Last weekend we headed south to the Kansas City area traveling through southern Minnesota, Iowa, and northern Missouri. The occasion was a special one – my brother’s wedding (congrats to him and his lovely bride!). Fall colors had peaked already in Minnesota, but by heading south to warmer climates we were able to enjoy more of those rich colors in the landscape. This scene in central Iowa caught my eye. Not only was the fence post and its decorative saw blade unique, but the white of the post and the red of the gate seemed to contrast and compliment the green pasture and the golden fall colors on the distant hills. Fall is soon to be a memory in Minnesota, but it was wonderful to enjoy the season in other states, and it was a perfect weekend to celebrate family and love.
landscapes
A crisp and brilliant autumn day
When autumn is as brilliant as it’s been this year, we want it to continue. A crisp but not cold day, blue sky with some clouds, the changing colors with their deep hues, and a country road that winds through the woods with leaves crinkling under the tires and the deeper smell of fall in the air – the very best way to soak up a prime day of this most beautiful season.
A brilliant fall evening
I sat on the opposite side of the lake watching the shoreline come alive in the sunshine. The clouds had lingered throughout the day, but an hour before sunset they parted giving the light a truly golden color. And as the clouds parted, the lake calmed to a sheet of glass; everything on the shoreline was reflected in the mirror-like water. It was a magical few minutes, long enough to absorb the colors of a brilliant fall evening and to wish the season would linger much longer before we head into winter.
A respite north to Ontario
We’ve returned from a getaway to Ontario – a needed trip into the north country away from city life. We drove north of Dryden to Route Lake Lodge where we were met at the landing by Glen who motored us and our gear across the lake to the lodge. With our cabin perched on the rocks right at the edge of Route Lake we had a panoramic view of the south end of the lake. Here the terrain is rocks and trees – both coming down to the water’s edge. The weather was unseasonably warm and the winds blew constantly during the day creating whitecaps on the lake. But we were able to find lovely protected bays, sand beaches that extended around points for perfect lunch stops, and towering cliffs that dropped straight down into the depths of the lake. We were serenaded by the sound of the water lapping the rocky shoreline, an occasional boat motoring by, honking skeins of geese headed south, and the loons’ haunting cry. The sunrises were painted orange from the smoke and haze of the fires in western Canada and the US. The night sky was dark and sprinkled with stars – numerous and plentiful, with the Milky Way high above. The hospitality of the lodge owners Glen and Shirley, the beauty of the area, and the “escape” from the city was just what we needed.
Basking in the sun
On a recent bicycle ride through the countryside, I saw this common scene – freshly cut hay bales scattered across a field, blue sky and clouds overhead. Here in Minnesota we’ve had more than our usual amount of rain, leaving the landscape lush and green. The hay harvest has been done and appears to be plentiful. Unfortunately some of our neighboring states have been battling severe drought, decimating their hay fields and other crops. Like the help that was given earlier this year to farmers in Kansas and Oklahoma, many people are offering their hay to those suffering in North and South Dakota that have none. A wonderful reminder of the good that takes place and yet is often overlooked.
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