Winter Tracks at DP

This week we opened up our trails for skiing. Casey started up the groomer and made some tracks. It was great! Blackduck was the first school to use them. I'll get some pictures of the skiers soon. This week I was just making sure I was doing it right. :)

Today I got myself out there to try a couple different trails. It was fun and I was glad I brought my camera so I could share some animal signs with you. I would have taken pictures of some live animals but I scared them away. I saw 2 deer and 2 grouse! So cool!

Mouse:

Mice leave tacks in two ways. The will leave their foot prints like in this photo. What is distinct is that they have a straight line that goes between the prints which is from their tails. Can you find it? Its the one on the right. Its easier to see closer to see at the top.

Mice will also bury tunnels under the snow like this one. The tunnel sometime caves in but then leave this cool maze like this.

Deer:

I took this one for Dad. You can see fresh rubbing from the deer's antlers at the base of this tree. It's sad that the deer had to use such a young tree. I'm guessing though that it must be from a young deer judging by the size of the tree and how high up the rubbing is.

Snow is just so pretty!

Squirrel:

These are classic squirrel tracks that can be found all over at DP! They are like hand prints. So cute!

Squirrels have also been digging up the stored acorns that they worked so had at in the fall. Squirrels can hide 25 nuts in one half hour and will should be able to come back and find about 80% of them. They are so smart!

More tracks to come as I find them. :) Hope you were able to get out and enjoy the snow today! Miss you all!

Duluth Weekend 11/12-11/13

My friend Caitlin grew up in Duluth and was heading home for her birthday. Kalle and I thought it would be fun to see the city and celebrate with her. It was definitely a fun time had by all!

On the way we saw this eagle perched in a tree. It was amazing so we stopped to take a picture but obviously we scared it away and didn't get the eagle but still got this beautiful view!

First thing we did was grab some dinner at the Northwoods SmokeHaus. It is famous for their smoked salmon and sausage. It was so good we ended up going back two more times that weekend. :)

Then we went to Fitgers to refill our growlers. This is a famous brewery where you can buy beer in gallon glass bottles and get them refilled. It was sweet!
That evening we went to grab a beer and see some Improv. It was pretty good and fun to meet some of Caitlin's friends.

In the morning we hung out at her parents house for breakfast and then went to down town to show Kalle the bridge. It was a little windy. :)
Then we went to Gooseberry Falls for a beautiful hike. It was a little cold and wet but that wasn't going to stop us. No sir! It was actually really nice because we were the only ones there.

This is Caitlin and Kalle posing by the falls and this is just the beginning of a series of many more funny shots of us having a good time on the trails.
Another one...
A senior photo moment.
Kalle listening to the heart of the tree. She's a tree hugger. :)
Here's a nice one of Caitlin and me.
This is us again in front of the falls. Can you see us on the bridge? Look for the red and green coats.
Isn't it pretty?
It was fun to show Kalle how beautiful Minnesota can be in all types of weather. :)
Kalle didn't believe us that Minnesota has beaches like they do in California so we had to show her. Okay they aren't the SAME but you can surf the waves. This is of Park Point of Lake Superior.
It was so funny think back to the last time I saw waves like this. It was last year and I was definitely dressed much differently. :)

It was a fun weekend with the girls and thanks Caitlin for showing us around!