Kids, Lakes, Loons and Pines

Auroras - and an end to the blogging chapter

With the prompting of a newly downloaded aurora-tracker app, I sought out and witnessed another beautiful  aurora display on Monday night. This time I saw it with my own eyes in real-time. 🙂

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This image collage represents a spectacular glimpse of the wonder and beauty I can experience just by walking out my door in my Northwoods home. I have enjoyed sharing snapshots like these and ramblings of my experiences, my writing, and various moments that have inspired gratitude and joy.

This post will likely be my last in this space, as I have decided to document my memories differently.

I recently went through years of posts and backed up all my content, reflecting on my experiences and memories. 

This space has been a notable and purposeful outlet for expression.

However, I feel it has served its purpose, and I am ready to shift away.

Find me on Instagram  @megtdevine

Feel free to reach out via email: [email protected]

💕

 

 

 

 

Spring Crust Ice - Work & Play

wolf tracks

I took what may have been my last crust ice lake ski of the seasonthe other day.  I ventured up to Prairie Portage in the BWCA again this season, this time solo.

I had the wilderness to myself the whole time (approximately 12 miles round trip), seeing a path of wolf tracks and two bald eagles.

The experience of solitude and sunshine, combined with the crust-ice skiing conditions, was wonderful.

I also took a day trip to my parents' island cabin with my boys to bring materials across the lake over the ice (which can be much easier than open water).

It was a beautiful and productive day!

More Winter-Spring

We woke up to more snow this morning, and it is starting to feel like an endless winter.

It is hard to believe there is a forecast for 65°F mid-next week.  

Yesterday and this morning Boden and I hung some buckets to collect sap for our annual, small-scale spring sugaring rhythm.

Based on the projected temperatures, it will likely be a short (but hopefully sweet) season for collecting sap this year.

I'll keep you posted!

Snapshots of winter-weather Spring

It's still winter weather in our Northwoods spring, even as we will be flipping the calendar from March to April.

The winter is getting long, but nothing much positive comes from complaining about it.  So we've been out!

The alpine season is coming to an end. I have had a lot of fun this year, enjoying time snowboarding.  More nordic skiing opportunities will present themselves, with crust lake skiing an invitation for cooler mornings. 

There is more snow in the forecast, but the increasing daylight is a sure sign that the transition of the seasons is progressing. 

This year it will take patience.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice of gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

Northern Lights & Sunrise Ski

 There was a beautiful display of the Northern lights last night. Wyatt, Otto, and James got these stunning pictures.

I missed it, snoozing away, but I was up for this beautiful sunrise ski before my workday:

We live in such a beautiful place where we can enjoy these wonders of the natural world.

First of Spring

It is officially the first day of Spring, but we will be experiencing winter weather for a while here in the Northwoods.

We have been lake skiing, alpine skiing and snowboarding, ice fishing, and snow shoveling to mark the calendar/vernal/spring equinox.

It may still look like full-on winter here, but the longer days and beautiful sunshine are reminders that warmer days are just around the corner!

I enjoy sharing these snapshots with family and friends and my students and their families, who drop by from all corners of the world, too.

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This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice of gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

 

 

Late Winter Fun

I have been getting outside as much as possible, enjoying warmer late-winter days and great lake and trail conditions. 

Today I went on an adventure on a cross-country ski to the Canadian border with my friend, Deb.  We had a great day crossing lakes in the BWCA to a remarkable destination.

Fat tire biking has also been fun. 

We have benefited from the packed-down trails by dogsled teams for both lake skiing and fat tire biking.


Having fun things to do makes the long winters more bearable and fun.

I am looking forward to more late winter/early snow sports adventures.

Proud Mama Post of the State Champ

Zoe came out on top on Thursday as the Minnesota Highschool Girls' Nordic State Champion in the Pursuit Races!

We are so happy for our girl!

Race videos:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBMhOYLsUKQNGGUUVLMmGwUnaqpaBFqX/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_tknVckeXrJNI1wX-B-TgP5Xko83MRLU/view?usp=sharing

 

Results:

https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/2023%20NORDIC%20Girls%20Pursuit%20Final%20Results.pdf

Ely Timberjay

http://www.timberjay.com/stories/devine-wins-nordic-ski-state-championship,19942

WDIO report

https://www.wdio.com/sports/elys-zoe-devine-wins-state-nordic-pursuit-championship-duluth-east-teams-finish-1st/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR25xVKrD39Qhs0-u4wZQPSZYAHvB3x3bQ6jBxaEviSr9RaoQye8fYtL7aE

Pioneer Press

https://www.twincities.com/2023/02/16/nordic-state-skiing-boys-and-girls-individual-titles-determined-in-the-blink-of-an-eye/

Lake Ski

I love twenty degrees in January.

The past couple of days, I have put on a lot of miles with skis on my feet, traversing groomed trails, and today on a lake ski.

These blue-bird sky days are such a delight.

I have been relishing a long stretch of days where temperatures cold enough for a crust on the snow yet warm enough to enjoy a couple of hours outdoors without getting too cold. 

*******

This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice of gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

Playing outside

We enjoyed another beautiful weekend with lots of time outdoors. The full moon, clear nights, frost-laden trees, and mild winter temperatures made our experiences outdoors a treat! Between the six of us, our outdoor experiences combined hiking, fat-tire biking, nordic skiing (skate and classic) (recreational and racing), snowshoeing, alpine skiing, and snowboarding.

This is how we do winter in the north woods!

Our life is busy, rich, and full!

*******

This act of sharing photographs and ramblings of our daily life is a practice of gratitude that brings me joy.

I encourage you to reflect on the good in your life.

What are you grateful for today?