Well here we are — right smack dab in the middle of winter and it seemed to happen over night.

Unless there is some drastic change in the weather it looks like there will be a white Christmas. Although I have never really minded shoveling snow my back is starting to protest. I know that the age thing has nothing to do with it. It’s funny how when the weather is going to change my bad knee stiffens and my other joints seem to creak more than usual. It kind of reminds me of this old cartoon where this guy is listening to the radio and his bunion starts to throb telling him that a storm is coming.

I’ll be getting re-acquainted with my old friend the snow scoop. I am hoping it will last one more winter but it is starting to get kind of shaky. I bought that thing many years ago from my uncle Ben and it’s been a lifesaver. Maybe one day I’ll find a new one or graduate to a snow blower.

The first snowfall of winter always seems a little magical to me and the kid in me still loves to watch the snowfall. Nighttime is the best and right before Christmas is even better because of the lights that some of us still choose to put up in honor of that day. It seems like there are almost more Halloween decorations than Christmas decorations these days. I can remember when almost every house in town had some sort of lights displayed at Christmas time. My mom did the inside lights but dad always put up the outside lights and his favorite color was blue. He did all blue over our porch awning and it never seemed like Christmas until those lights were up and glowing. He would put a length of garland around the lights, which always seemed to make it just a little more special.

I seem to be having a little trouble getting ready for Christmas this year. I guess it seems like it’s getting here a little too fast. I went to my sister Judy’s this past weekend and we made about six dozen lefse. It went pretty smooth and we even introduced Brad’s significant other, Miranda, to the art of lefse making. She is Norwegian and you could tell that by the way she caught on to the lefse-making thing right away. Brad tried his hand at it, too and in the back of my mind I was thinking “this is good” we’re passing the tradition on.

In the scheme of things it is easier to teach lefse making than it is to get people to enjoy the traditional eating of “the fish.” This is a subject I always enjoy talking about this time of year and may go into more detail in a future column.

Minnesota DNR reminds parents of thin ice danger to children

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is warning parents to caution their children to stay off the thin ice that is now forming. As of Dec. 7, no ice in the state is consistently four inches thick, which is the minimum recommended support the weight of a person.

“DNR conservation officers are reporting that people are starting to tip-toe out on a few frozen ponds,” said Tim Smalley, DNR boat and water safety specialist. “This is not a good idea, and it could set a bad example for children.”

According to DNR statistics, 43 people have died in falls through the ice in Minnesota in the last 10 years. Some 29 percent of them were younger than 9 years old.

The holidays are a particularly risky time, since children are out of school and spend more time outdoors.

“Many years around the holidays we receive reports of children falling through ice and drowning, and it’s just so incredibly tragic,” Smalley said. “Kids just don’t have the knowledge of what ice is safe. That’s why the DNR recommends that adults supervise children whenever they go out on the ice, even when ice conditions improve.”

The DNR also recommends contacting a local bait shop or resort to ensure the ice is acceptable for various activities.

USDA’s Farm Service Agency announces CRP cuts

One alarming fact that outdoorsmen may or may not be aware of is, according to Tori McCormick of Delta Waterfowl, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s announced “policy option” to cut from 32 to 24 million acres of Conservation Reserve Program land nationwide. With the emergence of bio-fuels and our continuing search for alternative energy more crop production is being encouraged. Since 2005 there have already been more than 4.2 million CRP acres lost. The CRP program has been very beneficial to maintaining habitat not only for ducks but also for pheasants and other bird species as well. With contracts expiring on approximately 21 million acres in the next five years and the loss of this habitat would not only hurt ducks but the environment as a whole.

The program has helped us create a healthy environment by reducing the annual soil loss on croplands, restoring wetlands and also benefits our streams and rivers.

I really feel that not only waterfowl hunters but also all of us that enjoy the outdoors have benefited from this program and we really need to sustain it. We also need to encourage our youth to participate in the sport of hunting, whether it is deer, waterfowl, pheasant, grouse, rabbit or squirrel because they are the future sportsmen that will carry on our heritage.

Please do what you can to support the charities that are helping area families in need have a good Christmas.

Until next time, stay off the thin ice and be careful when you do venture out and while you’re at it take a little time to enjoy our great Minnesota outdoors.

Remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers throughout the year.