By the time I left for work this morning I had taken 10,283 steps for the equivalent of 6.04 miles, burned 1425 calories and had 7 leaves on my “fitbit flower”.It was 11:15am.
I got up at 5:30am and Nordic Walked with Gail, first time for the 2 of us to be together on the trail for a few days as her family has been in town, it felt good to be back in sync
7:45am I was on my way to Cub to get canning jars and black peppercorns to make dill pickles, seems my brother picked almost a bushel of cucumbers over the weekend for me to process. Cucumbers don’t wait so they had to be done this morning. With the help of Gail’s sister Lois and her husband Tim we did 26 quarts and 6 pints of pickles by 9:15am. The lids all popped, promise of good eating in the months to come.
9:30 the kitchen was all cleaned up, laundry going, Tim and Lois on the road to Ely and I went out to check gardens and chickens. Strawberry tops to the chickens and zuchinni to pick, the green beans and cukes can wait til tomorrow. I dumped compost buckets and took a little more recycling out to the street. I needed something to eat so grabbed a quick bowl of yogurt and berries, did I mention we picked blueberries on Friday and I came home with 24 pounds of blue gold? yum
It was now 10:30am and time to clean up and get to work. I was on the 12-8 shift at Hoigaard’s today.
Just a normal day in life on the Jondahl Compound.
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A year ago I got chickens from my daughter for Mother’s Day.
On Friday, just before Mother’s Day, the local fox took 10 of my 21 chickens home for dinner.
Bummer! We knew that letting the chickens free range would increase the odds that we would loose a few to predators, but we had no idea that we could loose half the flock at one time. The chickens love being out of the barn, wander all over the pasture, co mingle with the dogs and the sheep and have developed a taste for worms in wet weather. Hence they were out in the barnyard feasting on worms in the rain when the fox came through looking for food for his kits.
Today Sam (my youngest son) and Kenny (my youngest brother) spent the whole day converting the old playhouse into a new chicken coop.
What a wonderful surprise to come home from working today to see this tidy new home for my chickens!
In a few days we’ll have food and water installed with a secure lock and the chickens will have free roam of the
fenced in yard at my mom’s house with Kenny’s sweet dog Hannah as their protector.
She’s a pyranese/lab mix and needs a job. I think she’ll be a great chicken herder.
In the meantime we’ve ordered some new chicks and are searching Craig’s list for chickens needing a good home.
Happy Mother’s Day!
It’s been a bit of a crazy schedule these past few months and I really needed some down time. My sweet hubby took me on an escape to Washington to visit with my daughter Laura and her husband Mike on their small farm in Arlington. It was the perfect weekend. Not only did we miss the snow and nasty weather in Minnesota we had beautiful long days to enjoy the North Cascades and play time outdoors.
Dan and I drove the North Cascades scenic hiway from Arlington to Winthrop on Thursday and then came back over on Friday. It’s a beautiful drive full of mountain peaks, wilderness, lakes, and vistas and it was all in full fall color. We took our time enjoying many stops along the way to hike the trails to overlooks and the Ross Lake Dam. Our evening in Winthrop was delightful, it’s a fun town with a western theme and sit’s on the river. We stayed at the River’s Edge and after a big blueberry pancake breakfast the next morning we drove back over. Remember, it’s a whole different trip when you do it the other way.
The highlight for me was our hike up to Palisades Lake. It was a small goat trail of a path up hill about 2 1/4 miles to a small alpine lake. We were the only ones on the trail and it was almost magical to be in the deep old growth forest with total peace and quiet all around us. It somehow puts life in perspective when you’re surrounded by century old trees and mountains.
Returning to Arlington we enjoyed hanging out on their farm and a trail ride on Saturday afternoon. It’s been a long time since we rode horses so it was extra special to be out in the forest on horseback. I grew up with horses and Laura is thrilled to have her own once again, meet Cody.
I have a degree in Therapeutic Recreation from University of Utah. I truly believe that what you do with your “leisure” hours helps to balance your life. We need our down time to “re-create” life energy, to destress, to reconnect with what’s really important to us. Our choices for recreation affect our overall health and wellbeing.
In the beginning of my career I worked in structured psychiatric settings creating and leading recreational programs and leisure counseling for people struggling with mental illness. During the years of day care I used what I knew to help children grow up with the experience and appreciation for active play time. Today I’m finding that I use my background to help people change their life through the promotion of active outdoor lifestyles.
Who knew that retail would bring me full round to using my degree again. As a result of the community exposure from HOW activities and demo’s corporations are seeking me out to do health and wellness events centered on Healthy Outdoor Lifestyle choices. I got a call yesterday from a woman creating a website for healthy active lifestyles for baby boomers. I’m working daily coaching nordic walking with people with mobility limitations including Parkinsons, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and knee and hip replacements. The possibilities are endless, the benefits real, the changes life altering.
My life is blessed by the people I meet.
If you don’t live where the lakes and rivers freeze solid for several months of the year you’ve missed alot. Not only have you never “walked on water” or “driven on water” or pulled fish out of a hole, but you’ve never experienced the “ice out” of spring.
Tuesday nite there were 30 of us that nordic walked around Lake Calhoun. Most of the lake was open, piles of ice clustered on the shores from the winds of the past few days. There was one large section still with a thin layer of ice on it. At this point of the spring the ice is very brittle and has a lacy pattern to it, kind of like those wonderful Christmas cookies that melt in your mouth. Although it still holds together it moves with the open water.
As we came close to the ice I had to stop and listen. The ice was making all kinds of crickle crackle sounds, like really loud rice crispies, as it moved on the surface. It’s a very unique cold climate spring sound and you almost always miss it. It was very special to be there and hear it as we walked around the end of the lake.
The wonder of spring continued on Friday nite when the peepers, little frogs, thawed out from their frozen winter state and started singing. The marshes and ponds are alive with their energy and they get louder as they get warmer.
Ahh, the sounds of spring in Minnesota!
I received a a silver aspen leaf to wear around my neck as a special thank you from the women on the Breckenridge trip. (Thank you ladies! It was my pleasure to be with you!)
When you drive through the rocky mountains today your eye is drawn to the rust colored lodge pole pines on the hillsides. They are dying from an infestation of pine beetles. Scientists tell us that the outbreak is due in part to global warming, the winters just aren’t cold enough to kill off the beetles so there’s more of the hungry little buggers to eat the trees. It’s hard to see the devastation of the forests but we need to remember that it is a natural occurance and we are helpless except to let nature run it’s course. When the beetles have had their feast the forest as we know it will be gone but the hills will not remain bare. Nature will always choose life and although the forest will change there will be new growth and new life on the mountainsides.
There are some areas where they have logged the dead trees and left small teepee stacks of dead branches. These will be burned this spring under controlled fires, more efficient than hauling it all out of the mountains. They look like funeral pyres for the dead trees. Once burned the ashes will replenish the ground, rain and sun will spur new growth on open land and the aspen, the largest living organism - connected by one expansive root system, will cover the hillsides.
This time of year is hard on everyone. We’re wanting so hard for spring to come. We’re all hoping that winter will let go it’s grip, the sun will warm us, and the ground will thaw out. We wait for that miracle of life to spring forth and turn our black and white winter world into one of green and color. We need only be patient, mother nature will choose life and will awake from the frozen ground in all her spring glory.
What do you do to choose life right now for yourself? Have you been hibernating all winter waiting for spring to rouse you from your winter slump? Are you ready to put away the winter toys and get out with your bike and nordic walking poles? Whatever part of the activity spectrum you’ve been on for this winter it’s time to choose life, choose health, and get outside to play. You might even consider putting on your rubber boots and walking in a few puddles, just don’t splash your friend!
I really have to get better at taking my camera along for pictures. Monday night we were snowshoeing on Medicine Lake, a local frozen wonder, as the full moon rose over the island of trees. It was a great picture, full moon rising, women covered head to toe against the below zero temps, and lots of snow kicking up from our snowshoes. You’ll have to imagine with me.
But it wasn’t really about the moon or the snow. It was about a group of women very close to my heart. In my past life I was a “family day care provider”. I spent my days with children, loving them, teaching them, playing with them, taking them outside everyday. Years have passed and the children have grown and some have babies of their own but still I get together with the “daycare moms” and we go outside together. We snowshoe, nordic walk, hike, stroll, simply sit in the garden and we connect with each other sharing the joys and pains and celebrations and trials of our lives.
It’s an important time for me. These women know me like no others. They have been there for me through 27 years of diapers and school conferences and job changes and graduations and so much more. I know that if I needed anyone of them today I would only have to call and they would be here to hold me and help me to the other side of whatever was happening. I count these women among the many blessings in my life and I know how lucky I am that they found me all those years ago.
May the full moon find you all with friends to love and support you in these hard times.
I don’t walk at -20 degrees.
I have to draw the line somewhere and Monday morning was the day. Gail and I gave up our nordic walking poles and tried our new Pilates DVD workout.
You can call me a wimp if you want, but it’s really dark at 6am and with the wind and cold and ice it seemed to be the better decision to work out indoors. Of course that brings it’s own challenge, like getting the DVD to play and her dog Coco to stay out from under our feet. I must get some points for walking across the yards, at least I still went outside first thing. We’ll get our snowshoes out for the end of the week, a couple of days of pilates is about all I can handle before coffee.
And speaking of being out in the cold, if you missed the kick off cross country ski under the full moon last week (since there were only 3 of us I know many of you missed it) it was a beautiful evening. The full moon cooperated and was simply glorious in the night ski. The lighted lake trail at Hyland was groomed for skate skiing and the snow was good. We were 3 of only a handful of skiers out that night and finished 2 loops before we came in to warm up. The areas will need some snow to recover from our rain on Sunday but be sure to join us soon for an evening outdoors. There’s something magical about being out in a winter night. As hard as it is to motivate myself to get dressed to go out I’m always glad to be there.
As you finish up your holiday preparations and get really busy with family committments I hope you’ll find the time to get outside and breathe deep the cold, clear air. Give yourself the gift of time outdoors among all the busy doings of the season. Let the peace of the natural world bring peace to your spirit.
Joy to you all!
I just got back from a long weekend visiting with my daughter and son in law in Seattle. I’m a bit time lagged today from jumping time zones and dealing with Daylight Savings all at the same time. But maybe the fuzziness in my head helps to maintain the “vacation feeling” a little bit longer.
Laura and I went to hear Michael Pollan, on Thursday evening. I’m not sure how many of you know who he is, but suffice it to say that he has had a huge influence on my daughter and the life style they are living. It was delightful to listen to him share personal stories as he talked about food and how our choices affect not only us but everything around us. That’s another whole conversation we could get into sometime. But as he talked about choices, he spoke to educating others to help them make diligent, informed choices about the food they eat, the farmers they support, the lifestyles they choose. And he talked about leading with pleasure, sharing our experiences with joy, no guilt or pressure, no lectures required. It hit home with me.
We went to Orcas Island in the San Juans for the weekend. I followed my daughter’s lead, as she once followed mine, as we stepped outdoors into that magical place. There’s a special bounce in your step as you hike up the mountain, enjoying all the wonderful vistas on the way up. The forest was thick, the path easy enough for the old dog Sam, and surprises greeted us around every corner. I kept seeing her as a young girl, skipping up the path ahead of me, stopping to inspect a leaf or small moving creature, telling me to come and see. We’ve walked together all over the world and I hold close the memories of all the places we’ve gone where I simply tagged along. Her invitations to come and play echoing my own from years ago.
So go outside today with pleasure and joy and invite a friend to come along.
When you hit the wall you need to find the door to go outside. I feel like I’m suffering from a split personality lately and that all of those personalities are working overtime.
I’m a little overwhelmed by working the sales floor, doing the HOW events, leading corporate and community demo’s, selling plants for Shady Sisters, planning the winter calendar (Women’s Expo at Buck Hill, Breckenridge Ski Trip), organizing for Tent Sale and the upcoming equipment season, training new employees, taking care of the farm and gardens, and of course managing family and home. It’s the never ending cycle of feeling like there’s just not enough hours in the day to get it all done. When I found myself wandering in the yard wondering why I went out (I think I was going to fill bird feeders) I knew it was time to just stop, slow down and go play.
Saturday, with a little help from my husband and friends I did just that. After an early morning meeting at Hoigaard’s we packed it up and rode the new Dakota Trail from Wayzata to St Boni. It was a perfect day to be on our bikes, it’s a beautiful trail, and there’s a bistro with ice tea and breakfast in St Boni. I felt like I was playing hookey and it felt great! We simply enjoyed the ride and our time together, leaving chores and responsibilities at home for the day. When we finished, 28.5 miles later, we came back to the pool for cold drinks and snacks which led into dinner with my brother in the gazebo watching the rain fall on the gardens.
I successfully didn’t do anything constructive all day, after the meeting of course.
I slept so good! and woke up Sunday morning ready to pick up where I had left off, refreshed and re-energized by the fresh air, the exercise and the time with friends. It was a reminder that I need to do what I’m always telling you all to do, go outside and play! and do it on a regular basis, not just when I hit the wall.
Reality check, it’s much easier to open the door to go outside than it is to hit the wall anyway!
I’ve just returned from a quick camping trip to Montana. My youngest son, Sam, lives and works in Bozeman so we loaded up all our camping gear and headed west last week. A good audio book put us safely in Bozeman and ready for adventure.
Sam had spent the weekend before up at South Meadow Lake above Ennis. It’s about 1 1/2 hours from Bozeman including the long 4 wheel drive up the canyon road. Arriving at the lake we found ourselves all alone in the campgrounds with trout jumping all over the place and eagles playing on the winds. It was so beautiful! We set up camp and proceeded to explore and pick up wood for our fire. Sam has 2 dogs, Marley and Sky, who came along to protect us from bears and provide the free entertainment for the weekend.
Sitting by the lake with a glass of wine while our dinner cooked on the open fire was perfection! We had nothing better to do than watch the lake, marvel at the full moon rising through the forest and enjoy getting caught up with Sam. There’s something magical about sitting around the fire, being mesmerized by the flames, and letting go of everyday life stresses.
We spent Saturday hiking around the bay to get to the other side of the lake. It’s basically a “C” shape wrapped around a tall rocky penisula so the back bay is hidden from view. The wild flowers were in full bloom, almost as if all of them for the whole season were blooming together. Early spring bluebells along with Indian Paintbrush and many more, some I had never seen before. There were some serious snow fields still on the upper peaks and a beautiful waterfall all the way across the lake. Sam spent time casting his line out but never caught any fish. It didn’t seem to matter, the pace of the day was all about having nothing better to do than follow the trail up and around to see what there was on the other side of the mountain.
We only had 2 days to enjoy the lake but I know Sam will be back. And I’ll be there with him in my mind, maybe I’ll find the same peace thinking of him there that I knew when I sat by the lake.
It was a simple article in the paper, but it seems to have reached out to so many people. I am humbled and very touched by the response to the “How I got this body” article from last week. I have talked with so many individuals and couples, coming into Hoigaard’s to look at nordic walking poles. And their stories all have one thing in common, reading about the early morning walking gave them hope, inspiration, confidence, and motivation to try something new that just might make a difference in their life. Again, I am humbled by the response. Thank you.
We celebrated the first day of summer with a wedding in my gardens! A dear friend from work married her sole mate here on the family property this evening. It was quite the event complete with a beautiful bride, perfect weather, manicured gardens and yards, delicious food, sweet wine, and lots of wonderful friends to here to celebrate their union and new life together. Michael Monroe played for the wedding and reception, amazing, he was here on my deck playing all my favorite songs. Wow. We had a few moments of rain that graced us with a double rainbow to bless the wedding. It was truly magical!
And I now know that having 200 people to party here is not such a scary thing…
Some mornings make it worth your while to get up and get going. This morning on our 3 ½ mile Nordic walk we saw (bear with me while we use a well known theme)
8 great blue herons
7 Canadian Geese watching
6 brand new ducklings
5 snapping turtle eggs being layed
4 goslings playing
3 swallows spinning
2 orange koi jumping
And one egret with a green heron fishing
It was a glorious morning! And it was a Friday, doesn’t get much better. Happy Solstice
As we approach the solstice I am struck by how unbalanced it is to have all this extra daylight. Having traveled to the tropics I have learned to appreciate the balanced life that can be experienced when the day is 12 hours of sunlight followed by 12 hours of night.
There is a constant rhythm of life that doesn’t suddenly get turned upside down by longer days or never ending nights. You don’t feel compelled to get one more thing done, to work just a little longer, to extend your energy over a few more hours as the day and night shift for the summer. Sometimes summer exhausts me with the expectation, real or otherwise, that with the additional hours of daylight I should somehow be more productive. I can be constantly disappointing myself as I reach the end of the day and collapse knowing there was more to be done.
Somehow I need to go into these long days with their late sunsets and early sunrises and not burn out. Instead maybe this year I can let myself use these extra hours of daylight to sit a little longer by my pool or walk a little longer on a trail or talk a bit with an old friend. Time is relative, there really isn’t any more just because it’s summer. But maybe I can use it a little more wisely.