AFTER FIVE LOVELY autumn days in New York City, it is time to return home. My visit was a fascinating juxtaposition of traipsing the concrete canyons, walking the trails of Central Park and its flood of autumn color, and—mostly—sitting in a small recording booth and reading aloud Sigurd Olson’s ‘Singing Wilderness.’ As I read and the flow of familiar images
SOMEONE PLAYED a trick on me, and asked me to share some photos with you FB friends while I am in Manhattan. The Big City. I readily agreed, and now I can’t stop. I see beauty everywhere, and particularly in the grand park in the heart of the city, that draws me like a moth to a flame. Today, with
YESTERDAY ON A SMALL OUTING we reconnected with Minnesota. We saw golden tamarack bogs and heard the glorious din of a thousand sand hill cranes. But returning late in the day, I still felt the call of one last autumn motorcycle ride—knowing I’d be leaving today for New York City and doubting the weather would hold till my return. So
WOW! Look what just arrived today. The first copy of my new children’s book, “I Love You Little, I Love You Lots”! Kathy and I—and Scholastic Press—are truly excited about this one. Getting some dandy reviews, including being called ‘an instant classic.’ (School Library Journal). But it’s always exciting, no matter what, when you hold that first book in your
THE CHURCH O THE PINES forest is, as one might guess, mostly pines. And I love them. But not far away is a maple woods I also love to walk, especially in autumn. This fall I was a little late to catch the brilliant colors, but a stroll was still grand, every scene a Minnesota postcard from the land of
JUST FOR FUN, I THOUGHT I’D SHARE THE TEXT for my newest children’s book, ‘I Love You Little, I Love You Lots.’ It was a LOT of fun to write! Of course, it’s much more fun with the wonderful, warm, and whimsical pictures by Brian Karas… I think it’s really sweet, and of course, dedicated to my grandchildren. But I
AT THE CARETAKERS’ CABIN at the Church O The Pines, the golden needles have been blown off the roof. Things are being stowed away for winter, even as other decorative things are set out for any wayward hobgoblins or spooks who may traipse down the long lane on All Hallows’ Eve. This is the time of year when, once preparations
AFTER VISITING the great pines of Itasca we return to the old cabin at the Church O The Pines. This is the week the sky-scrapers ladle out their gold and cover the cabin and all the forest floor below. All the winged members of the congregation flock to Fellowship Hall for goodies. While we like morning coffee and cherry croissants,
AT THE CHURCH O THE PINES, a soft breeze ruffles the surface of the Church moat (Mississippi). The forest is painted with the first gentle brush strokes of autumn. Even the pines begin to show the gold that will soon gild all the ground below. There is a turning—not only of colors but of season, as summer has tossed her
IT IS A PEACEFUL, late summer morning at the Church O The Pines. This feeling of peace is often one of the reasons people attend church, and it abounds here in our forest chapel. Last night the northern horizon was peppered with a continuous strobe light show among distant thunderheads, which we watched in awe. But today all is quiet.