January 2016

Rusty and I are back in school again this semester.  I am taking a much simpler course, beginning photography, at the community college.  Rusty is at UNL studying the German Reformation.

Rusty reads, Gretchen listens

Sissy, a dear friend, won a bid at a fund raiser for a fully catered, five-course dinner by one of Lincoln's finest, Gretta's.  We were delighted they asked us to join them.  The food was delicious and the company delightful.

Our hosts, T.C. & Sissy

The simplicity of winter has a deep moral. The return of Nature, after such a career of splendor and prodigality, to habits so simple and austere, is not lost either upon the head or the heart. It is the philosopher coming back from the banquet and the wine to a cup of water and a crust of bread. ~John Burroughs, "The Snow-Walkers," 1866


Rusty and I made a winter trip up to White Iron Lake, just outside of Ely, MN.  Our hosts, Gary and Maggie Roderick, live at the end of a long, snow-covered road. (Check out their cabins at http://bwca-getaway-cabins.com/index.php/your-hosts.html.)

Road to the Roderick's home.

We made it to the Roderick's driveway, but couldn't get up their hill.  After several tries, we slid off the road and into the ditch.  As luck would have it, a Suburban driven by Schurke, the man who led our dog-sled trip of 5 years ago, stopped to help.  Men kept piling out of the car and the guys referred to it as a clown car.

At least 10 guys pitched in and helped get us out of the ditch and up the driveway.

We hiked across a frozen lake and through the woods up to our cozy cabin.

To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the world. ~Charles Dudley Warner

A warm fire awaited us.

We had plenty of split wood to keep the fire burning,

In fact, sometimes Rusty found the cabin to be too warm for his liking.

filling the bird feeders

Relaxation in the great outdoors.

A cabin in the snowy forest is a great place for reflection...

or reading...

or eating.

Much of our time was spent out of doors.

We snow-shoed through the forest.

...and enjoyed the sunny days.

Cue up Otis Redding--"Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay"

We watched dog-sled trips go by on the lake.  They all appeared to be small sleds with only a few dogs and one rider.

The ultimate outdoor experience...screen door on the loo.

Getting Gretchen into her outdoor coat was much like trying to get a crying 2-yr,-old into a snowsuit.

Gretchen loved the snow!

Some of our skiing was smooth and pretty.

Some used advanced technique!

The birdies came to our feeder.

The birds gave Gretchen lots of practice holding up her ears.

It was a great time!

The roads home were mostly snow-packed and travel was slow.

But we were happy to arrive home safely,

...and with a driveway free of snow,  thanks Amber and Noah!

What I like most about these adventures is the solitude, the reflection, the keeping it simple.  It replenishes my soul.  There are no phones, no internet, no Facebook, no tweets or texts.

Everything we possess that is not necessary for life or happiness becomes a burden, and scarcely a day passes that we do not add to it. ~Robert Brault