This past weekend I had the good luck to be invited to a friend’s cabin near Scenic State Park north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. I was there once before, in June, when we were plagued with bugs. Not so this time. I still got a few mosquito bites around the campfire and on a woodsy hike late in the day, but mostly no bugs.
This area is known for its fall color and there is even a “Fall Color” driving tour. My friend Mary has had this cabin for close to 20 years, and she seems to know every inch of every mile surrounding this place. Much of it looked the same to me, until she would point out the particular aspect of a lake, the mix of pines and maples, a stretch of birches. All of it was equally gorgeous to me.
We had a great weekend, very peaceful, unseasonably warm, and we thought seriously about jumping in the lake. I had my feet and legs in there. It was icy cold. The closest we got to the water was a canoe ride on the last, still morning.
It is hard to overestimate the beauty of being off the grid, at a cabin, for a few days. Warm cooked food and coffee (I roasted vegetables and Mary made an apple pie), a fire in the evening, and this time the winter stars in the sky, my old friend Orion guarding us while we slept.
Enjoy these photos!
Beautiful pictures… even the food one! Love the change of seasons.