Tracking Animals in the Snow

I have been tracking animal prints in the snow.  Many of the larger critters use the road like we do.  I find that very amusing.  They are doing the smart thing to conserve energy.  Up to now I can identify deer, fox, coyote, vole, and squirrel.  Because I am a novice in the Northwoods, I have a particular way of doing it.  I identify the track and then decide to follow it or track the prints where the animal came from - depending on what it is...

Blissfull Afternoon

Yesterday I put on my favorite Christmas CDs.  (Wouldn't be Christmas for me without Karen Carpenter. Christmas Portrait: Special Edition   You youngsters ask someone who she was.  In my opinion one of the clearest voices I ever heard.)  Case had the wood stove going.  Outside the snow was gently falling.  We wrapped presents all afternoon and finished before dinner. 

Retirement Cashes In

We have reaped a financial benefit of retirement!  To obtain an annual sticker to park in the National Forest trail heads for skiing, snow shoeing, fishing, hiking - you get the idea - you need to stop in at one of their offices.  Fortunately there is one in Hayward.  Laura, the ranger behind the counter, said that we didn't need to pay the usual fee of $80 per year.  Case is now a senior citizen so we only pay $10.  Not $10 a year but for life!  Is this a great country or what? 

I remember when my Dad became a senior citizen.  He loved getting these types of deals.  We love it, too! 

Winter Wonderland

I have experienced beautiful winter scapes yesterday and today.  My snow shoeing group went to a trail which no one had been on since the recent big snow.  The trail was narrow with evergreens brushing your shoulders knocking off some snow as we went.  The sun was shining in a pale blue sky.  Even though it was below zero, there was no wind so being bundled and moving along kept us warm.  I removed my hat halfway down the trail.   When we stopped to take some pictures, snow floated down from the top branches of the trees.  It looked as though glitter was falling to earth.  It was beautiful.  I had never seen that before.  Today the trees were dressed in frozen fog.  The dark trunks with the contrasting silver gray tops were spectacular to view as I was driving to town this morning. 

New Retirement Activity

Retirement should be about doing the things you enjoy and about the opportunities to learn new things.  I joined a women's walking/hiking/snowshoeing/kayaking group.  Some of these activities are things I enjoy and some are new that I look forward to learning.  This group likes being physically active as well as being philanthropic.  For December the group is snow shoeing and gambling.  Both are new to me.  I purchased snow shoes and it is fun!  You can go where ever you want to go.  No need for trails.  I have been getting in lots of good time with all the snow lately.  Now to gambling...never have gambled in my life besides raffles at the kids' school.  I always thought of it as a way to donate.  You don't really expect to win.  In this county there is an Indian Reservation, and there is a casino on it.  Every Sunday the LCO Casino gives anyone aged 55 and over $5 to gamble with.  Yes, you read that correctly.  They give away $5 for free.  So....the group meets after church on Sunday to obtain their $5 each and gamble for a charity!  After everyone has gambled their $5, we "cash out" and gather at the entrance to pool our money.  It takes about 15 - 20 minutes.  This week the money is going to the Hayward Food Pantry.  Oh, the things I am learning in retirement. 

Colorful Field Trip

We just returned from Iowa visiting our daughter Lucyna.  I have dubbed this foray as a "colorful field trip." 

Not wanting to drive the expressways we decided to cut through the country.  The roads were a bit snowy at times but certainly travel-able.  The plus part was there was no traffic.  I mean - no traffic.  There were a few cars in the towns we went through, but we didn't have to follow any slow-moving vehicles or plod through construction.  It really was a pleasure.  We drove straight south until we reached the Mississippi River and crossed over to Red Wing, Minnesota.  Yes, that is where the Red Wing work boots are made.  In fact I have a pair and wear them often now that we are in the Northwoods.  The whole town is Red Wing this and Red Wing that.  We even ate at a restaurant in the former Red Wing Pottery building that had been converted to little shops.  We didn't know that Red Wing made pottery.  The original kiln was kept in tact and is now surrounded by the parking lot.  The part that was colorful was right after we crossed the bridge.  A 10 year old boy was shoveling snow out of his driveway.  He was wearing the brightest purple coat I had ever seen.  Stopped to get gas.  Everyone in the Kwik Mart, everyone sitting in their trucks at the pumps was wearing bright purple and gold.  Ah, yes, we were in Viking territory with just crossing a bridge.  So we enjoyed our Minnesota leg of the trip viewing everything purple and gold: garage doors, flags, outdoor Christmas trees, signs.  Stopping to get gas in Iowa - again at a Kwik Mart - (They have this area of the midwest wrapped up.) - I walked in only to get knocked in the head with a huge kiosk of black and gold - University of Iowa Hawkeyes - which happened to be our destination.  Now we saw all the same things as before - just in black and gold. 

Lucky for me that I look good in hunter green and  gold.

More Time When Retired

I truly appreciate that I have more time now than I had while working full-time.  How did I get it all done?  How do the readers who still work full-time get it all done?  I look back in amazement. 

Now I have more time to email, talk on the phone (non-peak hours), Skype, and have fun with my blog.  :)    The best thing that I am doing with more time is being physically active.  My body likes it and my head likes it.   I don't need to feel guilty just sitting around the rest of the day if I want to.  After lunch I took a 2 1/2 mile brisk walk.  After I send the blog, I am going to sit in front of the fire and read. 

Retirement time is good time.