Happy

'Cause this is how I feel...

I hope you feel some of this today too.

Love you to the moon and back

and that's a fact.

Feeling Poetic

Hi all,

I hope you had a lovely Memorial weekend. 

We did. We got the garden mostly in, went for walks, watched movies, 

ate delicious things, slept in, had a bonfire, and generally relaxed and

enjoyed ourselves. It was pretty great. In fact, it was so great that

 I didn't take a ton of pictures. Haha. Sorry. I know you come here to see pics of the

 family and lovely Minnesota. Here are a few, though. In any case, Dad and I have

 been doing a lot of walking. It is one of the things that I can do without gross pain. 

Not to mention, losing weight and getting into shape is a good thing 

for everyone. When we walked on Monday evening it was so  beautiful.

It inspired my latest poem. I hope you can see some 

of the beauty through my words. I put it down at the way end.

Apple blossoms

Dad using his manly muscles to till the garden.












And Sam, using his 
manly muscles to mow.
(Gee I love alliteration)

My sweet little birdhouse. A pair of sparrows is nesting. So cute!

 The Luna Cat

Hangin' by the fire 

                       Some of the garden

 I know Dad's eyes are shut, but it was so cute of Sam...

The view out my bedroom window. Hence the screen.

Sherburne County wildlife Refuge. Ann lake.

WALKING OUT ON A RAINY EVENING

Gentle rain falls on apple blossom streets.

Mist rises and the air is sweet 

with flowering trees.

We walk, fingers touching,

Laughing with memories of

Long ago rain walks.

We marvel at the vibrance of purple lilacs,

The fragrance of white, 

the myriad greens all around.

Drops splash the surface

Of the lake creating 

Circles in circles in circles.

An anchored sailboat keeps a 

Quiet rhythm with the waves, and

Points to the grey, falling skies.

Still we walk, rain tickling 

Our scalps, feeling childlike

Joy in our showery adventure.

Until the dusky clouds burst open,

Rain is in our eyes, and

The breeze gains an unexpected chill.

And we are once again adults

Hurrying home after walking

Out on a rainy evening.

                      -Kimberly Haggen

Love you tons and can't wait to see you!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I was out shopping for flowers and bedding plants

 with Dad. When I got home Sam and his 

friend had gone out. He was a good boy 

and left me a note.  

He is so funny! 

It made me laugh, and I

thought you might enjoy it too.

Cause all boys call their mom "dawg".

As always,

Love, The Mom

Thought for the day:

The best things in life are nearest:

 Breath in your nostrils,

 light in your eyes, 

flowers at your feet,

 duties at your hand,

 the path of right just before you. 

Then do not grasp at the stars,

 but do life's plain, common work as it comes, 

certain that daily duties and daily bread are the

 sweetest things in life.

― Robert Louis Stevenson

Maiden Kayak Voyage

It was the first really warm day, and it was glorious.

We might have even hit 80 degrees!

We decided to take the kayaks to 

Buffalo Lake that evening.

The Dad

King's House is on this point.

Jill brought her Kayak and came along too.

Close up of King's House.

Dad and I being goofy.

Happy Dad.

The steps by the library.

I thought they looked really neat from the water. 

Also, notice that there is not much beach!

Heading in.

We were sad to quit.

 It felt like heaven gliding along like loons.

But then we got to watch this.

I think we might just live in paradise.

Come home and play with me!

The waves are whispering.

Leaf buds nod to the breeze and

Chilly air gives way to the

Warming, glowing sun.

Pelicans play above, The black of their wings

Making patterns in the sky and

Songbirds exclaim

Their joy to the air.

Yes, the waves are whispering.

Spring has come.

Perhaps, this time, to stay.

                                   -Kimberly Haggen

A Hot Date. A Long Hot Date

This is a picture story for your viewing pleasure.

Dad and I went on a date to The Ney Nature Center.

(And by date I mean walk.)

We saw lots of awesome spring flowers. I didn't even take pictures of them all. There were too many. These three different white ones were all in one clump
Spring is so lovely!

We also saw an eagle hanging out by its' nest. So majestic and beautiful! I almost didn't get him in the picture frame because it was so windy high up in the tree.

Here's the nest. I zoomed
 a ton to get this.

Some funky looking plant. We were just loving the green.

It is super flooded at the nature center this year.

The water was so high! We couldn't even 

make it out to the walkway in the pond.

We would have needed some good puddle jumpers.

Believe it or not, this is looking down the path.

The view from the bridge.

The Dad

The Dad and The Mom taking a selfie.

I thought this rock looked much like I imagine Ollock to look, from Fablehaven. Only smaller. Can you see it? 

Also, I probably spelled that wrong. Sorry.

We followed a different path than normal. It said easiest, and that seemed smart with my hurt back.

So we kept walking.

Deer tracks!

There were tons!

We went along the river and walked through woodsy meadows.

And we kept walking for a long time.

And then we came out of the woods to this.

Surprise!

And then we saw these.

They were very friendly. I think? 

(They were in electric fence.)

They came ambling over to greet us

 and even posed for photos.

Aren't they gorgeous?

I think that lighter brown, spotted one above has a sassy attitude.

It would probably get along with a llama.

Fabulous!

   

   

I think this guy is my favorite.

Look at those horns!

  After meeting and greeting, we went on with our walk. 

And came out to this.

  

We had been misled. 

Definitely not the easiest path.. 

Widest, maybe?

It was looooong. And this is the road.

Far from the nature center.

And we felt like 

this.  

And all we could do was keep walking.

At least the scenery was pretty.

We met this guy.

And his wife.

I don't think they were too pleased to meet us.

He squawked at us and she ducked and hurried away.

So we kept walking.

(Our feet were tired.)

And suddenly (after what seemed like hours) we were 

back at the eagle's nest.

 

He was not happy to see us either and scolded us loudly.

And finally we were back at the nature center. Hurrah!!!

And the moral of this story is: 

Get out in nature. 

Move your bodies. 

Spend time with people you love.

 Feel peace.

And always check the map for your path

The End

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.” ~Wendell Berry

Love you