a little bit of northwoods

This weekend we traveled just a couple hours north to visit some friends at their cabin. It's amazing how less than 200 miles in the car can bring you to a different world. Goodbye deep river valleys and bluffs of the Kickapoo, hello miles of evergreen and birch.

We took a short walk in the late afternoon. Not 10 minutes down the trail we spotted a porcupine in a tall white pine. Tracks of deer, coyote, maybe a bobcat traversed the creekside. It was cold as we slid the children along on sleds through the woods.

Back at the fireside there was good food and late night talks. These friends of ours dream of moving north for good, to the wilds of this part of the state. I can see what they love, there is really something a bit more wild, a bit more north there.


But back at home today, it was easy to remember what we love, here. Our special spots all over this little 50 acres. Topography and views. Out little valley and ridge within this big driftless valley. It's a good place to be. Rough-legged hawk graced our views today, a fairly rare sight and a nice welcome home.

Back inside, all on her own, someone dug out the guides and got to work with her "bird study". She's really been into drawing and labeling owls lately (see upside down juvenile snowy owl on her right). Sure does tickle this mama and papa to see a tiny naturalist in works.

Happy Monday all.