This morning I went for a walk with a friend in Carleton’s lower arb. As we walked near the river, an eagle flew out of a tree in front of us and flew across the river to the other side. It was amazing to see it up close…the wing span was large.
The eagle flew from one side of the river to the other
I thought of the verse in Isaiah 40:31 “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
It was a majestic sight and a wonderful reminder that as I am hoping in the Lord these days, He will renew my strength.
I like radishes!
And…my friend surprised me with a bunch of beautiful radishes.
Literally, within minutes, we got dressed in our winter gear, drove to the upper arb in Northfield, just a few blocks away from our house, buckled on our snowshoes and started walking in the woods in the early morning after a lovely snow fall the day before.
This photo of the colorful sunrise was sent by a friend (used with permission). We had seen a portion of this sunrise from our window which enticed us to get outside and snowshoe.
We went “off trail” and followed deer tracks and had a delightful time while getting exercise and fresh air. The sun was rising and it was very calm and peaceful. A great way to start the day.
We had fun following fresh tracks in the newly fallen snow.
An evergreen tree among pin oaks.
And we were back home an hour later. It’s wonderful to have the Carleton Arboretum so close and available.
The upper arb at Carleton College.
The campus of Carleton College is also a great place to walk in the winter – without snowshoes. Carleton keeps their sidewalks clear and safe and there are lots of places to roam and get in a good walk, while weaving in-between the beautiful buildings and green spaces – well- white spaces in winter! We tend to go there often.
Clear ice forms this Carleton College logo ice sculpture.
The other day we were treated with ice sculptures. We don’t know who made them, we assume some Carleton students. We found three.
Mamma and baby penguin ice sculpture.
Olaf!
It was a delightful addition to our winter walk that day on Carleton’s campus.
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 inside cover page for the program.
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.
One of Thoreau’s more well-known books.
The tour has ended for now but it may come back again. They told us this was their 9th season. 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.
We were able to get out cross-country skiing at the Carleton Arboretum a couple of times this past week. It is one positive for all the snow that has fallen this winter.
Through the woods…
The white, pristine snow blankets the ground and frosts the brown tree trunks. Water flows through open spaces in the river, the trail recently groomed for skiing, and the temperatures reasonable, even nice, to be able to be outside and enjoy this tough Minnesota winter.
Open water on the river that runs through the arboretum.
Yesterday gentle snowflakes fell during our time on the trail. Quiet beauty surrounded us. It was peaceful. It is always peaceful at the arb. It is sometimes hard to remember downtown is within a mile or two. We are fortunate to have this beautiful, wooded arboretum so near and accessible.
Snow covered trails.
Several years ago I wrote a poem while skiing at the arb and I thought of it again this week.
Cross-Country Skiing
Arms swinging Poles digging Jacket swishing Legs trekking Skis gliding
River Flowing Snow falling Birds singing Peace ringing Prayer bringing
The contrast of dark and light, white snow…brown tree trunks…gray water, is striking, but there can be color in winter. We saw this sunset the night before our last snow fall.
The sun setting over snow covered fields one evening while driving out of town.
