Blizzard dog finds stick

While walking through our latest blizzard, the dog pulled a big stick out of a snow pile and carried it in his mouth all the way home.

sunbath buddies

Insert your own story. Nothing beats the warmth of the sun on a cold winter day.

track in the snow

Best Nordic ski snow in years and we had the ski trails at Crosby Farm to ourselves. Perfect temps, beautiful powder and glorious sunshine. Who could ask for more? We are so fortunate in the Twin Cites to have the natural areas practically out our back doors. Barred owls, eagles, deer, turkey, coyotes, beaver and who knows what else right in the city limits. This picture could be from the northern part of the state but its in the city of St Paul. God I love Minnesota.

Blizzard 2010

The biggest single snow during my 17+ years in Minnesota comes 2 weeks before the solstice and the true beginning of winter. Here it is 2 days removed from the end of the snowfall and the city plows are still behind in clearing more than a single car path down the street. The allies are somewhat passable as long there are no cars stuck in the middle of it. At the height of the blizzard Saturday afternoon I had the task of getting my son who was just under a mile away. The truck was snowed in so I strapped on the snowshoes, grabbed a sled and started out walking against the wind. When we arrived back home he exclaimed; "that was awesome, I will never forget this blizzard." I am sure he won't. When the sun came up on Sunday we had one objective beyond shoveling out the canyons that are the sidewalks. With many great piles of snow to choose from we had to make snow caves. And now, Monday 12/13, the schools have called off classes for the day. First snow day in years. That is ok, it gives us more of a chance to go play in it during the daytime hours.

Bottom of the Hill

Ahhh, winter is finally here. Well not according to the calendar but to the kid in all of us. Snow. Beautiful white powdery snow has shrouded the area. We had some small hits of snow already but those were more nuisance than much else. This stuff comes with the promise of longevity, the promise of a good base for all the outdoor winter stuff that makes living in Minnesota worthwhile.

Today found us on the sledding hill. Super cold biting wind at the top of the hill turned our faces cherry red but it did not stop us. Sledding, a pure cheap thrill that provides a nearly endless supply of speed and freedom with a dash of danger mixed in. An empty hill holds the possibility of long interrupted runs while the crowded ones heighten the thrill factor. The thrill to miss the other people on the hill, the thrill of an audience when the 'big' wipeout happens. Nothing makes a kid cooler than surviving the crashes with a smile. That and no broken bones. The perfect runs were capped off with a perfect cup of hot chocolate from our favorite local coffee shop. Yes, winter in Minnesota is alive and well.