The Sounds of Springtime Up North

• The splash from the loons' feet as they dive under water 

• The croaking of the frogs in the ponds along the road

• The crunching of the leaves as the squirrels scamper through the woods

• The quacking of the wood ducks as they swim by the dock

• The drumming of the woodpecker on a hollow log

• The gentle crashing of the waves on the rocky shoreline

• The hoot of the owls calling back and forth in the woods

• The purr of a 4 wheeler in the distance

• The gentle whisper of the wind

• The peaceful, warm silence of the sunset on my face

Artful Photography

For a long time I have wanted to have the ability, the eye,the knowledge for taking interesting photographs. I thought about taking a photography class, but never have had time. So I just keep trying on my own. I know that I need to learn about lighting and shutter speed, and just need to develop an eye for the right angle. (A better camera wouldn't hurt either.) I really wish I could take pictures like my son-in-law does. Check out his pictures at Live The Life.

Here are some pictures I took two weeks ago at the North Shore. Which one do you like best?

The Eagles

This morning we watched an ice fisherman who was on the lake just out in front of our house. He seemed to be having good luck catching fish. It might be the last weekend for ice fishing. The ice is turning very dark. Puddles are beginning to appear, and I am hoping that it won't be long before the ice is gone. Spring is finally coming.

At lunchtime we looked out at the lake again. The ice fisherman was gone... but something else was out there. We grabbed the binoculars - and this is what we saw:

I wished that I had a better camera, with more zoom. I was afraid to go outside to get closer, I didn't want them to fly away. So I took this picture through the window (which still has plastic on it from winter) with my little Canon point and shoot camera.  These eagles were so big!  It was a such a precious gift to see them. I wondered, are they husband and wife? Are they by one of the holes the man had made this morning? Were they fishing too?
They stayed there quite a while and I didn't want to leave the window. Of course, as soon as I turned away to dish up lunch they flew away.
What a magnificent Creator God we have! He didn't stop at just one kind of bird or one kind of animal, but created all kinds of beautiful things! Living up north I have many more opportunities to see God's creations in their natural habitat. From these eagles to the loons, hummingbirds and goldfinches who visit in the summer, the whitetail deer who have been visiting us this winter, and the red squirrels and chipmunks in the yard, I am thankful for them all.
Spring is coming, and soon the eagles won't have ice to land on, but I hope they'll be around so we can enjoy them in the air, or landing in one of our trees!

Climbing Miner's Mountain

Our son, Brenton, and his kids are here to visit for the weekend. We decided this morning that we wanted an adventure, so we headed to Miner's Mountain.

Here's the view of Miner's Mountain from across the lake:

 Parts of the path were still covered with snow, but that didn't stop us. The kids kept an eye out for treasures along the way.

This hawk looked us over pretty good as we neared the top.

It took us about an hour to hike up there - and the view from the top was amazing!

I want to go back this summer and enjoy a picnic lunch on top of Miner's Mountain.

Special Visitor

Last Saturday morning when we got up and looked outside, we saw that we had a special visitor on our dock. We had seen him in the nieghborhood visiting other parts of the lake shore, but it was the first time we had been privileged to see him at our house. He stayed for quite a while, just sitting quietly, not saying much (probably looking for breakfast.) But when he left, the dock looked strangely empty, and we realized just what a gift we had just been given.

This Is My Father's World

When I look out the windows of the cabin toward the lake, my heart is so full of thanksgiving to God for allowing me the opportunity to live here and experience so much beauty in nature. What a magnificent Creator He is!

And then an old hymn comes to mind:

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, 

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

From Winter to Spring

It has been a long winter.

Back on April 19 we had a big snow storm.

And we wondered if spring would ever come. But ever so slowly, the snow melted, and then the ice on the lake began to melt.

Every day I would come home from work and go to the window to see if the ice was off the lake yet.

Last night the lake looked like this...

 And today, when I got home it looked like this!

There's just a little bit of ice left close to the shore, and the trees hide it from view.

 Welcome, spring! We're glad you're finally here.

“It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what.” 
― John Galsworthy, The Forsyte Saga

A Great Start to the Day

When we got up this morning and looked out the window, here's what we saw:

We don't often see deer in our front yard. But it's been a long winter with lots of snow. Craig had cut down a couple of trees two weeks ago but couldn't haul the branches away because of the snow. And now I'm glad he didn't. We have had such fun watching the birds play in among the branches, and now we got to see this beautiful deer munching on them.
The sun is out and the sky is blue for the first time in ages. It's going to be a great day. Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of your creation and for giving us eyes to see!

(Here's one more look at our morning visitor)

Weekend Fun

Last weekend it was so nice outside that we just had to be out there. Craig has a pair of snowshoes he got for Christmas last year, and I got a pair this year for Christmas. So we put our snow gear on and took off across the lake. We walked all the way across the lake and began to explore the two creeks that run into the lake. One of the creeks had some open water. Craig got his snowshoe wet when the ice gave way, but fortunately that was all that got wet. He's got quick feet!

When we got back to our place we traded in our snowshoes for snow shovels and went back to the lake to shovel our little ice rink. We brought Percy to supervise :)

I needed a little rest after all that exercise and fresh air.

I love looking down to the lake and seeing our little rink down there. Now we just have to bring down a hockey net, and we can have a broom ball game!

Friday Photo

Here's one big reason we live up north:

Have a great weekend!

Friday Photo

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Think spring!

My stress relief

This is the view from my dining room windows at the cabin. Nothing relaxes me like being here. I remember the old song, "the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle" but in my opinion the prettiest skies day or night are up north. During the daytime the skies are so blue, and the sunlight so bright, especially with some snow on the ground. At night time the stars are brilliant diamonds in the sky, and the moon is like a spotlight, lighting up the ground. It is absolutely gorgeous.

I am so thankful to God for our cabin. It is a place where we can get away, recharge our batteries, enjoy and appreciate nature and all He's made, and have uninterrupted time together.

Today I walked out on the lake, turned around, and saw this:

our bit of heaven on earth.

Maybe your place to get away and connect with God is right in your backyard... or at the park down the street, or in a coffee shop in town.. if you don't have place where you can leave the stress of life behind for a moment, make that your goal for this year. Find a place that speaks to your heart, visit it regularly, and meet with God to get the energy to keep on going.