December 29th, 2011
We haven’t had much snow and ice yet this year in Minnesota but my winter survival gear is ready to go! Once it turns cold and slippery I have some specific changes I make for safety.
The first is to change out my shoes for a gore tex model. My well ventilated shoes work well when it’s warm but my toes get cold with all that extra frigid air flow. Once the trails are snow packed or icy we add “Get a Grips” to the bottom of my shoes. It’s a simple stretch to put them on and the ice picks on the bottom are perfect for the extra grip that I need. It also lays enough rubber on the ground when the path is clear.
The final recommendation is to pull those rubber tips off of your poles! You have to put up with the annoying clicking noise but it will assure that you don’t fall if you hit some unexpected ice.
Don’t forget to dress in layers and put on less than you think you need. Regardless of the temperature you will warm up as you walk.
December 27th, 2011
There’s worry in the world that the constant streaming of information and communication does not allow our brains any downtime which ultimately could lead to our being less creative and imaginative.
We stare at computer screens of all sizes processing and responding throughout the day. Our brains are synapsing from dawn to long into the night. Do you turn on your computer or check your smart phone before you make the coffee in the morning? How often do you check emails and facebook during the day? Do you go online one last time before you go to bed?
Our brains need quiet time to refresh and reboot. Creativity, the source of all things new and imaginative, requires an open space in which to begin. If we are always plugged in we have no time to simply let our minds wander into new directions and possibilities.
Let your poles take you away from technology for part of each day. Go outside, breathe deep the fresh air and open yourself to the world around you instead of the world inside your computer. The rhythm of your walk will free your thoughts and let them soar into spaces unknown.
Who knows, you might just come up with the newest, best idea while you’re out Nordic walking!
Blessings of the New Year and hopes for lots of new creativity in your year !
December 21st, 2011
It’s really hard to get up in the morning to go outside for a walk when it’s dark! Not only is it dark when my alarm goes off but it’s still dark when Gail and I finish our walk. I want so badly to just curl up deeper under my wool quilt and pretend it’s not morning. Just let me be a bear in hibernation for a little longer each day.
But the morning calls to us and we go. This morning there was a smile in the heavens made of the crescent moon and 2 bright planets. Worth getting up for.
Don’t let the dark days of winter defeat your goals of getting outdoors. Accept the Outdoor Dark Days Challenge to do one fantastically fun thing outdoors each week. It can be as simple as a winter walk or go all the way to a day on the slopes, snowshoe in the woods or get those skinny skis out on the trails. Better yet take a child sledding and let your inner child come along.
Let me know what you’re doing! Would love to hear all about it!
December 15th, 2011
If you’re reading this blog you’re probably wondering what all the food talk is all about. Once again this year I am participating in the Dark Days Challenge, started by my daughter a few years ago. It’s a challenge to cook using local and sustainable ingredients during the dark days of winter. Most of the other participants are food bloggers and so I’m one of those tag alongs.
In keeping with the spirit of my blog and life, I would like to invite you to join me in an Outdoor Dark Days Challenge. As we head into winter and it’s harder for many of us to get outdoors, accept the challenge of doing one fun outdoor activity each week from now until the first days of spring. You can choose anything! Go for hard core winter activities: snow shoeing, skiing, cross country skiing, skijoring, sledding. Or just go out and play in the snow, take a walk or build a snowman.
Be creative, have fun but most important, get outdoors! Don’t let old man winter keep you huddled up inside!
And let me know what you do! I’d love to hear about your winter adventures.
December 14th, 2011
 People are creative in the midwest. When the ground freezes they turn to hydroponics to grow fresh lettuce and tomatoes all year round. We have Bushel Boy, a local Minnesota company and I’ve just discovered Future Farm Food and Fuel LLC from Baldwin, Wisconsin. Their marketing tag is “a deeper shade of green” and it’s amazing what they’re doing!
My local meal this week was a family raised chicken roasted in the oven stuffed with home grown garlic and lemon and brushed with olive oil. Accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes, corn and strawberries from the freezer and a delightful salad simply made from a head of butter head lettuce from Future Farm topped with local blue cheese and Brianna’s salad dressing ( I don’t make my own dressing, lazy I guess)
Once again, simple home grown cooking from the queen, but I had to have time to ski and play outdoors last weekend so no real time for cooking 
December 8th, 2011
It’s the dark days of winter and the Dark Days Challenge is on again this year. My daughter Laura started it a few years ago, challenging all of us to cook one completely local meal each week during the winter. Being her mom and responsible raising her on the family “gentleman’s farm” as her grandpa called it, complete with garden chores and fresh meals from the land, I couldn’t resist taking on the challenge.
The good news for me is that I am in Minnesota. Even tho the ground is white and frozen right now we still have a family garden, raise both layer and broiler chickens, and live in the middle of dairy and wheat country. I don’t have to worry about finding local butter, grains and cheese. My meals are pretty simple, and even during the rest of the week I cook with mostly local and organic ingredients. Just like going outdoors everyday, it’s a lifestyle choice and one that fits well for me.
To kick off the Challenge this year we are trying to finish up our pig from last year. Amazing that we still have pork chops and bacon in the bottom of the freezer. Dan cooked the chops on the grill, enhanced with minced garlic from the garden while I roasted potatoes, onions and brussle sprouts in the oven. We finished them with a quick sauté in bacon fat with bacon crumbles, yum, everything is better with bacon. The plate was finished with slices of Minnesota honey crisp apples from Minnetonka Orchards.
Simple, delicious and quick to do at the end of a long day on the retail floor. Did I mention that Dan is diabetic? That’s the other part of my challenge. Anyone else working with dietary restrictions I’d love to hear from you.
Now you know what I cooked, what did you do to get outdoors today?
November 11th, 2011
Dan and I are in Washington, our annual fall visit with our daughter Laura and her husband Mike. Our tradition is to come in a day early and enjoy a bit of sight seeing in the area. We’ve had lots of adventures including Mt Rainier this past Memorial Day weekend. It was opening weekend for Paradise Inn and it was still snowing. We were only there for about 48 hours but we never saw the mountain for the clouds. This time we were lucky and enjoyed Mt Rainier out in all it’s glory!
We stayed at the historic National Park Inn, Paradise was closed for the season. It was quiet in the park, that inbetween season when fall is over and winter has yet to arrive.
We slept beneath Mt Rainier glowing with the full moon. In the morning we enjoyed a 5 mile hike up through the forest to the ridge with a view of the mountain and back down again. We shared the trail with birds and two young deer at the top of the ridge but no other hikers. The peace, solitude and tranquility of the old forest. If you walk quiet, look and listen to the old life around you it has the power to transform you. I walked off the stress and drain of the past month of hard work and emerged from the forest renewed and reconnected.
We did make it up to Paradise. Snow covered the trails, the Inn is closed and boarded up for the season (I wonder who dances in the ball rooms when it snows?) but Mt Rainier was beautiful and inspiring. We did a short hike to get the right view of Myrtle Falls and left a prayer for a safe season at the foot of the mountain.
November 3rd, 2011
I’ve been walking with women. That’s not unusual as most of the people I walk with are women. Seems that women are not afraid to be seen walking with poles even when there is no snow. But seriously, I love walking with women and count it as one of the blessings I’ve received from Nordic walking.
There’s grace in walking with older women. We walk a little slower, we share our stories, time slows down. They find themselves standing a little taller, I let myself relax and enjoy the moment. We both find balance.
I turn 60 next month. I’ve been struggling with what that really means to me. Since walking with women who have 20 years of life experiences on me, it’s all coming into perspective. Turning 60 means being able to live in the moment so you don’t miss it. And don’t be afraid to try something new!
November 1st, 2011
In October of 2007 I went to Italy with my daughter Laura. We had 10 magical days including a day of hiking the Cinque Terre. I can close my eyes and see the villages perched on the coastal mountains, the fishing boats lifted up into the streets, the olive trees ready for harvest. It’s a beautiful place like nowhere I’d ever been before. And we talk often of going back with more time to explore and enjoy the area and it’s people.
 
Cinque Terre was hit by heavy rains and destructive floods last week. Much of what was there is gone. My heart and prayers are with the people of this region. I count my blessings that I was able to walk the trail with Laura before it was wiped out.
October 20th, 2011
I love walking in the fall. After the heat and thunderstorms of the summer it’s wonderful to have the cooler weather even if it comes with shorter days. There’s just something special about shuffling through the leaves on the trails.
Nordic walking in the fall has it’s unique issues. First, and most obvious, it’s dark for most of us when we walk. Never assume that anyone can see you in the dark. Gail and I have donned our stylish reflective vests and added headlamps with red blinking lights on the back band to increase our visibility in the early morning. Eventually we’ll even add lights on the poles, there are small bike lights with stretchy bands that will wrap around your poles.
Slipping tips on slippery leaves is another issue. The best solution is to get off the pavement and find a turf trail. Here in Minnesota there are cross country ski trails that are lit for fall hiking, it’s magical to be in the woods under the lights. You might even see some evening critters or hear an owl calling your name. If you must walk on hard surfaces you can either take off the rubber tips and put up with the noise of carbide on pavement or try LEKI’s studded tip for extra traction.
Dressing for the change in the weather is the other challenge. Dress in layers and remember that it’s ok to be cool when you start. You’ll quickly warm up and don’t want to overheat. If you’re one of those that love your short pants remember that knees like to be covered when it’s below 65 degrees. Keep those joints warm for best performance.
Those leaves will soon enough be replaced with snow so get out and kick through some while you can!
|
Ready to Give it a Try? I am available to teach Nordic Walking Classes to individuals and groups.
Email me or call me at 952.475.0891 for more information.
|
