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Darla Mae Swanson
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A Visit to Lake Superior on a Cold, Sunny Day
I’ve had a relationship with Lake Superior since I was a child. My parents grew up in Duluth, near the shores of Superior. Consequently, I had grandparents there and many other relatives. While I’ve never lived in Duluth (my parents moved from there after kid #5, I was kid #7),
The Magic of the Vernal Equinox
Spring is my favorite season. I love it so much I was willing to get up at 3 a.m. to welcome it properly. The vernal equinox is the official onset of spring, happening at an exact moment in time. This year, that moment was March 20 at 4:01 a.m. I
Nature’s Gift: Letting Go of Work and Embracing the Wild
After a long workday—and I mean long, I decided to enjoy the gift of nature, so I took myself to a river in some local woods, a favorite spot of mine. I was after a moment of stillness by the water. I needed to let go of work and embrace
First-Time Horseback Riding (In a Long Time!)
Recently, I did something I haven’t done in decades—I went horseback riding! A few friends and I saddled up for a ride, and while it had been years since I’d been on a horse, I wasn’t nervous at all—just excited. I’ve always loved animals, and horses are high on my
Why Nature Is the Best Work Break
Have you ever had one of those days where you did so much work on a computer that your brain was buzzing? That was me on Monday. I started work early in the morning and decided to take a break around 3 o’clock. The weather in Minnesota had shifted in
Lake Superior in Winter: A Surfer’s Ultimate Challenge
Lake Superior is a force of nature—wild and ever-changing. It’s the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes. In the winter, the lake transforms into something extraordinary. Powerful storms roll in, whipping up waves that that lure a rare breed of surfers—clad in thick wetsuits, gloves, and sheer determination—they venture