A few pics from the weekend

Incredibly these dragonflies just hatched. I'm assuming this one from the shell below it. And the mosquitoes were practically non-existent today at the waterfront where the older ones were already flying around feeding. I love dragonflies!!

This Great Blue Heron was hanging out right in front of my cabin. Had to wait awhile in full body armor and a headnet to capture this picture.

I was totally unprepared for him to fly off right in front of me. This pic is out of focus but I thought it was so cool I added it anyways.

Kiwishiwi Falls from the water's edge.

Kiwishiwi Falls from up top looking out over the lake.

Is this a Lady Slipper? Thankfully it caught my eye as I left the falls.

The International Wolf Center is just outside of Ely, MN. These are captive wolves but just as majestic.

Yes! They are wild. No, I don't think I want to try and take their food.

I love their eyes.

Mosquitoes!

June 5, 2014

 

As I sit to write this entry there is (just smashed three before I could get this sentence out) the incessant buzzing of mosquitoes around my ears. The only thing that holds me back from identifying this place as paradise are the swarms, and I mean black clouds, of mosquitoes. They descend on one en mass in the absence of either breeze or movement. Give them 10 seconds on your skin and you will have no doubts whether your blood is red. 

I have to confess there is a ton of beauty to be admired here in Northern Minnesota. But, over the past several days these pesky mosquitoes have tempered my enthusiasm for enjoying it all. I find myself more content to remain indoors behind the protective barrier of a quality screen. They’re so bad that when you come in from the outside you spend the first fifteen minutes killing all of the little buggars that followed you in. I’m still smashing them. What’s quite unpleasant is when you breathe one in and it hits the back of your throat causing you to choke and sputter. They are thick this time of the year.  

Most everybody knows what it means to be bit by a mosquito; the intense urge to itch, the welt that can develop for some. And one is bad enough as you lie awake in the dark hearing it buzzing, not knowing for sure where it is and when it will strike. But when its broad daylight and there are literally hundreds surrounding you looking for any exposed surface they can find. You can kill ten and 30 will take their place. So what to do? Well I definitely wear long sleeves at all times. And sometimes gloves when I’m working. I have a hat. I do have bug repellant. I remember when I was up here earlier in my life I found that the less I would respond to that intense urge to itch it would eventually subside and I was much less irritated by the mosquito bite. Oh, to be young again.

Inevitably there is the question that arises when one is pondering the negative impact of a creature like the mosquito; “Why in the world did God create mosquitoes?” It’s a good question. Not one I can fully answer. It may be a question I ask God when I see the Creator face to face. Of course, what we are asking is really; “Do the benefits of mosquitoes outweigh the negatives of mosquitoes?” And; "Why God, would you create something that didn't have more positives for us, than negatives?" We are a pretty consumer driven culture. This is a line of questioning with which we are all quite familiar. It’s interesting that we find ourselves tempted to ask the sovereign Creator to justify what has been created.  And further, that we act on our cost analysis and feel free to attempt to remove all mosquitoes from the face of the earth.

I could begin to answer the benefits question by talking about the birds and insects that consume mosquitoes as food. I think there are some birds and insects who are quite grateful for an abundance of these blood sucking parasites. And, particularly when they are trying to feed their little peeps, in the case of birds. I love birds. So I guess that’s one positive for mosquitoes. Dragonflies also consume their fair share of mosquitoes. I love dragonflies. A good friend of mine uses the image of a dragonfly on some of his beautiful pottery. And fish, don’t forget the fish who consume mosquito nymphs. I love fish, and frogs too, don't forget the frogs who enjoy mosquitoes. So there are some positives to having mosquitoes around. But is this even the way we should look at mosquitoes. 

If we believe, that God created them in the beginning, then they have value simply because they are alive. There is that scripture “The Earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” Now I’m not suggesting that we need to learn to embrace mosquitoes in all their fullness by allowing them to consume all the blood they need from us. We don’t need to welcome them into our homes and learn to live hand in hand with them. The key is recognizing and honoring whose they are. I believe this keeps our mindset towards mosquitoes and all sorts of creatures in proper perspective. We can adapt in ways that don’t require us to work towards the extinction of all mosquitoes everywhere. 

Today, I compromised. I have never used a head net before in northern Minnesota. I have, in the past, prided myself in being able to endure and remain non-reactive to them. Prior to coming up, I even said no to a friend in Ohio who offered me her head net, saying quite confidently; “No, I don’t need one.”  But today, I borrowed a head net from the camp. And tomorrow, I will travel into Ely and purchase my own. And it will be well worth whatever price. There is something satisfying about standing in a cloud of mosquitoes and knowing there is nothing they can do. I worked outside all day today and at no time did I have any thoughts that I couldn’t stand it any longer. I could relax and enjoy being outside again. I look forward to fishing and canoeing and taking pictures again with that same ability to relax and enjoy where I am, without feeling the passionate desire to kill every mosquito on the planet. And that, I believe, is a good thing.

Wahohney "Little Flower"

June 3, 2014

I’m finally here. Wahohney (the name of my cabin) will be my home for the month of June. “Wahohney” is Ojibway for “little flower”. And it feels like a little gem on the edge of the woods, with a view of Lake Armstrong out my kitchen window. I have a longer walk to the road at home, than I do to the lake here. I felt a little like Henri David Thoreau as I unpacked my stuff into this one room cabin last night. One of the books I name as a favorite is “One Man’s Wilderness” about a man who built his own cabin on a lake in the remote wilderness of Alaska. He then lived in that cabin for a whole year by himself. At least until Saturday I will be the only one at this spot on the Lake. 

Wilderness Wind has two sites. The other site is about 3 miles away and houses the summer staff, outfitting supplies, and the groups preparing to enter the Boundary Waters. This site (Lakeside) is a place for people to come and get a taste of Northern Minnesota life without the rigors and challenges of wilderness, no trace, canoe camping. I am thrilled to be here.

Inside my little cabin, hardwood floors and open rafters, a simple kitchen and table, a padded chair and dresser, along with a double bed, welcomed me. The bath house offering pit toilets and warm showers is a short walk through the woods. I have running water in my cabin for washing dishes but I fill my two one gallon jugs with drinkable, and very tasty, water (filtered lake water) at the back of the bath house.

A bonus, for those of you who know me well, is the ability to hear the Loon calling from the inside of the cabin. I just read a journal entry of someone who stayed here who said they were able to hear wolves calling here as well. Awesome! But I do have to admit wolves both fascinate me, and freak me out. So I’m hoping to hear them, but maybe not see them, from my cabin. There was also a post that listed an Otter sighting. That would be cool.

To back up a bit and say the drive up here was incredible. I took two days to make the 13-14 hour trip and could’ve easily enjoyed a third day. It was all I could do to pass up photographing some incredible cloud formations, rushing rocky streams, and marsh areas. I even passed two cranes feeding in a marshy area and didn't stop because I wanted to get here before dark yesterday. I still didn’t make it until after the sun had set. Too much to see and savor on the way here through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I traveled along both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. 

It sounds like there will be no lacking for things to do. In talking with the staff there are many projects on the schedule. And did I mention Mosquitoes? I’ve seen and experienced a few. Long sleeves and pants will be the order of the month. It certainly helps that it is 50 degrees at night and in the 70’s during the day.

As I look forward to the coming month my mind is full of hopes and ideas of what this time will hold. My biggest hope is that I can simply be present each minute and hour. I don’t want to paddle or drive or walk by an Otter, or Loon, or Wolf, or Black Bear, or Moose unaware. I want to be available to listen to the still small voice and, to the audible ones as well. I want to see the Northern lights even if it means enduring the Mosquitoes. And I want to take the time to catch my supper and go without if I fail. I want to read, both stuff I have read before and appreciated and, new stuff. I want to write, and take pictures, and dream.

Pokagon Adventure

"This is about how we might use the medium of photography to stimulate our imaginations, to develop our intuitive and aesthetic sensibilities, to gain new insights. It is an invitation to stop and look and be refreshed."  

-- Howard Zehr in 

The Little Book of Contemplative Photography: 

Seeing with wonder, respect and humility

 This past week included lunch and a round of golf with my father on Tuesday. Can't remember the last time I enjoyed a round of golf like that. And, that same day, a Tiger's game with my three beautiful daughters. We sat up in the cheap seats and had a wonderful time. Thursday then, I had lunch with my mother at a wonderful restaurant in Goshen,IN with a wood fired oven. It was a good time with a wonderful lady.

Saturday and Sunday we were at Pokagon State Park as a family. Friends joined us for Saturday evening and Sunday morning. It was a good family time and time to connect with friends. We enjoyed the bird window at the nature center and walks through the woods enjoying the wildflowers. Saturday night we sat out on a dock on a small lake as the stars came into view. We used our phone apps to identify the planets in view and the different stars as we could see them.

The Baltimore Oriole above stood out so clearly on the dead wood in the marsh area it was hard to miss. And yet, there was a group of people who walked right past oblivious.  Photo editing software these days allows the creation of special effects that enable one to isolate a specific subject in a photo and enhance its color while making everything else gray scale. This is the effect I thought of when I looked at this picture. It was a gray day with clouds covering the sun. And I didn't need to use any special effects to get the same effect. 

These little yellow flowers caught my eye as I walked through the marsh area. And, this white Trillium was the first one I saw on Saturday. It was back off the trail a bit.

Magee Marsh Adventure

Just a little over an hours drive away is an internationally known birders paradise. It ranks as one of the top ten spots for birding watching in the United States. During the month of May, they expect 80,000 visitors in large part to view a vast array of Warblers using the marsh as a stopover on their migration north across Lake Erie. I spent the morning with Jan at the Magee Marsh along with hundreds, probably thousands of other birding enthusiasts. I told someone that we worshiped at the bird sanctuary. I was definitely in awe of the incredible variety of God's handiwork on display in the variety of birds we enjoyed.

I was thrilled to see one of my favorite birds at our first stop of the morning. A large number of barn swallows were enjoying the overhangs of the birding center. I could have hung out for hours just watching and listening to these cheerful and friendly birds. We had a pair that nested every year in our barn. They were such a delight to have around. The barn swallow in this picture was sitting maybe 10 feet away. I had one swoop to within inches of my head. Not maliciously, I think it wanted to land on my head and say "Howdy". Just the day before I received a text from a friend who was watching barn swallows swooping and wanted to encourage me to try and get some pictures of them. They have a distinctly forked tail and are quite acrobatic in their flight.

One of the "deep thoughts" of the morning came as I was reflecting on the two different times we came upon a group of people focusing their cameras and binoculars in particular direction. I knew they must be seeing something noteworthy so I stopped and looked intently in the direction they were. After several minutes of staring intently turned up nothing of significance I finally asked, "What's everyone looking at?" The first time it was an Eastern Screech Owl. It took careful guidance from my impromptu guide before I too was able to see what everyone else was enjoying. The picture above is of the screech owl. If it wouldn't have been for the group of people gathered around, I would've walked right past it. And, if it wouldn't have been for the careful and patient guidance of another on the path, I would never have seen what everyone else had.

The second occasion came right before we left. As we approached the parking lot we saw a roped off area of grass with 15-20 people standing around it looking intently into the grass. Again, I looked carefully and unsuccessfully for what they might be seeing. And again it took a friendly gentleman with eyes that had already seen, to guide my eyes to the nesting woodcock not more than 3 feet away. But there was more. I took several pictures of this nesting woodcock. When I got home I was looking through my pictures. It was only as I was viewing the pictures of the nesting woodcock, and zoomed in, that I was surprised to see a second set of eyes. There were actually 2 woodcocks sitting in that little patch of grass, right next to each other. I hadn't heard anyone talk about two. If you look carefully at the picture below you too can see the second woodcock facing the camera right behind the one in front. Two eyes and the beak.

As I reflected on these two similar experiences I was reminded of the way Anabaptist/Mennonites emphasize the importance of community. We believe scripture is best interpreted in community. We believe we are accountable to one another and are connected with all those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord. We are to walk with and encourage and admonish one another. We are to help each other see what we ourselves have seen.

The community at Magee Marsh was so diverse. There were first time birders right alongside seasoned veterans. There were those who could identify birds simply by hearing their call. And, there were those of us who thought it impossible to differentiate between all of the different Warblers we were seeing. Some carried cheap and woefully inadequate binoculars, cell phone cameras, and a puzzled look. Others carried $10-20,000 camera set-ups, wore fancy vests with credentials, and looked like they knew what they were doing. But everyone was friendly and polite along the way. On one occasion I was able to get within 2 to 3 feet of a particular warbler feeding in a nearby tree. I stood there clicking pictures at times, so close I couldn't get my camera to focus. Finally, the bird flew off. As I turned to continue down the trail, a woman with one of those $10-20,000 camera set-ups and official looking badge had walked up and was watching me. She smiled and said "She gave you quite a show." I agreed, and I got the sense that she was so pleased for me. Like I was a part of the experienced community now.

The picture of the mushroom above was an interesting experience. I saw this mushroom and was intrigued by its perfect shape and coloration against the dead tree. I set up my tripod and began to take pictures. Several people stopped and asked, "What are you looking at, is it that mushroom?" I acknowledged that it was and almost felt the need to apologize that it wasn't a bird. But it was fun when two others stepped up with their cameras and began to take pictures of the same mushroom.      

Getting underway

It's only my second day in and I found a gem. I happened upon this cluster of flowers driving on County Rd. 20 between C and B. You can just glimpse the purple in the lower left corner of the bottom photo. I added a close-up to give you a better look. I haven't identified them yet so if anyone wants to help me out I'm open. I think they are purple hyacinth. It's a cloudy, grey, chilly, blustery and a few more adjectives type day. I had seen these flowers several days ago. But with a day like this, although not ideal for taking pictures, I decided I needed to go get a closer look at these beauties. I'm guessing I'm going to be able to find some great wildflowers here in the next month. Although, one of the fields I was so looking forward to taking pictures of, is being tiled (you can see the black pipe) and will most certainly be cultivated and planted into corn this year for the first time in decades. :( Last year that field was bursting with color in the spring. I'll keep looking.

Yesterday was my birthday. I began the day seeing my first Eastern Phoebe of the season and I ended my day by seeing a Bald Eagle. In between I had a wonderful dinner at the Sweetwater Chophouse with my family, then returned home for homemade coconut cake and lemon sorbet. I was able to get some yard work done and figured out several new settings and features on my camera. I've ordered a remote trigger for taking these close-ups of flowers and landscapes without any additional camera shake. One thing I'm learning with photography, there is always something more to buy. A filter here, a trigger there, software, another lens would be incredible. But at some point I just need to be a better photographer. It's a humbling deal. I see these incredible photographs and think "Yeah, that's the kind of picture I want to take!" Getting from where I am, to producing that quality of image is not a hop skip and a jump. Gives me an even greater respect for people like Jim King who takes spectacular photos. The technical side of photography (focus, lighting, ISO, depth of field, aperture, shutter speed, light metering, etc...) is one thing. Then you layer in composition and perspective, the ability to see a picture in a jumble of images. Suddenly you realize the complexity of that single picture you see. I suppose I could just use one of the automatic settings provided on my camera and be done with it. And I admit, right now, I take a couple of shots with the automatic settings or appropriate pre-programmed scenes just to be safe. But my goal is to understand my camera and the technical side of taking good pictures, so that I don't need to rely on the auto features. This has led to some frustration. But slowly, I am learning the ins and outs of my very complex camera. And, I'm figuring out what works and what doesn't. Well, more of what doesn't than what does. But at least I'm learning. And continuing to learn is what matters. Sometimes it's hard to be patient with myself through this learning process.

A Sick Feeling in the Pit of My Stomach!

It has taken me a bit to consider writing about this experience. I can still feel it in my stomach if I think about it too much. I told a friend I took a small step closer to being a real farmer. Raising animals has been such a positive experience up to this point. Yes, the(is there any nice way of saying it) slaughter/butchering has its uncomfortable moments but this is something I have come to peace with. But all of the births of our calves and kids have gone so smoothly. I knew there would come a time when all would not go so perfectly.

The, not-so-perfect-time came. Our nanny Taffy had labored far too long. I knew something wasn't right but I didn't know what to do. I consulted my book and then finally I called my friend with all of the experience. I needed to assist our nanny but encountered a problem that was beyond my or my friends ability to rectify. To spare the difficult details we needed to make an extremely difficult decision. I've butchered several pigs, and more chickens than I care to count, but putting this goat down was more difficult than I could have imagined.

What was so different? When I began assisting, I felt like a hero. When I realized I was not able to do anything, that things were beyond my ability to help I was sick. (I am finishing this entry on 4/24/14) There is no joy in losing a nanny and two beautiful kids. Precisely at the time so traditionally filled with joy and celebration, the sense of loss was significantly increased. I cannot imagine the grief experienced by expectant parents losing an infant, let alone a husband and expectant father losing both a wife and a child. Fortunately, in my experience, it was a nanny and 2 goat kids. And yet I admit, the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach was very real and lingered for weeks/months. I can still feel it as I review this entry that I started almost 4 years ago now.

We no longer have goats, we will again, I am sure. But I still reflect on my experiences of raising goats, pigs, chickens, and cattle in Virginia. I learned a great deal about patience, and empathy, and redemption, respect and dignity, and a few other things. I look forward to engaging that work again some day. For now I have my cattle to care for, and for now, that is enough.