Saturday, October 30, 2010

Cast of Characters

Please allow me to introduce my trail" cast of characters".
I have no idea what mushroom this is and if it is eatable.  But I really like the looks of it.
I was told by a fellow trail walker that this bambi and the mother(who is near by) are not afraid of people.  No wonder, they live on the trail
My young friend, Ashley took this picture.  
 I would look forward to seeing certain places on the trail, A little over 1.5 miles into the walk you will come upon this little passage of trees.  
I saw hundreds of ducks, geese, and seagulls 
One would always know exactly where they were upon reaching these rocks. Very important role in my cast
The sun was always around, whether setting like here, or under a cloud or shining down on me and the trail.  The Sun is one of the most powerful characters.
Mr. Little Guy. He was eating some seeds that a fellow trail walker had given him.  
 what is the "grass" hopper doing on the trail anyway?
The grand blue heron. Yes, there really is a bird in this picture. I was very worried about this heron (as I mentioned in a previous blog)  Day after day, which turned into weeks, this one would always be there when I reached the bridge. The other herons had already left.  He is now gone.
The past few weeks I have seen several sunsets.  By the time I get to the end of my walk the sun is setting.  Stunning
The moon is also a main character on the trail lately.  What more could one ask for, the sun setting on the west side of the lake and the moon rising on the east side of the lake and I'm walking right down the middle. Priceless
I have seen many many eagles.  I have pictures of eagles sitting in the trees in my yard.  But I never ever get tired of seeing them. I'm always in awe of them.
Lately I see beavers when I get to the trail bridge over the Mississippi River.  They have been very busy!
I took this picture today.  This is the passage of trees I mentioned earlier. 

Well, I have introduced you to my cast of characters on my trail walks.  If you haven't walked the trail, get out there.  And if you see any of my characters tell them I sent you.
Oh, Rachelle, I left out the picture of the snake.  I didn't want to stun you.
OH OH, Rachelle, I forgot to tell you something.  One of my fellow trail walkers informed me that they saw a..... ?????

Monday, October 25, 2010

He Doesn't Look 66

It is Michael's birthday.  Well it was yesterday.  If you don't know, the birthday boy is on the right.  Four of our favorite people joined us to celebrate
True friends they are.  Each of them have taught Michael and I to be better people

Happy Birthday Michael, until next year


Thursday, October 21, 2010

I started my walk tonight in very crisp air, feeling the solitude of the four mile walk, and even the sense of something "wild" out there.

AND THEN the sky cleared and I saw the sun setting.  The sun brightened up the trail.  All of a sudden my steps seemed lighter, the solitude turned into a sense of belonging and the sense of something wild went away.  AAHHH the magic of the sun
Do you believe in magic?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Our greatest forces of nature.

The setting Sun and a rising Moon tonight.  
Bask in the sun and spend as much time as you can outside, even when the weather isn't cooperating. You will be invigorated.
Getting back in touch with the earth, sky and water will calm you with any conflict you are facing.
Look at the Sun and the Moon for inspiration
I am truly in awe of you.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

St. Cloud or bust!


It was time to get out of town, so I went to St. Cloud.  I visited my long time friend Cindy.  Saw my daughter Erin and my brother- in -law John.  Cindy and I had a goal.  To be outside (it was great weather) and to locate pumpkins.
We started out at a place near Cindy's house.  This place had pumpkins, antiques and a puppy.  A puppy? Yes. A very cute one that was all by himself for his brothers and sisters had already found homes.  He was very sad and my heart hurt for him. But, I couldn't take this puppy for I already have 3 cats and a dog.  I did purchase pumpkins and something else, which I will show you at the end of this posting.
Onto the next pumpkin patch.  This one is near St. John's University.  It was a beautiful drive out there. And was very much worth the drive.  They had GREAT pumpkins, weird looking pumpkins that I feel in love with.  And they had apples. A petting zoo, hay rides, a place for kids to paint pumpkins, and on and on. I would go back.
Just look at these pumpkins.  A PINK one

Cindy and I decided that we really liked lumpy pumpkins. PEOPLE, you should step outside your "pumpkin"comfort zone and purchase one of these beauties.
Aren't they just wonderful!
Well.  We were done with pumpkins but not with being outside.  We decided to take a long walk, it took us about 1.5 hours and we loved every minute.  Cindy's dog Jack Jack also loved this walk.
The following are just a few pictures of the trail.  
I'm still trying to capture the beauty on camera.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE TRAIL WALKING!! 
Isn't this a beautiful old barn?
These are my St. Cloud pumpkin purchases. The pumpkin on the left is a heirloom pumpkin.  It is bluish greenish.  I LOVE IT.

And this is what I bought at the first pumpkin spot.  Stain glass. It only cost me $10.  According to the woman I bought it from it started out in Bemidji, went to St. Cloud and now back in Bemidji. I had a great weekend.  I'm hoping you did too.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Critters, their homes and then there's Roger

 Well, on my trail walk today I decided to take as many pictures I could of critters and some of their homes
 This Blue Jay (yes there is a Blue Jay in this tree) wouldn't sit long enough for me to take a good picture of him. He would hop from tree to tree, teasing me.  Sitting still until I tried to focus.  Then he would jump to another tree.

A squirrel lives here. I saw several squirrels but I cannot prove it with this blog.  
 Beautiful. I am so in love with this trail and fall
  At first I thought it was a bee hive. But I'm not sure?
 I think this is the opening to a fox den.  A few months back, before I brought my camera with on my walks, I saw a fox.  He laid right in front of this hole.  Would I lie to you? :)
 This little guy actually wanted his picture taken.
 I think this heron is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.  I think he is afraid to fly away. He hasn't moved from this spot in about a week. Don't believe me?  Just ask Rachelle.

 Rachel wanted her picture taken also.  Isn't she cute.
 Two eagles. Their home is near by
 I did see one more critter on the trail tonight.  But he was to quick for me. His name is Roger.  I didn't recognize him at first for all those bikers with helmets and those spandex bike clothes, well, they all look alike to me. 
"Good Night Moon"