Valerie – Page 48 – Valerie's Voice

Nature, A Walking Play

We like to go to the theater. I’ve always enjoyed seeing plays. In high school – a very long time ago – I help with play productions, behind the scenes. We are delighted to have some great community theaters in Northfield and in towns surrounding us.

The other weekend we went to a very unusual play. It was held outdoors, in the Carleton Arb, and you walked from set to set.

The play was called “Nature”. It was the story of the unusual friendship between Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and the many twists and turns their relationship took. Emerson and Thoreau were both writers, and promoters of the importance of our natural environment, and of connecting with nature in order to survive well.

Nature was touring across the country and it happened to be in Ely, MN last summer when my husband was in the BWCA. The group of guys he went up north with took time out for some “culture” and they went to see this play. Gary learned it was going to be in Northfield and thought I would enjoy seeing it, so we got tickets.

There were four different sets and we walked to six different scenes and the play lasted two hours. Gary suggested we bring our camp chairs and that was a good idea. The evening was cold and very windy but the play went on.

It is a clever idea… a play about nature, acted outdoors… in nature. Another unique fact is the great, great grandson of Waldo Emerson was an actor. His character was, of course, Waldo.

The tour has ended for now but it may come back again. They told us this was their 9^thseason. The program states that the touring group is “Collaborating with parks, arboretums, universities and communities across the county in this creative movement to reconnect with the natural world.” I think that is a great goal.

The walking play, Nature, is unique, memorable and fun.

Moon Cathedral

Full moonrise over Lake Superior, September 2019.

A Moon Cathedral
by Valerie Bollinger
 
Looking out over the expansive dark lake, at night
Gazing at the full moon rising
Reflecting a sparkling path on the water
Streaming it’s light directly towards shore
Guiding my eyes upward
Resembling a cathedral between the trees.
Behold, A moon cathedral,
God-made, inviting praise for His beautiful creation.

Only in a Small Town

An additional story from the Tribute to the Eagles concert…

I happened to know one of the ushers working at the Tribute to the Eagles concert. During intermission I talked with her for a few minutes. She’s a friend that I have bought fresh eggs from in the past. During our short converesation she said, “I have an unusual question for you”…and proceeded to ask me if I needed any eggs. She had brought two dozen eggs to the concert for someone else to pick up but they didn’t show up. She thought I might be interested….and I was.

I paid her, she kept the eggs in the back room during the concert, and we picked them up when it was over and walked out of the theater with fresh eggs.

Fun music and fresh eggs!

I laugh thinking this could only happen in a small town.

Three Evenings, Three Genres

We were happy to show off, to our friends from New Hampshire, our charming town in Minnesota, with the motto: Cows, Colleges and Contentment.

A flyer for the Tribute to the Eagles concert.

Prior to knowing of their plans to visit we had bought four tickets to a Tribute to the Eagles concert. To our delight, the concert happened to be the day after their arrival to Northfield and they were eager to attend the concert with us.

The Armadillos and Collective Unconscious; the two bands performed together for the Tribute to the Eagles concert.

So off we went to the Paradise Theater in Faribault. Two groups, the Armadillos and Collective Unconscious, formed the tribute band. Together they recreated songs by the Eagles, a “California Rock Band from the 70’s.” With eyes closed one could imagine being in a concert hall with the original Eagles band members playing and singing their energetic tunes. They put on a lively show.

We were moving in our seats, but in the end we were up and out of them, dancing to the music in front of the stage. It was a great concert.

And that was the evening of the first day.

The next day we were showing our friends St. Olaf College. We took a stroll on campus and stopped to look in beautiful Boe Chapel.

Boe Chapel on the campus of St. Olaf College.

There were musicians practicing up front. A gentleman came and explained the group practicing was called Together in Hope and the choir’s mission (per their program) is to be “a catalyst for healing and reconciliation through the transformative power of music.”

He told us they were going to perform a concert that evening. We had just made dinner reservations at the Ole Store right down the street from St. Olaf and the timing worked out just right for the four of us to attend this beautiful chorale music concert.

The Together in Hope choir at Boe Chapel.

The choir was accompanied by a few current students and some alumni of the St. Olaf Orchestra. They performed two works by Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen: So That the World May Believe: A Motet for Unity and Service and The Holy Spirit Mass. The program stated these songs were originally performed by the choir in front of the Pope, in Rome, in 2018.

And that was evening of the second day.

On the third day we all decided to go to a Germanfest at a country church nearby. It is an annual event and known for it’s good German food with music.

When we arrived a polka band was playing. Although the weather was frightful…rainy and windy…we stood under the tent outside and listened to a couple of polka tunes and watched one couple dancing to the music.

And that was the evening of the third day.

It was great fun to happen upon these three vastly different types of quality music available during these three specific days, in a row, all in rural Minnesota. What a gift.

A Second Look

We were blessed to have an opportunity to travel to the north shore a second time this fall, within two weeks of our first trip up to Lake Superior.

Yellow Birch and Aspens contrast with the dark evergreen trees that line the shores of Lake Superior and Highway 61.

The first week up on the north shore we had a great time with family and saw abundant fall colors. Our second trip to the north shore we enjoyed showing off one of our favorite places to our visiting friends from New Hampshire.

The forecast was dismal…rain was predicted for every day we were to be up north. And, on our first day – the drive up – it was misty rain all day.

The beauituful, brick Split Rock Lighthouse.

The Fog Signal Building next to the lighthouse.

But, even so, we stopped at the New Scenic Café for a delicious lunch, and then toured the impressive, historic, and iconic Split Rock Lighthouse, which opened in 1910 and was deactivated in 1969.

Looking out over Lake Superior from the platform of the lighthouse…where is the lake?

The spiral staircase in the Split Rock Lighthouse.

Looking out over the railing we could not see the big lake. It was fogged in and clouded over, but inside we climbed up the spiral staircase to the top to see the special lens. Click here to read more on this fascinating lens.

The special lens in the lighthouse, only used for special occasions now.

We also toured one of the lightkeeper houses. An antique oven was lit while bread dough was rising so it was very cozy in the house as we warmed up in the kitchen on a cold blistery day.

A docent showing off the antique oven in the light keeper’s house.

Even in the rain we stopped a few more places along the way to Tofte, where our friends had rented a condo.

A different view than I normally see of a Lake Superior sunrise.

Much to our surprise we saw the sun rise over Lake Superior the next two mornings. What a treat – what a delight! We were grateful!

For two days it did not rain, and was partly sunny…to mostly sunny.

We took a another look on Oberg Mountain by hiking the trail for a second time in two weeks. The colors were fuller and even more vibrant than on our first hike two weeks prior.

It’s hard to capture the yellow trees closer to the lake which turn color later than the inland trees. Lake Superior is in right hand corner.

We meandered a long time at the top of Oberg, to enjoy God’s spectacular creation and amazing colors.

We showed our friends a taste of the wonderful north shore: Temperance River, Grand Marais, Naniboujou Lodge, and we spent time on the rocks, had a bonfire, and drove one of the fall color tours on the back roads.

The Grand Marais breakwaters, backlit with sunshine clearing from the west.

It brought us much joy to show off the beauty of Lake Superior. Time went by too quickly.

Early in the morning, on the last day, our friends headed north – they were driving back home through Canada. We headed south – back to Northfield, once again basking in the glory of the north shore and grateful for a second look at it this year

CCC: Civilian Conservation Corps

Through the years, at various outdoor locations, we’ve noticed signs that recognize the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) for their valuable work in natural history preservation. In the visitor center at Gooseberry Falls State Park we browsed their exhibit about the CCC, and noticed a statue dedicated to the men who served in the CCC on our walk to see the falls.

The statue at Gooseberry Falls State Park, dedicated to the CCC participants.

The CCC was a program President Franklin D. Roosevelt put in place in 1933 and it continued until 1942. It was a very innovative program and it was successful.

The CCC was a voluntary public work relief program that put young men to work during the depression. Men between ages 18-25, who were single and unemployed, could work for the CCC. It was unskilled manual labor and they had to leave home to find work.

From the display at Gooseberry Falls State Park Visitor’s Center.

The men worked for the conservation and development of natural resources in lands owned by the federal, state, and local government. The program employed three million young men over the years it was in operation. I learned they were paid a wage of $30 a month, but $25 had to be sent home to their families. The men were provided with shelter, clothing and food.

A cap issued to the CCC workers, with the division number.

This manual labor helped both the young men and their families. Apparently the young men developed an improved morale, learned skills to make them employable in the future, and improved their physical conditions.¹ The money sent home helped their families.

And…it helped all of us seventy years later. Gary and I often comment on how grateful we are for the people who went before us who had the insight and fortitude to protect the natural lands that we so enjoy today. The CCC was a part of this.

It seemed to be a win-win situation during a very depressed time in our nation’s history. I wish some kind of program like it could be put in place these days to help those who are unemployed.

I loved these tree roots…on the path to see Gooseberry Falls.

The small, but permanent, exhibit about the CCC at Gooseberry Falls Visitor Center tells of an interesting piece of our history.

¹Wikipedia

Honeymoon Trail

I needed my two-year-old granddaughter to walk Honeymoon Trail with me. I wanted to go at her “stop and look at every thing” pace….only I would stop and take pictures.

But she had already gone back home when we drove on this dirt road one rainy afternoon up north. Even in the rain the colors were stunning.

However, the next day the rain had stopped so we decided to ride our bikes on Honeymoon Trail. This road is a segment of one of the suggested Fall Color Tours on the north shore.

We’ve been going up to this area for 30+ years so we know this road and have always enjoyed it in autumn. But we don’t always see it so colorful. It was amazing.

It’s easier to stop on a bike to take pictures than stopping in the truck. These photos are taken with my iPhone. I can’t imagine having a specialized camera and capturing more of the beauty.

I just couldn’t get enough of the fall colors and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I guess it’s a good thing I wasn’t walking.

Our ride was great fun and it was a new adventure for us…riding our bikes one Honeymoon Trail.

While driving back to the cabin we saw a wolf cross the road. That was a first for us. I was not quick enough with the camera.

Walking at the North Shore

Walking at a two-year-old “I want to stop and look at everything pace” is a wonderful way to walk…it slows us down and opens our eyes to see things we might not notice while walking at our normal pace. We enjoyed several of these walks with our grand-daughter and her mom and dad while they were here with us on the north shore. It was delightful.

After they went back home we continued our stay at the cabin for a few more days to enjoy more hiking and biking and relaxing. One trail we always hike is the Oberg Mountain Trail. It’s a rather short hike…2.2 miles round trip. You hike up, walk around a loop on top and witness great vistas of Lake Superior and of inland trees and Oberg Lake. It’s a favorite hike of ours.

We arrived at the trailhead early one morning and spent a good two hours meandering the top and sitting to enjoy the vistas – even stopping a couple of times to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and muffin we brought along. We were pleasantly surprised at all the fall colors. We were not expecting these colors so early in the season.

Here is a photo essay from our hike on the Oberg Trail.

This is a vista point overlooking Lake Superior. It’s hard to photograph since it’s into the sun. The leaves have not changed along the shore of Lake Superior.

One of our coffee stops overlooking Lake Superior on the left and Mt. LeVeaux.

Such astounding beauty. It was breathtaking. Pictures, of course, do not do it justice. I am grateful for this opportunity to see this beautiful change of season, to feel it’s fresh air, and to smell the distinct fragrance of the fir trees, which also add the dark green contrast to the beautiful oranges and reds and yellows.

A Change Along Scenic Drive

On our way to the north shore we always take the scenic drive instead of the expressway from Duluth to Two Harbors. It may be a slower route, but it is, as the name describes, a scenic route along Lake Superior. About half way between the two towns is a non-descript building that looks more like a house than a store. It was called Practicals, Collectibles & Antiques.

We’ve been stopping at this unique store for years. We enjoyed browsing around and visiting with the owner who was always there. He was friendly and welcoming and recognized us. We knew he was a retired military guy who wintered in Texas but would spend his summers in his shop right across the road from beautiful Lake Superior.

The interior of the store was lined from floor to ceiling with thousands of used books and old vinyl record albums. Shelves outlined the perimeter of the store, which displayed antique dishes, collectibles and “practicals”. We always looked forward to stopping at this quaint shop. We would usually buy a couple of books at about $1-2 a piece.

One year we apologized for only spending $2 but he graciously said…the north shore gets a million visitors a year…if each one spends a $1 that works for me…however, I run this store because it’s fun…not for the money.

The For Sale sign for Practicals, Collectables, & Antiques.

This year at the turnoff we noticed the large hand-written “For Sale” sign in the yard. The building was locked and empty, and we were a bit sad. I guess we knew it was coming sooner or later but it was too soon for us.

While at the cabin we searched for additional information about the store. We found a local TV news program had interviewed the owner in Spring 2018. We learned the owner’s name is Ed Johnson and that he was loved by many (we were not surprised). We learned he ran this store for 26 years and at the time of the interview he was 76 years old.

If you look closely, you can see an outhouse in the back. There was no running water in this building. The public restroom was an outhouse.

One other fond memory I have of “Mr. Ed” is from years ago, before we got to know him a bit. My mom and I would occasionally take weekend trips together and I remember bringing her to his shop once. She was using a walker at that time and she required some extra care. He always welcomed people into his store. This time, when my mom and I left the store, he came to the door to say good- bye, and then he said to me, “thanks for taking such good care of your mom.” I don’t think any other person in the world ever told me that and it really meant a lot to me and brings tears to my eyes this day. A simple act of kindness.

“Cheers to Ed!” We trust he and his wife are enjoying their retirement.

Lake Superior Psalm

As we prepare for our annual trek to the north shore I usually reread the psalm I wrote years ago. I’ve posted it before but am posting it again. It continues to capture my feelings about wonderful Lake Superior and the north shore.

A new day ~ our view of the sun rising over Lake Superior. (2017)

Lake Superior Psalm 23
 
The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall thank him.
He allows me to come to Lake Superior
And hear the calming waves.
He restores my soul.
He guides me on the trails of the Superior Forest 
And leads me along the rocky shores.
Even when the waves are rough – even when the lake is calm,
I look forward to coming,
And He is with me.
His creation and His majesty, they comfort me.
He anoints me with many blessings
My cup overflows and I am grateful.
Surely I will praise him and follow him
All the days of my life,
I‘m grateful to dwell in His presence
On the shores of Lake Superior.
 
                                                
                                                Valerie 
                                                09/08