Winter Reflections
Winter is refusing to let go of her firm grasp on Northern Minnesota. I've said multiple times throughout the past couple of weeks, "this has to be the last snowstorm." Only to be greeted days later by cloudy skies eagerly dispensing soft white flurries like it was confetti.
It's March 30th, that uneasy transition period for Minnesotan’s between hibernation and unrelenting hopefulness to open the garage doors and start spring projects. Unfortunately, the spring projects will have to wait. As I walk through 4" of fresh heavy spring snow along the Lake Superior shore, I yet again tuck my optimism for spring’s arrival into my jacket pocket and reluctantly put on my hat and gloves.
As the snow falls, I find myself reflecting on the winter season. Landscapes, experiences, crockpot soup recipes, and gorgeous sunsets fill my mind. I smile as each memory comes to the forefront, and I think, "It truly has been a beautiful winter." I mean, I won't lie - there were quite a few times this winter that I seriously questioned my decision to stay in Northern Minnesota. The -20 or -30 degree temps and dreary Midwest days did take their toll. However, on those days, I found ways to focus inward and spend time building my freelance writing business, performing woodworking or home improvement projects, learning a new skill, and cruising through 8-10 audiobooks. To survive a Minnesota winter, you must keep yourself busy. At least that was my strategy this winter.
Throughout the slower winter moments spent indoors, I have countless memories of enjoying beautiful sunrises and breathtaking sunsets along the Lake Superior shore. This winter, I made it a mission that when the sun was shining in the evening, I would make my way down to the harbor or drive out east of town to my favorite spot and watch the sunset. I listened to the ice crack, bend, and form to the mercy of Lake Superior's strength. The ice formations along the shoreline, paired with a glowing pastel sunset, left me in awe, and I often thought of how glad I was to be standing right there to witness it. I remember thinking, "there is nowhere else I would rather be." It worked wonders for my spirit and kept me filled with gratitude until I could see or experience the next one.
This winter also had special meaning as it was my first winter with Remy. Let's just say she took living in Minnesota like a champ. I couldn't be more proud of her for being such a good sport and keeping up on my winter adventures. I spent most of my winter following behind Riley & Remy on a trail while snowshoeing, hiking, or cross-country skiing with a shit grin on my face while I watched them bound through the snow together. I couldn't get enough of it. While my bond with Remy has strengthened throughout the winter, so has her bond with Riley. I watched the two of them through the kitchen window, wrestling and playing in the backyard together. What was once a rare occurrence throughout the summer and fall became a fun daily routine for the two. It has certainly been a winter full of proud mom moments.
Small winter adventures or experiences scroll through my mind - moments of witnessing a beautiful landscape or scene that I didn't want to look away from. Rediscovering old trails that I haven't hiked in over ten years, skiing across my favorite inland lakes in the winter, and evening walks through town with the pups while we listened to the comforting sounds of the harbor.
Most recently, I think of the cross-country skiing excursion with my niece and nephew at George Washington Pines. I picture all three of us with skis, poles, and body parts sprawled out in the middle of the trail after starting a comical and playful game of pushing each other over. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard skiing before.
And to top it all off, I think of playing fetch on the shoreline of Lake Superior in the middle of a March 30th snowstorm with the pups. We've been coming to this spot multiple times throughout the winter and have an entire stretch to ourselves more often than not. Sometimes I scour the shoreline for agates or interesting rocks, sometimes, we play fetch with the chuck-it, and sometimes the dogs swim in the freezing water. But, no matter the activity, we are grateful to be spending time outside together.
Every memory from this winter I have securely cached in my mind. I found that this winter was a constant balancing act. I had to adapt my schedule to the sunny days and cloudy days. When the sun popped out on those magical days, I strapped on the winter boots, grabbed the pups, and got lost on an adventure. When the cloudy days so eagerly graced me with their presence, I mentally prepared myself to make a long to-do list and take advantage of the downtime. And who am I kidding - Yellowstone, 1883, and Netflix had a robust appearance throughout the winter as well.
So who knows how much longer we'll remain in this transition period, but with the added daylight to our days and warm temps on the horizon, I'm hopeful that true spring will be here shortly. While I'm not entirely ready to pull the spring optimism out of my jacket pocket just yet, with each snowstorm that greets us in April, instead of getting discouraged, I will head to the lakeshore and remind myself of what a beautiful winter it was.
