Actually it’s only around zero, but it makes the house creak and the fire feels good. These dark mornings can only be endured through a sense of cozy.
This was a good week of family and adventure.
I visited family in Iowa, drove north to see the Runestone Park in Kensington, and spent a day of quiet at home. The Silverado performed wonderfully, and I am so grateful for my truck. The snow crystals played on the pavement as I drove up U.S. Highway 71 for half the state of Minnesota.
One of my emails is ushwy71@gmail.com. Perhaps that is odd, but I have a deep connection to that highway. I’ve traveled it completely, north to south, in this country. I’ve lived along it, by it, been connected to it my whole life.
My great grandparents settled in a town on Highway 71, Windom, MN. My dad bought land up north near it for a cabin.
I lived down in Louisiana close to this highway.
My husband’s family lives in a town on Highway 71.
It seems like I’m tied to it for life.
Even though the Kensington Runestone is closer to Alexandria, MN than Sauk Center (on Highway 71) it’s relatively close to it.
I was on a research trip to see the place where the Runestone was found. I’ve been to the museum in Alexandria, but I’d not been able to get to the actual farmstead where the stone was found before this week.
Since I’ve been illustrating a storybook about the stone I thought I should see the lay of the land where it was unearthed.
The bitter cold kept me from hiking around the park, but I took a few photos and peered in the windows of the beautiful structure that’s been built there. Clearly there are many other people that take exceptional interest in this fascinating piece of history.
I left the park with determination to revisit on a warmer day.
I’m still glad I went.
The nature of traveling in bitter cold does things to your mind. As I ventured further northwards I had thoughts of turning back—even as I came with miles of my goal! Granted, I was by myself in unknown territory, something I rarely am.
I felt super adventurous.
Anyway, I high-tailed it home on Interstate 94, blasted through St. Cloud with thoughts of my regrets about my Master’s Degree—which I almost completed at St. Cloud State two years ago.
Back home to a warm fire, cozy cats and two pups who were happy to snuggle.
Blessings.
Cherie had her last day of class this week for the semester. Finals next week.
The house feels a bit like Christmas with a tree of apples and oranges, nuts and gingerbread. No tree this year. The basement trumped that.
We will still celebrate, fellowship with friends and family, and contemplate the Dear Savior’s Birth.
On Sunday I went to two musical events: The Singers, and a Messiah Sing-a-Long. What a lovely time of year to soak in the beautiful Christmas music!
As I drove north on Highway 71 I was again touched by the beauty of the land; rich fields, hollows and hills, remarkable spots like petroglyphs and parks, Rivers and valleys, picture perfect farms, vistas that stretch for miles. What a beautiful place!
The skies were perfect, too, with wispy gray clouds, light blue above, sunny rays. The moon appeared too.
Friendly folk who raised a hand from the steering wheel to greet me as we met —-
This is Minnesota, after all.
I’m off to school—to teach art for the day.
The scenes of my adventure will play in my mind. Blessings.
MARANATHA!