I have a photographic exhibit now on display at the St. John’s Hospital Gallery of Art in Maplewood, Minnesota. The exhibit runs from January 6th through January 31, 2010. St. John’s Hospital is located just off Interstate 694 and Highway 61, at 1575 Beam Avenue. The exhibit includes 26 framed photographs, including this image of “Winter dusting.” All the images are available for sale, with a percentage of the price benefitting the Newman-Wicklund Teen Volunteer Scholarship Fund. For additional information please email me at Linda@LindaStaatsPhoto.com.
snow
Snowshoeing
We ventured out today into the Minnesota winter wonderland. Like much of the country, we’ve had our share of snow, and yet there’s a beauty and peacefulness to being out in nature at this time of year. We snowshoed within the Hoglund Wildlife Management Area in Wright County. The air was crisp, the snow was falling, the deer were running, and there was a stillness that settles after the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday. These are the times that I appreciate the beauty and power of winter.
Winter at Como Park
Snow has continued to fall this past week. We haven’t received the dumping that the East Coast is dealing with, but rather we have a beautiful coating that’s put everyone in the holiday spirit. The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is located in Como Park in Saint Paul, and is a wonderful gem in the city. No matter how cold and wintry it is outside, it’s warm and tropical inside. It’s presently filled with poinsettias, begonias, and hibiscus — a wonderful burst of color during this season of white. As Christmas is fast approaching this week, I wish everyone a season of joy and wonder, family and friends.
36th annual American Birkebeiner ski race
The largest cross-country ski race in North America was held this past Saturday – the American Birkebeiner (affectionately known as The Birkie, the Boston Marathon of Skiing). A total of 7,461 skiers registered for the various races including the 50K Birkie Skate, 54K Birkie Classic, 23K Kortelopet, and the Prince Haakon 8K. With skiers from over 20 foreign countries and close to all 50 United States it is truly a festive event. This photo is from the race start in Cable, Wisconsin at the Telemark Resort. The course runs through the hills and forests of the area, and ends on Main Street in Hayward. Saturday was a great day for skiing (and for spectating — which is what I did). Temps were in the teens, with a light snow falling. We went to the start line to witness all the excitement and fun that precedes an event like this, then we made our way to Hayward and the finish line. Main Street is closed to traffic, snow is brought in to cover the street, and spectators line the course ringing bells and cheering on the skiers. My congrats to all the participants — I admire their training, their commitment, and their love of the sport; and to the volunteers and spectators who know how to celebrate and enjoy a beautiful winter day in central Wisconsin! For more information, check out www.birkie.com
Book Across the Bay on frozen Lake Superior
Valentine’s Day on frozen Lake Superior — what a great way to celebrate a winter’s evening! Chequamegon Bay is at the southwest corner of Lake Superior, surrounded by the towns of Ashland and Washburn, Wisconsin. For the past 13 years the residents of the area come together to celebrate the cold of winter with a ski and snowshoe race across the frozen bay — the Book across the Bay. This event is unique in that it begins at 6:30pm, and the course is lit by hundreds of frozen luminaries marking the route along the ice. The event draws over 2,000 participants skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking. This year’s route was changed at the last minute because of four days of warm temperatures and a big thaw. The snow that had covered the frozen lake became liquid, then froze again into a huge sheet of ice. The race organizers changed the course to a loop and spent hours “churning” the ice to lay a path that provided some traction for skiers and walkers. Their hard work paid off and it was a beautiful event, accompanied by light snowflakes. After crossing the finish line there was a huge bonfire to warm up at and a post-race party in a giant heated tent. Hay was scattered on the frozen ground and hay bales were stacked around the perimeter. Everyone was treated to a hot chili feed, delicious local beer, and dancing to a great live band. It’s a party of the best kind, and a delightful way to enjoy and appreciate our winter weather and scenery.
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