A Week in Winter Wonderland

Last week it snowed one day, and then another, and then another and for some reason the snow mostly stayed on the tree branches making the world around us a winter wonderland. For me it was breath-taking. Everywhere you looked the trees were frosted. I tried to capture a few photos.

The first snow – ice crystals clinging to tree branches and glistening in the sun.
The second snow – Evergreens along County Road 9.
Second snowfall – we went snow-shoeing on French Lake.
Overlooking fresh fallen snow on an open field.
The third snow – walking in vehicle tracks on Crystal Lake.
Chunks of ice carved out of Crystal Lake, preparing a hole for a polar plunge (which we did not stay to watch.)
Continuing to walk all the way across Crystal Lake.
Into the woods on the other side of Crystal Lake.
A lone pine cone hanging on to a snowy branch.
Stunning beauty all along the Highway 3. I can only imagine what it would look like with blue skies.
Every branch (and every tree) is covered with snow.

Impromptu Hike

The sun was shining, the snow was glistening and the woods were calling. Fortunately, we had no where we needed to be so we headed out to Big Woods State Park to hike in the winter wonderland.

An inviting trail.
A blanket of snow.
Trying to capture the glistening snow.
Over a bridge and through the woods. Clean, white, fresh snow.
Ending our time with a walk through the campground.

History Lessons

Into the woods, heading towards Loon Lake.

Our time with my aunt (87) and uncle (my father’s brother, 89) was delightful. We enjoyed staying in their beautiful home on 150 acres in northern Minnesota. The farm, with lake shore, was very picturesque with the clean, fresh fallen snow covering the fields, and lake.

Fence line for the cattle field.

We did some snowshoeing on their property, took a walk down their lane to pick up the mail, helped fill a wooden trough with corn because my uncle feeds six deer each day, and filled two large bird feeders outside their kitchen window, but mostly we visited. After catching up with family talk we spent hours reminiscing of days gone by, focusing on their lives but including tales of my father, who passed away when I was twenty, and my grandparents who came over from Norway. These history lessons come alive when told from a personal perspective and we listened intently to the stories. We asked questions and they in turned asked  questions of us to show their interest in us too…it was a very special time as we slowed down our lives to be with these fine folks.

Uncle Bob, and his dog Max.