Baseball is back!

Location coordinates:
44°58'54"N, 93°16'42"W
Target Field,
Minneapolis, MN

Need a sure fire way to lift your winter-worn spirits and get spring off to a grand start? Consider attending early season games of your favorite baseball team. The 2011 major league baseball season is now underway, and surrounding yourself with the sights, smells, and sounds of a ballpark is a guaranteed route to a better mood.

Last Friday I attended the home opening game festivities for my favorite team - the Minnesota Twins. My route to Target Field involved public transit (allowing me to avoid the inevitable downtown traffic and parking trauma), and you could sense the excitement as soon as I stepped off the bus. The area was alive with a party-like atmosphere. Pubs and restaurants near the stadium were overflowing with people eating and drinking at both indoor and outdoor tables. Not stopping at one of the pubs, I fell into the stream of fans funneling up the streets adjoining the stadium. We were like salmon returning to their home waters, eventually joining the throngs gathered in Target Plaza directly in front of the stadium.



Overlooking Target Plaza

 I made my way into the crowd but quickly diverted to a stairway leading to one of the Minneapolis skyways so I could get an elevated vantage point. What a happy sight. Everyone seemed to be wearing a "this is the year" expression on their faces and were decked out in infinite variations of official Twins attire. Comforting aromas of char-grilled burgers and kettle corn filled the air. It was loud, but in a good way. Percussion band music, public address announcements, laughter, and a subtle background of urban life noise characteristic of any downtown location.

Bright blue sky for the home opener

One of the best and most welcomed features of the afternoon was the weather. It has been a cold and snowy winter in the Upper Midwest, and everyone here is in need of sun and warmth. Outdoor baseball in the Twin Cities carries with it the threat of cold miserable weather, especially for early and late season games. But that threat was unfulfilled for the 2011 home opener. The pre-game sun was bright and the temperature was in the mid-60s. Perfect.

Target Plaza

The National Anthem, raising of the flags, and a F-16 fighter jet flyover (always an emotional sight) rounded out the pre-game events with the first pitch occurring at 3:17 pm. The Twins went on to beat the Oakland A's 2-1, capping off a great home opening day.

If you're ready to feel good and de-stress, then step away from the Parade of Doom, (aka the nightly news), turn off that cell phone, and get outside to your local ballpark. Buy yourself a hot dog, sit back, and let America's favorite pastime transport you to a much happier frame of mind.

Mushing "Up North" by Dog Sled

Location Coordinates:
47°54'8"N, 91°51'21"W
Ely, Minnesota

Chrys meeting one of the team

A few weeks ago, before the madness of the move to our new house began, and before winter weariness kicked into high gear (as it has now - enough with the snow already!), Chrys and I traveled north with friends for a weekend of high adventure in the pristine north woods around Ely, Minnesota - the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The main event of the weekend was the opportunity to head out into the wilderness on a dog sled. It is not every day that you get to drive a team of highly trained canine through forests of pine and white bark birch trees over a thick snowpack on a sled. So with great excitement, and just a bit of anxiety, we found our way to Chilly Dogs, a family-ran dog sledding outfitter just south of Ely.
 
I knew immediately upon arrival that we were in for the time of our lives. Our host, Jeff, greeted us with a big smile and an easy-going welcome that put me at ease right away. Jeff escorted us to a lodge-like room where he introduced us to his wife, Donna, as well as staff members Jake, Ben, Josh and Jessica. After all the other members of our sled party had arrived, we were taken out to the kennel area where we had a meet-and-greet session with the dogs. The whole party spread out as we attempted to meet each of the ninety-three dogs that are part of the Chilly Dogs team. Each dog had their own distinct personality, but all of the dogs were extremely excited to see us as they knew this new batch of strangers meant they were going to get a chance to go out on another run. Their frenzied barks and howls became nearly deafening, but that just added to the building level of anticipation for dog and human both.

The "Greet-and Meet" with the dogs

After mingling with the dogs for about thirty minutes we received our sled driving and safety instructions and were divided up into our assigned sleds. As the staff began the process of choosing the dogs and harnessing them as teams, the barking and howling reached a fever pitch. At this point I will admit to being pretty nervous. I began wondering if I had made a huge mistake in assuming this was going to be fun. I had no idea how to drive a dog sled. What if I tipped the sled, or ran it into a ravine or a tree? What the heck am I doing?? Luckily for me, I was assigned to Ben, one of the experienced staff, as the second man of my two-man team, so I was able to start off in the riding position inside the sled.

With a command of "hike" our seven-dog sled blasted off. After just a few moments, my anxieties disappeared and I knew I was going to love dog sledding. We were scheduled for a three-hour expedition, with the two-person teams switching driver and rider after the first ninety minutes. Fortunately for me, my sled mate Ben sensed my anticipation and let me switch to driver mode after just a few minutes. So I was able to drive for nearly the full three hours.

Snow sculpture in downtown Ely

We wound our way through beautiful wooded areas as well as over frozen lakes. The scenery was magnificent. Driving the sled was much easier than I had anticipated, but I won't kid myself into thinking I was in control as the expertly trained dogs really needed little assistance from me. It reminded me a bit of skiing, but in slow motion. I found it very relaxing, and it put me into a serene state of mind. I've never experienced anything quite like it, and it was definitely the most fun I've ever had on snow.


 Before I knew it our three hours had elapsed and we found our way back to the lodge. I thanked each of the dogs on my team individually for a great ride and for not pulling me off a cliff or into a tree. Then it was back into the lodge for hot chocolate and homemade cookies by a roaring fire where all participants got to hold three-day-old puppies (future dog team members) as we compared stories of our journey. My only regret is that I got so wrapped up in the thrill of driving the sled that I completely forgot to take any photographs to record my dog team or while sledding out in the woods. Oh well. Guess I'll just have to go back and do it again. And that is not a problem.

Snow sculpture in downtown Ely

If you ever get the chance to go dog sledding, I highly recommend Chilly Dogs in Ely. So go! I can guarantee you will have a great adventure.

Farewell to Dupont

Location Coordinates:
44°55'49"N, 93°17'35"W
Dupont Ave S,
(aka Kings Highway)
Minneapolis, MN

Summer at Dupont

A bit of a personal reflection here. My blog is dedicated to finding something unique and special in your everyday, ordinary things. As my daughters, Rachel and Sarah, so aptly stated in the introduction for my first published coffee table book, my goal is to make visual impressions of "ordinary locations that may be extraordinary for those who consider it their own right latitude". Today I wanted to insert a short post in recognition of a place that has been a most important right latitude for me over the past nineteen months - our home here at the corner of 40th St. and Dupont Ave S.

When we moved to Minneapolis in the summer of 2009 we decided to rent a home for a period of two years while we became familiar with the area before deciding where we might want to settle permanently. An internet search brought us to this terrific house we affectionately refer to as "Dupont". I immediately fell in love with the home's colonial styling and traditional features. And the location could not be better for exploring the metro area as we are literally on the "Grand Rounds" bike trail that networks all over Minneapolis/St. Paul. I've made mention in previous posts that we live just steps from two parks and one of the most popular lakes (Lake Harriet) in the city. It was the perfect location to base ourselves as we came to know our new hometown.



Christmas at Dupont



As we began narrowing in on our choice for a home to purchase, we ultimately chose a place located in the western portion of the city of Bloomington, a first-tier suburb of Minneapolis. It was a very tough choice deciding between the city or the suburbs, and ultimately our thoughts were that Bloomington will be perfect for us. Nonetheless, it will be extremely difficult to leave this rental home I've become so fond of, with its attic office and fireplace where I've spent countless hours learning a new skill and launching a new business.

On Thursday I'll say goodbye to Dupont, a place filled with happy memories for us, as we move on to our next right latitude in Bloomington.

Catalina Island Discovery

Location coordinates:
33°20'37"N, 118°19'32"W
Avalon, Catalina Island,
California

It is mid-winter, a time when we Northerners usually seek refuge from the grips of the winter doldrums in any place south of the snow line (which this crazy winter seems a bit more difficult to find!). Last week Chrys and I combined a family visit with a pure "thaw-out" vacation by heading back to southern California. At departure, the temperature in Minneapolis was zero degrees, which believe it or not was a huge improvement from the double-digit negative temps the day before. When we stepped off the plane in Orange County it was a blissful 72 degrees with no clouds in sight. Now that makes even a die-hard winter lover smile. We had arranged to stay along Orange County's Newport Coast in a great resort where on more than one occasion we enjoyed spectacular sunsets from our balcony with a nice glass of red wine. Toward the end of the week we decided to take a cruise over to Catalina Island, leaving out of nearby Balboa.



Avalon harbor and beach

 I had been to Catalina Island once before when I was about nine years old, and I don't recall that I was overly impressed. Understanding that my nine-year-old self should not really be held as an authority regarding travel destinations, I still did not hold out much hope that Catalina would be anything more than a cheesy tourist spot full of vendors looking to separate me from my money. However, what is unappealing to a nine-year-old is apparently quite pleasing to a . . . well, to a somewhat older person.

Catalina charm

The first thing we noticed upon leaving the boat was the lack of noise and an overall feeling of serenity. Now, I must place this caveat on that statement: our visit took place in late January, definitely the slow season. Obviously, summer high season would be another story. We had the beach practically to ourselves as we strolled down Crescent Avenue in the heart of Avalon. The next thing we found quite interesting was the fact the primary mode of transportation for residents are golf carts. Regular cars are on the island to be sure, but golf carts are certainly in the majority.

"Via Casino" walk and Catalina Casino

We walked toward the Catalina Casino, which we were surprised to find is not a casino at all but a theatre and ballroom. Feeling hungry, we then doubled back toward the town center and found a tiny walk-up restaurant called Katie's Kitchen, where we had, by far, the best chicken tacos I've ever eaten. After lunch we set off on a hike up Avalon Canyon Road in search of the Wrigley Botanical Gardens. We kept walking, and walking, but we never did come across the gardens and eventually gave up. Oh well, at least we worked off those fabulous chicken tacos.



Sunset over Catalina

 Back in the town center we wandered through a few of the shops, sat in the sun along the pristine beach, and then capped off our visit with a glass of wine at an outside table. We toasted our very pleasant island day and my new and different perspective on Catalina. No longer do I perceive the island as a dry, brown, past-its-prime destination. Now I understand that it is a clean, lush island getaway full of palms, eucalyptus trees, flowering plants, and gracious and welcoming residents. The laid-back small town feel is great for those wanting to drop out and recharge. But if you decide to go seeking your day of calm, make sure you go on a weekday in January. You'll be glad you did.

Winter at the Japanese Garden

Location Coordinates:
44°49'48"N,
93°19'54"W
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, MN

After the hectic activities and fun of the holiday season has passed, those of us in the northern latitudes face the dreariness of the dead of winter. More often than not the sky is gray, the sun is hidden, and the landscape is defined by a black and white dullness. On the occasional day the sun breaks through the murk, the frozen world seems to come alive again. These are my favorite of winter days, and I make sure I get outdoors for a natural dose of Vitamin D from the gleaming sunshine. Earlier this week was just such a day, and I was anxious to go out and find something in the metro area I had not yet discovered. A random Google search provided a destination that seemed to hold potential. On the campus of Normandale Community College sits a petite authentic Japanese Garden.The web site boasts this small oasis of serenity offers a place "ideal for contemplation and renewal of the spirit". After suffering through record-setting cold and snow in December and the natural let down of the end of the holidays, I felt my spirit could definitely use some renewing.

Understanding, of course, the winter weather would most likely render the place a bit less serene than visiting during the other seasons, I set off to check it out anyway. When I arrived the conditions were a bit challenging for sure. Even with bright sunlight the temperature was a mere five degrees above zero, and the garden was buried under lots and lots of snow. To add to the less-than-calming atmosphere, heavy construction was occurring to the college buildings directly adjacent to the garden. I literally had to trudge through a snow drift and squeeze past a giant crane and truck to gain entry. But I forged on, and once inside the walled entrance I could see the effort was worthwhile.

A dominating feature was the hexagonal-shaped building, called a Bentendo, which stands beside the frozen, snow-covered lagoon. The red paint of this building as well as the adjoining arched bridge and longer bridge in the distance stood out vividly against the pure white of the snow and the bold blue of the winter sky. I made a circular walk around the frozen lagoon and imagined what it might be like in different seasons: the soothing sound of water falling and flowing into the lagoon, the burst of cherry and apple blossoms in the spring, wind-chimes gently playing in a warm breeze. Yes, I definitely think a person could create a little Zen moment here. I'm glad I happened upon this place, and although this particular day was not conducive to providing much spiritual renewal, I'm contented to have observed the winter view that I'll now compare to other seasons throughout the year.

When the weather warms up and the construction is complete, I'll make another visit to the Japanese Garden when I'm certain to enjoy it for its intended purpose.

Sledding in Lyndale Farmstead Park

Location Coordinates:
44°55'49"N,
93°17'35"W
Lyndale Farmstead Park
Minneapolis, MN

A white Christmas was something I never experienced growing up in southern California. We were sometimes treated to wet Christmases, or maybe a windy Christmas, but never a white Christmas. Snow was an exotic substance that you saw glistening on the mountains as you stood in the valley below. Occasionally our family would pack up the car and drive up to places like Wrightwood, Lake Arrowhead, or Big Bear to play in the snow. We pulled on three or four pairs of socks and doubled up on sweaters under an overcoat, grabbed our little round sleds, packed a lunch with a thermos of hot chocolate, and headed up for adventure. My dad battled bumper to bumper traffic as all the "flatlanders" from the LA basin trekked up the mountain roads to throw snowballs at each other and skim down the icy hills on various forms of sliding contraptions. Looking back, it really was a lot of work to pull off a little winter entertainment.

Now I'm a Minnesotan, and snow is no longer exotic. It arrives in November and doesn't depart until March or April. But I still have an appreciation for its beauty and all the fun winter activities it enables. And having a fun snow adventure is a whole lot easier now than needing to drive to a distant mountain locale with lots of other people. Now I simply throw on my coat and snow pants and head out for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or ice fishing. Or, I can simply walk across the street to an ideal sledding hill. Area residents flock to Lyndale Farmstead Park as soon as the first flakes fly to glide down a perfect bowl-shaped slope. No traffic, no long lines for a ski lift, just the simple good times of a toboggan and a hill. It is a little bit of Currier & Ives viewed right out of my kitchen window.

The year 2010 will be ending in just a few hours, and I'm very excited about my plans for photographic activities in 2011. It is going to be a great year. Stay tuned!

Lake Harriet Ice Over

Location Coordinates:
44°55'17"N, 93°18'19"W
Lake Harriet
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Earlier this year I wrote about the annual event known as Ice Out, which is the date our lakes become ice free in the spring. Each of Minnesota's thousands of lakes has its own Ice Out date depending upon the characteristics of the lake in question. It stands to reason, then, that each lake also has an Ice Over date in the winter - the date the surface of the lake obtains a solid frozen covering from shore to shore. This year I wasn't able to pinpoint the exact Ice Over date for my local lake, but it was achieved sometime between December 2nd and December 7th.

 

After a much warmer than average early November, our first major snowfall occurred on November 13th. I missed this event; I was basking in the warm 75+ degree temperatures of late fall in southern California on that day. When I returned to Minnesota a week later on the 20th, I was thrust abruptly into winter with a fifty-degree temperature drop coupled with freezing rain which glazed the roads and turned the remnants of the first snow into something akin to concrete. My favorite season had definitely vanished while I was out of town, and winter was robustly announcing its arrival in the upper Midwest.

The first ice I noticed on Lake Harriet was the day after Thanksgiving as my daughter and I walked around the lakeshore working off those extra holiday calories. A rugged ice shelf of about twenty yards had extended from shore towards the center of the lake. Where solid ice met water, jagged ice chunks bobbed about, which gave off a sound similar to a giant punchbowl filled with ice being rocked back and forth. But a late-November warm up quickly dissipated much of this initial icing. 




December roared in with another sharp blast of cold, and by the time I walked around the lake on December 2nd a much smoother, clear sheet of ice was setting up across the lake's surface. As in the spring when the ice broke, I became captivated by the sounds coming from this new ice. As newly formed ice sections moved and grinded into each other the lake sounded as if it was groaning. It was eerie hearing these strange noises emanating from such a familiar place, but at the same time it was completely fascinating.



What a difference five days can make in the life of a lake. By the time I next ventured to the lakeshore on December 7th it had completely frozen over. Granted, the ice crust was dangerously thin, but all the same it is amazing that such a large body of water can freeze over in a relatively short period. So now the pretty lake, so active with sailboats in the warmer months, has transitioned to a solid field of white upon which cross-country skiers will glide and winter festival-goers will tread. And so it goes - one season to the next . .