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“Our worlds, they shrink around us if we’re not careful.”

This phrase, from the TV show Watson last Sunday evening, resonates with me. The Watson series is a “medical drama with detective elements”, which revolves around the character of Dr. John Watson from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman took this picture of Earth from the Orion spacecraft’s window after completing the translunar injection burn.

It seems like our world is trying to shrink in the most terrible ways. The misery of politics dominates our focus and our discussions. Maybe I should only speak for myself, but I hate to turn on the tv, or read the news because there is a constant onslaught of politics and war. I want to stay informed, but often feel like I’m drowning in the world’s pain: the political division, wars, racism, sexism, poverty, climate change…. I can’t understand why anyone would want to make the world this way – treating others as less-than, as objects instead of humans, and destroying everything around us…

One of my many life purposes is to stand up for issues that I believe in, to champion equality, and to make a difference. I dream of a more equitable world for all. I feel like I’ve spent my entire life doing what I can to make it better. I went to college to become an educator, librarian, and counselor so that I could give every kid the very best Chance at a good future. I’ve worked in schools, libraries, colleges, bookstores, factories, and many other places. I’ve volunteered in multiple agencies: to help protect families, kids, women, to help people with differing abilities ride horses, to help children learn to read… And donated as much as I could to make lives better.

Yet, every time I look up lately, things seem to have gotten worse. More inequality. More people in poverty. While a tiny percent of people get richer and seem to have no sense of honor or decency.

It’s easy to feel like any Joy I find is selfish or an escape for caring about others’ tragedies.

But Joy isn’t an escape from reality; it’s a way of resisting despair. One of my nicknames is Rebel Rosie, and with that I can never stop fighting for what I care about.

Joy deserves more of our attention. We can’t help the world when we fall into the hole of suffering, blinded and deafened by misery.

We are responsible for offering one another understanding, kindness, and action when it’s needed. That’s what makes Joy so important, it inspires us to stay optimistic and seek out solutions, rather than dwelling on the worst of humanity.

We can feel both deep sorrow and incredible awe. We can care deeply about the world and still laugh at something silly. We can enjoy life and still need it to be better.

Joy is not frivolous or betrayal. It’s fuel and resilience.

It’s what lets us stay open instead of shutting down.

It’s what keeps our world from collapsing into a single point of pain.

I had to write this as a reminder to self, to not let my world shrink and trap me in misery. I need to keep myself going, stay aware to do what I can, and keep finding Joy.

Part of my quest is to stay in touch with joy, real joy, the kind that fits right into my heart, and makes me smile.

Keep joy alive, don’t let it die under the weight of politics and misery. Don’t let it darken our words, our interests, our hobbies, our light, our vision for what could be.

Hold onto whatever brings you joy like the valuable experiences they are.

We can be real about both: the hard things and the happy things.

A few examples:

  • While war with Iran persists, we went around the Moon.
  • Despite disturbing sexism, milestones occur; for instance, an 81-year-old Georgia widow voted for the first time after her late husband told her women shouldn’t vote.
  • Though medical debt remains ridiculously high and families are losing their homes because of it, a North Carolina hospital company forgave the medical debt of 11,500 patients.
  • Food waste is a terrible concern as supermarkets throw away tons of food every day while people go hungry, current legislative action in France, Italy, and the Czech Republic now requires supermarkets to donate edible food instead of bleaching it and dumping it into landfills.

Historically, people have found joy in the worst circumstances imaginable. Not because they were ignoring reality, but because joy helped them survive it. It’s a form of resistance.

Joy motivates us to continue searching for needed solutions, while loving all the things that are so very good right in this moment.

Featured

More Kindness!!

Just as there are days when troubles seem to rain down, there are also days when goodness seems to flood in. I’m thankful to view this current surge of goodwill. Most of the following kindnesses cost no money. Some cost the price of a meal. The biggest cost was the loving time put in to care about someone else.

My son has been helping by emailing us health information. He’s aware of our issues and dietary restrictions and he’s frequently sending tips he’s found. Our son lives hundreds of miles away, but he takes time out of his crazy busy life; to care about us, to wish us good night, to tell us he’s thinking of us, or to tell us he loves us. And it’s so refreshing. Anyone who has children knows it’s a frightening job sometimes. It’s a cliché to say, but it feels like your heart is just out in the world, on its own, and you have no power over what happens; good, bad, or otherwise. The best you can hope for is that you filled your child with enough love and skills to conquer anything that comes their way. And if your relationship with each other stands the test of time, that’s the most amazing blessing.

My granddaughter called me. Grandparents know what a special affection this is. It’s one of those delightful things that many people either don’t get to enjoy, or they take for granted. I saw my grandmother only a few times in my life, so I know how fortunate I am to have any contact with my sweetest grandbabies. Granddaughter and I had a really good conversation. She’s wise beyond her years and is so fun. I look forward to having a lifetime of fun phone conversations with all my grandbabies.

My husband was kind enough to help a cousin who had lost all her pictures when her computer hard drive crashed. He spent about a week trying different programs until he found one that worked through her hard drive’s problem. He was able to save her pictures. It took some time and some investigating, and he didn’t ask for compensation.

However.

This cousin is a sweetheart and sent us gift cards to some of our favorite places to eat. It’s so nice that she valued our conversations enough to remember where we could eat. People like this are my favorites.

My mother-in-law recently gave us a photo she clipped out of the local newspaper. We live several hours away from where most of our family lives. And my mother-in-law does this sweet thing where she clips out good stories from the local paper about our family. I absolutely appreciate her. I know other people who do this. I think it’s a wonderful practice. There’s something fantastic about sharing good news.

I could possibly go on for days. But I’ll try to conclude with…

One more story. It’s a bit older, but it’s a goody. December 2020, in a town not far from me, there was a massive show of kindness at the Dairy Queen. One customer sparked a 2-day ‘Pay It Forward’ event. A chain reaction occurred when over 900 customers paid for the vehicle in line behind them.

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/dairy-queen-customers-pay-it-forward

I realize not everyone has a true love, children, grandchildren, in-laws, sweet cousins, or access to a Dairy Queen.

But I hope that somehow kindness fills your life, and you are able to both receive it, and pass it forward.

The End of Our Minnesota State Park Adventures

“If one truly loves nature, one finds beauty everywhere.” ~ Vincent van Gogh

Total Minnesota State Parks visited = 65

This trek began because my husband bought me a book. All writers and readers know how dangerous books can be. 😊

We have been asked which state park is our favorite. We absolutely cannot choose a favorite. Every park was so wonderful and fantastic and neat! We can try to give a top ten list.

Top ten in no particular order:

  1. Grand Portage – on the border with Canada. The boardwalks and waterfall were magnificent. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/06/18/mn-state-park-adventure-29/
  2. Temperance River – also had some beautiful boardwalks and a hidden waterfall. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/06/07/mn-state-park-adventure-28/
  3. Gooseberry Falls – the waterfalls were fantastic, and we went on a tour with Interpretive Park Naturalist Michaela Rice. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/04/20/mn-state-park-adventure-25/
  4. Tie for 4th place – Blue Mounds and Minneopa – The Bison Herds! https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/11/02/mn-state-park-adventure-52/  and https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/mn-state-park-adventure-54/
  5. Great River Bluffs – the overlooks! https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/08/21/mn-state-park-adventure-39/
  6. Maplewood – the trees in the fall… https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/01/04/mn-state-park-adventure-19/
  7. St. Croix – this park is Huge, and I loved climbing the Fire Tower. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2023/07/21/mn-state-park-adventure-14/
  8. Jay Cooke – the bridge across the raging river was a wild experience. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/08/07/mn-state-park-adventure-33-34-and-35/
  9. Itasca – the Oldest State Park, is a large park, closer to us, with lots to offer, and a great spot to meet with family. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2023/01/23/mn-state-park-adventure-3/
  10.  Crow Wing – is the closest to us and this is where our quest began. https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2023/01/09/mn-state-park-adventure-1/

Two parks closed when we began our quest –

  1. Hill Annex Mine (we visited this park after visiting Scenic State Park and before realizing it was closed for the season, and later it permanently closed) https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/mn-state-park-adventure-23-and-24/
  2. Upper Sioux Agency closed before we could visit.

And there were a few parks that didn’t get a “proper” exploration:

  1. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park (This park is listed as one of the best parks for “roughing it”. We visited this park after Cascade River State Park, but the road was too muddy to drive into the park. The park is far from a town or getting any help if we got stuck, but we counted the visit as we made it as far as the state park sign) https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/06/30/mn-state-park-adventure-31-32/
  2. Franz Jevne State Park (This is a small park on the northern border of our state, but the giant mosquitoes were terrible, so we kind of ran through and drove out.) https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2023/06/14/mn-state-park-adventure-10/
  3. Interstate State Park (We had visited this park before we started our quest and had a great time, but after we started our quest, we tried to revisit 3 times and each time it was closed. We visited Wild River State Park before our 3rd attempt here.) https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/02/07/mn-state-park-adventure-21-and-22/
  4. Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park (Know before you go – this park is in two separate locations, and if you wish to see it all, plan ahead, and go early. By the time we found the Mystery Cave, the cave tours were closed.) https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2024/08/26/mn-state-park-adventure-41/

We began our adventure in January 2023 and finished May 2026. There were times I was concerned we wouldn’t be able to finish the quest. But I’m so glad we did!

We learned so much about our state: its history, the Native cultures who were here long ago, the CCC, VCC, the different biomes, the wide variety of activities, the opportunities to rent equipment to enjoy the parks, the different programs (Interpretive, “I Can!”, Hiking Club, Passport Club, Junior Park Nationalist Program, Geocaching…), and that there are more ways to stay in a park than just camping in a tent…

We are so thankful and grateful that our state had the incredible foresight to create such a fantastic state park system.

And it’s not really ‘the end’ of our state park adventures. It’ll be so fun to revisit them all and see what changes.

MN State Park Adventure 65

McCarthy Beach State Park

Our last Minnesota State Park!! (Unless they add more, it’s happened before…) !

In 1895, the Swan River Logging Company built a railroad to Sturgeon Lake to transport logs. From there, the logs were floated down the Swan and Mississippi rivers to sawmills in Minneapolis. Over time, the area became a popular place for picnicking and camping for people from the Iron Range.

After landowner John A. McCarthy died in 1943, his daughter sold the property to a lumberman. Concerned about the timber’s future, local residents persuaded the new owner to sell the land and helped raise money for the purchase. Combined with state funding, those local contributions made it possible for the land to become a state park in 1945.

The Park Office is the first stop for guests arriving at the park. Within the building, is a Nature Store, brochures and information on local attractions, as well as interpretive panels describing the cultural and natural history of the park.

An all-terrain action track chair is available to rent, free of charge. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards, and an adaptive floating wheelchair are also available to rent from the park office.

Inside the park office is a raised relief map of the park.  

McCarthy Beach State Park includes several lakes across over 2300 acres.

Campgrounds can be found at Side Lake, Beatrice Lake, and Stony Brook Horse Campground (Stony Brook is located in George Washington State Forest, not in McCarthy Beach State Park, but the sites are managed by the park.). Side Lake campground has 44 electric sites. Beatrice Lake Campground has no electricity with 28 campsites. Stony Brook Horse Campground has 15 campsites, and 2 group sites, with no electricity.

The Park Entrance Road comes to a “T” just past the office. The Side Lake Campground is to the right, and the beach and day use area on Sturgeon Lake are to the left.

To reach the sugar sand beach at McCarthy Beach State Park, follow the paved trail and go down some steps and you’re on the beach. The beach was busy, so we didn’t want to intrude and take photos of the beachgoers.

The nearby restroom building is accessible and also provides changing rooms.

There’s over a half mile of sandy beach to stroll along. This small section of beach was unpopulated.

McCarthy Beach has 18 miles of hiking trails, and 12 miles of horse trails that connect into the George Washington State Forest trails. In winter, the park has 5 miles of groomed cross-country trails and 7 miles of groomed snowmobile trails available.

This was our final state park in our MN State Park Adventures.

Visiting all 65 of our Minnesota State Parks has been a fun adventure. 💚💙🌳🌲🏞️

MN State Park Adventure 64

Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park

Getting closer to the end of our State Park adventures. 😊

As with all our Minnesota State Parks, there’s far more to see and do than can be put into one post. But it’s been a lot of fun exploring the parks and sharing glimpses of what’s available.

In 2010 Lake Vermilion State Park was established with five miles of shoreline along the scenic Lake Vermilion in northeastern Minnesota. In 2014 the park was officially joined with Soudan Underground Mine State Park.

We drove into the Lake Vermilion side of the park. There wasn’t a Ranger Station at this entrance but there was a Self-Serve Information Station.

A map of Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park shows that the Lake Vermilion portion of the state park is in the north-east corner of the map, and the Soudan Underground Mine is on the southwest location.

The self check-in station helps visitors make camping reservations and shares other important information. The park’s campground offers 33 campsites for both tent and RV camping, 3 group campsites, a rental house, 8 camper cabins, 5 hike-in camp sites, and 2 boat-in camp sites.

We stopped at the Armstrong Bay Day-use Area for a picnic lunch.

The map of the Lake Vermilion Day-use Area shows that trails lead from the parking lot down to Armstrong Bay.

Armstrong Bay is on the east end of the park.

The day-use area has three picnic shelters, water, vault toilets, a boat dock, and a fishing pier.

After our picnic lunch at the Armstrong Bay Use Area, we drove over to the Soudan Underground Mine.

On June 18, 2024, rain flooded the mine and damaged the pump system, electrical system, several trains, and the Underground Laboratory air conditioner, closing the mine tours. The tours recently reopened on Memorial weekend, May 23, 2026.  

The Soudan Mine is known as Minnesota’s oldest, deepest, and richest iron ore mine and has been designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark. It operated until 1962 when it was donated to the state of Minnesota to be preserved and operated as a state park.

This is a sheave wheel. “Sheave wheels are large so that hoist ropes will last long and be safe.

Look at the mine headframe and see the sheaves turning near the top. They are the same size as this, and are slanted to an angle of 78 degrees to coincide with the angle of the shaft.”

Guided mine tours begin in the Visitor Center – Dry House. Historically the visitor center was known as the Dry House, as this is where the miners prepared for work and cleaned up at the end of the day. The structure didn’t have the ceiling it has now, so miners would raise their wet clothes up into the rafters to dry — hence the name Dry House.

It may be a bit hard to decipher in this photo, but this massive mine model represents the levels of Soudan Mine.

Side view of the mine model.

Drills and Dynamite carved the caverns of Soudan Mine.

“Mining towns were started on the Vermilion Range because some entrepreneurs had dreams of riches. Women were incidental in their plans, but when women came they made societies out of mining locations. The immigrant women took pride in all the work they did: not just in the product but in the process itself.” ~ Lynn Maria Lairala, excerpt from Carrying the Burden: A Historical Reminiscence of Vermilion Range

“They might have been Swede and Finn working, or a Slovenian and a Finn… neither one could understand each other in the mines… but they must have got their work along. They must have conversed some way… they got the job done.” ~ Owen Avikainen, US Army WWII veteran

Unbreakable Bonds

“Lake of the sunset glow.”

“Onamani-Zaagan’igan is the Ojibwe name for Lake Vermilion, which is sometimes translated as “lake of the sunset glow.””

“We were put on this Earth to take care of Mother Earth”… Chairwoman Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa

Samples of Jasper, Pyrite, and Quartz.

Samples with copper in them.

This large Hematoid Quartz specimen was found on the 27th level of the Soudan Mine in May 1959.

Now for some exciting Science stuff!

“In the 1980s, scientists from the University of Minnesota began to develop the Soudan Mine as a site for sensitive physics experiments because of the very low rate of cosmic rays in the deep underground site, and also because they could inexpensively use the still-operating mine hoist. The mine laboratory was originally home to the Soudan 1 proton decay experiment and its successor, Soudan 2 which operated from 1989-2000. The University and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources later expanded the laboratory to accommodate other physics projects, such as the MINOS neutrino detector, dark matter search experiments CDMS-II, SuperCDMS, and CoGeNT, as well as work on electroforming copper to create pure radiation-free copper. Low-background materials screening facilities were in use and in continuing development. Parts of the laboratory had been open for daily tours, and there was an annual open house with more access to the facilities and representatives of the experiments to help with the tours and answer questions. The laboratory, along with public tours, were closed circa 2016.”

On the way to the Visitor Center, where the underground tours begin, you’ll walk past the Engine House.

Inside the Engine House is the Air Compressor that supplied air at a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch to power equipment underground. 

The Hoist has two cables that wind or unwind from a large drum. As one cable is unwound (the cage is lowered into the mine), the other side winds on the drum (the cage is brought to the surface).

Equipment inside the Engine House.

There were approximately 18 shafts on the property, but No. 8 was the deepest. Guided tours use the No. 8 shaft to access the underground, and take visitors to level 27.

Breitung Pit, seen here, is where iron ore for the first railroad shipment was mined. The ore was stockpiled until the railroad was completed in 1884. On July 31, 1884, the first shipment of ore left Soudan bound for Two Harbors.

The Soudan was at first mined from seven open pits, but it soon became an underground operation. The mine operated from 1884-1962. At its peak in 1892, the Soudan shipped more than 568,000 long tons of high-grade ore, and employed 1,800 men.

Our visit to Lake Vermilion- Soudan Underground Mine State Park didn’t go quite as we hoped. It’s recommended to pre-schedule the underground mine tours, but time didn’t let us do that. We showed up hoping maybe we could join, but the tour was full. The tours last 90 minutes and we just didn’t have time to wait for the next one. So, this is something we’ll get to enjoy at a later date.

Lake Vermilion and the entire state park is a wonderful woodland retreat. It was interesting and educational to learn about the mine, especially the science projects conducted there.

MN State Park Adventure 63

Bear Head Lake State Park

I’m excited to share the last few posts about finishing our state park adventures!

Bear Head Lake State Park was established in 1961. Located just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the park shares a similar wilderness quality. Visitors can hike, camp, fish, and recreate in the park’s more than 4,000 acres. Wildlife in the park may include black bears, gray wolves, white-tailed deer, pine martens, otters, and moose. We were hoping to spot a moose, but didn’t see one during our visit.

In 2010, Bear Head Lake State Park won the America’s Favorite Park contest.

This is the Bear Head Lake State Park Headquarters Ranger Station, the first building you’ll see when visiting the park. Stop inside to ask questions, register for campsites, find information on the area, or browse the nature store. This is also the place to rent boats, motors, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, or snowshoes.

Black Bear are native to the state of Minnesota and there is a chance to encounter one while visiting the park. Be Bear Aware.

All our state parks charge a fee. This can be paid online or at the ranger station.

Camping includes: 73 drive-in sites with 45 of these being electric sites, 4 backpack sites, and 2 canoe-in sites.

Other camping options include:

  • A group camp site accommodating up to 50 people, for tents only. There’s a hand pump for water, vault toilet, and bear-proof food lockers on site.
  • Five camper cabins are available year-round, two are accessible. The two accessible camper cabins sleep five, the other three cabins sleep six. Inside the cabins, you’ll find a table, screened porch, bunk beds  and electric outlets.
  • A guest house is reservable. It has three bedrooms, two baths, with a fully-equipped kitchen; bring your own bedding and linens.

We followed the directions to the picnic area which is near the Trail Center building.

We parked in the lot for the Trail Center building. This is also where the Norberg Lake Hiking Trail begins. There are over 12 miles of hiking trails. While enjoying the trails, keep an eye out for rocks, roots, poison ivy, and ticks.

The map of Bear Head Lake State Park shows several lakes and bays inside the park, as well as other park information.

Wipe your hiking shoes on the brushes at the bottom of this sign to avoid carrying invasive species in or out of the hiking trails.

The Trail Center is a great place to stop and rest after exploring the park. It’s a large space for interpretive programs, and a gathering spot for park visitors. The energy-efficient building was constructed with sustainable forest products and high-efficiency windows.

The interior of the Trail Center is very nice and well-maintained, with clean restrooms.

Plus, there are games to play, and reading materials available.

In winter, the Trail Center serves as a warming house for snowmobilers, snowshoers, and skiers, and offers a cozy wood-burning fireplace.

The path from the Trail Center leads to Bear Head Lake, the picnic area, and the swimming beach.

This plaque is in memory of George T. Gaylord who was largely responsible for the establishment of this State Park.

There were so many beautiful trees in this park, and we took far too many pictures of them. But photos of trees don’t really show their beauty, or their grandness of height. I left a lot of those photos out.

 The picnic area near the beach has fire rings and shelter.

There were also picnic tables available near the lake.

Bear Head Lake’s swimming beach is sandy and shallow.

We also took too many pictures of Bear Head Lake.

It was so calm and peaceful, a perfect setting for when life has been too busy.

After visiting the Trail Center and picnic area, we went to the boat launch.

The boat launch and dock, with boats off to the side, waiting to be rented.

We read that there were eagle’s nests inside the park in the big pines. We drove over to Eagle’s Nest Lake No. Three to see if we could see an eagle’s nest. We saw the boat ramp.

And lots of beautiful lake surrounded by beautiful trees.

Eagle’s nests are quite large; they should be easy to spot. We saw a pile of wood at one end of the lake that may have been a beaver dam. But we didn’t see an eagle’s nest.

It would’ve been wonderful to see a moose, or an eagle’s nest.  

We left Bear Head Lake State Park feeling a nature-inspired peace.

Our 31st Wedding Anniversary is today!! ❤️❤️

31 Years of True Love! We love our one and only son. ❤️We love all of our grandchildren. 💞💞💞💞💞💞We love the life We have built Together as a Team.

True Love is Awesome! Here’s a few things we’ve learned in 31 years.

  • Make fun, laugh-until-your-guts-hurt, memories. Find ways to have fun – especially after surviving another crisis. The world is easier to handle when you have your best friend beside you for life.
  • Teamwork, Equality, Fairness – strive for these things but understand they may come in seasons. Sometimes you will give more than you take and sometimes you will need more than you can give. You will have to make sacrifices. You will have to work sick, in pain, and bawling your eyes, and completely overwhelmed. You will also get to be brilliant, valued, gorgeous, and loved.
  • Be respectful – especially when you disagree. Always try to be the first to say you’re sorry and mean it. Always see the best in your spouse. Look for the best in each other at all times. And speak good words about each other. Or you will be doomed to live in the common stupidity of miserable people.
  • Calling each other terrible names will Not lead to having a great relationship.
  • If you want your marriage to last forever, you need to treat it special. Marriage can take a lot of battering from the outside, but not from the inside. You need to guard it, protect it, nurture it, and shine it up. “Above all, guard your heart…”. You are on the same team to win together, not against each other.
  • Love always wins. Love is always the answer. Love is the most amazing thing in this universe. When you have a true love, you have a very special kind of Super Power. Love each other with all your heart.

“I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, every day we are together is the greatest day of my life.” ~ Nicholas Sparks

How it started: Giggling while cutting our wedding cake and beginning our new adventure together!

How it’s going: Still having so many fun adventures together!! Still so much in Love!!

Flanders Fire near Breezy Point, MN

Saturday, May 16, 2026, a wildfire burned over 1,600 acres in our area.

We were fortunate we weren’t home when the fire occurred. The wind blew the fire and smoke away from the direction of our home.

It was frightening to follow reports as events unfolded.

Our area was in a Red Flag Warning. A Red Flag Warning is a high-level alert from the National Weather Service (NWS) that conditions are ripe for dangerous wildfire activity. It means warm temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds are combining to create an increased risk of fire danger.

No one should be burning anything in a Red Flag Warning.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported Tuesday afternoon it identified the origin point of the fire as the northern shore of Flanders Lake. The agency said it also identified people of interest, and asked for the public’s help with the investigation.

The Flanders Fire was fueled by dry conditions, and gusty winds up to 30 miles per hour, making it act erratically.

(Photo by Doug and Mandy Mitchell of Breezy Point)

Firefighters from many communities in our state, and from Canada, came together to fight this fire. One report said there were 130 firefighters battling this blaze, trying to control it, and trying to keep homes safe.

(Photo by Doug and Mandy Mitchell of Breezy Point )

At one point there were 6 air tractors and aero flite tankers flying to and from local lakes, scooping water to drop on the fire. I can’t imagine the skill those pilots possess in order to fly so low to the water, scoop it up, drop it where needed, and coordinate their flight paths with each other.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1619913932443641

“Harrowing video footage captured by Mandy and Doug Mitchell of Breezy Point shows the Flanders Fire in northern Crow Wing County near Crosslake, Minnesota, growing quickly along County Highway 11 on May 16, 2026.”

An evacuation map for the Flanders Fire south of Crosslake as of Saturday evening, May 16, 2026.

Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang said about 30 people are displaced from their homes.

We weren’t in the evacuation area, as we live a few miles northwest of the evacuation map.

Our community banded together in fantastic ways.

“Local resorts offering displaced homeowners places to stay, area residents offering their horse pastures to horses needing to evacuate, area restaurants offering free meals to responders and much more. The Crosslake Fire Department on Sunday night posted on social media that the community has stepped up in a powerful way. “We have been flooded with donations of food, water, supplies, and countless offers to help. Your generosity, kindness, and willingness to support those impacted means more than words can express,” the post stated. “At this time, we would encourage everyone to slow down on donations as we currently have what we need. We are continuing to assess needs as things develop and will communicate if additional support is needed.”” KAXE.org

  • The Crosslake Community Center transitioned from a temporary evacuation point to an overnight shelter, with the help of the American Red Cross.
  • Our local homeless shelter, Bridges of Hope, was asked to serve as the donation host and coordinating partner for support directed to households impacted by the wildfire.
  • People donated to the nonprofit organization, Lakes Area Heroes, which reported “firefighters had pancakes, eggs, sausages, doughnuts and coffee thanks to donations from area businesses and individuals.”

There were no homes lost and no injuries. However, homes that were affected by the fire; melted siding, melted fencing, smoke damage, and burned outbuildings.

About half an inch of rain fell last night, and today has been cloudy and damp.

The fire is currently 60% contained. Evacuees are being allowed back to their homes.

I’m so grateful:

  • For every firefighter and aircraft pilot who fought this fire.
  • For every community member who helped each other, volunteered, donated, and shared information.
  • And for the rain that finally fell.

Paris Memories (May 2015)

French countryside

Outdoor hotel breakfast seating

Notre Dame de Paris Cathédrale

Academie National de Musique

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

View from the Eiffel Tower

View from the Eiffel Tower

View from the Eiffel Tower

Ok, I’ll try to stop with Eiffel Tower photos… It was a dream come true, to see, to visit, to climb, with my love… (infinite heart emojis) 💞💞💞💞💞

The Royal Gate of the Palace of Versailles

Palace of Versailles

Hall of Mirrors Palace of Versailles

The Royal Chapel inside the Palace of Versailles

War Room inside the Palace of Versailles

King’s bedroom Palace of Versailles

Queen’s bedroom Palace of Versailles

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

We left a “Love You Too!” geocoin in a geocache in Paris, France. It traveled the world (26,782 miles), before being ‘lost’ in Ohio, United States.

True Love and Happiness ❤️❤️

The Great American Think-Off: 2026 Question: Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?

(Smile in the sky photo from our visit to EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, WI 2017)

I didn’t enter the contest, but I couldn’t let the question go unanswered.

I argue that NO, the pursuit of happiness has not made Americans unhappy.

Our definition of Happiness has been corrupted. People have mistaken Greed, Materialism, and Selfishness, for Happiness.

The Pursuit of Happiness was mentioned in a previous post (https://rosevettleson.wordpress.com/2026/03/27/250-years/ )

“Pursuit of Happiness: In my lifetime, I have not seen this at the top of our country’s goals even though Happiness is written into our Declaration of Independence twice. I’ve seen far more hate, rage, division, and war than I have ever seen the Pursuit of Happiness. “The pursuit of Happiness” doesn’t mean chasing whatever your heart desires; rather, it’s about engaging in activities which support overall physical, mental, and moral well-being.

“Jefferson embraced this meaning of happiness. In a letter to his eldest daughter Martha (Patsy), Jefferson advised living a virtuous life is the key to happiness. “Ennui,” (ennui – a feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement) Jefferson wrote, is “the most dangerous poison of life.” According to Jefferson, the antidote is “developing daily those principles of virtue and goodness which will make you valuable to others and happy in yourselves.” Jefferson left no room for doubt about the means to happiness: “Health, learning, and virtue will ensure your happiness; they will give you a quiet conscience, private esteem, and public honor.””  https://fee.org/articles/what-thomas-jefferson-meant-by-the-pursuit-of-happiness/”

Thomas Jefferson’s definition of Happiness is clear – virtue, goodness, being valuable to others, health, learning – those will ensure happiness.

No, we are not unhappy in our pursuit of happiness. We are unhappy because we confuse happiness with greed and selfishness.

—

Below is some Information on the Great American Think-off. To learn more, visit their website: https://kulcher.org/think-off/

The Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas that connect to your life at the gut level. The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, Minnesota, sponsors this annual philosophy contest. The Think-Off was started by Cultural Center founder John Davis and has been held annually since 1993.

2026 Question: Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?

Four finalists will present their arguments live, and the audience will decide who earns the title of America’s Greatest Thinker.

The 2026 Great American Think-Off Finalists Are:

Arguing that YES, the pursuit of happiness has made Americans unhappy are:

  • Solape Adeyemi, a researcher, consultant, and environmental sustainability advocate from Lagos, Nigeria.
  • Thaddeus McCamant, a longtime agriculture educator and consultant residing in Frazee, MN.

Arguing that NO, the pursuit of happiness has not made Americans unhappy are:

  • Lorie Kolak, a stay-at-home mother and award-winning writer from Riverside, IL
  • Allen Taylor, a truck driver from Colorado Springs, CO, and a past Think-Off finalist (2023).

These finalists will present and defend their ideas in front of a live audience at the Great American Think-Off Debate, held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the New York Mills School Auditorium. The audience will vote in three rounds to determine who will be crowned America’s Greatest Thinker for 2026. Finalists each receive a $500 cash prize, travel reimbursement, and lodging at a local bed and breakfast. They’ll also take home a bronze, silver, or gold medal emblazoned with the Think-Off’s iconic logo: Rodin’s Thinker perched atop a tractor.

Past Questions

Since 1993, the Think-Off has explored life’s biggest questions:

2026: Has the pursuit of happiness made Americans unhappy?

2025: Is there only one truth, or are there many truths?

2024: Is freedom of speech worth the cost?

2023: Which is more important to protect: the environment or the economy?

2022: Which should be more important: personal choice or social responsibility?

2021: Which is more important: to win or to play by the rules?

2020: No debate held due to COVID-19 global health pandemic.

2019: To vote or not to vote: does it matter?

2018: Which plays a larger role in shaping one’s life: success or failure?

2017: Has the 2016 election changed our perception of truth?

2016: Income inequality threatens democracy: agree or disagree?

2015: Does technology free us or trap us?

2014: Love or fear: which motivates us more?

2013: Which is more ethical: sticking to principle or being willing to compromise?

2012: The nature of humankind: inherently good or inherently evil?

2011: Does poetry matter?

2010: Do the wealthy have an obligation to help the poor?

2009: Is it ever wrong to do the right thing?

2008: Does immigration strengthen or threaten the United States?

2007: Which should you trust more: your head or your heart?

2006: Which is more valuable to society: safety or freedom?

2005: Competition or cooperation: which benefits society more?

2004: Should same sex marriages be prohibited?

2003: Do we reap what we sow?

2002: Is the pen mightier than the sword?

2001: Should assisted suicide be legal?

2000: Is democracy fair?

1999: Which is more dangerous — science or religion?

1998: Is honesty always the best policy?

1997: Is the death penalty ethical in a civilized society?

1996: Does God exist?

1995: Money or morality — which does society value more?

1994: Does life have meaning?

1993: The nature of humankind: inherently good or inherently evil?

Breezy Point: Library Open House and Aviation Days

If you like books and planes, Breezy Point was the place to be this past weekend.

The Breezy Point Self-Serve Library had an Open House for the public to visit the renovated location in Breezy Point City Hall. The Self-Serve Library will be open during city hall business hours and is maintained by the Breezy Point Area Women’s Club.

The lovely person who gave us a quick tour said that the library used to be in a small closet barely big enough for 2 people to enjoy the library at the same time. The new library area includes three windows that bring in natural light, and a table and chairs. The shelves are filled with donated books in hardcover, paperback, and large-print editions. The range of genres include classics, young adult, easy readers, westerns and more. I’m a non-fiction reader; however, the library isn’t big enough to have a non-fiction section. But I was able to borrow a book about Thomas Edison.

The check-out process involves adding your name or initials and how many books you borrowed to a binder near the doorway. The library doesn’t keep track of titles, length of time borrowed, or who has what book. The binder is a way to help show the city that the public is using the library.

I love libraries!

—

And as if that wasn’t awesome enough, right across the street was Breezy Point Aviation Day!

The flyer for the event mentions aircraft displays, fire trucks, helicopters, car show, free food…

I look forward to Aviation Day every year!

It’s an opportunity to get close-up views of planes.

We always have fun.

Whether we’re strolling through quickly, on our way to the next thing…

Or slowing down to watch a plane take-off…

Breezy Point Airport may be small, but it packs in a lot of excitement.

I don’t know how many planes were at the event this year.

 

We saw several dozen in the short time we visited.

Numerous planes can be seen arriving and departing between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

I tried not to post too many photos. This is an event that’s much better in person.

Photos can’t share the loud roar of the engines, or the magic of flight as large aircrafts lift off the ground.

I love planes!

This felt like a day made just for me. 😊

Opinion: The Minnesota State Flag

When I think of Minnesota, the first things I think of are the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, the North Star, the Loon, the Pines, and the Lady Slippers.

In Minnesota, communities are still debating whether they should fly the 1983 state flag or the 2024 state flag. Minnesota social media posters are fixed on which flag they prefer and why. Those who like the old flag cling to the history that flag represents. Those who support the new flag cling to the simplicity of the design and the removal of questionable images.

Here’s a progression of the state flags of MN.

Flag of Minnesota, 1893–1957

Flag of Minnesota, 1957–1983

Flag of Minnesota, 1983–2024

The 1983 flag features a farmer tilling the land with his musket and powder horn resting nearby, while a Native American is riding away on horseback. It has 3 different dates on it: 1819 (date of the first European settlement in Minnesota), 1858 (admission to statehood), and 1893 ( the adoption of the first state flag). The Minnesota motto is in French: L’Étoile du nord” (“Star of the north”). There are 19 gold stars symbolizing Minnesota as the 19th state. Included in the image are St. Anthony Falls, a setting sun, lady slippers, trees, land, and lots of little circles. It’s a cluttered design that tries to tell too many stories about Minnesota’s history.

Flag of Minnesota, 2024-Present

The new flag design features a dark blue color representing the night sky with a white eight-pointed star symbolizing the North Star. The rest of the flag, a lighter blue, symbolizes the state’s abundant waters.

Nothing in the new design is really recognizable as Minnesotan.

Our state went to the expense of changing the old flag to the new flag, but many Minnesotans felt left out of the decision.

Our old state seal was part of our old flag.

Seal of Minnesota (1983–2024)

Maybe our new state seal, adopted in 2023, could be used on our new state flag with a few adjustments?

No one asked my opinion but here’s what I think should be on the flag:

  • a Star,
  • a Lake,
  • a Loon,
  • a Pine,
  • a Lady Slipper

These items aren’t made by humans. And they’re visible in many Minnesota state parks – the areas we think of as exceptional and worth protecting. They honor what makes our state unique. The design would be easy to create and easy to remember.

We are a state of diversity. There’s no way to add all of the people and heritages that built, and are continuing to build, our communities, to one flag. Our First Nations and our First Immigrants developed the state we live in, and Minnesota continues to evolve to honor all who live here.

There are lots of ways to celebrate the people who built our communities and continue to hold us together. We have many multi-cultural festivals throughout Minnesota. The people who feed us, who keep us healthy and safe, who clean up after us, who teach us, who keep our society running: they deserve celebration every day!

This is my opinion.