InSPIREd Sunday - St. Paul's

St. Paul's Catholic Church - Sauk Centre, Minnesota

This Old House

Converted to Black and White and texturized with ink outlines in PSE8.

Old House in Vining, Minnesota

Snow, Lots of Snow

Since Friday afternoon, it pretty much snowed all weekend. We had a few hours on Saturday where the flakes weren't falling and maybe a couple on Sunday, but other than that, it just kept snowing. Heavy at times, light at others.

Our truck was clear Friday afternoon and this is what it looked like Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning, we shoveled the snow off and by evening, another couple of inches were blanketing it again.

The snow blower has been getting a good workout!

Looks like a face peeking out from the snow. Smile!

Got some clearing do before this baby goes anywhere

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Santa doesn't need me for a few more hours yet.

I'm on break!

InSPIREd Sunday - Christ The King

Christ The King Catholic Church - Browerville, Minnesota

Note: If you are familiar with author LaVryle Spencer, she was born in Browerville and this church was on the cover of her book Then Came Heaven as well as being central to the story.

Parting Shots

I'm heading home today to Washington state for the holidays but I'll return to Minnesota early next year.

Perham, Minnesota Sunset

Wow...this is post #100 of the new blog. My how time flies!

Last Time?

I was thinking I wouldn't be flying out of Minneapolis-St. Paul airport any more after tomorrow since my next trip starts in Spokane and ends in Fargo. But I quickly remembered I still connect through MSP. It will be interesting taking a different route for my trips to Minnesota.

For now, here's a shot looking across the runway in Minneapolis while I waited for my early evening flight a couple of weeks ago.

Minnesota Air National Guard - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Watery Wednesday - Frozen Pond

Frozen Pond Near Frazee, Minnesota

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily hosts Watery Wednesday each week. Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing.

Barn Charm - Hanging by a Board

How this barn door is still attached is beyond me.

Hanging on by a Board

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily is the host of Barn Charm each Monday. Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing.

InSPIREd Sunday - Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Frazee, Minnesota

Would you like to participate in a meme sharing spires? Let me know in the comments.

Spencer

This one is for my Aunt Sally. To this day, squirrels are always named "Spencer".

Spencer @ Itasca State Park, Minnesota

Heartbreak

Sometimes the actions of others are beyond comprehension and words. My heart grieves for the parents, families and friends of those affected by the shootings in Connecticut today.

Heartwaters Caretaker Woman

Next to the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center in Itasca State Park at the start of the trail to the Headwaters is a beautiful bronze statue by Jeff Savage.

From a sign posted next to the sculpture:

"In Anishinabe (Ojibwe) belief it is the women who are the Caretakers of the Water. We are to respect this responsibility of the sacred work of women by keeping this precious resource pristine and renewable for all future generations to enjoy.

In this sculpture, a woman is leaning over, releasing a clutch of small turtles from a basket, renewing the seasons and continuing the waters of life. Her flowing hair is like that of flowing water. The turtles, strong water symbols, also symbolize the universal cycles of life in Anishinabe belief.

The turtle's round shell represents the earth, moon, sun and seasonal cycles. The legs of the turtle point in the four directions, his head points up to honor Grandfather Sun and his tail points down towards Mother Earth. Turtles show us all directions of life - they live in the water, walk on land and breathe air. Turtles are a strong symbol of the importance of this site, located here at the beginning of the Headwaters."

Heartwaters Caretaker Woman Sculpture by Jeff Savage

Watery Wednesday - The Mighty Mississippi

On one of my recent weekend stays in Minnesota, I sought out the Headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park north of Park Rapids. I almost didn't venture out that Sunday. The day started out with freezing fog. I just about landed on my butt in the hotel parking lot trying to get to my car. Back to my room I went to wait for warmer temps. Attempt #2 about an hour later found conditions the same. Back to my room I went to wait for warmer temps.

Finally around 11:30 a.m., the fog started to lift and the temperature was above freezing. I decided to head north to Itasca for fear a future weekend would find me looking at snow and not being able to go at all. I am so glad I did!

A short path from the parking lot takes you to the Headwaters. The sign post says, "Here 1475 ft above the ocean the Mighty Mississippi begins to flow on it's winding way 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico".  Even though Lake Itasca was frozen, there was water flowing across the rocks separating the lake from the start of the river.

I found it interesting that the river flows north towards Bemidji before heading south.

Headwaters of the Mississippi River

Looking across the stones separating Lake Itasca and the start of the river

Starting the Journey Down River

More of the Mississippi River

It was worth the trip! At least I thought so. Who would believe I stood in the water at the start of the Mighty Mississippi River?

Standing in the headwaters of the Mississippi River

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily is the host each week of Watery Wednesday.  Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing.

Barn Charm - At The Buggy Barn

Back in early October, I went on my very first quilt shop shop around North Central Washington. One of my stops was at the Buggy Barn where I spotted this little cutie with the quilt block pattern on the side.

At the Buggy Barn - Reardon, WA

Tricia is the host each week of Barn Charm. Click on picture below to see what others are sharing!

InSPIREd Sunday - First Lutheran

First Lutheran Church - Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

I see so many neat spires and would love to see more. Would you participate if I started an InSPIREd Sunday meme? Let me know in the comments. Have a great day!

Fog Capped Hill

I thought this was an interesting layer of fog snaking through the valley and over the top of a nearby hill.

Fog Capped Hill

North Cascades

Here are a few more shots from the airplane from my recent trip to Minnesota.

Glacier Peak

Serrated Knife Edge Ridge

Mount Baker in the Distance

Watery Wednesday - Columbia River

Here's a shot from way up high of the Columbia River just north of Wenatchee, Washington. The dam you see is Rocky Reach, one of several along the river. This view is looking north. In the flat areas along the river are many orchards. I make the drive along Highway 97 that is on the right or east side of the river every time I travel to Minnesota.

I fly out of Wenatchee so it was neat on the Seattle to Minnepolis leg of my last flight to fly right back over where I started, only at a much higher altitude. The day was fairly clear and I could easily identify places across Eastern Washington as the plane flew eastward.

Columbia River and Rocky Reach Dam

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily hosts Watery Wednesday each week. Click the icon below to visit others participating this week.

Barn Charm - Golden Discovery

Barn near Waterville, Washington

Tricia at Bluff Area Daily is the host each week of Barn Charm. Click on the icon below to see what others are sharing.

InSPIREd Sunday - First Baptist

First Baptist Church on a Smoky Morning - Leavenworth, Washington

Speaking of Snow

Many folks in northern Minnesota are waiting for more snow so they can hop on their snowmobiles and ride. There is an extensive system of well marked groomed trails. Along the highway, it is not unusual to see this sign to alert motorists of snowmobile crossings.

Warning! Snowmobile Crossing Ahead!