Last month, I had the opportunity to tag along as a chaperone, to Wolf Ridge ELC, for my son's 5th grade class trip. While it was a little daunting, preparing to leave for five days, I'm so glad I was able to go! My husband and 2 daughters survived just fine while we were away. Funny how much we can worry, and everything ends up turning out fine.

There is nothing quite as beautiful, here in Minnesota, as the North Shore. Even the drive through Duluth brings excitement for the changing landscapes you see as you approach Hwy 61--the North Shore Drive. Along the way, we passed through Two Harbors, a favorite destination for me and my family. The Vanilla Bean Café offers great food and the best tasting, strongest espresso drink ever! Be advised: having one will keep you awake for about 12 hours-LOL

(Feeding the birds, at Chickadee Landing)

(Marshall Mountain, above)

It was a busy, tiring week, but invigorating. The air is so much better this far north. We learned about Lichens, an indicator of good air quality. There were many species to be found, hiking through the woods. Lichens are a symbiotic combination of either algae, bacteria, and/or fungus. Shown above: Orange Jelly Lichen...Shown below: possibly Hammered Shield Lichen, with some Reindeer lichen, on top.

Another favorite was the Night Hike: we walked through the trails, without flashlights. It was a little scary for me as my eyes took awhile to adjust, and there were unknown steps that led us down in the valley. But the constellations we saw...wow. Venus, the brightest star, was like a tiny, glowing moon in the sky. We also saw a meteorite with a blue tail, zip across the sky...there was a collective *WHOA*, from the group, as we watched it pass by.

And there was great Cross-Country Skiing, the Skyview Ropes course and Zip line, Snow-Shoeing, Frozen Lake Study/Ice-Fishing, Rock Climbing, and lots of learning about Native peoples, Wolves, Mammels, Birds, History of Immigration in MN, etc. All through the eyes of a child, with the wonder and awe that accompanies such learning.

It was great time. My soul now feels revived, as we approach the end of these wintry months. We are in March now, so Spring will be right around the corner. Enjoy this time to reflect on the past year, appreciate the beauty of Creation, and plan for this year's growing season!