Author: michaeljordahl

Retired Miner, loves science, reading, carving, walking, recovering alcoholic

No Time For Rhyme

I have to take off on a 7 hour road trip shortly, so I don’t have the time for a decent post, but I wanted to show you how fast the Lake of the Woods froze over. I posted a shot of it a couple days ago with maybe 20 yards of ice along the shore; I took this shot later that same day! Completely frozen over!

I see more warm weather in our forecast for next week, so maybe it will open back up. Anyway, gotta go; I’m bringing my camera, so maybe I’ll have something other than ice to post.

–Photo by me

Shot of the Day 11/28/23

I’m standing out here in the bitter cold wind on the shore of Lake of the Woods, and the lake is freezing over as I watch. The ice has spread out another 10 feet or so since I got here; it won’t be long now till all 1,700 square miles of the lake will disappear under ice.

and now, before my very eyes,

the lake begins to crystallize;

it spreads so fast, i must surmise

the fish are in for a surprise

–photo by me

Sunday Shots 11/26/23

Winter may have come late this year, but she’s definitely here today. Brrr. Her order for snow has yet to arrive, but the lakes and rivers are freezing so quickly.

I just wrote a haiku the other day about the river being open so late in the year; today, it looks like milk flowing through honey-colored land. The land of milk and honey?

This looks like the perfect place (in summer) for a swing. The grass here crunches under my feet.

At the marina on Lake of the Woods, the boats are all put away for the winter. If you’ve left yours in the water, it’s too late now.

The Big Lake itself is still mostly open, but it’s freezing fast. It’s hard to believe this will soon be a forty mile ice road to Canada. The wind is so cold, I can only stand here long enough to snap a picture. I take one last look; all is quiet save the lapping of the waves as the sun sets on another day.

–Photos by me

Jody’s Depression

My wife Jody suffered from depression (which eventually led to her fatal drug overdose), and I remember how frustrated I was that I couldn’t do anything to help. It came from inside her, and seemed to have little to do with how things were.

It’s been over 12 years since she’s been gone, and life goes on. When I took this photo, it reminded me of her depression, so I wrote down how I think she might’ve felt:

there’s a bright blue sky

just beyond these dark trees;

a wonderful world of beauty;

a world of light and love

where people wave and smile

and life…happens;

a world of fussy grandmas

and naughty grandchildren–

if only I could get beyond

these damn black trees!

it’s no use; they’re too thick.

maybe if I take more morphine,

i’ll get to that blue sky.

And that she did.

–photo by me