Spring has come late this year. Here in the north, lakes still have almost two feet of ice for fishing opener weekend. Meteorologists say that our atmosphere is about a month behind its normal warming trend. That explains the cold, wet, March-like weather in the middle of April. But the sun stays rigidly on schedule. The days have lengthened, signaling spring to many Continue Reading
Why All Weather is Good Weather
It’s April. We’re well into spring. It’s snowing. And we already have several inches of white stuff on the ground. Why won’t the weather cooperate? Last April, we played outside in short sleeves. The world had turned the green of spring, with new life visible everywhere. Yes, last year was freakishly warm, and ultimately bad for the plants, but it sure felt Continue Reading
How I Recharged with a 24 Hour Vacation
Life is stressful. Busy, and stressful. Wouldn’t it be nice to recharge with a vacation? How about a 24 hour vacation? I’m a big fan of 24 hour vacations. My husband and I often take 24 hour trips. We return home more connected to each other, more relaxed, and more prepared to tackle daily life. Last weekend, we went to Flandrau State Park in New Ulm, Minnesota. We Continue Reading
How to Fall Down and Succeed
This week, I took some spectacular falls. Each one made me smile. Why did falling down make me smile? Because I was brave enough to try. I smiled when I skidded on my side across a concrete floor. I had been brave enough to try a new roller skating stop at full speed. I smiled when I dropped six feet and bounced on my rope and safety harness three stories off the Continue Reading
What Kind of a Chicken Are You?
Three chickens trembled outside the monster’s cave. Their bravado, exhibited back in town when they declared they’d face the beast, had faded with each step away from the safety of the village. Now, they quivered together in terror. The largest chicken recovered first. “I’ll confront the monster. I’m not scared.” He marched to the cave entrance, shoulders back. The Continue Reading