Ever have one of those days? You know, the kind where things just don’t fall into place. Some refer to them as Monday’s, but those types of things can happen most any day. It just so happens that my last instance happened on a Monday. I walked through my normal morning routine per usual and then headed out the door. It wasn’t until I was a few miles out-of-town that I noticed I didn’t have my phone…that electronic device the keeps you connected to your immediate outside world and beyond. I wasn’t that far from away so I turned around and made haste for home. Yep, there it was on the nightstand right where I let it. Alright, now I can head out and get back on my way to work. //30 minutes behind schedule//
I was driving along as I normally do; thinking over what I needed to do that day in my head. I was right about at the halfway point of my commute when Cyndie called. She asked me if I had seen her car keys. I slipped my hand into my coat pocket and quickly realized what had happened. We were out and about on Sunday and I was driving her car; upon returning home I left her keys in my coat pocket. Crap! Back home I went to correct my mistake.
The one thing I do love about my commute is the sunrises of Summer. June, July & August produce some beautiful sunrises; all mostly before 6 a.m. Today – this day in early March when the sun doesn’t rise that early; because of my delay, I was treated to a beautiful sight as I headed back home for the second time. Once home I seriously contemplated a vacation day. It seemed as though the universe was trying to tell me something – forget Monday; go back to bed.
Hwy 50/Hwy 61
Hwy 61 – Red Wing – Burnside
Hwy 61 – Red Wing – Burnside
Hwy 61 – Red Wing
Hwy 61 – Red Wing
Hwy 61 – Red Wing
Hwy 61 – Red Wing
Hwy 61 – Red Wing
Determined as I was to get on with it, I set out for work a third time. //1 hour behind schedule//
The clouds were amazing. There was a hint of hoar-frost on the trees and a pinkish hue in the sky.
My favorite rural landscape was rather picturesque this a.m. as I passed it by for the fifth time 🙂
The refinery dragons were spewing their exhaust from right to left this a.m. – unusual as it is usually the reverse.
At this point I was thinking the universe had been wrong about this day. That is until I arrived at my exit from Hwy 52. A car ran the stop light and almost t-boned me on the driver side; it would have if not for my spidey-like senses and lightning fast reflexes. At this point I was only moments from work and their was no point in turning around – although the thought occurred to me.
The view from my favorite I94 on-ramp was rather nice this a.m. and well-received after my recent brush with an inattentive motorist.
Even if you days starts out wrong and everything seems to be discombobulated – keep at it. All will work itself out and be fine eventually.
Valentines Day 2014 was my last extended visit with the snowy of 180th and Hogan. My last few encounters I found her less on her perch atop the power poll and more just down the way (on 180th) around some irrigation parts strewn about the field.
She is a bit challenging to see unless you know where and what to look for. She blends in pretty well with her surrounding as nature intended. As you can see there is plenty of corn stock debris around for her to hunt.
Look really close; you can see her in the lower right.
I would venture to guess that 180th just outside of Vermillion, MN has not seen as much traffic in earlier years. I have driven 180th a few dozen times over the course of mid January to mid February. The above scene is not typical; usually you would see cars alongside the road at some point. The high snowbanks that line either side of the road were a bugger to get over to get into the field. It wasn’t long and the farmer began to plow paths into the fields where the snowy would hang out – that was pretty nice and I know, I, along with all other observers really appreciated that.
I’ve driven through the area a few times since, but have not spotted her. There has been significant snowfall since I last seen her. I’ve not had an opportunity to drive through during morning or midday; only late afternoon when she is typically off somewhere digesting/relaxing. She was in the area for over a month. Perhaps she has moved on. It was a wonderful experience to have seen this beautiful creature. A very welcome bit of excitement during this seemingly endless and cold winter.