Valerie – Page 39 – Valerie's Voice

Bike Trails and Fire Towers

We like to getaway and ride different bike trails. There are so many to choose from. This year we went to Pequot Lakes in northern Minnesota. Our first stop was in Crosby, Minnesota to ride our bicycles on the Cuyuna Trail System. These trails are well-known for mountain biking, but there is a nice paved trail to ride also.

Huntington Mine Lake is along one of the Cuyuna Trails.

The trail goes past old iron ore mine pits, which are now beautiful lakes, with no development on them. The mountain bike trails go through the woods, and a bicycle with special tires is needed. The mountain bike paths are red dirt, from the iron in the soil.

A photo of our group at Huntington Mine Lake.

After our trail ride we continued to drive north to Pequot Lakes, our destination. We planned to ride our bikes the next day on the Paul Bunyan trail, one of the longest bike trails in the state. The Paul Bunyan Trail used to be the Burlington-Northern railway tracks.

At the Paul Bunyan trailhead in Pequot Lakes.

We rode a small portion of the trail. The weather was hot and humid, but the portion of the trail we rode was shaded and scenic, with surrounding lakes. We’re grateful for the many wonderful trails that have been created on old railway lines.

Above the tree line on the fire tower in Pequot Lakes. I’m in the red shirt.

The third morning we decided to hike in Paul M. Theide Fire Tower Park. The DNR recently acquired this land to create this park to protect the historic fire tower there. The small park is lovely with a nice picnic pavilion and a few trails that lead to the fire tower. The tower, built in 1935, is accessible to climb if one is so inclined. I learned this is the second tower to be built on this site. The first was a wooden structure built in 1927. The current tower is in excellent shape (no carvings in the wooden steps). I climbed up four flights (of eight) and was already above the tree line and could see for miles. Unfortunately, I left my camera down at the bottom.

Climbing the tower brought back memories of vacationing with my parents and friends in cabins on Rainy Lake in the 1960’s. There was a fire tower within walking distance of the resort where we stayed. We would climb the tower every year, several times during the week. I do remember some of us kids carving our names in the wooden steps. Whoops.

Several years later we went up to see the resort at the end of the road, Highway 11 East out of International Falls, and the fire tower was fenced in and locked up. I learned it’s called the Black Bay Fire Tower, or Rainy Lake Fire Tower, and it was built in 1939. I couldn’t find much more information online about this tower.

The historic fire tower in Paul M. Thiede park.

There is another accessible fire tower in Itasca State Park which we have climbed a few times; once with our two sons when they were younger, and a few times over the years when we’ve camped in the state park.

A few dozen fire towers remain in Minnesota. At one time there were 120-150 in the early to mid 1900’s. At that time there were about 5,000 fire towers throughout the United States. A majority of the “second generation” fire towers were built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930’s. These towers were built of galvanized steel and included steps. Earlier towers were made of wood and used ladders to access the cab. As airplanes and modern technology took over the task of spotting wildfires, many towers were taken out of service.

I’m grateful for organizations that have insight and resources to re-purpose railway lines and preserve fire towers.

A beautiful hibiscus bloom on the hotel patio.

Litomysl and a Country Church

When driving around rural Minnesota one tends to see a variety of quaint, charming, and small, usually white, wooden churches dotting the countryside. Recently, on a Sunday afternoon drive in southern MN, we came across an unusual country church. But, it was the name of the “area” that first caught our attention…Litomysl.

Following the arrow directing us to Litomysl, we turned off the “main” rural road and there stood a beautiful, stone church.

It was picturesque and well kept, with a parsonage next door and even a school a bit farther east of the parsonage. How curious! There was one farm across the road and that was it. There were no other buildings in sight, only cornfields. The church, parsonage, school and one farm made up the current “unincorporated community” of Litomysl. We didn’t even know how to pronounce the name, or what nationality it would be.

We enjoyed looking around the church yard, and taking pictures and wondering about the history. We concluded it must have replaced an earlier church, and that was, indeed, what happened. Once back home, we got on the internet and found some information.

Litomysl is a town in former Czechoslovakia. When Bohemian descendants arrived in Minnesota, near this present day Holy Trinity Church, they named their new settlement Litomysl.

The people originally built a small, wooden church in 1878 and it was called Slovanik Bohemian Church.

In 1884 they changed the name to The Church of the Most Holy Trinity.

In 1898 the parish got its first resident pastor, and a parsonage was built next to the church.

A lovely parsonage, incorporating a stone entry,

The stone church is unique because it was made of stone donated by the parishioners, using their own field stones. Each family would donate 6 loads of field rock for the building of the church. Stone masons were hired to build the church. It was finished in 1941.

In 1957 the church built a school and named it St. Isidore School. St. Isidore is the patron saint of farmers. The school closed in 2015.

Flower pots maintained by the current congregation.

Surprisingly, the parish is very active to this day. It seems so remote, standing alone in the cornfields, but people come from the surrounding communities. There was a poster taped to the door announcing their annual summer festival, every July. It might be fun to attend sometime.

A beautiful display of colorful flowers growing in a tree stump on the church property.

Here is a link to a short history of Litomysl and Holy Trinity Church.

The Hokey Pokey

A photo of me and my grandkids in NC, taken on a recent visit.

As I’ve mentioned, one of the highlights of my week is zooming with our grandchildren in North Carolina. These visits will come to an end soon, because school will be starting.

I love visiting with them and reading stories to them. At the end of our time this week, I asked Alexa to turn the volume up and play “The Hokey Pokey”. And we all danced to the music. I was waving my hands in the air, abandoned and totally consumed by this amazing time together, although distant it felt close.

I am grateful.

A Corn Stalk

Recently, I wrote about front porches that included a photo of my neighbor’s lovely front porch with surrounding flowerpots. Earlier this spring, she noticed a corn sprout peeking out of the soil in one of her flowerpots. She feeds the squirrels, and finds some kernels fall to the ground and sprout, so she pulls them out of the grass. But, when she noticed a sprout in her flowerpot she decided, just for fun, to let it grow to see if an ear would grow off the lone stalk. I told her I was curious too, and to let me know.

She called me over the other night to show me. Indeed, not only one, but two ears were growing on the lone stalk in her flowerpot. One ear was growing strong, but the other, not so much.

Marveling at what nature does best…

doing what it’s created to do…

bloom where it’s planted!

The Tunnels in Northfield

There was a major street renovation in our town recently. The intersection by the high school and middle school was transformed into a round-about, and four tunnels were added for pedestrians and bicyclists to use to avoid crossing the busy intersection. In the beginning, I wondered how much sense it made since it was costly. But now that it is completed, and working smoothly, I do like the results.

A future section of the Mill Towns State Trail will run through one of the tunnels.

To top it off, the city included monies for a public art display in the tunnels. There were bids for the job… muralists (artist’s self-identifier) had to submit their work and be chosen. For this public art display, Adam Tuman was the chosen artist.

We have seen his work before. Several years ago, our son hired Adam to paint a beautiful mural on the outside wall of his office building in Uptown, Minneapolis. The mural included scenes of the uptown area (where the office is located) and signs of technology (the business).

Mural of the Uptown area on our son’s office building, in Uptown.

Another section of the cityscape view on the office building.

I also saw an exhibit of Adam Turman’s artwork at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, MN.

Now, here he is in Northfield, painting beautiful, illustrated works to highlight our town and its surrounding area.

Bridge over the Cannon River in downtown Northfield.

The other day we went to see how the tunnels were progressing and Adam was working. We introduced ourselves and struck up a conversation with him. Adam was very friendly and engaging and we were so glad to meet him. Of course, he remembered doing the mural for our son. We are thrilled Adam was chosen to do this public art display in Northfield. He has almost completed his work on the four tunnels.

The colors are vibrant.

The themes so apropos to our area.

Hidden Falls in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.

The painting so artistically appealing.

You get a sense of being a part of something big as you walk through the tunnels.

This woodpecker scene is still a work in progress.

There will be 16 scenes representing four sections when he is through with this project: Cannon River, Nerstrand Big Woods, Prairie, and Oak Savannah.

Adam Turman does amazing work, and it is definitely worth a trip to see these tunnels in Northfield.

My Mother’s Ring

There is so much jewelry in this world…some unique, classy, and valuable pieces, but a lot of schlocky pieces too. I like jewelry and used to wear more of it, especially when I was working. However, I now mostly wear earrings…even though I do like necklaces. These days I will look at jewelry with a more critical eye, and I rarely buy any of the beautiful pieces I like when I do look… I say to myself, “where would I wear it?”

A 4″ tall, mini-pink, depression glass chalice that holds my special ring and earrings.

I have a few valuable pieces of jewelry: a diamond necklace Gary gave me when we were engaged, a pair of stud diamond earrings, and a pair of teardrop diamond earrings I’ve received as gifts over the years. I have some antique jewelry, and sparkly beaded necklaces I wore for a long time, when in fashion. At times I feel I should just wear my classic, lovely jewelry for the sake of wearing it…no matter what I’m doing, but I usually don’t bother.

Another valuable piece of jewelry I own is my mother’s ring. She was widowed in her 50’s and at some point she had her wedding rings made into a single ring using the diamonds and rubies from her set. Her name was Ruby so I always liked that she had rubies in her ring. When she died I inherited her ring. I wear it when I dress up, or on special occasions. For instance, last Sunday our grandson was baptized so I wore her ring. It makes me feel like she’s there too, somehow.

The ring is a bit awkward…protruding higher than I’m used to. It doesn’t exactly fit either…a little too big for my ring finger, a bit too tight for other fingers. But I wear it anyways.

When Gary and I got married 43 years ago, we each got a wedding band…plain and simple. On our 25th anniversary he bought me an anniversary ring, a gold band with diamonds to replace the original band that had become too small for me.

The saga will continue…to wear jewelry or not to wear it. But, I will always enjoy looking at jewelry, and admiring jewelry others are wearing.

Vintage Band Festival

A welcome break in the weather, with lower temperatures and lower dew points, along with coming out from the long and cloistered pandemic, brought a large turnout to the Vintage Band Festival on Bridge Square in downtown Northfield, on Saturday.

The cover of the program for the music festival.

It was very comfortable Saturday morning when I went down with my camp chair and set it up to listen to the music. The music started at 9:30am. Different bands played all day long for 45-minute intervals and small breaks in-between sets.

Folks set up their camp chairs to listen to the music.

The weekly Saturday, Riverwalk Market Fair was also happening on Bridge Square, making it a very festive place to be. There was a lot of energy and I think people were ready to be outside and to be together. The Vintage Band Festival did not happen last year during the pandemic.

I heard the Jack Brass Band, Sheldon Theater Brass Band and Banda La Veradera (traditional Mexican music) with a break in-between to deliver Meals on Wheels. Later in the evening I went back to listen to more good music…the Copper Street Band.

One couple chose to dance to some of the music, and, of course, little girls were twirling around in the front. I would have been at their age.

Little girls twirling and dancing to the music.

All the bands I heard were very good but the Jack Brass Band, described as a “New Orleans-style jazz with added old-time blues, rock, hip-hop, pop funk and reggae” was one of my favorites. Another favortie was the Copper Street Band described as a “ blend of musical styles that fuses electronic effects and brass”. The Copper Street Band featured arrangements from 1770, 1870 and the 1970’s.

It seems to me a good time was had by all.

On a side note, as I was leaning against a tree, listening to the Mexican band when I returned (without a chair) after delivering Meals on Wheels, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and a kind woman pointed to a $20 bill at my feet. She wondered if it was mine…and yes it was. It had fallen out of my pocket. I was grateful she alerted me, and thanked her!

Braiding Sweetgrass

I am reading a good book…savoring it is more like it: Braiding Sweetgrass. A few months ago, I ordered the book from the Northfield Library, and by mistake, I got the book on CD. I was immediately captivated by it and hadn’t finished listening to by the time it was due, so I ordered it again, both the CD’s and the book. I have enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audio version.

The book on CD, read by the author…always a special treat.

The book, Braiding Sweetgrass, is written by Robin Wall Kimmerer; a mother, scientist, decorated professor and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

The book is described as “A hymn of love to the world” by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is a book on “Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants.”

A basket of sweetgrass (and one bee balm stem). photo by LR.

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s vivid descriptions, explanations and metaphors delight the reader. It is a book for nature lovers and anyone interested in learning about the indigenous ways, and teachings from the land and plants. It’s fascinating.

The recurring theme is sweetgrass, Mother Earth’s hair, one of the four sacred grasses for the indigenous people (sweetgrass, sage, tobacco, cedar). Braiding sweetgrass is a tradition, and they believe having braids in the home, or given as gifts, brings positivity and goodwill and kindness…and wards off negativity. Traditionalists also “smudge” the braids, that is burn them, in ceremonies.

Gathering sweetgrass in the basket. Photo by LR.

While reading through the book I was inspired to braid sweetgrass. I was talking with a friend, an herbalist (her website is https://www.cannonvalleyherbals.com – check out her website for a recent article on sweetgrass under the “Blog” section) and she told me she had sweetgrass growing in her gardens. She said I was welcome to come and pick some sweetgrass for braiding. So I did.

I placed the sweetgrass on an amber, antique glass plate and made herbal, ice tea to create my workspace to braid.

She showed me what sweetgrass looked like (always a good first step!), then how to pull it out by the roots. It has a light vanilla fragrance…and if you taste the root you can taste sweetness. She left me alone to pull a basketful of sweet grass. Afterwards, she took a minute to show me how she has braided sweetgrass. I took my good fortune home and started in.

Having fun, braiding sweetgrass. Photo by GB.

I had great fun braiding the grasses, using large clumps, and strands of seven in each clump. The scent is pleasant and subtle, and the results of the braids were rewarding.

Beebalm blooms, an added touch, to my first braid, now on my front porch.

A braid of sweetgrass wraps around the bottom of my aloe vera pot.

I recommend this book. It is a fascinating read.

Morning Greeting

This amazing scene greeted me this morning on my walk.

I love how the clouds are outlined by the sunshine.

The heavens declare the glory of the Lord…

What a way to start the day.

Literary Steps

It caught my attention while driving down Division Street in Northfield. Someone painted the steps leading up to the library. I stopped on the way back from my errand to take a closer look.

This caught my attention while driving past the library.

I stopped and immediately started photographing the steps while oohing and aahing over the fantastic idea and amazing artwork to a woman with a broom, tidying up the steps. I said I love this new paint exhibit and asked her if she knew who the artist was…she said, “Me!” She was a long-time children’s librarian in Northfield, and has since retired. She loves children’s books, as do I.

Kathy Ness, the artist, applied for a Main Street Artist’s Grant and was awarded monies for “Literary Steps”.

The art teacher from Spring Creek Elementary School (formerly Sibley Elementary) offered to help her and so the two of them painted this beautiful piece of art.

Kathy was putting the actual book near the step representing it. This is one of her favorite children’s books: *Stop That Pickle!*

She painted replicas of children’s book spines on the 16 steps going up (I counted more) to the Division Street side of the Northfield Public Library. She asked the community for suggestions for the book titles and chose 16 titles from the list.

Many of the books I have read, but I got a few new ideas to check out. One of my children’s favorites, “The Little Engine That Could” did not make the list.

I love this beautiful artwork on public display in downtown Northfield. It definitely adds to the unique and wonderful place we call home.