Celebrating Autumn

Autumn is a wonderful time of the year, and to me , it is one of my favorites. The other is springtime. I grew up in the upper peninsula of Michigan, where the maples, birch and poplars mingled with the pine trees to create a splendid autumn tapestry. However, in our area of Minnesota, near the St. Croix River and limestone bluffs that are dappled with red and gold clinging vines, the scenery is a photographer's dream. On a clear day, such as yesterday when I took my hike, with the blue sky above and sunlight caressing each leaf and vine, one can be bathed in peace and serenity.


As I walked along the river trail I could see eagles soaring overhead, majestic and graceful as they seemingly floated across the sky. We are so lucky to live in this area of Chisago County near the river, interstate park with hiking trails, and the ambiance of a small town like Taylor's Falls.

My children and grandchildren and I have hiked the Curtain Falls Trail for years and enjoyed the seasonal changes of flora and fauna. It is about one mile long, but a very steep climb in the beginning and though I used to be the one running ahead, now I find it is easier to stop along the way . The pull of gravity is very noticeable on the climb. The park crew do an excellent job of maintenance of the trail by clearing fallen trees and putting in steps, handrails and small wooden bridges as needed.


It is so easy, as one drives by in a car, not to notice the colorful bluffs, especially when sunlight almost makes the glow, and they are a background for colorful foliage that could be a car stopper, except there is no turn off there anymore. I had to park at the boat landing a hike back up the incline to take photos before they faded with time.




On my hike back, I spotted the loveliest little lime green vine with a tiny aster like lavendar flower clinging to it, sitting in the bright sunlight beneath a large oak tree.

Autum gives so many gifts which beg us to slow done our fast pace in life and savor their brief moment in time. Sometimes, in the most unusual places we can find hidden treasures, just waiting to be seen and enjoyed. It truly is the little things in our everyday lives that make each day worthwhile, whether it be enjoying nature walks, visits with a friend, or a kind word or smile. They all can make a world of difference to us and others.

It is fitting, that at the end of summer, we have autumn coming to us, dressed in her finest array and gently leading us into into the season ahead , of winter whites and a time for the earth to rest, until the circle of seasons begins again in the springtime. Our lives are similar to the seasons, following the same slow, yet everchanging pattern that takes us along the roadway of life. May we all find pleasure and peace on our journey.

Man's Best Friend

I'd like to share a brief synopsis of a true story about a man and a dog, based on a Hallmark movie I saw on Sunday night. It was called, Hachi, A Dog's Story. The movie starred Richard Gere portraying Parker Wilson, a music professor at a school in Rhode Island , and it is based on a true story that was made into a film in Japan, in the 80's and later shown around the world.

Hachiko, or Hachi, as he was usually called , was a puppy when he was shipped to Rhode Island, from Japan, in a crate, which dropped and broke open. As the story evolves, Parker happens upon the little lost dog where it was wandering the street in search of a friendly face and the two immediately become attached to one another. It was the beginning of a love story between man and dog.

At first, Parker's wife did not feel that a puppy would fit into their busy lifestyle, but with time and as she watched her husband playing with the little fella daily, she realized that their home would be Hachi's home. Every day, when Parker went off to the train station, which took him to work, Hachi would follow and return home to wait, until evening when he heard the train whistle signal his master's arrival home again. Immediately he was off, like a streak of lightening, to sit on the low brick wall that circled around the town fountain, until he saw, Parker come through the gates. Hugs and doggie kisses poured out his affection to his owner and were returned with a joyous greeting. This went on for many years.

One day, Parker did not come home because he had suffered a massive coronary and passed away. Hachi did not understand what had happened and for over nine years, he would faithfully go to sit at his usual place near the train station. In the evenings he would sleep under a broken train carriage so as to be nearer to the station. The kind people in town knew Hachi and his story and always saw that he recieved food and water. Many tried to take care of him but he was faithful to only the one he loved and lost.

As the seasons came and went, Hachi became weary with age and finally one last evening he went to wait for Parker, where he put his tired head upon his paws and went to sleep for the last time. In spirit , he was once again joined with his beloved Parker to share forever after.

The story was so touching because of such love and devotion that was displayed by that faithful dog that I could not help but cry for him. Stories that touch the heart with such love and faithfulness make us realize that we can learn to be more devoted and loving to one another. Pets can teach us how to live together as brothers and sisters in a world that is sometimes cruel. However, kindness and love will always light our path so that we can be sensitive to the needs of others, if we open our hearts and minds to appreciating the many blessings around us each day.

The people of that little town in Rhode Island, erected a life sized statue of Hachi which sits on the very spot where he always waited, faithful to the very end. It is a fitting reminder of the faithfulness and love between a dog and his beloved master.

A Visit To Door Peninsula

It has been years now since my family and I visited the Door Peninsula in Wisconson. The year that National Geographic published an article and nice photos of that lovely peninsula , which jutted out into Lake Michigan, from Green Bay, we wer inspired to venture there.

My son and daughter were at the young age that they really enjoyed the discovery of a new vacation spot and were good travellers. At that time, I was not doing any photography or sketching, so alas, I have no special photos to share, except memory pictures.



Cherry trees are abundant there and when we went, the trees were in blossom and a heavenly sight to behold, and then the fragrance of pink blossoms filled the air. It was not the current hot spot that it is now.. That made it all the more of a nice family discovery area as the children were able to play on the sandy beach and look for pretty rocks without a crowd around. The waves of Lake Michigan splashing on the shore line made us feel like we were near an ocean.


The famous Fish boil, which they were noted for, was indeed an enjoyable treat. On Friday night, they built a big fire over which a large cast iron kettle hung cooking the fish and at just the right time, they added potatoes and vegetables. When it was done, they let the kettle boil over and we were ready to enjoy. It is hard to believe how very good that tasted because it sounds so simple. It was a crowd pleaser.


Living in the country on a family farm, we did still manage to take vacations with the children. Often, we would go tenting to the Dakotas, Colorado or up north in Minnesota. It was always an adventure and built good memories for the children especially. With the tenting bit , there were some rainy days or days when we woke up on a flat air mattress that were not so memorable, but all in all, it was good family time and provided bonding with one another and nature.


Sharing happy moments of relaxation and discovery with family and friends builds the strong ties that bind. Getting to know and love one another unites us so that in times of joy or sadness we are there for each other, for the good times and the bad. Whether we realize it or not, people do need each other, like Barbra Streistrand used to sing " People Who Need People Are the Luckiest People in the World." Therte is an element of truth to that.



We took a ferry out to Washington Island and enjoyed hiking the sandy shores and hills and had a picnic of crackers and island smoked fish. The ferry ride, for the children, was a highlight. There is such a wonderful feeling one gets by being surrounded by water and splashing waves on the shoreline. It is a feeling of peacefulness and relaxation.


When we left the peninsula, we shopped a bit in Green Bay, and my young son somehow lost his wallet which contained a small amount of money, perhaps five dollars, which was alot then. He was sad but what a surprise when ,one day, it arrived in the mail from some kind person who returned it, money and all. It is so good to know that there are honest and caring people in the world who are conscientious travellers on the road of life.

Almelund Apple Fest 2010

The grey and cool beginning today turned out to be a fantastic and perfect day for the Almelund Apple Fest. I have never been there before, in all the years I have lived in the area, but I was so glad to experience such a happy event. Families and friends gathered together on the gentle slopes beneath the tall trees which were dressed in shades of autumn.

A small group of musicians were serenading the eager crowd while all around folks shopped at vendor's stalls selling everything from organic vegetables and apples to homemade crafts. There were antique cars giving people rides, like in the olden days, and children were having the time of their life. There were little white poodles on leashes enjoying the merriment of the crowd as they walked along with their owners.

A funny clown, dressed in a bright yellow suit and a head piece of wild orange hair to contrast his big red nose, walked around making jokes and bringing laughter to the children. He was camera shy, though. I enjoyed a delicious piece of homemade apple pie ala mode from a booth where all of the apple bakeries had been donated and funds raised were going to benefit the maintenance of the very old and wonderful log cabin. It appeared to be in excellent condition but, as with a home, there is always upkeep.


There were many handmade quilts in front of one of the old buildings and a quilt raffle was being held for some lucky person to have in their home.



Proceeds from the raffle also went to benefit the Almelund historic preservation project. It is so good for a community to get together on such a nice fall day and share friendship with one another, and make new friends while all the while benefiting their own community. I think perhaps these activities make a small town a warm community that people want to live in and raise their families in. There is a strong and invisible thread that unites people together when they share good times of laughter and relaxation after days of hard work in their ordinay lives.

I visited with a lady who raises beautiful summer flowers all season and sells them at various small town markets. She lives near the state park and has a little country garden which is at it's peak, in blooms, in July. She has been doing the Almelund Apple Fest for thirteen years now and always enjoys the festivities. I purchased a small bouquet of dried posies to remind me of my enjoyable day at the Apple Fest.

Small towns give us the opportunity to change our pace of living and join our friends and neighbors in celebrating the carefree, happy days of summer and the new season of autumn to follow. May there always be a reason in our lives to celebrate as we continue on our journey through life.

Watching the Clouds Go By

Do you remember when we were little children and how we would spin in a circle, with our eyes closed, until we got dizzy? Then we would lie down on the soft green grass and look at the sky and watch the clouds go by. There would so many playful shapes up there , dancing against a canopy of blue, such as puppy dogs with fluffy tails and ears or fairy tale animals that galloped along.


Sometimes, I think that we adults get ourselves into a dither trying to accomplish as much as we can in a short period of time. But I ask myself, why do we do that? I certainly have been guilty of it in my younger days when I worked from sunrise to past sunset, as if everything depended only on me. I often thought it really did. The lessons we learn in life come at a price we each must pay, but that is the only way to truly learn. We are never too old to learn something new and it is usually by trial and error


I try to take precious moments each day now to just sit quietly and watch nature around me. The little finches have been coming to my feeder daily to enjoy the thistle seed, which is always waiting for them. Their inner instinct guides them to food, shelter and migration in a perfect pattern. In our back garden there were some beautiful sunflowers last year that formed a mini forest of tall and stately yellow faces reaching toward the sun light. The simple wonders of nature are everywhere to remind us that we are a part of a greater creation where everything is planned to work in harmony.







I look out of my bedroom window and see the softly falling rain as it settles on each leaf of the large Japanese Lilac tree beyond my window. The air is sweet and fresh with the clean smell that only rain can bring.


Many a morning, I notice the soft shades of rose colors that bathe the fluffy clouds that are lit by the sunrise. The heavens above are an ever changing canopy where we can be like children and lose ourselves and let our imagination allow us to drift along among the clouds. Whether it is in the world of nature or in watching the clouds go by, we can find serenity and inner peace which nurture our spirits and create a oneness with ourselves and the universe.



I wish peace and serenity for each person who dances on this earth for the little while we are here.

A Pot of Chicken Soup

It is a chicken soup kind of day today, with light rain, cooler temperatures and grey skies. While I write this and smell my soup aroma drifting across the air, my mind drifts back to being back home in Crystal Falls, Michigan, on our family farm, when I wore a younger ladies clothes.


We had one of those wonderful old cream and pale green colored wood burning stoves that were one of man's best inventions , to my mind. It made our house a cozy home with all those wonderful features. The wood stove gave warmth, for family and for our little dog, Laddie, who always ran to curl up under the stove on a cold winter day. There was a double warming oven, and a water reservoir, so there was always warm water if needed.


Atop the stove, a tea kettle was always ready for a warm cup of cocoa or tea. That was especially good, when we came back from sleigh riding or skiing down our hill on a cold winter day. Whenever we came home from school, the kitchen was filled with such good smells of soup simmering on the stove or bread baking in the oven. Also, if the day was really windy and cold, we just opened the oven door to let out that wonderful heat.


As children, we always had jobs to do that centered around our stove. There was kindling to split, ashes to carry out and filling the reservoir with water. It was good to have a sense of being a needed person in the core of a family. Our efforts and time were all bound together in the circle of love that binds a family in the activities that makes a house a home.


Like little birds in a nest needing their mother's protection and care, children also need to feel the security and love of caring parents, somebody to shelter them from the big wide world beyond the walls of a home. I am blessed to have been a child growing up in simpler times within the sheltering care of loving parents who taught us the value of working and playing together even in the throes of the Depression and the difficult years that followed. We were content with the simple things that we shared, like listening to the radio at night , after chores were done, or going for a ride and getting a nickel ice cream cone. Those were highlights to our days because we did them together, as family. How lucky we were to be so loved in that long ago time, sometimes called the olden days. But no, I would say they were the golden days of yesteryear.


Out of even the rainy, grey days can come happy thoughts when there is a pot of chicken soup cooking on the stove. Enjoy!

Shades of Autumn

Perhaps it is because it is autumn and the landscape is slowly being transformed before our eyes, but I seem to be dwelling more on the inevitable fact that I, along with everybody else, am getting older. Yes indeed, it is happening to me. I have only to take a glance in the mirror, in bright sunlight, and know that the reflection I see is not the young and frisky lady that I think I am. But do you know what? It is okay.




I love walking in the woods at this time of year when the greenery around me is evolving into warm and mellow shades of autumn. It is happening each moment of the day and night, so gradually that we do not really notice it until one day we are amazed by the colorful change in the landscape. The earth seems to be singing a joyful song as it prepares to share the last days of summer and move us on to the changes that celebrate the patterns of life.


The mirrored reflections of autumn's canvas upon the perfectly calm and serene lake remind me of how important it is that we all take time to enjoy the magic of each season. Seek and find the happiness that comes from knowing that we all are part of the miracle that the falling sands of time touch. Earth and people are in constant change and each of us are part of a greater plan.


Age is just a number and we always will be that little girl or boy inside, while our exterior may pass through the beautiful stages of the seasons. We can dance to the music of our singing spirits if we consider the fabulous journey we are on and join with one another in sharing time together. Life is a circle with no beginning and no end, and like the seasons it just keeps rolling along. We are each so unique and touch so many more lives by our words and actions than we can imagine. Our lives are reflected in those we love and whose lives we have touched by just being ourselves.

Celebrate the season and being you, whatever age you are.

Yesterday When I Was Young

Though winter can be cold and dreary to some folks, to me the thought of winter evokes warm memories of a carefree childhood in the country. Many of the people who purchase my paintings, though they are simply done but with love in my heart, also take pleasure in recalling the days when they or their children were little.

There is nothing quite so beautiful to me as a fresh blanket of soft and white fluffy snow gently resting upon the dried grasses or shrubs that once sheltered the birds of summer. It is fresh and clean and each snowflake is as delicate as only God could create in His love for humanity.

I used to love to walk in the woods after a fresh snowfall and marvel at the almost sacred silence of the surroundings. The boughs of evergreens would gently droop from the soft pillow of pure white which lay upon them. Sometimes, I would notice fresh tracks where a rabbit had hopped along to his winter shelter.

We used to have wonderful fun, on a moonlit night, when mom would take my brother and I sleigh riding down the long and icy winter hill that lead to our country home. Sometimes , we went so fast, that it took our breathe away and brought tears to my eyes. In the daytime, we would have fun building snowmen, when the snow had just enough moisture to retain the shape.

Coal for eyes, a scarf and cap and mittens at the end of a stick, brought the frosty fella to life. Our little dog, Laddie, would be bouncing about and frolicking along with us , as we laughed and played, oblivious to all except our own pleasure. As a child, the world revolves around us and we feel safe and secure in the love and warmth of family and friends. It is a time when the solid foundations of our lives are being built and we have no fear .

On a warm winter day, with snow gently falling , we once again are reminded of simple and happy times that are woven into the tapestry of our adult lives. History repeats itself over again as our children enjoy the same joys of childhood, doing the playful activities in the snow that bind us all together in oneness.

Each season has it's own beauty, but to me a soft winter snowfall warms my spirit as I recall the joys of many yesterdays when I was young. I hope that each of you can find peace within as you recall the simpler days of your youth.

I Remember When

I was just remembering when we were children and I was about eight and my brother about seven years old. We were spending a week with mom at my Uncle Frank's cottage on Runkle Lake.

Uncle Frank was actually mom's uncle but we called him ours. He was a big man with a livid imagination who enjoyed talking to us children and sharing stories about his life. His world evolved around immediate family and his summer cottage where he could feel at home. Because of a mining accident with explosives in his younger days, he was blind so activities were a matter of routine.

Across the lake from the cottage, was a small store in the park that sold ice cream cones and candy treats to campers and visitors. One day, my brother and I persuaded Uncle Frank to take us across the lake in the row boat so we could have an ice cream cone. How our mom let us get in the boat with a blind man, I do not know but off we went, with uncle rowing and following our childish directions. At one point, I remember, we were going in circles because of our poor directions yet we found it something to giggle about. Of course there was no such things as life jackets then nor was there even the tiniest bit of concern for safety in our little heads.

Needless to say..we made the trip there and back safely and our ice cream treat was delicious.
Times have changed so much over the years but people are basically the same. We all were more trusting then and accepted life as it presented itself. We were innocent and lacked knowledge of the possible dangers that could possibly occur and we believed that nothing bad could ever happen to us with parents and family to guide us.

It is true that memories unite us when shared with loved ones, but sometimes the facts are mellowed over time and each person remembers different things, because we are different. However, on the pages of our lives, the stories that are written enable us to become the people that we are. Sometimes they are our strength and other times, perhaps, they prevent us from realizing our full potential.

The wonderful thing about remembering incidents in our lives is that usually the bad parts sink into shadows and the happy and good events only grow more memorable with time. How lucky we are to wander down memory lane, every now and then, and know that our journey has taken us on many pathways leading us to the safe haven of the here and now.

Autumn Gold

In the upper peninsula of Michigan, where I grew up in the country, it was always a favorite time of year for me, when the many warm colors of Fall appeared on the distant hills. Our small country farm was settled amidst the rolling hills which were sprayed with maple trees that were subject for an artists canvas. A brilliant blue sky above on a sunlit day provided a perfect backdrop for God's display of a colorful transition.

Up the cowpath that lead beyond the pasture, into the hardwoods, was a trail that I loved to wander in the autumn as I savored the earthy smells of falling leaves and was immersed in a wondrous color bath of autumn gold , reds and orange hues. Now and then a bird would speak in joyful song, or a deer would make a quick dash away as it heard a stranger approaching.

Living here amidst the four seasons, we are blessed to realize the beauty and pleasure that each season offers us. There is always something to look forward to with the ever changing seasons. Each one, whether winter, spring, summer or autumn offers us new activities and panoramas to enjoy.

As a little girl, I loved to gather colored leaves and coat them with a brushing of wax and make a boquet for our country home. Mom would put them into a large butter churning jar and set them on a table to be enjoyed. That would have been when I wasn't churning the butter in our Daisy churn. I used to love to sit behind our old wood stove and churn soured milk to make the butter and I would be singing every song I knew until finally, I could tell when it was turning to butter. It was exciting for me to do. In those days, life in the country was very simple and centered around family and home. They were good times to be treasured even more as the years roll by.

Now the early signs of autumn are upon us with days growing shorter, fading of the summer flowers and touches of gold and orange or rust replacing the once brilliant greens on the trees and shrubs. The air smells fresher on cooler mornings when I greet the day and my feet feel like dancing , once again, among those colored hills of home in Michigan. However, everything changes with time and luckily we have photographs and precious memories to carry us along on our journey through time.

Take time along your path today to notice and feel the magic of autumn gold all around you. It is a free gift for all to enjoy.

The Drifter

This is a make believe, but could be true, story about a fella I once knew. He was a young at heart senior, who had his shares of ups and downs in life , like us all. Lots of good times and a number of down times that left him with a feeling that something's missing. So far, that sounds like most of us.

Anyway, after some soul searching and having his heart broken one too many times, he decided that he would let the gypsy and carefree kid inside him come out to play and enjoy his sense of freedom. He made several moves in a short period of time, north to south, east to west and always on the lookout for that missing something.

Finally, he decided to do something drastic, so he sold his comfortable, but lonely big house, and bought a houseboat and he became the river drifter, where he enjoyed the lack of responsibility and freedom the river life gave him. His meals consisted of fish, fish and more fish. The monotony of each predictable day soon let him know it was time to move on. As far as I know, he is still drifting.

I believe that unless we fall into the role of accepting life as it is with it's peaks and valleys, we all want to free that younger person within us and escape to that comfortable valley of peace and contentment. A place where we can freely love and accept ourselves and others. A place where there is always something to do, where somebody needs us and where we can also need somebody to share the blissful days of life with, rain or shine. These feelings usually emerge in life when one is confronted with their mortality and the wheels of seeking are set in motion.

We are all drifters, at some time or other, drifting along on the river of no return to that place, just around the bend, that we can finally call home. Let's hope we recognize it when we finally get there.