Perspective

Ripples marks form as the receding tide bears down on beach sands.  The ebbing water creates undulating wave flow marks. The resulting patterns form parallel with the coastline.  In the geologic record ripple marks are commonly found in sandstones deposited in coastal environments. However, one can only discern these while looking at an outcrop hat is exposed perpendicular to the features- opposite of their formation. 

Water flows from these saturated hills into the losing tide. Water that was short lived to be a storm cloud barely made its way off the ocean only to fall in the coast range.  This was as never destined to rush over the Rockies and be reinvigorated by southern air and fall as part of the two foot snowfall that is barreling down on the north woods as I type. 

At home I observe subtle changes on the property daily. From year to year patterns emerge. Patterns, much like the ripples under my feet, are only obvious if observed at the right perspective and a long enough time to become apparent. Sometimes changing your perspective is he only way to see.  It's important to travel away from your home surroundings to recalibrate your perspective.

 adventure to the Pacific Ocean, Oregon.  

Snow squall over Tom Lake

Ice forming on Two Island Lake.  There's snow in the forecast. 

The leaves have long since fallen.  The snow shoe hare is white.  November gales shove piles of waves that batter the shore of Superior.  The garden has been harvested.  Firewood is split and stacked.  The deer hunting season opens this weekend.  Snowflakes and frost crust the ground cover most mornings.  Darkness prevails.

The summer came and went with the sinking sun of this late autumn afternoon.  We learned what it meant to raise a toddler, improve a homestead, maintain careers and explore the deep wilderness around us.  Our adventures were short.  Our camps offered luxuries we weren't accustomed to having- extra blankets, pillows, fresh fruit, bathing suits, beach toys, boxes of wine.  Our building projects paled in comparison to earlier endeavors.  

In short, we entered a new phase of life.  We learned a lot, enjoyed more.  Now that the bird migrations make their way through the north woods, moose rush to feed in the ponds before they completely glace over with ice, few travelers venture on the water and trails we've come up for our first "breath of fresh air". 

Our focus has shifted up towards the top of the property.  The lower cabin that we inhabit is complete.  Now we set our sites to the larger project- our dream house.  This winter will entail a lot of planning and decisions.  (Hopefully lots of skiing and ice fishing too!)