Splitrock State Park, Lake Superior North Shore, Minnesota

Gooseberry Falls (lower falls), Gooseberry State Park, Minnesota

Peanut Butter Pinecone Bird Feeder, Gunflint Nature Center, Grand Marais, Minnesota

Cabin 6, Gunflint Lodge, Grand Marais, Minnesota

Front Yard Evergreen, Eagan, Minnesota

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, Minnesota

Rock Outcropping, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, Tower, Minnesota

Pond on the Fourth Fairway, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, Tower, Minnesota

Waiting a few more weeks to trim this one, home office window shrubbery, Eagan, Minnesota

South Beach, Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minnehaha Creek between Nokomis and Harriet, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Backyard Sugar Maple, Eagan, Minnesota

Front Yard, Eagan, Minnesota

No Idea What These Are, Fortune Bay Resort Casino, Tower, Minnesota

Picked up some new gear at the wonderful Joe’s Sporting Goods in St. Paul last weekend. Took my pocketful of Christmas cash and bought a set of Fischer nordic skis and bindings, Alpina boots and a pair of Yukon Charlie’s snowshoes.

I’ve never really done either of these sports, so these are just entry-level products (but well made). I went out and used both yesterday for the first time and did OK. I need to learn more about cross-country form, but 32 years of downhill skiing made it pretty easy to get around without falling down.

Snowshoeing on frozen Lake Vermilion at night was a total trip. The stars were beautiful, it was absolutely quiet and temps were very reasonable. So peaceful and calming – at least until I started to sink into some slush. I was using the cross-country poles and one of them poked through to water. I asked a co-worker about that and he said not to worry – apparently the heavy snow can force water up through cracks to create a slush/water layer. He assured me there is ice beneath that, so I’ll go out again tonight.

Saw one shooting star last night, but still waiting to see the northern lights again.

The picture above was taken with my new favorite iOS photo app – Camera+. It really is a massive improvement on the build-in camera app and the low cost makes it a no-brainer purchase.

I know the snow and cold is coming in a few short months, but I just can’t get over how pretty it is in northeast Minnesota. More on the first week coming soon…

I’ve had the Fuji mountain pictured above for a long time, but never really ride it that much. That might all change now, though, as I recently discovered a hidden gem just a mile and a half south of our house.

The Lebanon Hills Regional Park borders Eagan and Apple Valley and contains a really fun series of mountain bike trails.

I think my bike is a little too small, but I got it as a free credit card points reward way back when. It will have to do for now, but I may invest in a pair of $35 riding gloves at some point.

Last night was my third time on the trails and I like it more and more each time. I love that it’s so close, has great scenery and variety, isn’t too difficult for a beginner like me and (probably best of all) is free.

The parking lot is almost always full of cars, but I never see too many people on the trail itself. Since it’s around six miles all in the same direction, I can see where that would happen, though. The only thing missing is a drinking fountain in the parking lot.

Way to go Dakota County!

University of Minnesota golf course, St. Paul, November 1, 2008

Anybody know what tree drops leaves like these?

UPDATE: Jake says it is a Ginko Biloba tree. That was Colleen’s thought too…