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Malin Svensson and Gary Johnson are coming back to Minneapolis in August.  They were our partners for the 2nd Annual North American Nordic Walking Expo in June and had so much fun they just had to come back to do an INWA (International Nordic Walking Association)  Instructor Certification.  

Actually, they were so impressed with Nordic Walkers here in Minnesota, (they even came out in the rain) they felt it would be an excellent location for a training.  Eagan Community Center is our host for the program, a beautiful facility on the east side of town.   

This is the first time that Nordic Walking North America have offered this training here in the Twin Cities.  Malin is considered to be one of the leading Nordic Walking experts in the world.  Gary, her partner with Nordic Walking North America is a fitness expert coming from a background as a professional soccor player.  It is a 2 day workshop for fitness professionals and instructors. The training is mainly an outdoor course and includes theory and history as well as technique, video and personal feedback. Cost of the training is $299.

Why get certified?  If you are a fitness trainer Nordic Walking is your opportunity to encourage more individuals to make a change to a healthier, active lifestyle.  Many people shy away from “gym memberships” because they don’t see themselves as athletic or fit. Nordic Walking requires no spandex, no helmet and everyone can do it without being put in front of a mirror or on a machine.  Help us get people outdoors and moving.  It’s the perfect addition to any trainer’s repertoire.

There is so much potential for Nordic Walking to change peoples lives, to move them towards a healthier lifestyle, to turn around the obesity epidemic. Don’t you want to be part of that?

I had the pleasure this evening of paddling my kayak on Lake Calhoun with 16 HOW women.  Doc brought lots of boats, the weather was perfect, and many of the women were from our kayaking trip last summer. What a joy!  We paddled Calhoun into Lake of the Isles, around the island and back.  It took about an hour. 60 minutes of conversations on the water, moving meditation, women connecting. Never mind the frantic paddling of Hoigaard’s Canoe Derby participants rocking the water around us.  We moved into the zone and enjoyed the evening.

I didn’t get a card or a garden ornament, I got my daughter Laura for four glorious days!We managed the Shady Sisters Sale, went to farmers market, Nordic Walked by the Mississippi River with Women on the Move,  rode bikes with HOW, had family dinner and hung out by the pool.  It was great to have her here!  The real gift was her taking the time to share my life for a few days, she is such a good sport about tagging along on all of my activities.I count my blessings that I have such a close relationship with Laura.  We share so many of the same passions that it’s a real joy to be together. I just wish that she didn’t live so far away.  Of course the good news about that is that Washington is a beautiful place to visit and there are many adventures waiting for us there.

After a hot and windy day at the Arboretum (28 new Nordic Walkers joined us at 1:30) Dan and I drove thru the storms to Ely on Thursday evening.  I had a Board meeting at the International Wolf Center on Friday and we planned to stay til early Sunday morning, driving back just in time for me to get to work at Hoigaard’s at 10:30am.

Once again the north woods did their magic.  Staying with our dear friends Ann and Dean at their cabin on Burntside Lake was a blessing, the perfect hideaway from real life.  We enjoyed sleeping in, coffee by the lake, long conversations catching up on our kyds and busy lives, fun walks, good food and just doing nothing.  

I unplugged, disconnected and recreated and life was here waiting for me when I got back.  Nothing blew up or fell apart.  amazing, I really should do it more often.

Happy Solstice!  

We walked with poles, we walked with old friends, we walked with new friends, we walked new ways with different poles, we walked in Shape Up shoes, we walked with dogs, and we walked in the rain.  It was a great day!

The partnership between Great Lakes Nordic Walkers and Nordic Walking North America was a match made in Nordic Walking heaven. We provided the local enthusiasm and connections, Three Rivers Park District opened up Hyland Lake Park for us and Malin and Gary brought in the national expertise. We are all connected in the web of Nordic Walking!

We can’t control the weather, but we can choose to play outdoors in spite of it and that is exactly what happened on Saturday.  Hundreds of people came to walk with poles and they had their choice of Boomyah, Exel, Exerstrider, Gabel, LEKI, and Swix, all represented with product and demo’s to try.  For the first time Skechers came with their new Shape Up shoe in sizes and models to try out on the trail.  That booth was one of the busiest all day!  

The Introductory lessons were active all day, I think the last walkers came at 3:15pm to try the poles.  There was standing room only in the lectures in Jan’s place and the classes outdoors were full of enthusiastic walkers and even dogs for the K9 Nordic Walking.  The walk around Hyland Lake at 10am was full of energy and the passion we all share for Nordic Walking.  It was so much fun to see everyone grouped up by counties and walking together!  

A HUGE THANK YOU to all the volunteers that came to help with registration, lessons, pole handout and all the little things that made it such a successful day.  We couldn’t have done it without you!  

and another Thank You to the local hiking groups and event organizers that brought displays and information to the “top of the hill”, there are so many different opportunities to walk!  I’ll have to do a separate page on my website of the groups and events coming up in the Twin Cities. 

Til then, walk gently and carry two long poles!

It’s down to the details.  The final printing materials, the set up of tents, the schedule for presenters, the colors for the different counties for the networking.  I’m not sleeping well, but knowing that everyone is working hard right down to the wire helps alot.On the side I have new baby chicks in the barn, Shady Sister Sale this weekend (Thurs through Saturday 9-6 all days)  so there’s lots going on in my real life also.Hope to see you at the expo!  It will make all my sleepless nights worthwhile!

The 2nd Annual North American Nordic  Walking Expo is just 11 days away!June 12, 2010 the place to be is Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington, MN.

For the experienced and the curious Nordic Walker, this free all day event will feature classes and lectures by both national and local Nordic Walking experts, hands on exhibits from leading Nordic Walking companies, information from local walking and hiking groups and events, free introductory classes, and the chance to network with lots of other walkers at 10am in a fun, untimed, group walk around Hyland Lake.  

This group walk will be the Nordic Walking version of Speed Dating.  It’s your opportunity to link up with other NW’s in your neighborhood to form walking groups and clubs.  It’s just the icing on the cake of a spectacular line up of classes and lectures.

When we formed Great Lakes Nordic Walkers, www.greatlakesnordicwalkers.com we had no idea that our dream of hosting a local Nordic Walking event would become a National Expo.  Our partnership with Nordic Walking North America, www.nordicwalkingna.com, has made it possible to create an event that is drawing support and interest from all around North America.  Even Skechers is coming with their new Fitness Walking shoe for you to try in a walk around the lake.

Check out the full schedule for the day at www.greatlakesnordicwalkers.com and plan to be at Hyland on Saturday, June 12.  Remember, the Nordic Walking Queen has formally invited you to attend, how can you say no? 

Wednesday was a four walk day for me.   Ten miles, 4 different locations, 36 different walkers

and one tired Nordic Walking Queen.

The day included all the best that Nordic Walking offers:

First walk at 5:45 with Gail.  It was a beautiful morning, 52 degrees, with the sun just coming up. 

We shared our morning with blue herons, Canadian geese and their goslings, and the first itty bitty

wood duck hatchlings scrambling across the water trying to keep up with momma.

Alliant Tech hosted the second walk in celebration of National Employee Health and Fitness Day. 

Professional women getting outdoors for some exercise and de stressing with a Nordic Walk around the local lake.

Mid Afternoon I met up with a group of ladies from Hammer Residence. One of the staff is an avid

Nordic Walker and wanted to introduce the women to all the benefits of pole walking. They did great! 

and I can’t wait to have them as part of the Minnetonka Nordic Walking Club in June.

The last walk was our Nordic Walking Wednesday at Minnehaha Falls Park. We had several new

walkers among the group enjoying the trails above the Mississippi River. 

I’m always interested in how folks were motivated to come walk with us. One first time couple

heard about Nordic Walking at a family celebration last week when her aunt talked on and on

about her awesome new poles.  They just had to come.

I was exhausted as we sat at Sea Salt enjoying a cold beer and fish tacos after the walk.

I’m glad these days don’t happen very often but what a joy to have spent my day outdoors

Nordic Walking with so many wonderful people! 

When talking with Laura last night I realized I hadn’t shared these pictures of happy chickens in their new home. 

They are so calm and happy in the converted playhouse with Hannah as their protector!

One of my favorite things to do in the Twin Cities is to visit the Como Park Conservatory in the spring time. The sunken garden is always full of the most beautiful flower displays with combinations seldom seen in nature here in Minnesota; things blooming together that are usually a few weeks apart in our slow to warm up climate.

This year we have those same amazing blooms happening all around us. Tulips, daffodils, lilacs, rhode’s, flowering crabs, bleeding hearts, trilliums, forget me nots, wild ginger and more all in bloom at the same time. The colors, the scents and the beauty are overwhelming.  

Nancy and I went to the Arboretum early on Sunday morning to walk among it all.  Our walk was interrupted several times with the need to stop and smell the blossoms along the way. I was refreshed and reconnected to Nancy as we drove home. What a treat!

This was the first weekend of the Mpls Farmer’s Market. Even tho it was rainy and cool I couldn’t resist getting up and going downtown.  Dan even went with me.

Some of us went for the flowers.  Even tho I didn’t buy any it was so good to see all of our growing friends and enjoy the colors of the season.

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Dan went for the cinammon rolls. Oh well, at least they’re local. 

We came home with green onions, spinach and tomatoes from organic farmers in MN and Wisconsin.  I see spinach salads for lunch this week.

Clean water brought to you by all who care about the Earth!

I still remember my first Earth Day!  In 1970 I was a senior at Wayzata High School, a long hair, long skirted, flower child desperate to save the world.  Reduce, Reuse and Recycle became my battle cry.  Wow, that means I’ve been recycling cans and newpapers for 40 years.  Wonder how many trees and barrels of oil I’ve saved?

The best thing about Earth Day?  It was a grass roots movement. No government spending, no corporate intervention, no big money driving it.  It was just people responding to the dirty air, the dirty water, the dirty world we were creating with lifestyle and business choices and saying STOP!  So much has happened and changed since that first Earth Day declaring doom and gloom.  I’m grateful to everyone who made it happen!

Today I’m celebrating by spending the day outside.  I’ll pick up the garbage on my road, do some gardening, take my shoes off and walk barefoot in the grass and dirt, and eat lots of fruit and veges.  It’s all about being gentle and respectful of this beautiful world we call Earth.

Remember, it’s Earth, not Uranus.  What are you doing today to celebrate Earth Day?

It’s amazing what a difference a year makes.  Last year I got up on April 1 to an inch of wet snow and heavy gray skis.  We were kicking off our Nordic Walking season out at the Arboretum and I had visions of being out there all day by myself. After all, who would come to try Nordic Walking in the wet and the cold. Who but Minnesotans!  We had about 50 walkers with hats, mittens and Nordic Walking smiles.

 This year it was sunny and 75.  An amazing day in both weather and attendance, we interfaced with somewhere around 100 curious individuals from the ages of 6-86 during the afternoon event. It was so much fun! 

 It’s different this year.  There’s a level of energy, enthusiasm, and interest that hasn’t been there before at our demo’s.  No one asked what the poles were, they all knew that we had “those walking sticks” and they wanted information about them. “Does it really make a difference?” “I have a bad knee, sore hip, weak ankles, can I walk with the poles?”  “I’m finding myself unbalanced and unsteady, will the poles help?”“Do we really get to walk with them today?”  All great questions that we were happy to answer.  And yes, they did walk; 51 at 1:30 and 22 more at 6pm.  YES!

 Maybe this really is the year it all takes off.  I can only hope.

My last Dark Days Challenge meal was a real celebration of the end of winter and first beginnings of spring.Searching in cupboards, freezer and pantry I came up with peppercorn fettuccine from Farmer’s Market, strawberries and blueberries, frozen pesto and tomato sauce, and home grown chicken.  The coop had local lettuce (it’s packaged with the dirt still on it) and tomatoes.  Put it all together with local pull apart dried tomato basil foccacia bread, add my sister, best friend and husband and we had a delightful dinner of fettuccine with chicken and pesto and a light tomato sauce on the side, salad and bread with berries for dessert.The best thing about Dark Days: learning that even in the frozen Minnesota winter you can eat local all through the cold months.  With Sam starting the garden in the green house we’ll have even more in our freezers for next year!

Laura called tonite to tell me that Cody, her little horse and good friend had gone colic and they’d had to put him down.  It was most unexpected and sad news to get from her.  It’s never easy to loose a good friend.  Cody had come into her life with spirit and energy and they fit well together.  Most recently they were taking riding lessons together, Laura said Cody knew more than she did and the lessons were catching her up. She began and ended her day by checking on him, one final good night before everyone turned in for the night.  There is a very big hole in her life right now, he will be missed.  My heart is heavy tonight and I wish we were closer so I could help to comfort her and say good bye to her spirited little pony.

Altitude can definitely kick my butt.

We’ve been living at 7400 feet for the past week at Big Sky Montana.  It’s not an easy altitude for basic things like sleeping, enjoying a glass of wine, breathing under exertion and skiing.  It takes a few days of major hydration and taking it a little easy and then the mountain is your playground!

We’ve enjoyed spring skiing, warm sunny days with soft snow on the mountain. It’s been short days due to daylight savings time moving the warm up back an hour and it’s left me with time for a Nordic walk to stretch out my legs and do some moving meditation at the end of the day.  There’s nothing like walking with the grand views of Lone Peak, the Spanish Peaks and all the valleys that make up this beautiful area!

Tomorrow we head home, but I’ll keep these amazing vistas in my head and in my heart for days to come.

We’re back in Big Sky this week with the additional challenge of eating local when we’re out of town staying in a condo.  True to the spirit of the Dark Days Challenge I decided to play with the rules a little and modify my challenge this week to be a local main dish for every meal.  The fun part was combining local Minnesota carried in the car with local Montana purchased here in Bozeman.

My niece Michelle lives on the mountain. She kicked off the week by welcoming us with a dinner of venison cooked in wine and mushrooms served over noodles. The venison came from the fall hunt, about as local and delicious as you can get. 

Monday featured Montana grass fed beef steaks cooked on the grill with organic Idaho baked potatoes, smothered in Minnesota Creamery butter and sour cream to celebrate Michelle and Brian’s engagement.

Tuesday we enjoyed dinner at The Cabin at Big Sky and I ordered the Elk, raised in Montana and served with Idaho mashed potatoes. 

Wednesday I made Lamb Shepherd Pie with home raised lamb, onions and carrots from Mpls Farmer’s market last fall (can’t believe they made it this long) once again served over those wonderful Idaho potatoes.  Can you tell I love being in Montana and having potatoes grown nearby!

Dinner tonite will be a pork roast from our freezer with organic saurkraut, hopefully next year I’ll have my own to use, and Friday’s plan is Minnesota Sunshine Spaghetti with sauce made with ground pork from the same pig flavored with spices that I carried home from Italy 2 years ago. Unfortunately I forgot the tomatoes from the freezer so will have to substitute organic canned crushed tomatoes.

Saturday we’ll be driving home having enjoyed a wonderful combination of local meals here in Montana!

Sometimes going outdoors to play is messier than normal.  Winter is melting away here in Minnesota with warm temps and rain. A nasty way to finish a beautiful winter.  The end result is that our snow is disappearing at an astonishing rate leaving behind lots of mud and puddles.

The barnyard is a muddy mess!  Water is having a tough time finding it’s way out and the sheep are having an equally tough time navigating through the mud and water. If there’s one thing sheep don’t like it’s rain and wet. The lambs are filthy, the ewe’s very unhappy and Nemo pushes his way into the barn at every opportunity.

Good thing we all have rubber boots.  I did chores yesterday and couldn’t resist trying to make little ditches with my heels in the mud to direct the water out of Sam’s tire ruts and into the pond.  I can remember Laura as a little girl stomping through the puddles at every opportunity, guess I know where she gets it from.

I know I’m late for last week but I’m so committed to this challenge that I wanted to make sure I posted that I did do my meal!

 I scored on Wednesday nite when I found a solitary spaghetti squash on the bottom of the pantry shelf.  I baked it up while I put some pork chops out to defrost.  It was a simple dinner, do I do anything else compared to all the culinary expertise in this group???

 Local pork chops from the freezer cooked on the grill with a homemade rub on them, spaghetti squash with butter and salt, strawberries from the freezer and rolls from Great Harvest Bakery. yum!

You all need a little background here.Once upon a time there were four Nordic Walking Instructors struggling to change the way America, or at least Minnesota, walks.   With poles in hand they taught classes, led group walks, scheduled clinics and walked miles and miles.  Many listened, many took up their own poles, but there was still so many who didn’t understand Nordic Walking.  So the four came up with a plan.They planned a Nordic Walking event at a local park, one of their favorite places to Nordic Walk. They believed that if they created the perfect opportunity walkers would come.  Put trails and poles and instructors together and who could resist?And then others found out about the perfect plan and the plan grew and expanded to fill North America.It’s not a fairy tale. Four of us created Great Lakes Nordic Walkers, www.greatlakesnordicwalkers.com to promote a Minnesota Nordic Walking Expo. Three Rivers Park District graciously agreed to host it at Hyland Lake Park Preserve on June 12, National Get Outdoors Day.  Perfect!Seems that Nordic Walking North America, www.nordicwalkingna.com, was looking for a location for their 2nd Annual North American Nordic Walking Expo and came across our perfect plan.A new partnership was formed, Nordic Walking North America and Great Lakes Nordic Walkers presenting the Second Annual North American Nordic Walking Expo, hosted by Three Rivers Park District and sponsored by Hoigaards, Midwest Mountaineering, Nordic Walk This Way and Nordic Walk for Life.  June 12 at Hyland 9-4pm.It will be “the place to be!” for Nordic Walkers. So tell a friend, bring your family, announce it from the rooftops!  Make a plan to join us!  It’s going to be quite the adventure!!!

We started our last day at Big Sky at the top of Lone Peak. We signed out to ski the North Summit at about 10:45am.  Look to the very top and think about skiing down the snow field towards the line of rocks in the center of the photo. It was cold!  like 5 degrees. So the snow was stiff and so was I.Once again there was no turning back so we took turns skiing the “whale” and the “gorge” down to the safe spot.  I definitely got my cardio workout.  The total vertical is 4000 feet to the bottom of the “6 shooter” lift at Moonlight. Essentially you go from the very top to the very bottom.  I need to tell you that this is definitely outside my comfort level of skiing.  It’s very high, very steep and the snow was less than perfect. but the sense of accomplishment for having made it down in good style will keep me pumped all the way home to Minnesota.

A road trip is great, allows you to bring local food with you where ever you go. We brought lots of eggs from my chickens to enjoy in Big Sky. Local breakfasts this week included bacon from our pig, omelets from our eggs, bread from the Blue Moon Bakery here in Big Sky, MN Creamery butter, and maple syrup from our neighborhood. Always good to have a big breakfast before heading out to the mountain.The other favorite thing to bring along is one of our homegrown chickens. Bringing it frozen keeps everything cold in the cooler. Last night Michelle, my niece who lives here, and I roasted the chicken in the oven stuffed with lemon and garlic,made MN wild rice with sauteed onions, celery and garlic and a not so local salad on the side.  I know it sounds a lot like Laura’s dinner from last week, and I completely over do chicken but that’s one of the blessings of growing your own, it’s so easy to take them out of the freezer!

 It’s been an incredible week here in Big Sky!  lots of firsts for all of us.  I wanted to give you a better perspective of what we’ve skied.This is a picture from the top of Challenger looking across the Headwater runs. You can see the very top of the chairlift and the small lifty shack that we skied around to go across the top traverse.  From there it was all downhill.The Big Coulior that the kyds have been skiing this week is the white strip just to the right of Lone Peak, seen here from a distance.  The small speck right on top is the Tram tower.   Sam skied it with Michelle on Friday, her first time to drop in.  It’s a thrill to watch them come down.At night there is a single light in the building so you can always see the top of Lone Peak. We did the Montana Yurt Dinner on Friday night. It’s a snowcat ride up into the hills and then dinner in a yurt with a bonfire and sledding under the stars.  Instead of riding the snowcat back down there was a small group of us that took the sleds and walked and sledded the 2 miles back to the base. WOW. We followed the cat track down under a star filled, cold Montana sky.  It was so much fun!Tomorrow we’re going to try and ski the North Summit. We’ll start at the top of the tram and ski all the way down the north side of Lone Peak and end up at the bottom of Moonlight.  If the lines aren’t too long and it’s good light we’ll be on it.  One last first before we head back to Minnesota.

The past two days have been beautiful up on the mountain but even more than that they have included first times for Sam and I.  If you look at this picture of Lone Peak you can see the Big Couloir off to the right, that’s the gully that winds down, a stream of snow surrounded by rocks on both sides.  It’s about half way to the right of the peak.In order to ski this you have to be decked out with full avalanche gear, check in and out with the ski patrol, and have nerves of steel to be able to make the drop into the couloir.  Sam lived out here for 4 years and never got to do it but on Tuesday the stars aligned with great snow, good visibility and short lines at the Tram and to do the Couloir. He and Brian dropped in at 1pm for an epic run. Here’s a closer view of the actual couloir, you can see 2 small dots at the top, that would be Sam and Brian.  Awesome!Yesterday we skied Moonlight Basin, great snow on some of my favorite runs. I had never taken the lift up to the Headwaters at the top of the ridge but when Sam and Brian invited me to come with them I had to say yes.  You start by hiking up hill to the chairlift, this discourages the not so good skiers from trying it. At the top you have to side step up to the high traverse, a thin ribbon of snow that wraps around the hut and runs along the top between bands of rocks.  Once there you are committed!  I followed Sam, not daring to look down or around me, focused on the snow under my skis and his voice reassuring me it was fine. The truth is that I’m not good at heights and my heart was pounding!At the end of the traverse was Fire Hole. It’s a “medium” wide gully and the snow was soft and deep!  I followed Sam down to meet Brian (he couldn’t do the high traverse on his snowboard)  and then we took turns going the rest of the way down.  The first turn is the hardest, but once into the rhythm I was able to just keep doing one turn after another and made my way down in fine style.  Laura’s voice was in my head to keep “touching” my pole and keep turning even tho she wasn’t there with us.  The best advice to have when on the steep and deep.It felt really good to challenge myself, and I was proud of what I could do.  The best part was my “support team” of Sam and Brian, it was their encouragement that gave me the extra confidence to go for it!  Thanks guys!!!!

According to the billboard coming into Bozeman, Montana: You Belong Outside!At the end of a long and difficult drive across North Dakota and eastern Montana we finally arrived in Bozeman about 8pm on Saturday nite.  It was another hour up the canyon to Big Sky and I couldn’t wait to get out of the car.  As i emerged from my cramped, static position of 16 hours I was greeted by stars, millions and millions of stars adorning the sky above Lone Peak. A deep breath, a long stretch and I knew I was where I belonged - Outside, under the heavens, surrounded by fresh snow and the anticipation of a great week ahead.Skiing with friends and family - priceless!

ok, so I didn’t really fall off the map but I have been traveling and not cooking much. I’m not sure if that’s the good news or the bad news altho I do find that most of what I’m doing at home is at least 50% local. I have to say that I’m extremely jealous of all of the pacific coast families enjoying the first fresh veges from the gardens.Last week we were in Colorado skiing at Winter Park, Vail and Crested Butte. As we ate our way across the country we did score a wonderful local meal at the Cast Iron Skillet in Winter Park. They serve “never ever” beef, making note that most “additive and anti biotic free” beef is free for the last 100 days.  The beef that they serve is totally free from birth. An interesting thing to broadcast on their menu. Way to go Cast Iron Skillet!  I ordered the ribeye with sweet potato fries and root vegetables. It was delicious!  What a treat at the end of a long day on the slopes.I was home for 4 days before hitting the road again this morning and arriving in Big Sky, Montana tonight.  I did manage to do a quick local meal of home grown roasted chicken with potatoes and carrots still in the pantry from the last farmer’s market complimented by strawberries from the freezer on local ice cream for desert.So now we’re in Big Sky but we did manage to bring local goodies from home with us, watch for how we use these special ingredients this week!

 I’m in Colorado!  and have been since Sunday.  I was blessed to come out to Winter Park for the SIA Industry Snow demo’s for next year’s skis and gear, and it was loads of fun.  It’s a real party atmosphere with lots of Vendors and Retailers coming together on the mountain to do what they love to do, slide and glide on snow.  The mountains need snow but that didn’t keep us from enjoying run after run on the best that next year has to offer.After 2 days in Winter Park Dan and I drove down to Vail for time with our son Danny.  He graciously guided us, with our friends Mike and Gary, all over Vail. It’s really a beautiful mountain but it’s HUGE and it’s nice to have someone in front who knows where he’s going.This evening we’re in Gunnison Colorado with our friends Tim, Lois, and Nick and will sleep tonite with visions of skiing Crested Butte the next couple days.Time on the mountains with family and friends - priceless!

I had the pleasure on Thursday morning of skiing with a fellow female skier. Kay had purchased a new pair of skis and was having difficulty getting to  know them. I met her down at Buck Hill to make a few turns and try to figure out what was happening.  I spend most of my time as an instructor teaching children. I love it, but it’s pure pleasure to work with women on the snow.Kay made some nice changes in her technique and discovered the joy of tipping a ski on edge and letting it carve. It was fun to see her hook up and when we went in to warm up, did I mention that it was a perfect Minnesota January morning 5 degrees, no wind, blue bird day?, the relationship between her and her skis was on much smoother ground.  I wouldn’t say she was in love yet, but well on her way to enjoying her new toys in the snow.Part of the wonder of the morning was Kay’s willingness to try new movements. She’s skied for years and yet was frustrated with not being able to move comfortably on the new shape.  It’s a good reminder that we can all learn new movement patterns for our favorite outdoor sports and activities.

Is it possible we’re already on week 10?  winter is flying by!Last summer I did lots of pesto with my overabundance of basil in the garden. Thursday I put together a quick pasta meal withLasagnetta fettuccini from Sunrise Creative Gourmet in Hibbing, MN, homemade pesto, local carrots and organic brocolli, and farmers cheese from Wisconsin.  Altho we live next to the dairy state there isn’t parmesan that is local so that of course came from far away. Organic pears, USA but I don’t know where, completed the plate.The pesto tasked like late summer even with all the snow on the ground. yum

It was my pleasure today to attend the Women’s Leadership Challenge Conference at St Catherine’s University in St Paul.  My friend and fellow nordic walker Anne Pryor had made the connection and we presented Nordic Walking for Life as one of the break out sessions in the afternoon.It was empowering to spend time with a group of women who are all leaders within the businesses and community. They represented small personal businesses to large corporations, non profits, government and university programs.  Vital, strong, wonderful women!  The perfect audience for nordic walking.Unfortunately we were forced to walk indoors due to icy sidewalks. The women were game to go out, showing up with their boots and coats, but we decided that learning a new activity and dodging ice just wasn’t the best combination. There was ample room to walk in hallways and coridors and we even found a small ramped hallway leading to the next building.We had 12 women walking with poles and I’m sure we converted them all to the best way to walk!  It was the perfect place to network and make those connections for future demo’s and classes. I can’t wait to see what comes from it all.

Snow and cold has kept Gail and I from our morning nordic walking routine. It was just too dangerous to walk outside on icy, dark roads in below zero temps.  We were relegated to doing the dreaded Pilates DVD at 5:45am.  I do enjoy the change, and Pilates is a great workout, but it’s just not the same as going outside to start the day.This morning we finally were able to hit the road again at the break of dawn.  well, actually before the break of dawn but if it wasn’t a cloudy morning I’m sure the dawn would have been close by the time we finished.It felt so good to get outside!  There’s still snowpack on all the walking trails and the roads are a bit dicey but by taking the rubber tips off the poles for added stability and with my trusty “get a grips” on my shoes we managed to finish our walk with no falls.Maybe tomorrow we’ll take our XC skis up to the lake and do a ski loop. Gosh, I love winter!

It’s Wednesday morning in Grand Marais Minnesota. For those not familiar with Minnesota I’m way up on the “arrowhead” just about 60 miles from Canada, right on Lake Superior. Grand Marais is a small town cradled between the big water and the big woods. At times there are more deer on the hiway than cars. It’s an artistic community, inspired by the natural elements around them that set the pace of every day. The Superior Hiking trail, Gunflint lodge, Lutsen ski resort, multiple state parks, and of course the lake itself are only a few feet away.In summer it’s a busy tourist spot, in winter lots of the stores and restaurants are closed so it’s much quieter, the perfect place for a retreat from life in the city. I’m watching the day begin on the lake. Yesterday it was windy and big waves crashed on the beaches and rocks along the shore. Water splashed up over the breaker for the harbor. Clouds broke apart creating islands of sunlight out on the lakeand eventually the day ended with a spectacular sunset of red and gold.We are a mixed group of wise and wonderful women, ten in number and generations in experience. We have skied, snowshoed, explored, ate and drank together during our time here. We have stretched our bodies and our minds, challenging ourselves to take a deep breathe and go a little further.I am refreshed in spirit and mind and almost ready to return to the cities. I love HOW, Hoigaard’s Outdoor Women. It allows me to know women who are outside my normal circle of life. I am enriched by their energy and their willingness to share their lives with me and each other on our trips and events. It is a joy and a blessing.

It all started with the chicken carcass sitting on my sidewalk in below zero weather waiting to be cooked down for stock and final de-boning. I was at the local Great Harvest Bread shop and they had an offer of free dinner rolls with a purchase of the Frontier Soup mixes. Now it’s probably cheating but the company is from Illinois, a little out of my range but still midwest, and the ingredients are all organic and gluten free. I didn’t think I could go wrong with “corn, rice, potato, red pepper, chives, cayenne pepper and dill” in the bag. And I got a pack of 6 sunflower whole grain dinner rolls to enjoy with it for free!  what a deal.

So my cheater local meal of the week was the Red Pepper Corn Chowder mix from Frontier Soups, www.frontiersoups.com, with stock and chicken from our own bird, supplemented with sea salt and pepper (not local) sunflower dinner rolls from Great Harvest and a sliced MN apple from the fridge. 

Oh, the icy roads and paths are making nordic walking very difficult these days. I have to admit that Gail and I have resorted to doing our Pilates tape early in the morning and I’ve been snowshoeing in the fields when the sun is out. It’s just not the same when I can’t start my day with walking out the door to greet the morning.

 On another note there are lots of places to walk with your poles indoors. Rhea Kontos just posted information for the southern suburbs on her blog www.nordicwalkthisway.wordpress.com and I thought I’d add to that for the western and northern areas.

Most of the indoor “Dale’s” will allow indoor nordic walking. Just be sure to go before they open the stores as there’s something inherently dangerous about pole walkers and mom’s with strollers and little ones mixed together. As Rhea said the MOA has a walking club where you can even log in and keep track of how often and how long you walk.

Plymouth Community Center has an indoor walking track in the Field Housethat is open to walkers many hours each day.  You can call the recording for updated information 763-509-5292 and yes, your poles are welcome. It’s an inflated dome area so be sure to dress with an extra layer, it’s a little cooler than just indoors.

For safe outdoor walking be sure to check out Centennial Lakes in Edina. The path around park is about 1.5 miles, you can do it each direction to make it 3 and go off on the promenade for extra mileage. It’s always well shoveled and a beautiful place for a winter walk.

If you’re a member of The Marsh you can use your poles when walking on their indoor track.  You might check to make sure there isn’t any restriction on hours.

Wherever you’re walking just be careful when mixing with the general public. And of course use the opportunity to spread the good word about all the benefits of Nordic Walking with everyone who stops you to ask if you forgot your skis.
 

I don’t always have time to do a real breakfast even on the weekend.  Sam, my 24 yr old son, and I were going to go tele skiing on Saturday but when the day started at -15 and promised to only make it to zero we bagged the idea of driving to ski and made breakfast instead. 

 Homemade blueberry pancakes with local flour, milk, butter and home laid eggs.   exceptions the salt, baking soda, organic cane sugar.  Blueberries from the freezer, local maple syrup warmed of course with our local pig bacon and patti sausage on the side.  The orange juice and coffee were organic but not local.  gee, hope I don’t have too many exceptions here.

 It was delightful to make a full plate and sit to watch the woodpeckers busy on the suet from the same pig feasting in the cold.

It was a different Christmas here in Minnesota. Lots of shoveling and delayed plans due to the snowstorm.  I figured it was simply more proof that God is female, after all, Mary had labored all through the night and everyone thought they needed to come and celebrate right away. A good snowstorm is just what she needed to be able to snuggle down into bed with a newborn and go back to sleep. Let the celebrations and parties wait just one more day.

 Our lives are so busy that forced down time with one’s own family was an unexpected gift. I heard from so many folks that they simply stayed home and hung out.  Perfect!

The day after Christmas I couldn’t find anyone to go play with me. Sam, my youngest, was shoveling again, Dan, my husband, is healing a broken hip from a fall off his bike, Gail was hosting another family event. I was stuck going for my first cross country ski by myself. Driving up to the park on icy and snow packed roads I wondered about my choice of activity. Thankfully the ski tracks were in good shape and I was off to enjoy some silent time on the trail.

It took me a bit to find my balance on those skinny skis, downhill and telemark are my real passions.  I always feel like a novice on the trails and I never get the kick wax right so I struggle going up hills. But if felt good to be out and moving in the snow and cold.

For me, cross country skiing is about as close to kayaking as I can get in the winter. The natural rhythm matches the rhythm of the paddling stroke and I find myself settling into a moving meditation state as I kick and glide through the fields and woods. The ski trails track along one of my favorite paddling lakes and back waters so there’s a wonderful physical connection also. 

I felt great as I got back to my car. Kicked off the season and with all of our snow it’s sure to be a good one. 

 Merry Christmas everyone!

I have to admit that I wasn’t sure that I could pull this off, but our Christmas eve dinner was our local/organic meal of the week.

Chicken Wild Rice soup: local onions, celery, garlic, milk. homegrown chicken and chicken stock, Minnesota lake harvested Wild Rice and local dairy cream, milk and butter. 

Along with the soup we enjoyed strawberries and blueberries from the freezer, homemade salsa from garden tomatoes, sliced ham from our local pig, fresh buns from the bakery in town.

 Exceptions were the condiments for the ham, chips and of course all the Christmas Cookies for dessert. But I was pleased that I could put out as much as I did from the pantry and freezer.

Tomorrow is the solstice. I can’t wait to begin adding light to the day. 

A few weeks ago I began the Dark Days Challenge to eat locally and at the same time challenged myself to do something local outdoors each week.  This week we enjoyed the first snowshoe evening of the season. It was zero when I arrived at French Park in Plymouth, dark and cold. But the wind had died down so the evening had promise. Four out of seven women showed up to snowshoe. Hearty Minnesota women not disheartened by the cold weather.

We meandered down towards the lake. There was no moon so it took a little for our eyes to adjust to the darkness. Toes and fingers warmed up as we continued along the shoreline. We did have to change our path when we sank through some soft ice but no one got wet so we were ok.

In the warmer months we follow trails and paths when we walk or bike. This nite, with fresh snow covering the trails we simply wandered like children do when they walk about. We didn’t really have a destination or a plan, just enjoyed moving along on our snowshoes, breaking trail in the snow, catching up with each other and eventually ending back where we began.

I look forward to more evenings out on skis and snowshoes!  What have you been doing outdoors lately?

Today we lost only 3 minutes of light and tomorrow we start back towards longer days. yea!

 Dan is beginning to think he is a cook. I set up the veges and chicken in the pan with some olive oil and spices. Then I leave for work and he puts it all in the oven so that it is ready when I get home from work. The benefits of having a stay at home husband recuperating with a broken hip.  He’s really quite good a putting things in to cook!  Our local dinner this week was delicious:

home grown chicken, local carrots, potatoes and parsnip roasted in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper and fresh local garlic.  local lettuce and tomatoes grown in hydroponic greenhouses, local blueberried picked and frozen from the summer. 

Two weeks ago it was 50 degrees and sunny here in Minnesota. Winter arrived this week with 5 inches of snow and below zero temps. Gotta love Minnesota!  This morning it was time to break out the winter walking gear:

Get a Grips for my shoes so I didn’t slip on the snowy pavement

Salomon goretex trail shoes with no rocker for the slippery conditions

Cloudveil Run Don’t Walk Tights under running pants

Cloudveil Run Don’t Walk insulated cami to keep my core warm

Cross Country Ski Windstopper gloves

Neck Gaitor

and of course my studded tips for my LEKI Nordic Walking poles

At the end of our walk our faces were frosted over from our warm breathe and it was indeed a beautiful morning of a new day.

A simple pasta dinner was our local dinner of the week.  I’ve been working late most nites, gotta love retail, so quick and easy was a necessity.  Dan browned the pork sausage from our local pig while I ran out to the barn and to let the dogs out to run. When I got back I added spices, frozen homemade tomatoe sauce and some home grown onions to make a meat sauce for linguini that I bought from the Farmer’s Market before they closed down for the season.  A Minnesota Honey Crisp apple on the side and it was dinner.

I spent Saturday all day on the bunny hill at Trollhaugen in Dresser Wisconsin. My job for the day was to help guide 20 children age 7 and 8 with 5 instructors through the beginner skiers experience.  The sun was out, the hills were covered with man made snow, the kyds were excited and it was a perfect day.

 Not everyone would consider working the beginner hill to be an enjoyable way to spend a day.       I have to admit to loving the progression from “never ever” to first turns.  There’s something magical to starting with a child who cannot even get into their ski bindings and a few hours later they are going up the rope tow and making turns down the beginner hill.  They may not be pretty turns and there’s only the glimpse of good control, but they have discovered balance in motion and they are skiing.

I always tell my new skiers that their first day is the best day of their life. Everything will be different by the end of the day on skis. They will no longer be simply Danny or Nikki, they will be skiers! They will have claim to something very special that not everyone has experienced.

I love making new skiers! It is one of the joys of my winters and it’s only just begun!

When we were in Washington in October I picked up some red beans from one of Laura’s favorite farms. I’m not necessarily good at doing beans from scratch but am eager to get more experience. I used a Manana Bean recipe out of the Santa Fe cookbook Laura gave me a couple of years ago using the beans, local onions and hot peppers from the garden. Dan grilled wild rice sausages from the pig we got last year and we sliced Honey Crisp apples to go along with it. Just the right amount of spice and sweet to satisfy our pallets this evening.

It’s finally winter in Minnesota. It’s been a crazy fall season with a cold and wet October, warm and dry November, and no snow up til now. Yesterday morning it was nippy cold for the first time and today Gail and I got up to the first real winter dusting of snow. Even my not so winter enthusiast friend had to admit that with the just past full moon shining it was a beautiful start to a Friday.

 It was also a good reminder to get out the winter walking gear. We needed warmer gloves, winter walking shoes, studded tips for the LEKI poles, and even a neck gaitor would have felt good in the wind. I never understand where my “get a grips” go during the summer months, I expect that all my winter stuff will simply be on the bottom of the basket by the door. But sorting thru the hats and mittens I obviously put some of my necessary items in a safe place. If only I could remember where…

We’ve also added some “winter” interval training to our walks. Lunges, skipping and double poling are all part of the norm as we attempt to get ready for the ski season. Last year we did lots of Cross Country along with all the alpine and we’re hoping for another good snow year. I can’t wait for the evening skis through the woods at the local parks.

Snowshoes and boots are ready, bring it on!

Making lamb stew is a mixed blessing. I happen to love the taste of lamb but that is not shared by the entire family here on the compound. So when I invited my brother and his girl friend over for lamb stew I was walking a thin line.

The good news about the stew recipe I used is that somehow all the onions and garlic minimized the taste of lamb. Hence a lamb stew that didn’t taste like lamb.

 I used a recipe out of Cooking Light http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1142001 and cooked with lamb from our farm, all the veges: potatoes, onions, carrots, onions, garlic and turnips from the farmers market, rosemary from my pot in the window, and organic vegetable broth in place of the requested beef buillion.  I substituted carrots for the sweet potatoes and used rice flour in place of wheat for gluten free Jen.  Alongside was a lettuce salad, we’re fortunate in Minnesota to have local hydroponic lettuce and tomatoe growers so we can have it local year round. The crusty loaf of bread from the local bakery delivered by my brother, here for the holiday.  In honor of his visit I also cooked the last of the beets from our summer garden.

 I did take a picture but am having technical difficulties putting it on line from flickr so once again don’t have one of my pretty stew and salad. The beets were especially colorful.  oh well, there’s lots of photo opps in the weeks to come.

My daughter Laura has invited all of us to join the 3rd annual Dark Days of Winter Challenge. For anyone new to eating locally and living a sustainable lifestyle Laura is a true inspiration.  She and Mike live on three and a half acreas of heaven in Arlington WA, about 45 miles north of Seattle. On their small farm they have laying chickens and a huge garden, raised meat chickens, and shop locally for the rest of their meat and produce.  Her blog, www.urbanhennery.com  was featured this past Sunday in the local paper, http://bit.ly/1LWUgm so you can read more about her.

 This year I’ve accepted the challenge and it requires that I post my weekly meal, with pictures, to share with the others in the group.  Sunday was the beginning of the challenge and we cooked our first local meal as a pre Thanksgiving feast to send our son Danny off to Vail for the winter. (more on his adventures later)

In the excitement of the meal I totally forgot to take picture but here is what I cooked.

 Homegrown chicken baked in the oven stuffed with homegrown rosemary, garlic and an organic lemon from who knows where (one of my exceptions to the rule)  on a bed of chopped veges: carrots, onions, turnips

 local red mashed potatoes and homemade gravy with the drippings and veges

romanesque brocolli from the last farmers market in Minneapolis

homemade danish pastry

locally made icecream and homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert

next time I’ll be sure to take pictures….

The long rainy days here in Minnesota certainly didn’t leave much time for fall. Like many of you I feel like I missed having time outside wrapped in the colors and essence of autumn. I did sneak in time with Dan for my favorite fall hike out at Baker last week. Even though there wasn’t a lot of color on the hillsides the maple forest was glowing.  It’s always a magical moment when you walk into the soft light under the canopy of yellows and golds.  As I walked I had memories of all the kyds running off the path exploring the woods.

And now it’s November. It was always the “no” month for daycare. No barefeet, no flowers, no leaves on the trees, no swimming, no shorts, no hot days, no popsicles… you can complete your own list. 

Once we’re done with all the no’s there’s also the YES! of November. It’s the turnover month, a time of anticipation.  Hats - yes,  new horizons opened up by the loss of the leaves on trees - yes,  my winter wardrobe - yes (I love fleece and flannel), fires and hot chocolate - yes, the first real snowfall - yes!

 So I say goodbye and mourn the no’s of November but I do look forward to all the yes! of the months to come.

It’s not like I got an article in Time magazine or anything but I did get a Nordic Walking article published in the Twin Cities Housing Guide that came out last month.  “Active Aging Through Nordic Walking”  complete with pictures and an invitation to call me to do a demo.  Check it out!

http://www.after55publishing.com/emags/twincitieshousingguide/20092010/pageflip.html

Wear the good news about nordic walking!  I’ve created a Cafe Press store with T’s and stickers.  Check it out. If you have another quote you’d like to see let me know. It’s easy to create new ones or different styles of shirts.  Do we need sweat shirts as we go into fall? 

www.cafepress.com/nordicqueen

This past weekend was the 42nd Annual Hoigaard’s Tent Sale. It’s the official kick off for winter, the first time folks can get their hands on equipment and apparel to go out and play in the snow this year.  It was my 12th working sale and I’m always amazed at how much work it is to set up and prep for this event.  I’ve worked 8 days in a row, first hauling ski boots out to the tent and organizing them on shelves, then 3 days of kneeling on asphalt covered by indoor carpet fitting ski boots, and finally 2 days of bringing all the equipment back into the store and new this year organizing it for another extended weekend sale.  I am exhausted and looking forward to a day off today. 

 My morning walks were put on hold for a few days.  It’s hard physical labor to pull off this sale and I just couldn’t get out of bed to walk.  Yet, it was the Nordic Walking Tuesday at Lake of the Isles last nite that put me back into rhythm with my body and spirit.  It was so good to walk and talk with the women and enjoy a warm night around the lake.

We had several new walkers, thanks in part to Chris Freytag’s Monday Motivation article on Nordic Walking.  I first met Chris 4 years ago when she called wanting to learn more about this “walking with sticks” activity.  Chris is a fellow affficionado of being active outdoors and does a weekly early morning spot encouraging people to get out and get moving.  It was fun to reconnect with her and I appreciate the push for Nordic Walking!http://www.kare11.com/news/local/mornings/motivation/motivation_article.aspx?storyid=824395&catid=188 

Serendipity: The effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something entirely unrelated. 
 
When my kids were little we had a series of books called Serendipity.  They featured a small sea creature named, of course, Serendipity, trying desperately to discover just who she was and what she was meant to do in this world. Each adventure had a serendipitous ending, a surprise that no one was expecting.
 
Serendipity became a favorite word and quest. We were always looking for the serendipity in a situation, staying open for what we were really suppose to be seeing or experiencing or learning.  One of my favorites was my youngest, Sam, calling me early in the morning to tell me about the beautiful sunrise above the woods and fields by the high school.  He didn’t particularly like high school, found it a difficult place to be, and yet saw past the building to the beauty of the morning and carried that with him all day, still talking about it when I saw him in the evening.
 
Serendipity is a bit of a surprise, the “aha” moments of our lives.  Last week I found the first eggs from the laying chickens. Tiny little eggs tucked down in the sawdust and in the nesting boxes.  The wonderful promise of lots of good eating to come.  (yes, they will get bigger)  I was cleaning the stall when I found the first one, not really expecting them for a couple more weeks.  I was so excited, joy in a small blue oval.  Those first eggs flooded me with memories; little hands picking eggs, my mom with a basket full, washing and sorting, trying to color colored eggs for Easter, wonderful connections to family and the gifts of nature.
 
Adventures in nature and the outdoors are full of serendipity.  Be ready to be surprised!

My sister called me on Friday nite and invited me to go blueberry picking on Saturday morning, early. Now I had just returned from vacation and I had a long “to do” list full of stuff that pretty much equated to cleaning bathrooms all day. My knee jerk reaction, especially knowing that this would be a day long excursion, was to say no. But then I remembered my favorite montra ” Never give up joy to clean a bathroom” and asked what time I needed to be ready.

Betsy picked me up at 7am and we drove to Rush River Produce south of Red Wing on the Wisconsin side of the river. Driving down along the river and Lake Pepin we both feel our heart rates slowing down. Once in the blueberry patch we quickly got into the rhythm of picking, something that we both enjoy having grown up spending long hours picking in our family’s gardens. The bushes were heavy with berries, it was a beautiful cool morning, the vistas from the top of the bluff were incredible and at the end of 3 hours we had 80 pounds of blueberries between us.

The joy was not only the boxes of blue in the back of her car, but it was the time we spent with each other. Precious time sharing stories from our summer, making plans for Shady Sister’s upcoming sale, laughing about the adventures of our kids, and most of all just enjoying time together. Lives are so busy these days and there’s never enough time to get it all done. Even tho my gardens are still full of weeds and the laundry baskets are overflowing, I count my blessings and my deep joy at having spent the day picking blueberries with my sister.

Early this summer I went to Buffalo, New York and did a video gig for LEKI. It’s now online at  http://www.leki.com/nordicWalking/videos.php under Nordic Walking 101.  Check it out!

The weekend I went was more than just working with some of my favorite people. Lindy from LEKI immediately became a good friend when I first met her in New York.  She was my LEKI connection, my mentor for all things marketing, my mental support when things get tough, and a source of good humor to make life more bearable.  She’s now moved on, retired from LEKI and living in Florida with her new husband.  She’s busy converting lots of Floridians to Nordic Walking, one person at a time.

 Tom and Joe make being in front of the camera fun. Seriously, it’s lots of work. A long day. Doing the same thing over and over again until you get it right.  But it was a beautiful day and they are so supportive.  They never lost their patience with me.  We laughed all day over the interruptions to our filming and finished the day nordic walking to the local Italian restaurant.

It was a weekend to remember!  And I get to star on the LEKI website!  It’s all good

A while back I got a call from Nancy Kays about a new website called PR!ME.  It’s all about active healthy lifestyles for baby boomers so it seemed right up my alley.  They wanted to feature nordic walking and of course had found the “queen”. 

 It’s only in it’s beta phase, and I know nothing about websites so I only know that it is in the beginning trial phases but I think it’s going to be a great resource.   This initial design includes a nice article on Claire Walter and her new book on nordic walking and a flattering piece about me.

Read all about it at http://www.omegaincorporated.com/prime/Default.htm

I got some great shots from our kayaking trip. Check them out on flick

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28127384@N08/sets/72157620596574333/

 I’ve just returned home from a 3 day Living Adventure Kayaking Trip in the Apostle Islands.   wow!  It was a HOW Trip, Hoigaard’s Outdoor Women, with a total of 17 paddlers and 3 guides on the water.  Living Adventure did a fantastic job with all the equipment, food and expertise to make our trip both enjoyable and safe.  We truly did live the adventure for the weekend.

 Being on Lake Superior is like being in the mountains.  It is big and powerful and a little overwhelming.  Typical of a mountain, if you don’t like the weather, give it a few minutes and it will change.  Even tho it was the end of June you packed everything from a swim suit to long underwear and fleece sweaters.  And we used it all, proving once again that there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing for the conditions.  

 It’s a very empowering experience to be on the water with a group of women.  We shared our stories and discovered many wonderful things about ourselves and each other.  We were challenged by the weather conditions as we moved thru the weekend and even accepted gracefully the possibility of not getting back to main land before Monday.  (We did find a window of opportunity when the wind backed off in the late afternoon and we all got home Sunday nite.) 

I am truly blessed to be part of these adventures with the opportunity to get to know so many amazing women.  Hopefully you’ll join us one day.

It is such a joy to walk in the woods!  

 Julie and I headed back to the Birkie trail in Wisconsin for 2 days of Nordic Walking Clinics in the woods.   We do so much of our nordic walking with “tips on”  that it’s nice to get on the soft dirt and grass on the trail.  We really are made for walking on the earth, not pavement. 

 Early Friday morning we hooked up with 20 members of Ski and Tea, the women’s group led by our counter reality partners Juli and Linda.  It was fun to be reconnected with them and to do some nordic walking.  There were many familiar faces and some new women as well.  Coffee and scones at Moose Lips were our reward for all the hills we did on the trail.

 There were about 40 people who came on Saturday morning to try nordic walking with us. Not as many as last year but I have to admit that the 62 last year was a bit overwhelming.  There were several couples and lots of friends bringing friends. It was great to see so many men enjoying the  poles. 

The clinics topped off a marathon week of nordic walking. Monday thru Wednesday were 3 walk days with my own loop early in the morning, noon demo’s and evening classes and intro’s. We even walked at the Arboretum twice, Tuesday nite with the Son’s of Norway and Sunday for Father’s Day.  I’m not sure how many miles but I was glad for a day off yesterday (Julie and her husband Andy did the walk at the Arboretum, I went to the store and sold poles)  Now it’s time to pack for the kayaking trip!

My favorite walk right now is around the ponds at Carlson Twin Towers. It’s like our own Wild Nature Show just out our front door. 

 The first pond almost always has at least one egret with a little green heron and families of ducks and geese. 

 Once we get to the island mother nature really kicks up her heels with great blue herons,

more egrets, mother wood ducks with a dozen babies following close behind, a beaver swimming, and even a snapping turtle laying her eggs beside the path. 

Getting down close and personal to take her picture was perhaps not the smartest thing I’ve ever done but she was very intent on her job and didn’t really pay me no mind.

 It’s a beautiful start to a brand new day, connected to the natural world, being one with the earth as my husband likes to say.  Get out tomorrow and see for yourself.

I snuck in a walk by myself this morning a little later than our usual 6am but between rain showers.  I nordic walked up to Parkers Lake as I wanted to see if the rain had affected the lake level at all.  We are way short of moisture for the season and the water was very low.  I was pleased and amazed that the inch and a half of rain had raised the water level enough to claim back about 3 feet of beach. Small input, large return.
This morning I was also enjoying all the gardens bursting with beautiful perennials.  Many of these gardens are fairly new,  the plants were young and very small when planted. Through careful weeding and watering these same plants have more than doubled in size and are full of blooms and color.  In my own garden I finally have yellow peonies after 3 years of waiting.   Another natural lesson on a large return for a small investment.

I finish my walk in the morning, change into my “slogger” pink garden clogs and head to the barn bearing treats for the chickens. They know my voice now. They don’t actually come to greet me but also don’t run and cluster in the corners. They’re curious about what I’ve brought for them  and come eager to peck at the offerings of kitchen scraps and dandelion tops.  I squat down and encourage them to trust me.  It’s a few quiet moments at the beginning of the day.

I enjoy this time. I walk alone to the barn enjoying the ducks and geese on the pond, the sheep grazing in the lower pasture, the hawk looking for breakfast among the grasses. I live on an island of green just outside of Minneapolis, the last of the “farm property” in Minnetonka.  It’s a gift from my parents and one for which I am most grateful.  It won’t last forever, in fact it’s on a short lease now that both mom and dad are gone. But in the meantime I’ll look forward to my barn time to set the tone for my day.

Some mother’s got flowers or breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day.  I got laying chickens from my daughter and a trip to farmer’s market from my boys. 

Actually, the chickens were an early mother’s day present.  Delivered overnight by the US Postal Service, twenty six little bitty birds in a box a bit bigger than a shoe box arrived on April 18. I am happy to say that almost a month later they are all still alive, including the free, top hat rooster.

There are 5 different breeds: Ameraucanas, Black Astralorps, Silverlaced Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, and Partridge Rocks. Nothing plain about this flock!  They’re still shy and don’t really want anything to do with us but Laura tells me that I can start feeding them vege scraps this week to make them love me.

To celebrate Mother’s Day we got up early to go to the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.  It was wonderful to wander thru the vendors to pick out annuals and hanging baskets while the guys carried it all back to the car. 

I spent the rest of my mother’s day in the kitchen and gardens preparing for family dinner and potting up annuals. It was a perfect mother’s day!  I just can’t wait til we actually have eggs from these little chicks!

Children born today are forecast to live shorter lives than their parents.

Yes it’s true! I flew off to Buffalo, New York to do some filming with LEKI. They wanted to replace the DVD that comes with the poles with a video on their website. I got to be the star! Lindy was a most gracious host and it was great fun to work with Joe and Tom again. The weather was beautiful in Buffalo, 80 and sunny, the perfect day for filming outside. We worked all day and then nordic walked (of course) to a small Italian restaurant for dinner.

I was exhausted from being in front of the camera all day, good reminder to keep my day job! But it was also a good reminder of how far we’ve come in the past few years with Nordic Walking.  When we first started no one knew anything about it, including those of us at Hoigaard’s.  We were on the “cutting edge” of nordic walking, introducing it to the midwest.

Keep spreading the good news! LEKI’s motto is one walker at a time. There were several “friends” with us on the Mississippi River last Tuesday and they all finished the walk as new converts. With any luck those friends will bring a friend this week and so it grows.  Already this year we have walked with 132 people. Maybe this is the year we take off like Europe did and everyone we know will be walking with poles!

Last week HOW met on the Mississippi River in Downtown Minneapolis. We walked north along the river, crossed over and came back on the west side and then crossed back on the Stone Arch Bridge to return to our cars.  St Anthony Falls were spectacular!  So much water, so much energy. 

It’s one of my favorite walks.  I keep saying I could do this one once a month but I know that people would mutiny on me and I would be walking alone.  There is something about the power of the river and the vistas from the bridges that pulls on my spirit. 

If you live in the area, you really should try this walk.  You can park on Nicollet Island and go either direction, enjoying the river as you go.  Just stay close to the water, you can’t get lost!

 Wouldn’t it be wonderful if on Earth Day, this Wednesday, the fitness clubs, yoga studios, Y’s, all those indoor workout and exercise places were empty and everyone was outside enjoying some fresh air while they exercised in the sunshine?  Think of all the CO2 emissions we would save by simply walking out the door instead of getting into our cars and driving to the local gym.

It could be the new green movement, exercise outdoors in your neighborhood once per week to reduce your carbon footprint.  The logo could be a green footprint with little green marks from the tips of our nordic walking poles. 

Exercise Local!  I like it.

If you’re already walking in your neighborhood and looking for something to mix it up you might try a new route this week.  Go a different way, turn left instead of right, discover a new neighborhood, add a new dimension to your routine.  Maybe it’s time to add a few more steps, or turn and go up that hill that you’ve been avoiding.  If you’re already going up the hill why not try turning around at the top and going back to the bottom to do it a second time.  You can also weave back and forth as you go up to add distance and cardio.  Lots of little tricks to make it more fun and challenging.

Happy Earth Day!

I went to California last summer to attend a three day summit meeting for LEKI Nordic Walking Trainers.  Ever since then I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to lead one of the trainings for Suzanne Nottingham.  www.nordicwalknow.com This past weekend I had the pleasure of leading my first official Nordic Walk Now Instructor Training and Walk to Live Workshop.

 Although I’ve done lots of classes and various trainings this one was different since this time I was not only teaching people about nordic walking but teaching them to teach. The morning was for instructors and the afternoon for people interested in teaching family and friends. Normally there would be 2 instructors sharing the leadership for the trainings but due to the small turnout Suzanne asked me to do it on my own.   I was a little nervous but once I got going my own enthusiasm and all my experience took over and I relaxed into the training mode.

 The weather cooperated and we were able to be outdoors for most of the day.  There’s a delightful park just north of Hoigaard’s complete with paths, ponds, hills and grassy areas. It’s a perfect spot for teaching, and the groups did very well on all their assignments.

 Here’s the picture of the brand new Nordic Walking Instructors, Congratulations to all!

As the rain pours down today it seems like a good time to remind all of my fair weather walking friends that there are many good options for walking indoors.  It’s not the same as walking outdoors, but there are definitely days that a controlled environment of 70 degrees and dry footing is a great advantage over what mother nature is offering us. 

 Most of the indoor malls have walking programs and also will allow pole walkers before the mall opens. Check with your local mall for times and dates of their walking groups. If they don’t have a walking program perhaps you want to start one with them.  Just be aware that nordic walker with poles do not mix well with shoppers and mothers with strollers so be sure to do your walking before the mall opens.

 Mall of America has a program called MOA Mall Stars for their walkers. It even has a card you can swipe to keep track of how often you walk.  They will allow poles before the mall opens.  For more information call 800-757-9255.  Rhea Kontos recently posted about her experiences out at the mall, www.nordicwalkthisway.com.

 If you live in the western suburbs you can walk almost any day at the Plymouth Fieldhouse at 14800 34th Ave No in Plymouth.  Call 763-509-5292 for the current schedule.  They surprised me by posting an April schedule so it’s still open while mother nature tries to move into real spring.

 Community Centers and fitness clubs with indoor tracks may allow you to come with your poles. When you call them be sure to let them know that your poles have non marking rubber tips on them so they will not damage the track surface.  The Marsh in Minnetonka and Eagan Community Center both allow indoor track walking.

Be proactive!  If you can’t get outside to walk, search out an indoor option so you don’t miss a step.

The last two weeks have been full of great days on the slopes and evenings with friends and family.  It all started with 4 days in Keystone at the Industry Demo Days, skiing all the new equipment for next year. What a blast!  From there we dropped down to Crested Butte for 2 days with family friends skiing fresh tracks, then up through Salt Lake with a quick stop to see my husband’s brother and his family.  We met my brother in Big Sky on Tuesday just in time for more snow.  We have a history of bringing snow with us wherever we go and it was true again this year.  My niece, Michelle - Special Events Planner for Moonlight Basin, was explaining to a friend that we used to joke about it but after 5 years of an almost perfect record (last year it waited til we left in March, then snowed big time) they joke about inviting us to come out so it will snow.  I had 10 fun days on the slopes, doing one of my favorite things. 

We just got home today, Monday afternoon.  I’m a real “homebody” and so being on the road for 17 days is really exhausting for me. As much as I love being in the mountains I do like sleeping in my own bed.  And there’s that piece of feeling a little out of touch after so long. My reconnection will be a quick one this time, we leave early Sunday morning for the HOW Trip to Breckenridge.  Just enough time to answer emails, do some laundry, check on things at work and then be off again - back to the mountains.

As winter starts to wind down I hope you’re all making tracks in this new snow. What a gift it is after the rain of last week, I’m glad I missed that.  Julie tells me that the cross country trails are in good shape so I’m looking forward to Tuesday night at French Park.  I’ll see you there at 6pm.  And for all you cooped up Nordic Walkers be sure to meet us at the Stone Arch Bridge on Wednesday nite, also at 6pm, for the ”Blue Walk” next to the 35W  Bridge. 

I walked yesterday morning in cold weather for the first time this season.  Not that it hasn’t been nippy in the mornings but this time the snow was squeeky, a sure sign that it was somewhere around zero degrees, the air was crisp and my cheeks were pink and cold when I got back.  I walked alone since Gail was out of town.    I was alone with my thoughts and it was a good place to be.  It has been a year since my mom died, her favorite sheep joined her this week , Laura had been in town for the weekend and my son Sam was in the hospital on Tuesday having surgery on his broken collar bone.  There was a lot to process.

The morning sunrise was red, the age old warning of weather to come, but I like to see it as a promise of change. As I walked I found myself finally letting go of mom, the first year was over, the time of doing everything for the first time without her was past.  It truly feels like an end to an era. Time for change.  Laura was here for family holiday.  My 5 siblings were all in town and sitting around the table for Thanksgiving, a week late.  We had the turkey and all the trimmings, mom’s favorite holiday.  I think it was the first time we were all together since she died.  Again a new place to be.  Sam fell skiing on Saturday and had been through 4 days of intense pain before the surgery.  He has just moved home from Montana and was in the beginnings of starting his own business, Mountain View Fence and Snow Removal, now his plans are put aside for a time.  He needs time to heal and maybe time to work on that business plan.  Again, change in his forecast.

 In the meantime I’m trying to not get too caught up in doing Christmas and looking for ways to be in the Christmas mood.  Walking helps to balance me, puts things into perspective.  I’m thankful everyday that I can be outside.  It’s where change finds it’s way into my life. 

Saturday I was on the Birke trail nordic walking in the north woods with a very active and fit group of walkers.  Wednesday morning I was in a climate controlled world at the Mall of America presenting Nordic Walking to the Mall Star Walking program, an indoor walking club. Two extremes of age, activity and fitness levels. 

The important thing about it was that the interest and enthusiasm for learning about nordic walking was very similar between the two groups.  They are both passionate about staying active and listening to what their bodies and spirits are capable of  doing.  There was a different energy level, but walkers, whether inside or outside, all want to get the most out of their walk.

 So even tho it felt a bit schizoid to be moving so quickly between these two worlds, I feel that I found the common link between them and I’m glad to have been able to bring nordic walking to their worlds.

Julie and I headed north at 4am on Friday to do some nordic walking clinics on the Birke Trail.  We were meeting up with the Ski and Tea women, our north woods counterpart to HOW, led by Juli Lynch and Linda Cook. Yes, it was the Juli, Julie, Linda, Linda show for the weekend.  We weren’t sure how many folks would come out to walk with us in the woods but I was excited to have my first experience on the Birke. I was not to be disappointed

At 8am we had 27 women waiting to walk with us.  A few more than the 12 we had expected.  It was a beautiful morning, they were pumped to try the poles and we headed up the hills and into the woods.  Most of them are cross country skiers so it was a relatively easy transfer of movement to nordic walking. After 3 miles in the woods we finished with tea and fresh blueberry scones at the Moose Lips Cafe.  yummy!

The afternoon was spent kayaking on the White River, a trout stream north of Cable.  After a delicious dinner at the Angry Minnow we fell into bed so exhausted that we never heard the “big” storm that came through during the night.  Guess we were a bit tired.  Good thing we slept well because the Saturday morning clinic also exceeded our expectations. 

Total walkers: 66!!!!  Men, women and children, ages 7 to 70’s. I was blown away!  Somehow we actually had enough poles to go around, I think it was the stone soup scenario,  and after introducing everyone to walking the nordic walking way we took off into the woods.  It was amazing to walk with so many people with poles in their hands and they were all very good students. Wow!  What an experience.

We sold lots of poles and one pair is even going home to Hawaii. I’m looking forward to going there to do the next expansion of the kingdom!

Dan and I escaped for a midweek getway to Grand Marias before the holiday weekend.  Since I was going to work all weekend it seemed fitting to get some play time in before everyone else.  We headed north to do some hiking and kayaking on the north shore.  It was beautiful!  We stayed at the East Bay Suites, the reincarnation of the old East Bay Hotel.  We were right on the water, Lake Superior for those not from this area, with the north woods wrapping all around us.  We took our nordic walking poles for some light hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail, doing about 6 miles.  Jan Lemke from East Bay Suites recommended the hike and the spectacular wild flowers seconded her choice.  The upper meadow filled with flowers and the view of the lake was breathtaking. 

We enjoyed fresh Superior White Fish with organic veges and salads at the Crooked Spoon and The Angry Trout and a big breakfast at the Blue Moon Cafe.  John took us kayaking Thursday morning and we got up close with the big water.  Water temp was only 38 degrees, way different from most of our kayaking ventures.  But it was calm and the rhythm of the paddling relaxed my spirit.  I can’t say I was ready to return to work but I was in a better place, connected to my husband of 33 years and this wonderful creation we call earth, as I headed back to the cities.

The heat and mosquitos weren’t enough to keep 25 women from walking last nite.  It was good to see some familiar faces and there were also many new friends from recent demo’s and classes ready to do some more miles.  It was our night to get off the paved path and unto grass and dirt, my favorite way to walk when the tips of the poles really connect with the earth and move you along.  I do think it’s easier to feel the upper body engagement when off the beaten path.

Conversations on the trail covered work and family and summer plans. The one common thread was how good it was to be out with HOW, this group of women that simply welcomes you into the evening’s activity and encourages you to be true to yourself.  There was lots of energy about the Baker Weekend and the Birke Trek, yea!  And when the walk was over a small group came back to my house to enjoy a cold drink and sitting by the pool and gardens.  The wonder of HOW!

 By the way, our Monday eletter went out to 608 women. We continue to grow and touch more and more women every day.  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…

April 20

I spent the weekend with 40 women at Camp St Croix in Hudson, Wisconson.  It was our 2nd annual Women’s Weekend with an emphasis on taking good care of oneself in all aspects of our lives.  For most of us it’s a chance to dump our everyday responsibilities and go play for a couple of days.  It’s fun to watch the women as they slowly let go of kids, jobs, homes and life stresses and start to relax.  Friday night we sat by an outdoor fire til almost midnight just talking and enjoying each other’s company.  Strangers when we arrived and friends immediately.  It’s that special magic of women just accepting you for who you are and inviting you to openly share yourself and learn from each other. 

There was a multitude of choices during the weekend and of course Nordic Walking was at the top of the list.  We did 3 different walks, introducing lots of women to my favorite outdoor activity. The fun thing about camp is that we get to walk on grassy trails, a joy after all the miles on paved paths.  The camp is on the St Croix River with lots of trees and open fields.  The brisk air, yes it’s still cold here in Minnesota, combined with the rhythm of the walk, kept us at a good pace.  As always everyone really enjoyed the opportunity to try the poles.

The highlight of Saturday was when Julie and I took a break and went for our own walk down the hill towards the river.  There is an eagle’s nest on the trail.  When we stopped to look at it the eagle came flying out of the tree behind us, swooping down over our heads on it’s way to the nest.  Took our breath away!

I’m please to say that Brynda from Hudson is going to try and start a Nordic Walking group on the east side.

We’ve done lots of classes in Stillwater and so she has a base of walkers.  Good luck to her!

It all seems so unreal.  I’m in New York City, guest of CBS and LEKI.  I left Minnesota in the middle of a spring snow storm, go figure, and now have been prepped, coached, dined and dressed for the spot tomorrow morning on the CBS Early Morning Show.  My LEKI hosts have taken good care of me and I have been assured that it will be fun, easy and over before I know it.  Now I’m suppose to sleep well so I’m ready for my big one minute of fame and fortune on national TV. Somehow I’m not sure that sleep is going to be easy.  I imagine wild dreams until the wake up call rings me into the big day. 

I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and love from family and friends.   I know that I am only here because you all believe in me and who I am.   Thank you all!

Be sure to tune into CBS Early Show tomorrow morning. The Nordic Walking Queen will be there!