It's been some time since I've posted anything here so I thought I would take a few moments to reflect on some of the past photo trips we've taken this year.

We completed our Luce Line State Trail hike this fall.  Walking short sections of varying distances (usually 2 - 5 miles) we completed the 126 miles (63 miles one way) in about 3 years.  Granted, we didn't go on the trail that often as it was taking longer and longer to drive to towards the end. We've also been biking the trail and are almost done with that. On to the next trail...Glacial Lakes State Trail here we come. We started the first section already, but there again, it is a haul to get to.

Its amazing what you can see along these abandoned railways. We've been pretty lucky this year with spotting wildlife along the trail. I think my favorite thing would be the short tail weasel. Got a quick pic of her carrying her baby to a safer place. We also saw a female hooded merganser with fourteen babies in tow. That was a first for us. Usually we only see mallard or wood duck babies. There were so many birds and insects as well. We also saw a dark fishing spider. It was huge and really cool to see. Its amazing just how much wildlife lives along these trails.  They become little oasis of habitats here and there, in some ways that's the only way some of the species can survive. It's not enough, but its a start.

We visited a few state parks this year as well, including Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Maria, Lake Shetek, Moose Lake, Sibley, and St. Croix. Moose Lake and St. Croix were new parks for us. We visited them both in the fall. The weather wasn't great for photos, but we made the best of it.  Moose Lake had a large variety of mushrooms which I always find interesting to photograph. Split Rock Lighthouse was gorgeous as always.  We visited Lake Maria today on a very warm December day (warm for Minnesota that is), it hit 40 degrees here. Now in typical Minnesota fashion, tonight as I write this we are experiencing freezing rain and are under a winter weather advisory for near blizzard conditions and dangerous wind chills expected overnight. If the predictions of -35 degree F wind chills are correct it will feel like an 75 degree temp change in 24 hours. Yikes! You know what they say, if you don't like the weather in Minnesota, wait 5 minutes it will change. Only problem, in winter it only changes from cold to colder. What's a person to do? Move, I don't think so. I would miss the seasons (even if Spring is about  5 minutes long, Summer is 5 months long, Fall about 10 minutes long and Winter is 7 months. Ok maybe not really but last year we had snow from I swear November to May! Ugh!!! Even a die hard Minnesotan will get sick of snow by May.)

I think my favorite places to visit this year were the National Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Management Areas. We visited Big Stone, Crane Meadows, La Que Parle, Sand Lake, Tamarac, and Windom. My favorite was Tamarac.  There we got some great photos of Bald Eagles. We also got some photos of a porcupine in a tree. First time seeing a porcupine in the wild. Sand Lake was a very close second. There we spent some real quality time watching the cutest little ruddy duck swimming around a little pond. He has the funniest little quack. He beats his bill against his chest creating a wall of bubbles around him, then he pushes his tail out and his head forward and in a quiet voice lets out this tiny little quack. So cute!!! Could have watched him all day. We also saw white faced ibis which was first for us. Too fun! Can't wait for Spring time to start going out again. Only hoping my new job will allow me some time off to spend out in the field this year.

Well this is getting a bit long winded, so with that I will wish everyone Happy Holidays and a fantastic 2014.