As the full moon has been rising in the east there’s been a setting sun on my father’s life. This past week he passed away at the age of 84, after a well lived life. He met my mother in the third grade and the childhood sweethearts later married and enjoyed 62 years together. Dad was in the Korean War and was proud to have served his country. An architect by trade, his legacy can be found throughout the Kansas City area. My two brothers and myself carry many of our father’s influence, one of which is the importance of family. We all came together this past week, supporting Dad and Mom and one another. Life will be different for all of us now, however we’re all richer for having had Dad in our lives.
Author: lindastaatsphoto
A Wisconsin fall meandering
Come with me for an afternoon in Wisconsin. The air is cool but the sun is warm; the temperature’s about 57 degrees. We head down a Rustic Road in Chippewa County. After twisting and turning through agricultural areas there’s a sign ahead that we’re entering the Chippewa County Forest. To the right is another sign marked Moon Ridge Trail and the forest road heading to the east looks inviting and filled with fall color. Off the paved road and onto the forest road, each mile takes us deeper into the forest. The colors are brilliant – especially in contrast to the blue sky dotted with white clouds. There’s a different smell in the air – of fall and drying leaves. We stop numerous times to photograph the colors and the meandering road. In one hour we have driven less than three miles because of all our stopping. There are many side trails leading from the main forest road but this one ahead isn’t drivable in the car. Off on foot, up the trail, and then down the hillside. As we step out of the forest area the view expands to the Spring Creek Flowage – a lake that meanders through the county – and the colors are intense and wonderful. This is our view (and only ours as there’s no one else around). Breathe in the smell of fall, feel the warmth of the sun, listen to the wind rustling through the leaves, take in the beauty of this day, and be thankful for being here at this moment of peak color in fall.
Grape harvest time
As fall starts its arrival in Minnesota the days grow shorter, the nights are cooler, and the harvests begin. For the past few years we’ve helped some friends in the Wabasha area with their grape harvest. On a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, they have a beautiful vineyard that’s expanded every year. Last weekend we spent a day with friends and family picking grapes for this year’s harvest. Our work began under an overcast sky. After a couple of hours we stopped for a lunch break, only to look outside and see it raining. We continued harvesting in the rain for a few hours (not a problem except for the rain drops that ran down our arms when we’d reach up to cut the grape clusters), and then the clouds cleared and the sun came out leaving the grapes glistening with the rain. These are Frontenac grapes, a variety bred by the University of Minnesota and known for its cold-hardiness. As the sun started its descent to the horizon we left the vineyard feeling good about a full-day’s work outside. We shared a wonderful meal with our fellow grape-harvesters and then headed home with gallons of fresh-squeezed grape juice to enjoy in the upcoming months.
Minnesota north woods
Last weekend we ventured to north central Minnesota, an area filled with woods and lakes. Although the anticipated fall colors were not at peak color yet, the area was beautiful in the cool of the early mornings and the sun dappled afternoons. Our trip was for R&R, and we spent the weekend exploring and wandering the landscape. We hiked on both forest and park trails, smelling the change of the seasons and listening to the rustling of the leaves. We journeyed down forest roads, stopping to admire lakes sparkling in the sunshine and listening for the birds – Canada geese, ducks, and loons. We put our canoe in a small lake and marveled at the clarity of the water down to almost 10 feet. Pulling out our fishing poles, we found the “sweet spot” on the lake and caught a couple of meals worth of sunfish. Our home base was a cabin at a small family run resort with our own dock overlooking the lake. The cabin was built in 1941 and had the charm and simplicity of only the necessities. Surrounded by trees and providing a view of the lake, it was the perfect place for us to appreciate and marvel in the beauty of the area.
Minnesota State Capitol Building at night
We recently took a special starlight tour of the Minnesota State Capitol Building, one of the most majestic and beautiful buildings in Saint Paul. Designed in the late 1890’s by Cass Gilbert and opened to the public in January, 1905, the building towers over the city. The exterior is made of white marble and granite, and the unsupported marble dome is the second largest in the world. At the center of the first floor, under the massive dome, is a brass and glass star representing the North Star State. We toured the chambers of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court, and we climbed to the roof and the base of the capitol dome to see the golden sculpture that’s called the Quadriga. Titled “The Progress of the State” it is a chariot drawn by four horses representing the powers of nature: earth, wind, fire, and water. At night the statues, which are covered with gold leaf, glow with the warmth of the lights illuminating them. From this high vantage point we could see the Cathedral of St. Paul which is down the boulevard from the Capitol, we could see the lights of the High Bridge spanning the Mississippi River, and we could look across the western sky to the downtown skyline of Minneapolis. It was the perfect late summer night to take in the beauty of this wonderful building and its surroundings.
lindastaatsphoto.com 