Feeling Minnesota

Chopping...

2012-01-27T13:35:00.005-06:00

Salsa and chickpea salad. Sharpened my knife skills making lunch today...

All relative...

2012-01-25T13:40:00.011-06:00

How does 25 degrees and calm feel comfortable? Well the mercury isn't hanging out below zero and there's no wind threatening to rip your face off, now is there? That Nature, she's one tricky Mother...

More tunes...

2012-01-23T12:45:00.007-06:00

So I've been working on a few new covers with the guitar and uke...here are a few links.

Three Tree Town -- Ben Howard

Somebody I Used to Know -- Goyte

When the Night Comes -- Dan Auerbach

Snapshot...

2012-01-21T11:28:00.001-06:00

Feel like jello...

2012-01-17T20:08:00.001-06:00

Why go out for a run on a below zero day? Why scrounge up all the layers of running clothes you can find? Why kick your butt out there trying to move forward on loose snow--which I'm pretty sure is similar to running on beach sand? Why let your eyelashes freeze together? Why try to breath through three layers of face mask? Why go out for a run on a below zero day? Because the shower and hot chocolate afterward are amazing...

Sans-souci...

2012-01-14T08:37:00.004-06:00

Without care; free and easy. An easy way for me to unwind is to find an excuse to listen to calm music. That may mean practicing yoga, going for a drive on a nice evening, or maybe just laying down in a dark room with the sole purpose of listening to some tunes--which I may or may not have been known to do on occasion. Here's a good, relaxing playlist for you to find an excuse to listen to next time you need it...

1. Song for Viola -- Peter Bradley Adams
2. Ashes -- Ben Harper
3. Walkin' in the Sun -- Fink
4. For My Corpse -- Random Rab
5. Shelter -- Ray Lamontagne
6. The Three of Us -- Ben Harper
7. Everything -- Ben Howard
8. Be Here Now -- Ray Lamontagne
9. Blue Mind -- Alexi Murdoch
10. Re: Stacks -- Bon Iver
11. Promise -- Ben Howard
12. If I Had a Million -- Fink
13. Atlas Hands -- Benjamin Francis Leftwich
14. Three Tree Town -- Ben Howard
15. Claire De Lune -- Debussy

Snapshot...

2012-01-11T23:15:00.003-06:00

New camera lens!

Cut the lights...

2012-01-04T00:42:00.005-06:00

No streetlights. That is something I’ve learned to greatly appreciate. In the non-snow months when it is dark out, it is dark. If the sky is clear of clouds you can see every one against a sky so black Crayola should name a crayon after it. ‘Black-as-a-night-without-streetlights’ perhaps…? If you happen to be driving it is almost an eerie feeling to look in the rear-view mirror out of habit and see absolutely nothing. The exception to this is winter. The blanketing snow lights up the night as each flake mirrors the moonlight. We went for a walk this evening after sundown and I only used the flashlight I carried to make us visible to the occasional passing car. Things take on a shade of dark blue that I can’t even think of descriptors for; it's just its own color. Again I think Crayola should get on that. ‘Snowy-moonlit-night-without-streetlights’…?

Snapshot...

2011-12-31T10:43:00.002-06:00

Snow...

2011-12-30T21:18:00.007-06:00

Welp, snow has finally come to the North Country...this may be the longest I've ever had to wait. I really don't think I had experienced a "brown Christmas" in Minnesota prior to this year. It wasn't the same. I'm ready for winter things...even snow shoveling. Ok, maybe not snow shoveling...

Trees...

2011-12-28T15:52:00.007-06:00

Amped...

2011-12-24T00:02:00.000-06:00

Fight or flight...

2011-12-23T00:11:00.008-06:00

So there I was walking through the back door of the local bar, mentally prepared to play my first solo set at open mic night. I’ve played there before, maybe five or six times, but usually with a friend who plays great lead guitar and/or sings. Let me also mention that my past open mic experiences have been pretty mellow, perhaps there have been three or four tables of people watching. Not tonight, however. As I walked in through that back entrance I was next to the stage where a full, clearly seasoned band was playing to a packed house. These guys have a Facebook page and everything…can you say legit? There wasn’t a clear spot in front of the stage. I froze. Then turned around with plans of walking right back out the door. The only trouble with that plan was that I had my guitar case on my back which invited a few people to beckon me in. I made my way to the sign-up book, hoping that the night was full, but there was about an hour wait to an open slot. I figured maybe it would mellow out a bit in an hour’s time so I put my name down. Well it gave me time to let the Mr.’s Gin & Tonic do their work and to meet/chat with Harmonica Rich, a guy who plays nearly every week alongside various acts at open mic. He told me about his background; Navy man from New Jersey who moved to MN and became a dairy farmer for a while before he retired. Nice guy. He agreed to come up and play a little improv with me. My time rolled around soon enough and the crowd did thin out a bit. I played my set of five songs with Rich adding in a few solemn riffs on the harmonica every now and then. It was fun. I got some compliments and applause. I’m glad I stuck it out…

Wrapped up my set with this one...

Calluses...

2011-12-20T22:58:00.005-06:00

Well I've got the time...

The Wolves -- Ben Howard

Don't Think Twice It's Alright -- Bob Dylan

Keep Your Head Up -- Ben Howard

Green leafies...

2011-12-15T15:33:00.008-06:00

As a kid I was an extremely picky eater. Often I would sit long past the mealtime at daycare with my plate of food because I refused to touch it. Dishes with visible chunks of tomato, mushroom, onion, or most other vegetables were right out. I vetoed anything with unrecognizable ingredients. I was a royal pain when it came to meals. It is hard for me to believe now, because I’m not sure when or how the switch was flipped, but I love food with very few exceptions. I especially love vegetables. Today I got my green leafy fix with some Swiss chard and potato curry…

Snapshot...

2011-12-06T19:25:00.002-06:00

Chimichurri...

2011-12-05T14:51:00.012-06:00

If I could travel anywhere someday I would choose Patagonia, hands down. A vacation of fly fishing, rock climbing, hiking, or all of the above would be ideal in my mind. At this point, however, a trip of that caliber seems like little more than a pipe dream. What I can do now, though, is cook with some Argentine flavor. I spent the morning chopping ingredients for our lunchtime meal...I love chopping. Lots of cilantro, garlic, onion, some other spices, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lime juice made up a chimichurri chicken marinade. More cilantro, parmesan cheese, lime juice, garlic, and olive oil added to a can of drained/rinsed chickpeas is a new take on bean salad. Lastly as the chicken was grilling I heated up some frozen carrots, sauteed them in butter with garlic, and added some thyme powder. Snow on the ground, but we're grilling South American style...

Snapshot...

2011-12-05T09:22:00.001-06:00

Routine...

2011-12-04T11:48:00.000-06:00

I went for a run. I ran down my street and out of the neighborhood. I ran past the house with the giant dog that barks as if he’s threatening to rip me to shreds should he ever make it beyond his chain. He wears a red bandanna though, so somehow that makes him seem more friendly. I continued on to the lake road and followed that a ways. Past the log home that reminds me of a story book I had as a kid; a Little Golden Book about animals sharing a house. Past the place with the weird windows.I can’t imagine finding coverings for huge circle windows and it is a pet peeve of mine having uncovered windows after dark. I stopped at the river bridge and looked down at the frozen water for a bit. It is getting too cold outside for me to be stopping for long though, so I continued on. I went past the clearing where more times than not I see deer. No deer this evening. Past the house that looks like one of the little winter village collectibles that ladies who like a lot of knick-knacks put out on display the day after Thanksgiving . I had arranged for a pick up this evening. Sometimes it is just easier going out for a run and not having to backtrack. My mom met me along the side of the road at about three and a half miles. We drove further to the lake and I took a few photos of the frozen over surface. Feeling Minnesota is my running route. Feeling Minnesota is every day. Feeling Minnesota is home…

Bored...

2011-11-26T22:34:00.002-06:00

Plugged in...

Down time...

2011-11-21T14:47:00.007-06:00

I'm allowing myself a few days of down time and being that I'm finally back to actual high speed internet I put up a couple more videos...

F***** Me Right Up--Sean Hayes

Garden--Sean Hayes

Moon landing...

2011-11-20T22:56:00.001-06:00

So what happens after you’ve achieved a goal that took eight wearisome years to bring to fruition? You get to go home, sleep soundly in your own bed, and feel a sense of accomplishment that makes all the difficult times and sacrifices melt away from your memory. When I say home I mean the place where you truly in your heart want to be. By your own bed I mean the comfort that you have created for yourself through sacrifice and hard work. And by sense of accomplishment, I’m referring to a feeling of fullness that was never there before. I graduated from chiropractic school this weekend. I am a doctor, a facilitator to healing, a pain reliever, a care giver, and I am proud. Now it is time to start down the path towards my next goal: success in this life that I’ve been laying the foundation for the past eight years. This journey will be an even tougher one to be sure, but hopefully it will be even more exciting…

Blaze orange...

2011-11-03T19:01:00.007-05:00

Well it is officially hunting season, deer hunting that is. Archery opened over a month ago, but the Minnesota firearm season starts on Saturday. On the way home from clinic this evening we saw a wardrobe of blaze orange hanging out on a line, airing out in preparation. Looks like I’ll be pulling out the orange for running this week; buckshot is the last thing I need...

Happy Halloween...

2011-10-31T21:20:00.001-05:00

Quote...

2011-10-26T16:56:00.006-05:00

"The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn." ~John Muir

At the range...

2011-10-17T22:16:00.003-05:00

Spent the afternoon at the shooting range. It's a fun day when your mom wields a gun...

Snapshot...

2011-10-08T19:28:00.004-05:00

It's anything but neon...

2011-10-03T23:22:00.003-05:00

The light is different here than in The Cities. At the end of the day neon lights and street lamps are replaced by beautiful sunsets and darkness. The recently harvested bean fields glow in the light right before dark. There was a person out riding a horse in one as I passed by on a walk last night and a trail of dust floated up behind them as they made their way down the length of the field. She stopped when they reached the end of the cut and leaned down to give the animal a pat on the neck; a gesture that was discernible even though we were separated by yardage. It was simple, the light is simple…

Punkin patch...

2011-10-02T16:59:00.009-05:00

Yep, you know it is that time of year when the local pumpkin farmer/retired teacher/children's book author/church lector has his pumpkins out for sale. We went down to the pumpkin patch and picked out three beautiful punkins this afternoon. Turns out there are criteria for picking the perfect pumpkin. If festive autumn decor is what you're after then a squat, round pumpkin is a classic choice. The little baby pumpkins work well for indoor applications such as tablescapes or mantle decoration. The look of the pumpkin wouldn't really matter at all if your plans are of the culinary sorts, in which case size and cost may be the deciding factors. But if you're making a good old-fashioned Jack-O-Lantern you have to take into consideration size, shape, surface area for image placement, and the location of the flat spot. The pumpkin I chose for carving is semi-large, with a flat spot that will allow for the proper viewing angle, and a face surface clear of blemishes. For now my pumpkin will decorate the front porch as it awaits its fateful assignment...

Snapshots...

2011-09-25T20:28:00.002-05:00

Taste of Minnesota...

2011-09-18T15:15:00.006-05:00

Walleye Fillets
I came across this amongst my photos. Now, would that be Feeling Minnesota or Tasting Minnesota...?

Feeling harvest...

2011-09-14T23:32:00.002-05:00

The soybean fields are turning. There’s a sign of fall I would have never picked up on before. Up-North the autumn colors are the quintessence of Feeling Minnesota…in my subjective opinion anyway. They elicit such a sense of home that it can warm me on even a cool fall day. Here in the Western farm country, however, the change in seasons seems to be marked by crops, harvest to be specific. In just the last week the soybean fields have transitioned from lush rolling seas of leafy green plants to bright expanses of goldenrod foliage and now to brown, withered stalks supporting a few crusty leaves and shriveled bean pods. I’ve learned this is the desired progression of the crop. Farmers look for the moisture content of the beans to be minimal before harvest. Otherwise they have to pay the big bucks for liquid propane grain drying. This doesn’t conjure up quite the sense of Feeling Minnesota as the glowing yellows and fiery reds of the Northwoods in the fall, but it is special in its own way. It seems to bring forth an air of community. Yep, the crops are turning, harvest is coming, and I’m Feeling Minnesota West…

10 a.m. coffee break...

2011-09-13T10:49:00.011-05:00

Tuesday morning coffee break at Grandma's means a baking extravaganza. We made both poppy seed and cinnamon streusel muffins, raspberry jam pinwheels, and a rhubarb crisp...and this was all before 10am. When she bakes, she bakes...

Learning recurve...

2011-09-10T21:45:00.007-05:00

Take stance

Lean into the shot

Cant the bow slightly

Draw back, all the while aiming down the arrow

Middle finger reaches its anchor point at the corner of the mouth

Draw arm becomes an extension of the arrow

Release and draw through...

Journey home...

2011-09-02T22:46:00.000-05:00

I made the trip from the flat expanse of Western Minnesota farmland to the rolling pine forests of The North this evening. In the time it took me to go from a landscape of sugar beets and corn stalks to one of lakes and trees it hit me, the ever busy stretches to and from the metro will no longer be a part of my journey home. It turns out that slowing to pass through the occasional small town results in far less frustration than losing time due to traffic. As I rolled into the driveway this evening I saw a campfire roaring out back, I felt the cool almost-fall air, and I took a moment to smell the pine trees…home.

When in Rome...

2011-08-29T23:12:00.005-05:00

Milk a cow...?
It just seemed like something I should be able to say I've done...

MN West...

2011-08-23T23:15:00.002-05:00

Soy beans, sugar beets, corn, and wheat. I can now identify them all out in the fields. I would like to think I always knew what corn and wheat looked like, but distinguishing between beans and sugar beets is a new one for me. I can tell you what a combine is and what it does, also something I never really knew. At the clinic I’m learning all about the dangers of moving hogs and chronic conditions such as tractor neck. Getting most places means at least a 17 mile drive and if you want to get any real shopping done you’re looking at a good 45 minutes minimum one way. Everyone knows everyone and they wave at me even though they don’t know me at all. The Minnesota accent is thick and so too is the “Minnesota Nice”. The sunsets over the farm fields are beautiful. The river makes the air smell of sulfur in the morning, at least that’s where I’ve been told the smell is coming from. When you run out of gas on the dam road you can coast for a good 5 miles before a slight up-hill stretch slows you down. When it rains, it pours…literally…and wash-outs and flash floods become a problem. There is not a single franchise fast food restaurant in town and the hardware store sells high-thread count sheets. Town baseball is big and so too is the county fair which starts this week. Small town living comes with a lot of lessons…

Snapshot...

2011-08-20T14:01:00.004-05:00

Dorothy...

2011-08-16T08:21:00.008-05:00

Well I'm out of The Cities now. I moved my stuff out to Western Minnesota farm country on Sunday. I'll be here for 3 months of internship before I'm back Up-North for good. My first night in town I watched people ride down Main Street on horses. Yep, I'm out of The Cities now...

Snapshot...

2011-08-12T08:44:00.003-05:00

Echinacea purpurea
Petals as cool as water, center as hot as fire...

Teepee...

2011-08-07T19:50:00.006-05:00

I went to a powerful candlelight yoga class this evening. The teacher is one of my favorites and this may be the last class of hers I’m able to attend with my dwindling time here in the cities. I say she is one of my favorites because her message always seems to be what I need to hear. I’ve even found myself saving her classes for moments when I’ve felt I really needed them. Yet again the theme of her class tonight was noticeably fitting. She asked us to imagine ourselves, our beings, as a teepee. A teepee with eight poles, eight pillars: love, courage, strength, determination, focus, kindness, spirit, and body. These eight pillars stand strong against one another supporting each other, blanketed and protected by a thick skin. She asked us to think about the place our teepee has been sitting. Is it time to move our teepee? Have we learned all we can learn in this place? Have the people in this tribe given us all they can give? Is it time to take down these eight poles and this thick skin and move them to a new place? Not because this one didn’t have a purpose or because we didn’t love it and its tribe, but because it is time...

Good byes...

2011-08-06T09:34:00.003-05:00

It was hot and humid and I was working up a sweat trying to shove the cardboard box into too-small-a-space in the trunk of my friend’s car. She was up in the front seat piling a crate of shoes, a clothes bag, and a decorative vase of branches in so that her side mirrors were still visible, because clearly she wasn’t going to be seeing out the back. As I took a moment to reassess the situation, trying to figure out how to make things work, it hit me; this is it. All these people that I’ve trudged down this school path with are dispersing. We are moving on to our final internships before we graduate in November. People are heading back to their home states, home countries, new places, and even across the globe. I’ll be leaving next weekend for Western MN. Everything is changing. I’ve often written here how unfavorable the cities have been for me, but truthfully there are a lot of people I’m going to miss and I have had fun times. We’ve been through so much together as a group. I’m not the greatest at goodbyes. I don’t usually do the whole mushy thing for closure, so the gravity of the situation will probably hit me on my drive out to farm country. After some re-arranging I got the boxes to fit in the trunk of her car and I said goodbye to my friend. Time to move forward, but I will keep the side mirrors clear for looking back on fun memories…

New running shoes...

2011-08-05T11:52:00.005-05:00

So light you'd think they're made of Cool Whip. Just did about 4.5 miles in hot/humid mid-day and it felt great. I think I've successfully worn out the dog...

Next...

2011-08-03T21:54:00.005-05:00

When the day is done
And you have done your best
Wait the results in peace...

Good times...

2011-08-01T23:52:00.007-05:00

Well I got to do a bunch of my favorite things this weekend… and here in the cities no less. Saturday was a busy one which started out with a morning run, I worked a bit at the clinic, tried to play some tennis, went muskie fishing, swam in a lake, had a little jam sesh at a park, hung with friends, had a few drinks, and played more music. I paid for it all a bit on Sunday and spent most of the day sleeping, but I did make it to an evening yoga class. I consider it a great weekend…

http://www.youtube.com/user/FeelingMN17?feature=mhee#p/u/1/upsYB2yUNHc

http://www.youtube.com/user/FeelingMN17?feature=mhee#p/u/0/6-ZHwi56XBo

Stress relief...

2011-07-29T00:34:00.012-05:00

Oofta, it has been a stressful week. I'm happy to say it cooled down today with my final day of classes...for-ev-er. That's right, my days of being a professional student are numbered. I'm just one trimester of internship away from graduation. School has been no cakewalk, but now I'm getting a taste of real world stress. I think I'm beginning to fully grasp the concept that these shoulder weights aren't gonna be lifting any time soon, so this evening I opened the steam valve with a beer and some guitar time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0my7uitwNR0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NI10SyoepU

3am...

2011-07-27T03:15:00.004-05:00

Not being able to sleep is the pits. It's really my own fault. One probably shouldn't work on their business plan and get into thinking-about-the-future mode right before bed. Even the rhythmic cadence of rain drops on windows can't lull a buzzing mind to sleep after that.

So here I lay

Waiting for day

Listening to rain

And yet I remain

Thought full and sleep less...

Wedding singers...

2011-07-26T09:06:00.005-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GdG0icaA48&feature=related

Prepared...

2011-07-22T20:59:00.004-05:00

Muskie rods in the cities, cause you just never know...

Snapshot...

2011-07-20T12:51:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/FeelingMN17#p/a/u/0/MgEZNcQgaLk

Melting, melting…

2011-07-19T18:44:00.006-05:00

The term heat index refers to a combination of the air temperature and relative humidity. The heat index is used to determine the human-perceived temperature. In an effort to maintain homeostasis, the human body is designed to perspire when temperatures are raised. The basic idea is that when the sweat on our skin evaporates it carries heat away with it. This system does not work as well, however, when the relative humidity is high because the evaporation rate is reduced. So what exactly am I getting at? Well according to the weather people the heat index in the Twin Cities has been estimated at around 115ºF for the past 5 or so days, which means Feeling Minnesota is Feeling Hot…

Sultry...

2011-07-17T21:20:00.007-05:00

Well turns out a scorching 110 degree heat index can’t spoil a beautiful day with family and friends. It was my cousin’s wedding this weekend and while the temperatures were reaching triple digits, my guitar buddy and I rocked out like cool cucumbers with a little wedding music. Then into the evening a little bit of liquid courage had me up on the dance floor partying away with my awesome family and friends. Hot day, cool times…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S720GNRjId0

Mellow garage band...

2011-07-14T16:39:00.010-05:00

A friend and I are playing at my cousin's wedding this weekend, so we got together this morning to practice with a little acoustic guitar party out in the garage so as to not wake his roommates. A band is official if it's played in a garage though, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-HdPFvGLGg

Snapshot...

2011-07-11T22:42:00.002-05:00

Weekender...

2011-07-07T20:24:00.004-05:00

This weekend traveler bit gets much easier when you just never unpack your bags. I'm starting to feel like a temporary resident of both the Twin Cities and my home in Northern MN being that I've been taking 3-4 day weekends Up-North for the past 5 weeks. In a way it is probably not a good thing. I'm certainly not fully committing to my obligations in the metro. I can't tell you the last time I went grocery shopping; I've been living off of cupboard staples and Subway for weeks. There are probably numerous other errands I've been neglecting...I guess I've just been biding my time till I can return home. Soon I will come back to life in the North Country for good and I will be at home both figuratively and literally...

S-s-summer...

2011-06-27T18:53:00.004-05:00

Well this has been an awesome summer thus far. In the past month I’ve spent more time Up-North than in the cities. I think I’ve fished more than I did the last couple summers combined. I’ve put on some miles in the canoe, played a round of golf, rocked out around a few bonfires, and I’m hoping this is just the beginning. It is fun to be posting about things I’ve done rather than things I’m wishing to do. Let us raise a gin and tonic to summer fun…

Snapshot...

2011-06-24T12:44:00.002-05:00

Looking Minnesota...

2011-06-21T18:36:00.015-05:00

When canoeing in the rain I think it best to be the lighter paddler, keeps your feet out of the puddle. Brother and I were Feeling Minnesota as we made our way down the Mississippi this afternoon. Towering pines along the secluded banks, a passing loon family, raindrops breaking the surface of the water. There was a lot of Minnesota happening, but as I jumped in the truck after shedding a layer of soaked rain gear he looked at my remaining long underwear, wool socks, and boots and said, “Now that is Minnesota.” I’ll take it…

Gone muskie fishing...

2011-06-20T23:17:00.004-05:00

Spent a good chunk of the day out muskie fishing with my two favorite guys. Brother bear is home on leave for the week so he, Dad, and I have been fishin’o’plenty. Yesterday we were out for bass on Lake Beltrami and caught some largemouths, rock bass, and a northern. Today we headed down to Cass for muskies. We had some follows and a few hits, but didn’t boat any fish other than a few small pike and one largemouth who was out for a big meal. I think there was still ample fun had all around. The lake was rockin’ pretty hard, I kinda feel like I’m still out there…

First big catch...

2011-06-11T23:12:00.000-05:00

My first time out muskie fishing was on Cass Lake somewhere in the ballpark of 10 years ago. I admit that I haven’t exactly been a hardcore muskie hunter, but I’ve put in a fair amount of time over the years. I’ve always found value in the experience of muskie angling which has kept me coming back, but I’ve never really had anything tangible to show for my efforts...except maybe some sore shoulders and cramped fingers. Such is often the case with muskie fishing, though, and I knew the day would eventually come when I would get to experience a real fight. Dad and I headed back to Cass Lake this evening in the hopes of seeing fish in some old, familiar territory. The weather was perfect, the lake was like glass. We were on an old hot spot and I was fishing a topwater bait. I was just thinking how quiet the setting was and it happened. I watched the fish break the surface of the water and saw her mouth close around the bait as if it were in slow motion. Time seemed to speed up exponentially after that. I set the hook. The fish was thrashing. It was harder and harder to reel in. I was nervous laughing, Dad kept saying, "It's a big fish...it's a big fish." I was trying to keep her away from the outboard, he was getting the net in place. She was at the boat, Dad got her in the net. Next thing I knew I was holding my 42” catch for a picture. Muskies come bigger, but that was the perfect first big catch for me. I feel like I’ve been fishing for that fish and that moment for a long time…

Cold turkey...

2011-06-09T08:07:00.004-05:00

Well I said I was hoping for a weather change and I think we got one. Sophie-dog and I went for a run in a breezy 45 degrees this morning. Between that and my champion breakfast of peanut butter toast with banana slices the 4 mile loop was a hell of a lot easier than it was a couple days ago. Cool runnings...

Hot potato...

2011-06-08T06:08:00.004-05:00

Well the Twin Cities made it up to 103 degrees yesterday; first time since July 31, 1988 apparently. Turns out wind doesn't have much effect when the temps are that extreme. I tried to beat the heat by going for a run at 6:30 in the morning, but it was already up in the mid-80s and humid. We lost power for the last two hours of work--meaning no air conditioning--so that was fun. I had been planning on heading over to the yoga studio for an evening class, but figured there was no point in driving to heated yoga as I could just practice out on the back deck in the same conditions. I guess it wouldn't be Minnesota without a bit of crazy weather, eh? Here's to hoping for a cold front, but no snow...

Chill evening...

2011-06-05T09:35:00.001-05:00

Did a little jammin' around a bonfire last night...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVeK7YTbz_w

Snapshot...

2011-06-02T08:19:00.002-05:00

Happy Memorial Day...

2011-06-01T07:24:00.012-05:00

Is there a way to calculate the amount of fun had during a summer weekend in Minnesota? Well I’m sure there is no universal standard set in place, but I’ve come up with a few criteria of my own. I think summer fun can be measured in tan lines and mosquito bites and in numbers of torn up guitar fingers. It can be gauged by numbers of fish caught and sore paddling muscles. I think one could also take into consideration the number of times a cold beer hit just the right spot and the number of good meals enjoyed. Wildlife sightings, scenery that makes you feel at ease, and friends to share it with also make for great summer fun. My Memorial Day weekend in Ely, MN registers pretty high on the list by these standards. I could talk an ear off about everything, but I’ll just tell you about the fishing here. First off, I was re-introduced to the fact that an ability to lose minnows and get a jig stuck in the rocks are inversely proportional to walleye angling skills. That being said, time out in the boat is always of high value to me. I did, however, get to try something new this weekend and that was fly fishing for smallmouth bass. After canoeing into the BWCA on Sunday morning and making a couple buggy portages, my paddling partner and I made it to the desired lake where we fished the shoreline for smallies into the afternoon. I’ve always enjoyed catching fish on a fly rod, but smallmouth bass put up a greater fight than the sunfish, crappies, and occasional largemouth I’ve caught on the fly in the past. This made for an exciting day of fishing and something new to add to my repertoire. According to my standards of measure I do believe I started this summer out right…

Snapshot...

2011-05-21T14:04:00.002-05:00

Spring time...

2011-05-20T17:49:00.004-05:00

Well I think we may have just experienced our small window of gorgeous Minnesota spring weather here in the cities this past week. The skies were clear, the high temps were 65-70 degrees, the mornings were cool, the leaves were on the trees, the flowers had bloomed, there was no trace of humidity, and the mosquitoes have yet to hatch. It was wonderful, I would take that all summer! Here's to hoping for another week of the same...

Snapshot...

2011-05-08T09:04:00.002-05:00

Homey...

2011-05-02T22:09:00.010-05:00

It was cold/rainy in the North this weekend, the kind of weather perfect for staying indoors and keeping cozy. Ergo, we busted out Grandma's pizza dough recipe and made up some home-made chicken and vegetable pizzas. Home-sweet-mmm...

Snapshot...

2011-04-21T09:50:00.002-05:00

By the shores...

2011-04-19T21:03:00.010-05:00

With a bit of finagling I managed to create a long weekend for myself this past week and I’m sure you’ll never guess where I headed—that was sarcasm if you couldn’t detect it. Of course I traveled north. From Wednesday afternoon to Monday morning I journeyed all around Northern Minnesota; including Bemidji, Duluth, Grand Marais, Grand Portage, the Gunflint Trail up to the BWCA, and Ely. I’ve been trying to write a post about the trip for the past two days and I honestly can’t even find the right words it was so perfect. Let’s just say I was Feeling Minnesota and then some…

Snapshot...

2011-04-17T01:17:00.002-05:00

I play...

2011-04-11T07:17:00.006-05:00

Too little do we let our inner child call the shots; too little do we let ourselves play. The theme of the yoga class I attended last night was letting go of the adult voice in our head. You know the one; it creates schedules, reminds us of the ‘right’ way to doing things, inhibits us, often keeps us from playing, and makes sure we are ‘serious’. Considering the last post I wrote, I felt this message was very fitting for me. The teacher encouraged us to take the time on our mats to play, like a child in a sandbox. To act with our hearts rather than our heads. To feel rather than think. As we held a pose named Eagle, with our legs and arms tightly wrapped and everything compressed, she asked us what times in our lives felt like this pose. Constricting, tight, difficult. I could think of quite a few times in daily living that make me feel this way. Then we moved to an asana called Airplane pose, which is as freeing as it sounds, with your weight on one leg and the other extended back and your arms flying behind you like wings. She asked us again what times in our lives felt like this pose. Light, free, fun. I was able to think of many times, but none that were part of day-to-day life. The class was spiritual, as many of the classes are, and she took us through a series of poses and reminded us to have fun, like the child in the sandbox. At the end of class while holding a pose called Wheel—where your hands and feet are planted, but you are upside-down with an arched back and an open heart—she had us recite the mantra, “I play, I play, I play.” We said it again and again, with more conviction each time. The pose isn’t easy, especially as she had us hold it three times. It is a position that your head says you shouldn’t be in, but a child would certainly love to try it. Even in difficult times, oppressive, constricting, rock-and-a-hard-place times; times when you can’t just run to your sandbox you can still remember to play…

Snapshot...

2011-04-07T22:52:00.004-05:00

Cost vs. benefit...

2011-04-05T18:42:00.009-05:00

I don’t think it is any secret that I miss home, being that it is has been the theme of many posts since I’ve moved down to the cities—and when I say home I don’t just mean the place of Northern Minnesota. I mean the feeling, the feeling of being there doing the things that I love to do. I can tell you that usually when I write about the longing of wilderness adventures or Northern Minnesota it is because I’m fighting stress. In the times when I’m unsure about my present and future or when the urban jungle has roughed me up, I find it comforting to put on my rose-colored glasses and look back on warm memories from the past. Photo albums of my favorite adventures, podcasts about wilderness endeavors, Sigurd Olson writings about Northern Minnesota, adventure photography books, and blogs for outdoor lovers become my security blanket during these times. I look through the pages hoping their contents will bring back the feelings of a kayak paddle in my hand, of rope moving through my palms, of beach sand in between my toes, of lake water on my scalp, of fish slime on my fingers, of wind in my face, of morning dew on my feet, of home. I’m getting close to the end of my time here in the cities; I graduate and become a chiropractor in November and school is smoother sailing these days, but occasionally I still have moments when I wonder why I’m here. I realize that life isn’t just all fun and games, and that personal goals take some amount of sacrifice and nurturing, but every once in a while I get the sense that my busy schedule and my dreams of home are outright foes. In reality I know this is not the case. My time here now is an investment in a happy future, but sometimes it feels more costly than others...

Snapshot...

2011-04-03T07:36:00.001-05:00

Snapshot...

2011-03-29T08:55:00.003-05:00

I guess I'll keep dreamin' for a while longer...

Dreaming of open water...

2011-02-25T09:23:00.009-06:00

The air is cool. The calendar would suggest otherwise, but there is no denying the chill that lingers in the morning air. It is early, but one has to be early when trying to beat the sun during the summer months. The kayak is heavy, especially when the muscles aren’t quite awake. It smells of stagnant lake water and its usual bright color is muted in the blue light before dawn. The trek down to the shore feels longer than necessary and pain creeps in as the weight of the boat digs into a shoulder. It lands in the beach sand with a thud. The particles scratch at the hull as the craft is pulled half into the water where it is poised and ready to ride. The neoprene of the spray skirt also smells a bit of lake water, an indicator of its constant use. The elastic deck rigging snaps down as the paddle float and pump are secured into place. There is a glow on the horizon; a promise of the approaching sun. The inside of the cockpit feels cool on bare legs. As the bow slides away from shore it is time to become re-familiarized with the balance of the boat. The spray skirt locks around its rim and the paddle begins to do its work. The hard line of the craft carves a turn through the water towards the rising sun, which is just starting to poke through the tree line across the lake. Even now its rays can be felt. The craft is beginning to match the color of the sky and the paddle blades glow as they swing through the air. The silhouette of a loon can be made out just ahead. It dives as the boat draws near. There is the distant sound of a motor; a fisherman most likely heading out to his favorite spot. The outing will last no more than an hour, but a morning like this ensures that the day will be a good one…

Memories, memories...

2011-02-20T11:53:00.007-06:00

“You guys still friends,” asked the oncoming kayaker. He and his paddling partner were newlyweds headed out on their honeymoon trip as we were heading back from our own voyage. She was brimming with excitement and seemed oblivious to the pouring rain coming down with a vengeance, but he recognized our weather-beaten appearance. It was a simple question, even a joke considering the conditions, but it meant more than the stranger even knew. My dad and I had just paddled our canoe over miles of lake, crossed portages, and camped through several days of high winds and driving rain. If there was ever going to be a test of our relationship this was probably it. It was early June which meant there was still a chill to the air--and certainly the water--up in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota. We had set out four days prior into sun and warm temperatures; I even got a good sunburn on my legs. My dad and I had planned the father-daughter adventure months prior and we were both excited for it. We covered quite a distance that first day, found a site, set up camp, and even tried some fishing. A dry spell had settled over the area in the weeks preceding our trip, leading to a widespread fire ban. This meant that once it was dark it was bedtime. My dad and I shared a tent—just less to haul—and that first night he told me old stories from his childhood. The waters were calm. We woke up the next morning to overcast skies and the promise of adversity. I am usually quite the Hour-by-Hour forecast addict; I’m always checking it for the purposes of making plans. In the wilderness of the BWCA, however, there is no such thing as a forecast so we decided to head out for some fishing. We were out for no more than an hour before the skies started to look threatening. The wind picked up and the rain started coming down in sheets. We fought our way back to camp against the gusts and made it just in time for lightening to pierce through the clouds. The waves were picking up. We struggled to make dinner under the extra rain fly we had set up over our ‘kitchen’ area. Tensions were starting to escalate. You know the chip-off-the-old-block saying? Well I would consider myself to be far more than a chip of my dad’s block. We are very similar, which if you knew our personalities would surely explain the conflict that arises between us more often than it should. Despite our bickering he is still that person that I look up to more than all others. He is knowledgeable, dependable, and a good man…plain and simple. Looking back I see that this experience was destined to be more than a father-daughter canoe trip. It was the time for me to show him that I respected him as the expedition leader and it was a time for him to see that I could carry my weight when necessary. We weathered through a couple more days. We had our breaking point moments and reconciliations. As we headed back on our final day, one of the worst weather days we experienced, it was clear that we were a team. A paddling machine making its way across the miles of water, fighting a headwind the whole way. We were on the last leg of the trip back when we came across the honeymooners. His question made us laugh and we both quickly chimed a synchronized response, “Yes, we are still friends.” I’ve had the good fortune to log many enjoyable adventures, but I still remember this as one of best trips I’ve ever taken…

We aren't talking...

2011-02-19T22:00:00.002-06:00

The city signs passed this evening representative of my Southward momentum, taunting me about my time home cut short. As a general rule I am quite the dependable Mother Nature enthusiast, not just some fair-weather fan...pun intended. I love her seasons in this state, even winter. When others are cursing her for the sub-zero temps and snow I'm usually lacing up my running shoes, XC ski boots, or mukluks for some fun outside. For me the change of seasons just means more opportunity for variety. That being said, when her impending February snowstorm interrupted my weekend home I too was left thinking, "That B****!"...

Lunches, Lunches...

2011-02-16T13:12:00.013-06:00

I've had to do a bit more cooking for myself this trimester, being that I'm in clinic and can't depend of the school cafeteria for turkey sandwiches any longer. Casseroles and other stove-top dishes that can be prepared ahead of time have been making handy lunches. Putting in a bit of time on a Sunday to cook a casserole and divide it into microwavable dishes has proven to save me effort during the week with lunch preparation. Here is what I made today for the rest this week; my take on Asian stir fry.
I cooked up about a cup (dry) of basmati brown rice. Sauteed some green pepper, onion, broccoli, and snow peas in some extra virgin olive oil. Made a sauce using BBQ sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, a minced garlic clove, a bit of sesame seeds, and a bit of cooking wine. Mixed the sauce, rice, and veggies in the skillet--and once everything heated up it was ready to eat. This time I did just the veggies, but I've added chicken breast to the skillet in the past and I'm sure steak would be awesome too. Try it, isssgood...

No worries...

2011-02-09T23:23:00.010-06:00

I was just chatting with a good friend this afternoon about how being young is sometimes scary. How everything is up in the air, nothing is nailed down, and you're never really sure of where your decisions will take you. I wasn't in a sour mood over it or anything, just mostly making an observation. So I moved on to other things after that conversation, but apparently was destined to revisit it tonight when I picked out Sigurd Olson's Reflections from the North Country to read before bed. I chose the chapter "Know Thyself" from the table of contents and this is what I found:

"...I did not get the answers that day, nor for some years afterward, but continued living the way I had, hoping the final decision would come. During part of this time I was unsure, and nothing is more unsettling to a young person. Eventually the decision did come, for the more I learned and the more country I saw, the more secure I was in my original feeling that I must live in the wilderness, that there could be no shortcomings or deviations in following my goal to the end..."

Hmm...

Snapshot...

2011-02-09T07:14:00.001-06:00

Almost Balmy...

2011-02-08T10:08:00.006-06:00

There go the weather people, trying to scare me again with their "advisories" and "thermometers". Well it hardly "feels like -25" when you put on 4 pairs of tights, 5 moisture wicking layers up top, and go out for a run. It's not gonna work Dahl, it's not gonna work...

Ely Strat...

2011-02-05T19:21:00.013-06:00

I packed up and made the trip home on Thursday after work at the clinic. It was homecoming weekend at school, so classes were canceled for Thursday and Friday. Earlier in the week my Dad sent me a Craigslist ad for an electric guitar up in Ely, MN, so it had become the plan to head up there to check it out. Now, I've mentioned many Northern Minnesota locations in this blog and I appreciate them all for various reasons, but truthfully for me the Ely area has always been the epitome of the North Country since my first visit when I was young. It has been my "someday place" for many years now and any chance I get to go up there I jump on, but this time it meant Ely and guitars...my kind of trip! We left late yesterday morning. The winding drive through snow-covered woods along with the prospect of a new guitar had me pretty much camped out on cloud nine the whole way. We rolled into town in the early afternoon and headed over to see the guitar right away. The visit reaffirmed my belief that Northerners are just awesome and I walked away with a new guitar to add to my collection; my first electric. The guitar was handcrafted from wood harvested in the Ely area and is truly a beautiful work of art. Tomorrow I will head back down to the cities, but this time I will be bringing with me a piece of the North--and being the introspective creature I tend to be, you know I'll be thinking of this in the future whilst playing the Ely Strat...

Solitude...

2011-01-27T10:26:00.004-06:00

When I was last home I made a few trips out on to the lake for some cross country skiing. Skiing on the lake can be a nice change of pace from the usual trail runs. Not saying I don't love the trails; moving through the woods is always peaceful especially in winter, but the lakes provide an open expanse and many possibilities which can be fun too. My first time out for the season was a quick solo trip. I left from the boathouse where I had worked a while back and headed out to the Mississippi river inlet. I had made that same trip many times in a kayak out on open water, but never on skis. It was fun to see the familiar stretch of lake shore with a nice covering of snow. Heading out in a kayak to make that trip is also relaxing, but again there is just something special about the stillness and tranquility of winter...

Home for the holidays...

2011-01-01T23:19:00.015-06:00

So it's been a while, but don't worry...I'm still here. I've been home for the past two weeks on break between trimesters. The time Up North has been awesome! Home for me means lots of family time, lots of home-cooked meals, and lots of Northern Minnesota outdoors. While it's usual for me to feel I could have done more with my vacation time, I think I did pretty well at making the most of my time here. I've devoted much of it to relaxing, but I did manage to get in some coveted time outside as well. Just the other day my mom and I packed up the pup and the skis for a run out on the lake. We've found that the snowmobile tracks covering the frozen landscape make for great ski trails and being out on the lake with the skis is a bit of a change-up from the usual groomed trail experience. I brought my new camera along and managed to sneak in a few photo breaks along the way. Lily was right at our heels as we made our way down the shoreline; she is an excellent "skier." As I look over the pictures now I realize that my New Year's resolution for 2011 will definitely be to bump up my quota on Feeling Minnesota moments...

Snapshot...

2010-11-18T14:24:00.003-06:00

Feel...

2010-11-10T07:20:00.004-06:00

"Here was the sense of oneness which comes when we listen with inward ears and see with inward eyes, when we are aware with our entire beings rather than our senses"
~Sigurd Olson, Reflections from the North Country

Calendars and Used Books...

2010-11-02T20:12:00.005-05:00

I have a two part story for you today. The first part involves a silly habit I have with calendars. Every calendar I come across I always go to my month of birth and check to see what I think of the picture chosen for it; if it is my favorite amongst the twelve, if it fits me. Sometimes it doesn’t and it is slightly disappointing, but when it does it brings me a moment of quiet delight. I’m not entirely sure why. I don’t think of it as good luck or that it has some superstitious meaning. I just feel like it links me to someone somewhere. Whoever chose to put that photo in that particular place is, on some level, connected to me. Part two of my story involves the nature photography and writings that I love and often mention here. It’s played out numerous times where I find passages written by an outdoor author or photographs taken by a nature photographer that are quite similar to thoughts I’ve myself had, passages I’ve myself written, or images I’ve myself captured. I don’t exactly think of myself as an artist, but I wouldn't be surprised if many people who practice these mediums would be disappointed to find such facsimiles amongst their work. For me, however, it always invokes a similar feeling as the calendar moments. I feel as though I’m connected to the author or the person behind the lens; often in my case by the natural surroundings we both love. Tonight I went to the used book store which has helped me build my library of outdoor writings and photography books and I found a photo book by Jim Brandenburg. I’ve admired his photography for years ever since visiting his gallery in Ely, MN. I flipped through the pages quick in the store and discovered a few photographs that spoke to me and several that were very similar to moments I have captured with my camera. It wasn’t until I got the book home that I realized how spectacular it truly is. He mentioned in his introduction that he was from Southern Minnesota, but is now “a creature of the Northwoods.” Hmm...why does that sound familiar? The theme of the book is photographs from summertime in Northern Minnesota. It includes one picture for each day from a season’s summer solstice to its autumn equinox. Of course I went right to my birthday and discovered that the photograph was one that caught my eye in the store and is one of my favorite images in the book. Moment of quiet delight…

Wait it out...

2010-10-28T22:20:00.005-05:00

I decided tonight that sunset photos are like chemistry titrations. Every picture is better than the next until they aren't and the only way to figure out when that is going to be is to take a bunch of pictures, one at a time, until you reach that one where it changes over. If you aren't patient you might just miss that one peak image. I'm telling you sunset photos, titrations...think about it...

Happy Momma...

2010-10-23T20:23:00.007-05:00

On Friday morning I learned that I passed Part II of the National Chiropractic Board Exams!! I had told myself that if I passed I would finally buy a DSLR camera. I've been researching them for quite a while now and I knew exactly what I wanted. As I was compulsively checking the score website on Thursday night a commercial for my camera came on TV and I decided it was a sign. So like I said, I passed and I'm now the proud owner of a Canon Rebel T1i. Oh, happy day...

Snapshot...

2010-10-15T15:20:00.003-05:00

Hooyah Columbus!

2010-10-12T09:32:00.014-05:00

Oofta, I haven’t written in quite a while. I started a new trimester in school after Labor Day and I've been running and gunning ever since. The Columbus Day holiday provided me with a long weekend, so I was finally able to make it home. Turned out Brother Bear had the day off too and we flew him up from his base in Florida to surprise my parents. His flight didn’t get in until 2:00am Saturday morning so we didn’t show up on their doorstep till 6:00. He called mom and told her there was a surprise at the front door and yada, yada, yada…there were hugs and happiness. It was an amazing weekend. It hadn’t been just the four of us at home in over three years. We kept it fairly mellow. Went out to breakfast after arriving on Saturday and then hung around the house into the afternoon. On Saturday evening we went out grouse hunting. Mom and I just tagged along for the hike through the woods, while the guys hunted. As we walked through the trails in the Chippewa National Forrest, mom and I chatting with Brother Bear and Dad up ahead, I thought to myself how perfect a moment it was. Even now writing this it gets me teary-eyed, but having the family together and at home in the Northwoods pretty much completes me. We made a trip to Itasca State Park on Sunday. Brother hadn’t been since we were young kids and I am always up for some time spent there. It was a unique experience; last year my trip to the headwaters at this time coincided with the first snow coming down, while this year it was as warm as a summer day and we got to wade through the beginning stretch of the great river. We had to leave early, early Monday morning to get back to the airport by his 11:00 departure time, but we made every moment we were home count. Turns out family members of active military personnel can get passes to go all the way to the gate, so I got to spend some more time with Brother before his plane left. It never gets easier sending him off, but this weekend was surely one for the books…

Snapshot...

2010-08-21T11:05:00.002-05:00