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.
winter
Resting up for Christmas
Winter arrived in the Twin Cities this past week when seven inches of snow came blowing in on 20 mph winds. The temperatures dropped and the snow fell. It had us all remembering how to drive in snow and slush, how to shovel our walks and drives without hurting our backs, and it sent us scurrying to find our winter clothes and toys. The sleds, skies, and snowshoes all came out of the closet this past week in a flurry of snowy activity. However…there were some creatures that were found to be resting up for future activities. The reindeer know that their big night is coming up in a couple of weeks, and although the snow is here there is much preparation that needs to be done. Food must be eaten to gain strength, and rest is essential in order to have the energy to deliver Santa around the globe on his yearly mission. And so this reindeer is doing when needs to be done, knowing that the upcoming job is a big one, and Santa is relying on each reindeer to be in top physical and mental shape.
Winter’s arrival
Winter has arrived this week, and with it so many changes. For the past six days, our temperatures have stayed below freezing. We’ve had some blowing snow, although not enough to cover the grass. But the cold weather is now allowing Mother Nature to ice over our lakes and ponds. Many of the Canada geese are flying high in the sky, heading south to warmer climes. Whereas before we heard their calls in the early morning and before sunset, now they are continuous throughout the day as they journey away in large flocks before the winter becomes harder and colder. What waterfowl remain, find it slippery going on the once-liquid lakes. Soon the transition to winter will be complete and we will revel in her white and shimmering beauty.
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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