Last week we were, once again, biking on the new trail in town when we noticed a turtle on the path. We stopped to take a look and discovered this turtle was a different species than the turtle we saw a few weeks ago.
A Snapping Turtle.
I took a picture, hoping to identify it later. When I first saw the turtle I thought it was a snapping turtle, but I didn’t test it by dangling a stick in front of his face to see if he’d snap. After a quick research, I’m pretty certain it is a snapping turtle. Click here for more information.
I wonder how many species of turtles are in the area along the river, and near the path? Hopefully we’ll see a new and different one the next time.
Last week while riding our on the new trail from Northfield to Dundas we stopped for a large turtle on the path.
We got off our bikes to get a closer look and found it was an unusual turtle…one none of us had seen before. We enjoyed looking at it, and wanted to touch it but decided not to. All the while it just stood there (do turtles stand?) waiting for us to leave.
We took in the wonder of it all, then got back on our bikes and continued on our ride. On our way back the turtle was gone.
The next day my friend did some research and found this turtle is called a Trionyx muticus. Click here for a link for more information. It is a soft-shelled turtle with and interesting snout and apparently considered a “special concern species in Minnesota”, which I think makes for a rare sighting.
It was fun to see this creature on the trail and hopefully it will find a safe place along the riverbank to make it’s home.
This morning, after starting the coffee pot, I took my usual trip to the back deck and said good morning to “Miss Dove”, the mourning dove whose nest is in the honeysuckle vine. Her two babies (squabs) were there, although I could only see one clearly, but I’m pretty sure both mama and baby smiled back at me.
I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down looking out my window when all of a sudden I saw a flurry of activity by the nest. I thought maybe the babes were learning to fly…and then I saw a squirrel, attacking the birds.
Feathers were flying everywhere.
I immediately rushed out to scare the squirrel but by the time I got there the squirrel was gone, and so were all three birds.
Feathers were floating everywhere in the aftermath of the attack. I was dumbstruck. I couldn’t believe what just happened. First, my special friends were gone…were they dead? I was so sad. And secondly, I didn’t know squirrels went after birds.
All morning I kept checking the nest, hoping the birds would fly back but they didn’t. However, later I recognized one of the baby doves sitting on top of our lattice wall. I was so happy to see it. It was looking at me, and I suppose, wondering where his mama was. I didn’t know what to do so I called a friend familiar with birds and he said I could try to pick up the baby and put it back in the nest, but we decided to leave it alone since it was already capable of flying.
I recognized this baby dove on top of our lattice wall.
Eventually the baby dove flew into the tree and I can only hope it was reunited with its mother. I have no idea about the second baby dove. I hope it too survived somehow.
Ah, nature… it’s beautiful, but can be harsh. I will miss my brood.
A mourning dove, I affectionately named Miss Dove, has a nest with two eggs in the honeysuckle vine growing on the trellis on our back deck. I step outside daily to say good morning to her and she has grown accustomed to me tending my flowers and changing the nectar in the hummingbird feeder that hangs right below her. She has hatched her two eggs. Now there are three crowded into their little nest and it’s a precious sight to see.
A good look at Miss Dove and her baby behind her. Her other baby is behind her and in front of the other youngin’.
Although she let’s me come close it’s still hard to capture a good photo with the branches in the way.
We have been blessed with some idyllic spring mornings lately: plenty of sunshine and blue skies, coolish temperatures and no wind. One morning I hopped on my bike and pedaled my way to a familiar nine mile loop outside Northfield. We call it “going around the block” (a large block!) There is a short trek on city streets and then long stretches of country roads with several hills to climb (and coast back down again thankfully).
The beautiful blue sky and country road, grass greening and trees budding.
In town, as I rode along, I saw a mother with her child out for an early morning walk already. I heard dogs barking and passed golfer’s golfing. Once out in the country it was quiet and still except for the birds singing and a rooster crowing. I biked past peaceful farms, ponies in a pen, open fields ready to be plowed and planted, and wind turbines – to remind me we’re in the 21st century.
These two wind turbines are owned by Carleton College and provide energy for it’s campus. St. Olaf has it’s own wind turbine on the other side of town.
On the first six miles of this ride only one car passed me. The last three miles traffic picked up on the country road heading back into town. One truck came up behind me on the crest of a hill and passed me – in a no passing zone. I couldn’t believe he’d pass when he couldn’t see over the hill. I’m thankful another car was not approaching in the opposite lane.
I rode past this tractor in the field but waited for a rest stop to get a photo…it’s hard to get on and off the bike just to take pictures, both physically and mentally, because I really want to stop and take them. I guess I need one of those cameras attached to my helmet.
Mostly it’s a tranquil ride – even when I’m out of breath climbing those hills. I’m grateful to have this route close to where I live. I can hop on my bike and be out enjoying the countryside in just a few minutes.
Last fall a new trail in town opened and is getting a lot of use. I guess the idea “you build it and they will come” works. This is good.
Our friends were walking on this trail a few days ago when they saw folks stopped along the trail looking up…which usually means there’s something “up there” to see (much like cars pulled over in a national park…you know there is some kind of wild animal in sight!)
8-10 nests in the tree tops, a Great Blue Heron rookery.
They discovered high up in one tree there were several nests, called a rookery, and Great Blue Heron’s were occupying those nests.
When they told us about this we grabbed our binoculars and went to check it out, and there they were. I didn’t know the big, beautiful Great Blue Heron I often see standing so tall and majestic in water near shore, built their nests in the tops of trees…it was interesting to learn and fun to see.
Notice the Great Blue Heron in tree top…zoomed with my camera iPhone. This is when a good camera lens would be nice.
We counted eight nests in one tree and over all we saw five herons. We stayed there to watch a while as a couple herons flew away and then a couple flew back.
GBH on Pond #3 last fall, 2017
It was entertaining – and as we stood there along side the trail looking up – others stopped to find out why.
Matthew 6: 26-27 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Our church’s children’s program was performed last Sunday: O Come, Let Us Adore Him. One of my favorite Sundays in the church year is the day the children put on a Christmas program. I love to see the children all dressed up, some in shepherd’s clothing, some with angel wings, all cute. It’s fun to hear them sing, read their lines and perform solos, all the while other kids are fidgeting and waving to the their mom or dad, and adjusting their halos. It’s pure and innocent. I know I’m not alone in finding joy watching the children tell the story of Jesus and his birth each year at Christmastime.
The children of Emmaus Church in the Christmas Program, December 2017
After the program the kids all received a treat bag with candy and popcorn balls. It brought back memories of receiving my own treat bag at the church I grew up in after participating in our Christmas Pageant. Our bags were filled with ribbon candy, and an orange, and some walnuts in the shell, if I remember correctly.
The beauty of this pageant tradition is they are telling the same wonderful story every year but we are seeing it with fresh eyes by watching our children act and sing it out once again.
Jesus said, “Letthe little childrencome to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
The first Thursday evening in December the city of Northfield blocks off Division Street (our main street) to traffic and puts out luminaries, brings in horses and sleighs for rides, has carolers singing, hosts Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus and the stores offer yummy treats and cider. It’s very festive and very popular – even with folks from the cities who come down to enjoy the special event. This year was Northfield’s 19th Winter Walk.
It was a bit cold this year which seemed to keep the crowds to a manageable size (for me anyways) and there was a touch of snow on the ground which added some extra Christmas spirit.
Outside the Antiques of Northfield store.
Each year we enjoy walking around and make a few regular stops to certain places we like, including the Downtown Bicycles shop where I put my name in a drawing.
Downtown Bicycles
The library always hosts the Model Train Club and hobbyists set up their old model trains for a fun exhibit.
Quality Bakery
Stores along Division Street decorate their storefront windows with holiday displays so its fun to window shop too.
Rare Pair
I wear a Santa hat to the winter walk every year. At the first Winter Walk, in 1999, I bought my Santa hat from Jacobsen’s Department Store and I have worn it to the Winter Walk every year since. Jacobsen’s Department was an “old-fashioned” department store with wonderful, old wooden floors, distinctive but pleasant smells emanating from years being in the same place, and unbelievable inventory. We were sorry to see it close in 2007.
My Santa hat from Jacobsen’s Department Store.
I was notified the day after the Winter Walk that I had won the drawing at the bike shop. When I went to claim my prize I was hoping I won the water bottle instead of the t-shirt, but my to my delight both the water bottle and a t-shirt were included in the prize so I was given both. That made me smile.
A new section of the Cannon Valley Bike trail opened last week. We walked the new section over the weekend when it was sunny and warm outside. The trail is a great addition to the existing trail and it connects with another section to make a 5.8 mile loop between Dundas and Northfield.
A glimpse of the new link of the Cannon Valley Trail.
We were pleased at a job well done: to see the curves in the trail between the trees, hay laying on top of the grass seed lining the trail, a new picnic shelter, and nice views of the Cannon River.
A new, large picnic shelter along the trail.
When we woke up to 55*F temperature one morning this week in December (the next day it dropped to 15*F) we decided to get our bikes out, once again, and go for a bike ride on this newly paved, smooth trail.
A bike ride in December.
This will be a easy trail to access next summer without getting in the car, which will provide more opportunity for impromptu bike rides, like this warm day in December.
A few days ago I received a text from my friend with a photo of her two (of three) granddaughters, ages 4 and 6. The girls were decorating sugar cookies, with the caption “Leaf Cookies!”
Leaf Cookies! Photo by FR.
I was surprised how quickly my mind went down memory lane.
Before I called Northfield home (in 1994) I would sometimes venture to this town for a day trip. Northfield’s downtown area is, and always has been, a fun destination for a getaway from the city.
In the mid 1980’s, on a fine, autumn day, my friend (the grandmother of the two girls in the photo) and I went to Northfield. While walking down the main street we looked in the windows of Quality Bakery. We were impressed by the cookies we saw there. They were sugar cookies, in the shape of leaves, decorated with frosting using fall colors. We loved the idea and immediately went out and bought leaf-shaped cookie cutters: an oak leaf, a maple leaf, and an elm leaf .
Often in the fall, I would make sugar cookies and recruit my boys to help frost the cookies. The cookies always looked festive because any touches of the red, yellow, orange or green colored frosting on the leaf shape made them look great. I remember putting two or three colors on a cookie and taking a toothpick to swirl the colors together.
A photo from my 1993 photo album.
So when I saw her photo come through on my iPhone what surprised me most was the emotions that swelled up within me. It brought tears to my eyes. I thought back to when my own boys were 4 and 6 and the good times we had, I thought about my friend’s two little boys and my two boys playing together and now one of her sons is deceased. And, then back in the present, I was filled with such joy to see my friend’s two sweet, granddaughters frosting leaf cookies.
So in this season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful…for friendships, children and grandchildren, and traditions.
