NO SKIING TODAY

The plan had been to bushwhack a trail on skis on the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Sunday.  It was a lovely sunny day, however it was also 42 degrees which precluded skiing, way too wet a snow.  So we decided that we would snow shoe the course we might later want to ski.  For years, that is when winter was real here, and we actually got snow, we entered the Reserve from here...

 

 

 

 

right off of Highway 131, about 1 mile north of the Reserve Building.  This is a very long valley with its own 'stream' running through it.  It leads down to the Old 131, which we cross over, traverse some frozen, grassy marshland, until we get to the Kickapoo River.  We snow shoed along the river for quite a long ways, always a stunning sight.

 

 

 

Despite the warmth, the snow was still deep, and the 'hike' a real workout.

 

Time out to rest and contemplate the beauty of this place.

 

 

 

A stop just before we cross over the slough.

 

 

 

There were some wet spots, but we never broke through.

 

This took us nearly 3 hours, all of which  were punctuated with a winter beauty we have been robbed of for the past few years.

 

Unless we get more snow, there still won't be good skiing, but I have already skied and snow shoed more this year than the last two years combined....I won't complain.

\

The National Geographic has an article in their latest issue about the healing powers of being out in nature.  We have had a pretty tough year, and I can attest to how nature balms my soul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



I LOVE THE KICKAPOO VALLEY RESERVE

Sunday was a beautiful warmish winter day so despite my sinus problems and Freddie's stuffiness, we decided to go for a 'short' hike on the Reserve.  We were looking for ice caves, but amid all the beauty it almost did not matter that we found only smallish ones.

 

Here at the start of our hike, we are entering the woods near Bridge 10.

 

 

The snow is rather wet, but did not deter us at all.

 

This is the kind of scene we cast our eyes on nearly every step of the way.

 

 

 

The shapes, forms, rhythms of nature apparent everywhere.

 

 

 

 

One of the ice caves we visited.

 

 

 

 

 

...and another...

 

I am always struck by how beautiful even the simplest thing, a lone leaf upon the snow, becomes in the winter.

 

 

 

The color, the texture, the form of this branch was stunning,

 

 

as was the 'hair' on this River Birch.

 

Winter, despite the sometimes bitter cold is such a gift to the senses!  The snow, in its brilliance and purity, serves as a backdrop, an appealing canvas for the starkness of dormant living things. 

 

Winter is the blessing of the seasons, where beauty just sticks you in the eye!!!



FINALLY

It has been a rather difficult few weeks and perhaps no one even checks this stagnant blog anymore, but I am back.  First of all everything on my computer was encrypted, and I lost everything.  Luckily I knew just the man to help me out and he eventually, after over a week with no computer, restored all.  Second, I received a new, much wanted camera for Christmas, and it came with no manual, leading to multiple problems transferring photos to the computer, now resolved.  Third, I have had, for about two weeks now, the 'cold' sinus problems that are going around, and have been really under the weather.  Things are looking up now!

 

 

 I purchased new wax less skis and new ski boots a few weeks ago, although there wasn't any snow, and the past few winters did not make snow seem promising. We did FINALLY get a nice snow cover, about 4 1/2 inches over an icy crust.  Excellent for skiing.  I have been out skiing several times, trying to get used to these skis, and enjoying our 207 acres....simply stunning in this winter wonderland.

 

 

 

 

Atop the hill overlooking the house and barn, all of what you see is part of the 207 acres. 

 

(This along my ski path.)

 

 

We have several birch trees on the property, and they stand out in their utter beauty in the winter snow.

 

 

 

 

Skiing along a path heading into the woods. 

 

 

 

(This is Jug Creek, across the road from the house.)

 

The quiet, the solitude, the brilliance while skiing is deeply mesmerizing and not unlike a meditation. 

 

 

Doesn't just everything look beautiful in the winter?

(A view from the driveway of my workshop.)

It is great to be feeling better, to be skiing again, and to have my computer functioning.

 

 

On another note, Andy finished a three day chemo treatment last Friday, so he is beginning to feel some better, and for that I am so grateful.  If any of you reading this want updates on Andy, please click on Possum in the Compost in the side column.

 

 



RENEWAL

Celebrating the Christmas season was joyful this year, Andy  just having received good news from his scan.

The Sunday after Christmas Jonel and family, Freddie and I took a short hike above the Kickapoo River.  There is really nothing that can renew one's spirit, highlight the miraculous beauty of nature, and fill one with awe and gratitude as walking in the woods, especially along this river.

There really is not a spot where the view is not stunning and magical.  Being with the little ones, who stopped every few feet to exclaim at something, pick it up and put it in their pocket (or mine), only emphasized the wonder.

There is no season where this winding river is not beautiful.

...and as always the rock outcroppings are beyond my words...

...one of Elsa's finds...

Stepping out on one of the outcroppings high above the river.

These two made this hike very special...really through the eyes of little children...

A true 'tree hugger'.

Sometimes this season can cause one to feel depressed and blue, however this day, this walk in the woods above the river, this time with children and family, was marked with deep gratitude for so much; for Andy's healing journey, for these little girls whose love of nature is so pronounced, for my daughter (and Andy) whose parenting of these girls is so right on, and for all of the gifts being their Nonna has bestowed on me.  I pray this new year brings health and happiness, healing and love.

HOLIDAY FAIR

On Saturday, Dec. 5th the Kickapoo Valley Reserve held, among other things, an Arts/Crafts show.  This was my 'booth'.

Lots of people came by, and I sold a rug, bracelets and lots of other things.  I did not expect to do much business, but rather just have a day of fun and visiting, well, I had both.

A while back my friend Monica Jagel offered to teach a group of us how to bead these wrap bracelets.  At firs I thought it a bit boring, but as I got more adept at it, I found it very meditative.

The bracelets are really quite lovely, and they were a good selling item.  Off to La Crosse tomorrow to buy more beads, it seems that this has become a wee bit addictive.

A GOOD BIRTHDAY

Sunday, November 15, (my birthday) broke sunny and truly beautiful!!  A gift to me from the very start.  Despite the unhealed broken toe which occurred on Sept. 16, two months ago, Freddie and I took a short 'hike' on our own property.  I would have loved to hike the Reserve but a longer hike was not in the picture for my toe, plus there was hunting on the Reserve which deters me.  Nevertheless, our property is stunning and varied, too.

One of our favorite places, hiking through our pine forest.  It is not unlike the quiet and majesty of a cathedral.

Just one of the views on our 207 acres.

This hike was filled with small wonders, nature's gifts...

Everywhere I turned there was something beautiful to capture the heart and the eye.

On the last leg of our journey we came across this tree, which I do not recall having noticed before...

I could feel the hug of the tree on the right, honestly it looked like such a loving gesture, and I accepted it openly.

Jonel, Andy and the girls had a birthday dinner for me...filled with good food, lots of love, and for this day, a blessing, Andy felt very good.

Hankering after a cheesecake, I made my own, along with some cupcakes for the girls.

What a gift they are to me!!

....and oh, the night included some real laughter as Grandpa tried to get out of this (Swedish) chair....

and the girls rushed to his rescue.  And as Grandpas everywhere do, he milked the situation until we were all in tears.

A wonderful birthday...I pray for another year of good health, much love, Andy's cure, and peace for this sweet young family.

HALLOWEEN AND ?HIKING?



These goblins came to my door on Halloween day...Quinn, Abe, Iris, and Elsa....

and to get ready for them I made bread pumpkins



...two little ones for Iris' 'boys'....

and bags of popcorn, plus two little ones for the 'boys'

The next day, a beautiful Sunday, was screaming at Freddie and I to take a hike.  I broke my baby toe on Sept. 16th at a very crowded County Fair...jostled in the group, toe pulled back




these being the only footwear that I can put on my feet...nice four-five inches across...



as

my baby toe looks like this, it is almost three times the size of my other baby toe.

So we tried to hike, just on our own property, which is actually quite beautiful,

and we came upon this tree which grows at the top of the hill to the north



 



we have been told by county foresters that this tree is upwards of 200 years old...a mighty oak!

and just before heading down to the house

this vista greeted us...amazing even after all these years.