Our unusually mild winter continued this past week. Although we had one snowfall of two inches, our landscape is only dotted with snow – many fields and open spaces are devoid of white. We took advantage of the mild temperatures to go for a hike at Long Lake Regional Park, a lovely oasis in the heart of the cities. The sky was gray and the park was quiet, but it was good to be outside in the fresh air. We followed a number of trails, some that were inland and some that were close to the lakes. This footbridge went over a passage between two of the lakes and had much thinner ice underneath it as the water flowed between the two bodies of water. On many sections of trails we could see the tracks of fat winter tires left by bicyclists. Our return trip back to the truck was made easier by walking over the frozen water of Rush Lake.
winter
A celebration of winter
In the midst of a quick January thaw, the St. Paul Winter Carnival began this past week. Temperatures of 40+ degrees do not equate to an expected Minnesota winter. Both snow and ice were melting and people were shedding multiple layers. But an Alberta Clipper brought a return to temps below freezing last night. The snow sculptures at the fairgrounds were all intact today, and the blue sky and sunshine brought people out to participate in winter play. A snow slide had a long line of people, both children and adults, waiting to take a run; the snow maze was the right size for a child to get confused but the adults towered over it; and a simple large mound of snow was a wonderful temptation for kids to scramble and climb up. This snow sculpture was titled “Baby Bunyan,” with a reference to Paul Bunyan as a child. Our celebration of winter will continue for the next few months, until we are able to relish in the short season of spring and melting snow.
Dancing in the sunlight
I love the simplicity of our winter landscape. The white snow clears the distractions and leaves a clean canvas. As I was out for a walk one day I found these plants above the snow. With the sun behind them and their shadows splayed out over the white snow, it appeared they were dancing with their shadows. Similar to a water surface reflection, however the white brings everything down to the basics. Just like in the cold of winter, we look to the basics of warmth, protection from the cold and wind, and the optimism that spring will be on our doorstep eventually.
Creativity. Everywhere.
We just returned from a day trip to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, Minnesota. Located right on the banks of the Mississippi River, the museum is a hidden treasure. The main reason for our trip was to see a special exhibit of 70 Ansel Adams prints. I was thrilled and amazed to see and study the creativity that Adams brought to his final prints. His use of black and white filters and his burning and dodging brought his images to the final representation of what he was seeing and experiencing when he captured the image. On our way back to the Twin Cities, we crossed over the River and followed the highway north along the Wisconsin side. Just outside of Pepin, Wisconsin we passed this amazing fence. Amidst the snowy landscape and the overcast sky that mimicked the ground cover, we stopped to marvel at this bright fence made entirely of winter skis. The color was eye-catching and the whole idea reminded me that just like we had observed at the Ansel Adams exhibit, there is creativity all around us.
A new year with a look back to 2014
I was reading another photographer’s blog and she had posted her 12 favorite photos of the past year. With a nod to Kim Manley Ort, I culled through 4,142 images to pick 12 photos that were my favorites. Some have personal meanings, like the family photo after my mother’s death or the Royal typewriter that has been passed down through my father’s family. Others transport me to a cold winter morning (much like today!) or an unusually emerald-green lake with a sandy beach in north central Minnesota. The year took twists and turns that weren’t expected, yet I’m learning to embrace the changes, meet the challenges, and appreciate each day that is given – with joy and wonder. May the coming year be filled with 365 such days!
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