We stopped to pause many times while cleaning out my mom and dad’s house last weekend. There were hidden treasures with memories and stories shared, along with mysteries that were uncovered. We found two old Royal typewriters that belonged to our grandfather. One was a portable model, secured in its case. When we clicked opened the case, it was as shiny and clean as the day it was purchased. The other was an old heavy tabletop style. This one was weathered with age and dust-covered. The keys and the carriage return still worked and the ribbon still had some color to it. I wonder at its age, and all the stories and reports that had been typed on it. The desk that my grandfather used remains in the family, and perhaps this old typewriter will feel at home where it once sat.
Photography
Fog and stillness at Como Park
The cold and crisp of winter moderated the past two days with temperatures in the 40’s. With our layer of snow and cold temperatures on the ground we awoke this morning to a beautiful landscape of fog. The stillness of early morning and the fog’s softening effect made the landscape magical. Everything stood quietly as the fog moved in and out, becoming thicker and then lessening to a thin veil. I was at the McNeely Conservatory at Como Park this morning, where the thin ice of the Frog Pond allowed the fog to form above it in a narrow band, still leaving the dome of the conservatory visible above.
Early morning at Gull Lake
I was lucky to have a great friend visit this past weekend. No matter that our beautiful autumn has passed and the colors are gone, we went exploring and hiking and got caught up on each others lives. We headed north to the central lakes region of Minnesota and stayed at the historic Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake. Two days before our arrival they had a couple of inches of snow, and although it was chilly the weather was fine for us. In the morning we walked along the lake, and this scene truly seemed to represent a lovely late summer’s day (although in reality the temperature was 34 degrees and the wind was blowing). I feel fortunate to have wonderful friends in my life, and this long weekend reminded me of a quote I read recently: “You can always tell when two people are best friends because they are having more fun than it makes sense for them to be having (author unknown).” And so it was for us!
The right place at the right light
Sometimes everything comes together wonderfully, and so it was last weekend. About seven miles away is a regional park right in the city, but to walk along the trails is like being miles away from the cacophony and bustle of urban life. I drove to the park before dawn and enjoyed the sunrise accompanied by the ducks, geese, and even some trumpeter swans. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the warmth of the early morning light washed across the shoreline of Sucker Lake. Protected from the wind, the reflection of the colors glowed in the lake’s surface, only to ripple when the ducks flew in. It was the perfect beginning to a fall day.
Autumn treeline
Last week was peak fall color in many areas of central and southern Minnesota. This year’s color has been much more vibrant – perhaps due to our copious amounts of rain in June, the lack of extreme heat in the summer months, and the delay of a killing frost. I spent the morning at William O’Brien State Park, nestled beside the St. Croix River. The park has a riverside trail that meanders alongside the St. Croix, and it also has an “upper” section with a prairie, an oak savanna, meadows and forests. This area was brilliant in color; the treeline was ablaze and the prairie grasses were golden. The sure signs of fall were the empty bluebird houses. These will remain vacant now throughout the winter with its snow yet to come, until we pass into spring and its burst of green.
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