Author: michaeljordahl

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

Wilderness Avenue

My son and I live on Wilderness Avenue near Lake of the Woods in Minnesota. If you follow it past our place, you’ll find that it soon turns into a dirt road that plunges directly into the heart of the dense Beltrami Forest for 40 or 50 miles before coming out near Red Lake.

We’ve driven through it a number of times in the middle of the day, and I wasn’t particularly impressed with the wildlife. However, about two weeks ago we started driving out there early in the morning so my son could climb a ranger tower for exercise. (He runs up and down it like 3 or 4 times while I go half-way up once.) Anyway, since we’ve been going out there in the wee hours of the morn, we’ve seen a bear, a moose, several fox, a marten, innumerable grouse, and this morning–a Canadian lynx and her kittens!

I couldn’t get a very good shot as we weren’t prepared. You should’ve seen us panicking; Aaron threw the van in park before we stopped–it was hilarious!

It’s like a whole new environment for photographs. I never knew how lucky I was to live on Wilderness Avenue!

–Photo by me

shot of the day 9/15/23

As I stand here gazing at the sunrise, I’m reminded of all the years I was only able to catch a glimpse of it on my way to work. Now I’m retired, and I couldn’t be more thankful that I’ll never have to miss another. Nature truly is poetry without words.

retirement is wonderful,

and here’s my favorite perk:

i get to watch the day unfold

instead of going to work

–photo by me

squirrel talk

hear ye, hear ye,

denizens of the forest:

i’ve called you all here

on this september day

to announce that now

is the time to make ready

for the oncoming winter.

i’m pleased to tell you that

the other squirrels and i

have finished gathering

the acorns, and are ready

to hibernate very soon.

but many of you won’t

have a place to stay

or even food to eat

in the dreadful cold.

some of you will die.

it’s the way of the woods;

it’s what makes us strong.

yes, some won’t make it,

but for the rest of us:

may we meet again

on the other side for

another glorious summer!

goodnight to you all,

my friends of the forest.

–photo by me

september dream

i dreamed of

a flock of geese

flying up from

a burning field.

there was a breeze

from the north,

and the geese

were flying south.

like many dreams,

it seems to have

two meanings:

the first is that

winter is coming.

the second is a far

deeper insight–

but let’s just go

with the first.

–photo/art by me