibernation project, but somehow that got away from me. I guess sub zero temps make the garden seem like a dream from long ago.

The garden is still a dream that won't come alive for at least another month. Now I will resume my plans. Hopefully it will fill that increasing need to dig in the garden, keep me occupied until Spring comes to stay.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Yang Short Form)

2009-03-12T20:43:00.001-05:00

Later this evening, I uploaded a different version. I think this one is better.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

2009-03-12T16:12:00.008-05:00

I got this great opportunity this week, a chance to film my T'ai Chi instructor! So, I get to play around with multi-media - don't I sound tech-savvy? - but I'm not, and the quality of this video demonstrates the extent of my abilities. Who knew there were so many different ways to format video clips? I had to create the film in Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 (I know, I know, it's an old version) just to add credits and stuff. Then, I had render the clip to upload for the web...rendering the clip sounds like I'm trying to render some pork fat, jeez, where do these terms come from? So, I rendered the clip as a MPEG2 file and these are the results: fuzzy, blurry, lookin old and tired. Now, I am rendering it to an .avi format which, of course, is going to take hours and hours...regardless here is the blurry version. I'll post a better (I hope) version later today or tomorrow.

The Matrix look to the opening title page? I don't know. There was a lot of talk at the end of class about doing some special effects - matrix style, so that's what I went with while picking through the available templates.

Airstream in the Snow

2009-03-11T07:31:00.000-05:00

I just love our airstream retreat, even in the winter.

Those two tanks in front of the trailer are our only source of heat. When the furnace kicks on the noise is really loud, but I'm not complaining because it's better than no heat at all.

There is always a lot of shoveling to be done, but not before we get a chance to check out any animal tracks. It's fun to see the tracks of a mouse that jumps over and under all the logs, little tracks leading to and from the trailer. Ugh, mice. A reality I can't get away from in trailer living. There are usually deer and rabbit tracks as well.

This is picture taken years ago with my film camera. The shots had way too much light, blown out, I guess is the way to describe. Photoshopping these led to sort of a vintage feel and since these images are not current, that feels fine to me.

It used to be so difficult going to the trailer in the winter. Sometimes we couldn't even get into the driveway because of the piles of snow left by the plow. Let me tell ya, there's a lot of shoveling to do just to get the vehicle off the road. Having the Jeep changed a lot in terms of access. But, it was cross country skiing that got us to retreat more to the trailer in the winter.

Here's the routine:
We arrive in the early afternoon and shovel our way into the trailer. We unload our supplies after we get the furnace going. Then, we take off for the ski trails. The exertion warms me up, and the few hours we are away skiing gives the trailer time to warm enough to take the heavy winter coats off. Turning on the oven to cook some dinner adds to the heating of the trailer. But, it never quite gets warm enough until the next day. The first night the walls and the floor of the trailer remain cold, cold, and cold.

Why does all this matter? Why do you care? Why do i care? Well, for one, I have a much greater appreciation for the heat that is constantly running through our home in the city. Second, I have a much greater appreciation for those that live in these somewhat remote situations all year around. We are lucky that we have propane tanks, but it sure leads to a frozen night if we run out of propane, which has happened more than once. Thankfully, there is a place in town where we can fill up. I can't even imagine how much work people must put into having enough fuel if heating a cabin with a wood stove. Third, it does a body good to be out of its comfort zone. I feel like I'm hardy after a winter weekend at the trailer. Fourth, and last, I get a different way of existing in the winter, a way that gets me outside in the winter, a chance to get away from the tedium of going from one heated place to another, stepping away from the routine of home to store or home to office each day.

The remaining squash

2009-03-09T14:48:00.000-05:00

These squash got away from me this past winter. I wasn't able to cook them when they were at their peak, and now that it's March, they have lightened up quite a bit, so to me, they are now inedible. I put them out for the squirrels on Saturday morning. The ones in the backyard (yes, there's more that were not eaten) were devoured by the squirrels by that afternoon. They haven't found the ones that are in the front yard. Yet.

I placed these three in my front garden with the hopes that the remaining seeds will somehow take root. Perhaps I'll get a chance to grow my own this year. I've seen squash and zucchini growing out of the lush nutrients of a compost pile - a big surprise to the owner of that compost pile. I'm sort of applying the same theory here.

But, beyond that, I think they add a bright splash of color in the dirtying whiteness of the snow that blankets the city. Perhaps something a little quirky and interesting to look at for all those neighbors walking by.

I admit that I had gotten a lot of strange looks when I moved my vegetable garden to the front of the house in a neighborhood full of immaculate front lawns. But over the years, I've worked in perennials around the spots designated for vegetables and herbs. And since I'm spending more time hanging in the front yard, there has been more opportunity to get to know my neighbors, and many of the new ones in the area have voiced support for de-lawning my yard.

I like to bake the squash in the oven and serve them as soup bowls. This soup is wild rice with potatoes and carrots.

The first year that I discovered how yummy squash was the year I was still visiting the local farmer's market. I got a whole grocery bag full of smaller sized squash for $5! They lasted all winter and were the perfect size for a two-person household. Since then, I've been getting a variety of different squash from my CSA. I don't have a need to go to the farmers market any more as my veggies are being delivered to my neighborhood by a local farmer.

Maybe this year, I'll get the chance to grow my own. The time to start seeds for the garden is swiftly approaching. While starting seeds can be a refreshing experience, it is also a time of nervousness. Will the weather cooperate? Have I started my seeds too soon, or too late? Do I have enough space on the inside for all the seeds I want to start?

The uncertainties and possibilities are endless.

The Foshay from the 50th

2009-03-07T14:23:00.003-06:00

On Friday, I hauled myself out of bed at sunrise to trek downtown for a breakfast event. Sunrise isn't all that early in the beginning of March, nonetheless it was 6:30 and that was early for me. I managed to catch the only sunlight of the day.

An eagle flew overhead as I crossed the new 35W bridge that is over the Mississippi River. A good omen for what turned into a good morning.

The talk was sponsored by the Minnesota International Center and the speaker was Majora Carter who is celebrated for her productive efforts to "Green the Ghetto." The event took place on the 50th floor of the IDS building. I'd forgotten that, and after a shaky, disorienting ride up the elevator, I was quite surprised to see such a wonderful view.

There was quite the view of the Foshay Tower, and the numerous windows on the 50th floor framed the slender rise of the tower from a multiplicity of angles.

I'll take any chance I can get to look down upon the city like this. Things seems to make sense, there seems to be a sense of order to the open lots with the rows and rows of cars, the sharp corners of the city streets on the grid, the rise of so many buildings like trees growing in a concrete jungle. It was easy to see how we are all connected, all part of the same human system.

I kept thinking why isn't this working for us? There are so many people working in these office spaces in the sky, shouldn't they have a better grip on the world? Shouldn't such lofty view inspire compassion, gratitude, good will?

I was rewarded for my thoughts with the great talk given by Carter. Here's the description offered on the MIC website:

Majora Carter pioneered urban green economic practices in one of the country's most difficult environments: the South Bronx, N.Y. By connecting the right type of training, policy and relationships, she now helps cities across the U.S. realize the value of integrating infrastructure and the local economy in ways that benefit everyone. Ms. Carter will be in Minnesota to serve as the keynote speaker for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Forum, which will be held at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

I was immediately struck with the relevancy of her vision to addressing the challenges of this century. She began by quoting another woman from her neighborhood who said: "You shouldn't have to move out of your neighborhood in order to live in a good neighborhood."

That idea resonated deeply within me. Especially now since I'm trying to make sense of life here in Minnesota, trying to tease out what it is about this town that appeals to me and the Big D. And hearing that quote made me think I no longer have to justify my reasons for remaining in this city, although I should make certain to notice my surroundings and perhaps contribute to improving and greening this community.

She talked about "horticultural infrastructure" and the importance of adding this element to city planning, the importance of having an abundance of green things to improve the air, cool rooftops, thus reducing our dependence on limited energy sources. There was discussion about ways to train crews for green projects, the possibility for alternative energy sources being connected to a national grid. All very interesting stuff that made up for the crappy breakfast meal and high ticket price for attending the event.

I'm a girl that likes the woods, the solitude of remote places, but I also find a lot of value in those things connected to the grid, city resources that enrich my everyday life whether it be necessary utilities or public benefits such as libraries. And not all of us who live in the city can sprawl towards and over the green space, the woodland spaces of Minnesota. Helping to improve the city keeps people in the city.

These changes are no longer an ideal to strive for. They are necessary for sustaining our abundant lifestyles. They are necessary in making certain that all communities have access to these things. Carter didn't waste too much time on ideals but rather offered real, practical solutions out there to fighting poverty, unemployment and violence in our communities. Real practical efforts to reduce our reliance on oil and fossil fuels and increase our use of clean, alternative energies such as wind and solar.

The question that I had for the speaker was "what role or contribution can the Arts have in this effort to green our world?" While it's true that artists and their various forms of art should be included in the green spaces created for the public, there must also be other ways in which the Arts can improve communication, educate the public, seek to tease out visions for the future. In response to my question, Carter offered the idea the Arts provides a way to see beauty that is fundamental to building communities, bringing people together in celebration of community.

It's going to take me a while to wrap my brain around this questions. I want to think more about other ways in which the Arts can contribute as this country is facing a real green revolution. My own artistic endeavors focus on capturing moments in my woodland environment, the green park spaces in my neighborhoods, the stark beauty of the desert which is so alien to my midwest sensibilities. I am left with the wondrous feeling that my effort to push my art to a different level was inspired by a birds-eye view of the city grid.

Surprising and wondrous - apt words for describing this burgeoning national interest in greening our cities in a way that improves life for all of us in this human system.

The first signs of Spring

2009-03-04T15:31:00.003-06:00

Spring is coming soon, yes?

Can't wait til these are coming up from the ground rather than coming from the store.

What started as just an image for the day, turned into something rather nice. I don't know how to explain, but it makes me feel like I should be a little more spontaneous with my settings and backgrounds. This is an interesting development for me and this switch to digital. One thing that I had lamented about giving up shooting film was the way that I always ended up with unintended surprises, some composition that was the result of a "mistake," or some moment of beauty that I had not seen at the time.. I thought that switching to digital may take away these surprises. Nonetheless...

Spring is coming soon, yes? Please? Now? Please?

Views on Logging

2009-03-02T14:30:00.006-06:00

Heading out in the Jeep, in the middle of winter, on a remote forest road, one expects to find adventure. Rolling down this road, one expects to encounter wildlife, a turkey or two, perhaps some deer crossing from one patch of woods to another. One expects to pass some off-roads that have not been maintained through the winter. One might even consider plowing through the snow just to take that side road, just for the heck of it. Who knows? Around the next curve, there could something that you'd never imagined before, some sight that provokes memories or possibilities for the future.

I doubt anyone expects to see this:

In winter, the deforestation seems more devastating, more stark, more cruel.

And yet, I have to remind myself, this is a state managed forest and presumably, there is a plan to thin out some unwanted tree-life, perhaps the poplar that some refer to as the weeds of a forest, in order to allow for more growth space for the more desirable hardwoods.

We pass many areas such as this, bare spots in the forest, alternating with the lush density. And, eventually we have to stop and take a closer look.

Trying to find some reason in this forest reduced to chaotic shrubs, piles of logs, and mounds of bark debris.

The linear cut of the saw distracts me from counting growth rings.

And yet, the color of the cut woods, the shapes in the grain grab my attention and suddenly I feel the urgent need to capture the sight of each and every log.

This one looks like a fish, or a whale.

Yin yang (sort of).

But no matter what I might find, desperately looking for beauty, I am sad to see what remains.

Some people would look at this site and see possibility, a cleared area for a cabin, perhaps. I don't see that. I see an end to many years of growth. How many years will it take to grow back?

We've seen the trees marked with red paint for a couple of years now, but never imagined this day would actually come.

late winter pond

2009-02-27T10:22:00.003-06:00

Ice Sculptures

2009-02-24T10:07:00.004-06:00

We have these concrete molds that allow me to make pavers and ornaments for the garden. In the winter, the Big D take them over and makes ice sculptures with them, adding color dyes, freezing them together.

This seemed especially appropriate last January. This sculpture reminded me of two-faced Janus.

There is always a variety of abstract sculptures to be had at the trailer. The curve of the airstream produces amazing shaped icicles. He peels them gently from the side of the trailer and plants them in the snow. By the end of our weekend in the woods, the area is filled with glittering ice sculptures.

Chasing Turkeys

2009-02-23T10:23:00.008-06:00

We ran into a large flock of turkeys on our venture into the woods. I hadn't expected to see so many. I've heard of people living out in remote areas having difficulty driving out because the turkeys won't budge from their take-over of the road.

When we encounter turkeys, they flee.

And, they probably should when I come around. For some unexplained reason, I have a fascination with wild turkeys. I'm not a fan of the Thanksgiving turkey feast, but for some reason, every time I see wild turkeys I get hungry. I daydream about ways to trap and pluck a wild turkey for our Thanksgiving meal. I've never had feelings like this before. I don't feel a need to hunt, I release every dang fish I catch, but when it comes to wild turkey, I feel oddly that I want to eat one. That is just a daydream, catching one is way beyond my abilities!

We expected the turkeys to take off, to scatter in the woods. We did not expect to be chasing them down the road.

It's hilarious watching a herd of turkeys running down the road. They bounce up and down and forward, keeping to the road like some wilderness running track.

The sound of the Jeep can heard from miles away, I'm sure. Eventually these turkeys decided it was too much and took flight.

We continued down this road, saying goodbye to the turkeys, but too soon, because as we rounded the corners, we found them again.

This lasted a little while with us driving along, the turkeys repeatedly flying off and then landing further down the road.

Eventually, they tired of the chase and scattered into the woods.

Look how yummy they look! Beautiful, too!

The tracks were a crazy pattern of thin lines. It was such a delightful encounter on the path today. Made me hungry, yes, but these flocks of turkeys do also strike me as the comical figures in the woods.

Have you ever encountered wild turkeys at night? They can be quite frightening if you have no idea that they are out and about. They fly up towards the tops of the trees and crash through the branches. They are large and the commotion they create is unnerving in the dark of the woods. I can remember several nights of wildly pointing the flashlight up into the trees, praying that it isn't a treed bear.

Who knew that turkeys roosted in the trees at night? Their bodies seem too clumsy and bulky to get into a tree. Surprising and comical, I love them wild turkeys!

February Moon

2009-02-09T10:31:00.004-06:00

This would be the second largest full moon in 2009. Last night I managed to catch a glimpse of the moon before the clouds took over and dampened the bright light.

For this night, I did manage to get a remote shutter, something I was sorely lacking in last month's attempt to shoot the moon. Therefore, I was able to capture some of the details on the moon's surface.

Unfortunately, I encountered another problem, just another challenge in learning new aspects of a digital camera. I had inadvertently switched the focus from manual to auto. So, I managed to get one shot, but then all the others would shift the focus to the framing tree as I tried to click the shutter...

Although the shot wasn't what I originally wanted, there is a lovely shade of blue.

W is for WHY?!

2009-02-06T17:57:00.005-06:00

Tell me why would someone do this?

For over fifteen years we have been walking this trail through the local city park. Can't even imagine how long this rock has been sitting here in this spot. Could have been moved there after they leveled the trees. Or it could have been there even longer, from the time it was surrounded by the large oak trees that used to fill this area. Now it is forever marked by green spray paint, at least they used green. The marks go all the way around the rock.

What could be used to wash this away? When the garages get hit in the neighborhood, the owners paint over the marks and hope that the taggers don't return. But, here, with this rock, there is no way to paint over the desecration.

Nature seems to have created her own marks in the shape of letters. This W is in brown.

Strange how my questions about the marks stay the same. Who or what could have done this? Was it some bug burrowing under the bark? Does it reflect growth of the tree or a pattern of decay? The answers to these questions are far more interesting to think about.

This log was laying just a foot away from the "W log".

Such a crazy pattern. It almost seems like the work of wood carving.

Pulling in a little closer, I get the sense of crop circles. The sort of thing that gains meaning when looking down on the total design.

Pulling in closer yet, I start to see shapes that remind me of petroglyphs found in Southeastern Utah.

After spending considerable time with my camera pointed to the ground, I decided to take a look at what was up above me.

I don't remember seeing the wasp nest this past summer. It hangs right up above the paved walking path. In February the only part of the nest that remains is the top part attached to the tree branch. There was such geometric perfection inside the nest walls.

monarch butterflies

2009-02-04T12:48:00.003-06:00

8 natural wonders were added to the UN Heritage list. One of which was the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.

This is an image of one such beautiful butterfly resting on the wildflowers by the side of the road. A visitor in the blue hills of Wisconsin.

I hope you are enjoying the retreat to Mexico City, sweet butterfly. Have a safe flight back. The upper midwest region is gray and dismal without you!

playing with color

2009-02-03T12:02:00.004-06:00

Making the jump into Photoshop Elements is daunting! At first, I was disappointed that I didn't have the budget to purchase the larger version of Photoshop, but as I started fooling around with Elements, I realized that having anything more would have been totally overwhelming. For the first few months, I gained limited skills with things I am already familiar with: contrast, sharpness, minor hue and saturation adjustments. All the while knowing there were endless possibilities that I had no idea how to tap into. Thanks to
Pioneer Woman, I have learned so much in just this last month! Although she does work with the larger version of Photoshop, her tips and suggestions led me to a more guided search of internet tutorials that allowed me to attempt her image magic.

This morning I spent a few hours playing with color. The actions required switching the color image to B&W, then brushing back selected areas full of color. Here are the results. I am so proud!

Here was a chance to take a "typical" flower shot and transform it into something that brightens the color of the peony:

After I had a grasp of how to perform these little miracles, I started searching my whole catalog of images to play with. This little lizard was on the patio of a villa we visited in Port Antonio, Jamaica.

This shot in color is gorgeous. I have a tendency to photograph my meager harvest from my front-yard urban garden each year. The images remind me each Spring of the possibilities waiting to bloom in the garden. It was fun to take this previously colorful image, and change in a way that highlights the bright red of the chili peppers.

The only problem with this morning's project is that now I miss my garden so much! After seeing his shadow, Punxsutawney Phil forecasts another six weeks of winter. Jeez louise! Winter this year seems so long!

brief january thaw

2009-02-02T11:43:00.003-06:00

The day was a surprise of above 40 degree temps. Neighbors I hadn't seen in months came out from their winter hibernation. Garden accoutrements that were buried by the snow were peeking through the snow melt. The neighborhood came alive and became very wet. The street corners started to flood because the snow melt had no where to go.

Spent part of the day splashing around in the Jeep, then some time on the ground, wandering around the thawing neighborhood, jumping from puddle to puddle...

On the Lion's Back

2009-01-29T20:10:00.010-06:00

I won't ever forget the first time I saw a video clip of an SUV crashing off a huge rock fin in Moab. Of course, back then I didn't know it was Moab or that the rock formation is referred to as a fin. Never did I think I would find myself there at the base of Lion's Back located just on the outskirts of Moab.

Apparently the campground and the rock formation are privately owned now, so there is no more chance to ride down this very scary slope. When we drove out on Sand Flats Road there was no one at the site and looking at it, there is no way of really understanding the scariness of the drive. From this view, the Lion's Back does not look high or steep.

There is a fee to get into the Sand Flats recreation area, but if you just want to drive through to the La Sal Mountains, you can do it without paying. We decided to pay because we wanted to wander around, get out the Jeep, and hike. The Jeep trails are too difficult for us. The biking trails even seem at a more advanced level. But, walking we can do. So, we parked in a nearby lot and started hiking, not really realizing we were heading towards Lion's Back until we were right next to it.

This little "valley" between the fins can be traversed by the Jeep, but there was no chance in hell I was going to do this with our stock Jeep, not without a guide.

This is about where I stopped my hike. I was too nervous to continue, a bit hungry so I knew I would get shaky, and decided my heart would be better off just watching my man head on up. I still haven't really figured out how the Jeeps get up there other than to drive right up the slope and turn around for the trip down, but for some reason, I was thinking there was another route. In any case, we did not see any other way that day.

My heart was in my throat just watching the Big D make his way to the top of Lion's Back. If we weren't supposed to there, there was no one around to say so. I was holding my breath as he climbed the side of the fin and hiked to the top.

Apparently the view from the top made it worth his while. See the road down there? That's where we came riding in. The campgrounds are located at the bottom of this fin. And the La Sal Mountains provide a stunning backdrop to this setting.

This is the view as you head down the slope. How do people do this? Very, very slowly.

See, there I am, waiting and imaging the worst that could happen. There was cattle dung all around, lots of brush, sand. I had a lot of time to look around while i waited for Big D to go up, then climb back down.

As we hiked back to the Jeep, the sun rose higher in the sky, washing the area with bright sunlight. We spent the next 7 hours driving the length of this road that leads into the La Sal Mountains, stopping at a deserted campground for lunch, one that had an incredible 360 degree panoramic view. We also walked a little of the "fins and things" Jeep trail that is a series of these fins. And yet another 4WD campground was found and we bounced our way through it, but we ended up having to turn around as the exit was blocked by a couple of other suvs stuck in the sand.

This was planned as a "free" day on this roadtrip to Moab. We didn't have anything planned, but we ended up having quite an adventure that day. And this is where I learned that we shouldn't leave our motel without a packed lunch. By the time we stopped for lunch we were a good two hours drive from any gas station or diner.

Off season travel is the way we go. Although we saw a couple of bikers and a few cars, we felt like we had the area to ourselves. There was plenty of time to contemplate the vast beauty of this place in peace and quiet.

The path was good to us that day.

down to the river

2009-01-20T08:35:00.001-06:00

the road took us quietly down to the river

expecting to see the state park full for the Dr. King holiday, we were pleasantly surprised by the solitude of the riverbank

traces of ski trails on the ice gave the feeling of movement behind the stillness of the grass

the afternoon was filled with expressions of love...

crossing into the city at sunset

2009-01-19T11:44:00.000-06:00

as the clouds thinned and the sun set, the sky was filled with color and light

the streets darkened mimicking the light at the end of the day in a canyon.

blue in the city

2009-01-18T19:00:00.000-06:00

today my eye was drawn to the blues

drawn to the corners

and into the vibrant afternoon sunlight.

january's full moon

2009-01-17T20:08:00.000-06:00

This month had the year's largest full moon. It's something like 15 percent larger than the other full moons. In it's orbit around the earth, this is the time of year where it is closest to us. It lights up the neighborhood like a celestial floodlight. I suppose that's exactly what it is, reflecting the sun light and pointing it down to the earth like a spotlight.

The full moon was on the night of January 11, the eve of Big D's natality. I absolutely love that I'm married to a forty-year-old!

As the night darkened, the moon took on an eerie brightness. There were candlelit cross country ski trails at the state park on the St. Croix river. But the temperatures dropped to single digits and that's just too cold.

The temperatures steadily dropped, and my body took on a shiver that prevented me from capturing the details of the moon. I learned that even with a tripod, there is a definite shake to the images shot without a remote shutter. It's a pity because my zoom seemed to draw the moon closer than our cheapy telescope.

Another one of those things that I cannot easily transition from shooting film to shooting digital. Learning something new every day with this camera, and it makes the day more interesting.

What's this about?

2009-01-08T11:30:00.000-06:00

Who knows? Not me. But, there it is and it is here.

The Universe told me today:

Next time you make a wish, Lotus, wish for what is, because really and truly, things don't get much better than this.

There is a purpose, a plan, and a reason for all things. What doesn't make sense, will make sense. You are exactly where you should be; your challenges are what they should be; your rewards are what they should be; and the best is yet to come. Time has served you well. Love is in the air. And you're looking mighty good in the light that now surrounds you.

A toast to life... to you... to us... The Universe

And, so, I choose to believe. This is where I am supposed to be, and so I will be.

The trail, I ask myself, where is the trail leading? Does the answer even matter, aside from the idea that it leads away and out?

Away from what? And out of where? My life is good, but I can't help dwelling on the idea that there's got to be more. More of what? Something. There's got be something more. And yet, don't I live in a culture where everyone is seeking more? Isn't this totally contradictory to the message from the Universe?

Gods! Who cares! Just be!

So, what's this about?

I meant to write about things in my life that seemed to be "alternative," my CSA, for example. But, just last night I threw away a ton of root vegetables that have been sitting in the bottom storage bin of my refrigerator. In previous years I had taken all those roots - turnips, beets, carrots, parsnips (ok, maybe not the parsnips cuz they smell nasty to me!), celeriac - and cooked them up into really delicious eggrolls. Frozen-ed them, like my mother is fond of saying, and ate them until spring came around with a new crop of local, organic produce. But, this year, or rather, last year in 2008, this project just didn't happen. It's a bitch to cook up the filling, assemble and fry 80-100 eggrolls by my own self. Jeez! I need some female friends that like doing crazy things like this.

photo from Harmony Valley Farm 12-18-08 newsletter.

So, a few words about CSAs. CSA stands for community-supported-agriculture, which is a fancy way of saying we've bought shares in a local farm and they deliver to us once a week whatever they happen to harvest that week. Look to the sidebar for a link to our CSA - Harmony Valley Farm. The first year we signed up, I ate vegetables that I'd never even heard of before. Everything turned out to be yummy, except the parsnips which smell na-aa-aa-sty! The great thing was that I didn't have to figure out what to cook for dinner, I just had to figure how to cook that things I got from the CSA. The first year was a dream with the delivery boxes topping 30 lbs. of produce goodness during the peak summer harvest.

This is our third year. The last two years were not as bountiful as the first. The farm, which is technically one state away from me, but close enough over the border to be considered local, was inundated with rain, rain, lots of rain, 17 inches of it in one night. Nearly the entire crop was lost, but those dang parsnips survived. The next spring, the same happened - so much rain that the fields were flooded again. It was early enough in the season to replant, so this year was good, although a little later than usual.

Now's the time to sign up for spring 2009. So, please consider looking into one in your region. It is a natural and economical way to eat healthier. The Big D and I suffer from withdrawal during the winter months - the vegetables are that good.

Frozen Minneapolis

2009-01-05T10:08:00.000-06:00

The boat launch at Boom Island in Northeast Minneapolis, just north of the lock and dam.

Frozen solid, snow glittering in the sun, the lone lighthouse awaiting the thaw.

Demand for a New World in the New Year

2009-01-02T17:29:00.000-06:00

On the road today, we encountered a rally on Central Avenue. It was in the vacant lot next to the Islamic Cultural Center Minneapolis. I think that it was a part ofthe protest worldwide against Israeli attacks on Gaza that began on December 30 and we will continue throughout this week.

We had passed the woman with the stop sign walking down the street. After a quick stop at the library, we drove past the lot again and it was full of people.

The cold didn't stop this community. The temperature was only about 10 degrees above zero. They were blessed with little wind.

There were several police vehicles directing traffic away from the lane next to the sidewalk.

Such a simple truth yet so difficult for governments to understand.

Central Avenue is so full of activity. For me, this is one of the neighborhoods where the city thrives. The area is revitalized by locally owned businesses, and many of these businesses reflect the rich cultural diversity of NE Minneapolis. The drive through the frozen city led us on a trail energized by hope and promise of the new year.

Snow Dock-ed

2009-01-02T12:57:00.000-06:00

I took this shot just minutes for the sun went down on New Year's Day. Everything took on a shade of blue adding some color to the desolate winter landscape. Longer days seems to offer proof for the possibilities and joys in the new year.

Slick City Streets

2008-12-28T15:08:00.000-06:00

The other night was warm and the streets were slick with snow melt.

It seemed like a false Spring, teasing the senses with tender caresses of warm air.

Today, the cold snapped and the slick, wet streets have iced over, making the walk more suitable for ice skates. It's a frigid reminder of the harsh reality of winter.

Stepping off the trail

2008-12-26T18:18:00.000-06:00

It was a foggy day in the park today. I have no idea how long the trail is. We wind around in each area of the park, on and off the paved path, sometimes right on the ponds, sometimes along the edges depending on the season. We are usually there for an hour with occasional stops at the benches along the way.

The park has so many different personalities. We see a different trail each day. Today there was a thick blanket of fog, diffusing the shapes and colors of the distant trees.

The air temperature was very warm, soaring into the middle thirties. Believe me, the mid-thirties feel like a heat wave after two weeks of sub zero arctic freeze. I was reminded of the water below as we crossed the softening ice over the pond.

The paths were much easier to walk through on the flat ground. But as we moved into the hills, the trekking through deep snow uphill was more of a challenge.

The treasure spots today were off the path, risking the sink into 5 feet of snow. But the threat of wet feet was worth it to get up close to these winter mushrooms. The shelf like shapes remind me of lit votives offered in prayer.

Stepping off the trail reveals things pretty to look at, but these things are often not suitable for foraging. Why is it that whenever I spot something in nature, be it a berry or a mushroom, my thoughts first go to whether or not I can eat it? I have gathered raspberries, blackberries, grapes, and ramps growing in the wild, but collecting mushrooms is an entirely more complicated process.

Who would have thought I would find such a vibrant red in late December? Not me. Just these four little leaves, and another three on a nearby branch are all that remain of autumn colors.

And then, of course, there was the raindrops on the pine needles.

I hadn't realized what a blessing it is to have this warm air in the middle of December. Usually the cold takes hold of the area, making all movement outside a bit crunchy, a constant crush of snow and ice. The body gets weary as the winter seems to drag on month after month, even in this decade which has been considerably less cold and less snowy than most. This warm burst of air that pushed up from the south was truly a respite from the long drag. The rain and fog lifted my spirits so much so that I don't feel the bone-chilling weight of winter. I look forward to more of what this winter has to offer. More snow, more cross country skiing, more lit fireplaces on a saturday night. And, technically winter has just begun. Embrace the season. OK, I'm trying, and so far, it's fun.

Xmas lights on the winter pine

2008-12-26T17:48:00.000-06:00

The day after christmas, we got a welcome respite from the sub zero temperatures that gripped the region for more than two weeks. Strange to have rain at the end of a Minnesota december.

The rain drops clung to the ends of the pine needles.

They filled the park with natural xmas lights, reflecting the meager light bouncing off the snow covered ground.

An unexpected festive dazzle.

May the season be bright.

The First Trail of the Season

2008-12-23T20:14:00.000-06:00

The day was graced with above zero temperatures. The temps soared up into the twenties today, and it sure felt like a heat wave. So the D and I took off from the city, headed north to a state park situated along a scenic river. Although we arrived later than in the afternoon then we had planned, it seemed our timing was lucky as they had just finished grooming the cross country trails.

This year, they had two tracks groomed side-by-side. Skiing through the old oak trees is especially nice because many of them retain their leaves through the winter. They make a wonderful rustling sound as the wind picks up. This part of the trail is about a mile long, then there is a cut down to the river, stretching for another mile right alongside the river and ending with a steep climb back up the riverside cliffs.

Although we were a mere hour north of the city, it felt like we were the only ones in the woods. There were no sounds but the swish of our skis and the sound of the trees. As we got closer to the river, there was the occasional sound of the rush of water through the open areas of the frozen river. We saw no wildlife or birds today. Last year we saw some eagles, and unexpectedly, a flock of swans. So many shades of white in this winter landscape. Solitude and tranquility in every direction you look.

I encourage readers who live in areas where there is snow to go out and cross country ski. Skis and boots can be obtained gently used, and fees are relatively low (especially in comparison to downhill skiing). It is a great opportunity to explore state parks in the winter months, and a great way to get outdoors in a time when it is too easy to stay snuggled up indoors. The moderate exertion of cross country skiing keeps me warm, and of course, I dress in layers to I can take off as I get hot and sweaty, and bundle up when the wind starts to blow along the river. We are lucky in that our city grooms ski trails through city parks and public golf courses. This is primarily how I get my cardio exercise in the winter.

D and I have spent time in this park in every season this state has to offer. It is interesting going by those landmarks on the trails now covered in snow and ice, when previously there was an abundance of green leafy trees and loads of wildflowers. Like I said, we got to the ski trail later than we had planned, and I was hoping we could make it back to the Jeep before the sun set for the day. We had a steep climb up a slope and I didn't want to be caught there as the temperatures dropped. D is able to climb the slope on his skis. I don't know how he does it. I just keep sliding backwards, so I try for a while, but then eventually I kick off my skis and walk up the slope.

On the way up the air seemed less gray, then suddenly it seemed like all the tree trunks and the blanket of snow was glowing pink. As we started on the last bit of the ski trail, the setting sun broke through the clouds,and it blazed a bright fiery orange. We greeted the return of the sun and the beginning of a new year.

the return of the sun

2008-12-23T18:58:00.000-06:00

And the beginning of a new year.

the remains of the year

2008-12-21T15:38:00.000-06:00

Orange Berries

2008-12-18T09:47:00.000-06:00

I never realized that I liked shooting berries so much. I guess this time of year, these are one of the few splashes of color outdoors. These orange ones were a real surprise: The bright color, the sole tree, the perfection of their form. I wonder how long they will last.

by the pond

2008-12-14T16:02:00.000-06:00

Expecting to see the area covered in a big drop of snow,
my disappointment was overturned by the surprising colors
adorning the edges of the pond...

the contrast of the red sumac against the dried yellow grasses....

The dried remains of the pond rise high and sharp...

at times, dipping gracefully to the ground...

attesting to the colorful brilliance of growing wild in the city.

Lion in the Snow

2008-12-12T14:29:00.000-06:00

UFA - Unidentified Flying Airstream

2008-12-02T10:25:00.000-06:00

She is nearly 30 years old. She has a huge dent on the front left side. She stinks sometime. But she's ours. And her personality turns to the eerie under the light of a bright full moon.

Autumn Garden

2008-12-01T15:55:00.000-06:00

As the snow flies in and covers the ground, I am thankful for these last images of Autumn. I got one last day to capture the various bits of what remains in the garden. The next day the snow came and changed the color of everything, finally drenching the last splashes of the bright shades in the purple cabbage and green vinca. Fleeting, for it only caught my attention for a day, now gone until next season.

There was one last twirl of the buds on this browned bush, lined up in the wind like a row of ballet dancers...

The vinca vines peek out through the brown leaves...

still poking its head up, greening in the sun...

The echinacea never loses it grace...

And the chimnea continues to provide warmth in these days. That and a means to joyfully clean up all the branches dropped by a 90-year old elm tree...

Like a prayer to the dying warmth of the sun, the colors of the Autumn garden seek to hold on to their fading colors, before the blanket of snow that will stay with me for several more months.

Namaste,
lotus

Lion in the Sun

2008-11-30T17:12:00.000-06:00

The sun shone one more time on
the accoutrements of the autumn garden
the lion sits, basking in the fading warmth of the sun's low angle

the cabbage unfurls layers and layers of purple flesh

taking one last bow, the skirts flared wide over the ground full of brown leaves.

The beauty of the autumn garden
lies beneath the discarded foliage of the neighborhood

and hanging in abundance on the vines,
awaiting the arrival of a great gang of birds
hungry and wanting.

Tarnish on the Rocks

2008-11-25T12:02:00.000-06:00

Yes, it is really fun to road-trip in a Jeep. But, what I didn't count on was how fun it is taking pictures of the Jeep. This shot was taken in Moab on a road that runs along the Colorado.

There is so much grandeur in the area that it is hard to get that perfect shot, you know, that shot that captures the essence of the trip. This place was especially difficult as the road is literally carved out the stone, making for really tall road-side rock formations. The Jeep helps frame the shot, I think, and allows the sense of enormous height.

Autumn reds

2008-11-24T17:36:00.000-06:00

After all the leaves have withered and fallen to the ground, the color of the red berries fill the sides of a dirt road. So easy to pick in comparison to the thorn-protected blackberries, yet so not edible.

Outside Thanksgiving

2008-11-24T09:02:00.000-06:00

from the journals of 2003....

Outside
hanging in others' property
are the bleeding carcases of deer in groups of two and three
so casual - picturesque, almost
morbidly so.

I felt the disturbance in the air
the minute I arrived.
Something not right
just a mere 400 feet away.

Deer medicine speaks of gentleness
compassion and unconditional love.

I trouble with this
my mind unwilling to accept what is
flowing from my heart.

At this point, origins are unknown
the land around me is stark
colder and more harsh than I expected.
Fallen snow carves odd shapes on the fallen logs.
It seems as desolate as the desert.

Yet the hanging deer are undeniable evidence of
the vitality of this land
The abundance of wildlife -
We have seen none as of yet.

------------------------

For over twenty-five years, the land has been peaceful and nurturing. Now the woods are full of this:

There is no understanding coming to my mind, no poems about death and rebirth, just callous and peace-shattering emotions.

november changes

2008-11-18T16:02:00.000-06:00

Now that all the leaves are gone and the region shades itself with browns and grays, I think about how so much can change in just one week...from the oak reds...

...to the golden beauty of the maples...

I'm reading Ellen Meloy's The Anthropology of Turquoise and in it, she explores how the body experiences color and constructs a connection to home; "Color is the first principle of Place." Color intoxicates the senses, makes suggestions to the nose, imprints upon memory, invokes emotion, beckons the touch, and fills the heart.

Here, I am surrounded by all manner of color: a riot of reds, browns, greens, yellows. The land where I choose to live is the full spectrum of nature's creation. Each season brings on a fresh palette of color...

....and soon, this will blanket the earth...

Jeep Porn

2008-11-10T09:42:00.000-06:00

I was talking to my husband this weekend about all that has changed for us now that the election is over. We laughed at the idea that getting DSL and new laptop coincided with election of Obama. Now, I have a faster internet connection which means being able to see all those YouTube videos of Jeep roll-overs and crashes.

We sat and watched most of them, and while the first dozen were rather exciting, a feeling of dread started to set in. Do people really do those things? It was like watching porn, not sex porn, or even food porn, but Jeep porn. It was one of those phenomenas where people are anxious to watch, yet barely get the opportunity to participate. The dread started to arise when I realized we could actually participate in the metal crushing, rock climbing mania.

Now, I like to be alone when facing of my failures. I have been known to cry while caught up on some rocks in Pucker Pass, Utah. My heart has been known to beat real fast as we inch our way down the Jeep trail. When covered with tears and on the verge of a panic attack, I like to be alone. It was clear to me that in the YouTube videos there were a lot of people around to witness the crash. The possibility of this too embarrassing for me. But, then I realized if you are going to roll your Jeep over, wouldn't it be better to have tons of people around to help?

I don't see a single tear in any of these videos. Certainly, there were women's voices all over, screams aplenty, but no tears. Are people so overjoyed with the adventure? Or am I just a wimp?

On our first Jeep to the Southwest at the end of December, Shannon at the rock shop said to us that "adventure is knowing when to turn around". Maybe I'm not a wimp, I'm just spending too much time looking for our turn around spot, preferably the spot before the Jeep rolls over.

I loved the video titled "Best friend and wife in Jeep Roll". The wife kept saying "I don't like it, I don't like it", but all the while, smiling. That so reminds me of myself on a Jeep trail. I might not like the moment because my face is tearing and my heart is getting ready to jump out of my chest, but truth be told, when it's over, I'm already looking for the next adventure!

A Bold New World

2008-11-05T18:00:00.000-06:00

A sand sculpture of president-elect Barack Obama, created by Sudarshan Pattnaik, is seen on the beach in Puri, India, Wednesday. By Biswaranjan Rout, AP

Moab Moment

2007-09-05T10:52:00.000-05:00

It was the moment we looked out the window of our hotel room in Moab.

Splashed with the mud of the red rock of Utah,

she looked like wild animal that we had reared from a babe.

It was the moment that she grew up,

had her first taste of blood and grime and dust of the trail.

She surged forward going further than we would have thought reasonable on a December day,

when all the north-facing canyons and mountains stayed covered in snow.

Perhaps warming slightly enough to melt the snow in order to create a thin layer of ice that solidifies quickly as the sun sets behind the canyon.

She was a beast.

No longer the babe with less than a thousand miles under her tires.

Roaring like a tiger.

She led us forward in adventures against our rational planning.

I was afraid for her claws and teeth that were anxious to sink their way into the mud and dust of Deadhorse State Park.

Murphy Flowage

2007-09-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

Labor Day Weekend and we had nothing planned. The area was quiet due to the river's 30 ft. drawdown this summer. So we went for a drive. Usually we are heading north, but today we decided to head west, then north, with a slight detour around Weyerhauser because of some street fair near the high school. I know these are mundane details, but it is these very same details that always lead to adventure. Turning north on County Rd. F, we had planned to follow the signs to the Murphy Flowage. Unfortunately a detour was not marked. The few streets that make up this tiny little town quickly narrowed by all the parked cars of the fair-goers. It is a moment where I turn to the Big D and tell him to take the right, any right turn just to get out of the traffic. Traffic in a small town can sure be slowed down by all the old folks that come out.

Time to pull out the detailed map. And before I knew it, we found ourselves on one of those remote dirt roads leading deeper into the woods. In fact, we found a series of forest roads that lead to a number of "remote campsites." These seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere, nestled against a small lake where only non-motorized boats could go. All the trailers in the parking areas were for ATVs.

Our first stop: Murphy Flowage boat launch and camp ground. We stopped to make sandwiches under some tall tall red pine trees. These pines were so tall that I had to split the picture in two in order to get a sense of their dizzying heights.

There were only nine campsites at this lake. Two were on a bank above the lake. We found a little spot on this hill for lunch. This is the kind of campground that doesn't fill for Labor Day weekend. Not even this year when the weather was warmer than most previous years. Just to the left of the front end of the Jeep is a trail that leads to the water.

I love finding little places to spontaneously sit down (or stand at the back of the Jeep) for lunch. Today's lunch consisted of salami sandwiches, home-made pickles (cucumbers from my CSA, Harmony Valley Farms), chips, and juicy organic red plums. Ohh yummy yummy! These lunches tastes especially good when eaten under the swaying needles of these very tall pine trees. One has to wonder, did these pines survive the clearcut that dominates the history of the woods throughout most of the US? Or were these newly planted after the clearcut. They were tall and seemed to have stood witness to the destruction.

It turned out to be great day. We even found a short cut to our land on our way home. The roads had the feel of back country. They were not well groomed which lends well to the sense of adventure. We saw many deer, but no bear. Likely because the Jeep tires could be heard miles away. I'm sure the bears stayed clear. Who wouldn't when the stillness of the forest is interrupted by the sound of a six cylinder engine roaring? Perhaps better than the ATVs ripping through the woodland trails? Maybe not. Damn, I wish we could try them out. You know, the ATV trails, each leading down its own path. Damn. I am itching to go.

Me and my Jeep

2007-09-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

She's a 2006 Jeep Wrangler X. Hard Top. In-line six cylinder engine. Six speeds of pure joy and fun. In one year we have put on 20,000 miles. I swear she makes our lives safer. We (the Big D and I) have a tendency to take dirt roads that appear to lead to nowhere. And we always end up in an adventure that amounts to outdoor northwoods fun.