Archives
I’m going to be cremated. Partially so I don’t have to be stuck in one place. First of all…a handful or so of my ashes (mixed with Max, my last border collie’s) must go out on the Old Place, some more in the Bosque down by Tingley Beach and at Neset Camping in Byglandsfiord, and…finally the rest should be here at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Northome, Minnesota. Burrowed in right between… Read More
Oh oh…woke up this morning thinking about work and New Mexico and real life…In a good way. I’ve breathed in my Minnesota air, eaten sour cream raisin bars and walleye, hung out at ‘the old place,’ seen family and friends, driven lots of miles, and, did I mention all of my new shoes (Bender’s, Grand Rapids, great shoes). Refreshed and well-shod I can go home. Here’s a big fat album of the… Read More
In northern Minnesota, the leaves continue gilding; the air is pure and predictive of cold to come; and I have just returned from a sleepover in the north of the north. When I pay attention to my world there are always discoveries. For example. Bliss is possible. On the way back from Roseau yesterday, a drive of about 220 miles, I parked at a rest stop overlooking the Rainy River and the… Read More
Ah yes, time for another round of sentimental musings about my old home. And many photos. For this round of visits, instead of waxing lyrical over mom’s apple pies and the cries of loons on the lakeshore, and rehashing which of my introverted traits can be attributed to north woods isolation, I’ll talk about our land. My grandfather, Torgus Neset, purchased 160 acres of timber, swamp and small meadows sometime between 1910… Read More
Feeling sentimental this evening. Two afternoons spent with my high school classmates from the Class of 57. There are ten of us left from the original 21; eight of whom were present off and on at Judy and Ray Grundmeier’s woodsy haven just south of Northome. The weather’s was northern-fall perfection, the “hot dishes” and venison and rolls and salads and pies were delicious, and the talk was low key and affectionate… Read More
The Road Warriors have completed the journey north and are happily ensconced in a friendly forest refuge near the banks of the Mississippi. There truly is nothing as fine as being in the north woods at the very beginning of autumn. The air is bright and clear and healthy, the leaves are taking on that first tinge of gold accompanied by a red-leaved cold-weather forecast from the sumac scattered throughout the birch,… Read More
Let’s see…how do I feel today about traveling? Maybe a little tired of it. Which is not possible since I am not quite half way through in time and not even close in distance. Maybe I like ‘visiting’ better than traveling? Two weeks in Minnesota and two weeks in Norway mostly with family, some small time on my own. It was perfect. Now after only a few days of just me just… Read More
It is 7pm Tuesday evening, August 11, 2015. I’ve been nine days on the road—a very accommodating easy pleasant nine days…really I should call it nine days of visiting…and it has been among the most enjoyable times of my life. Still…being without my pajama-clad anti-social weekends has made me a little tired. Therefore I declare tomorrow hole-up-in-my-room day with only raisin-bread rolls, yogurt, instant coffee, Surfy my trusty tablet for maximum writing… Read More