Woods & Water by Dick Herfindahl

As we head into the new year, I would like to look back at a few of the things that I have personally had going on this past year. I guess the biggest thing for me was getting my right knee replaced. It was a lot of work, but I am truly grateful to the VA, my wife and my family for all of the help. I couldn’t have done this without all of your support. Now I am ready to take on my next outdoors adventure (that actually makes it sound more exciting than it will probably be).

Time for a little bragging, my grandson Trevor graduated from linesman school and spent the summer working for a company in Iowa. My grandson Dylan graduated from Blue Earth High School and is now attending St. Cloud State and doing very good. My grandson Taylor will be starting the first semester of his senior year and will graduate next December. Grandson Grant is a junior in high school, plays violin in the symphony orchestra, runs cross country and also plays tennis. My two little granddaughters are busy being cute and wrapping grandpa around their little fingers.

Moving along to the outdoors side of things. We discovered that our little lake up north actually has some nice sized fish in it. My grandson Taylor and some of his friends spent a few days there early in June. They fished our lake, which hadn’t been fished for a couple of years and were surprised to catch largemouth bass, sunnies, perch and crappie. This probably doesn’t seem like a big deal to most, but about three years ago it had all but froze out.  After that nobody seemed too anxious to try their luck, so there it sat for a couple of years without a soul really attempting to fish it. This all changed after Taylor and his friends caught those largemouth bass on the lake, we had never caught any bass on our lake before and these bass ranged from 1 to 1.5 lbs.

Upon discovering this, I was about as excited as a little kid who had just caught his first fish.  We also caught some sunnies and crappies along with some borderline eating-sized perch. I don’t know what else any fisherman could ask for and barring another freeze-out this coming year, it should be a good one for fishing (and eating) on our little lake.

The mystery that may never be solved is where did these adult fish come from? There hasn’t been enough of a time span for these fish to grow to the size that they are now and where indeed did they come from? I don’t think that I want to give myself a headache trying to figure it out, but instead I will just savor the moment and enjoy it.

This is the time of the year when I am kind of in limbo. I am sitting here today writing this column with snow flurries floating ever-so-lightly to the ground. Although most folks seem to not like the snow, and understandably so, I find something peaceful and serene about a light and fluffy snowfall. I can picture myself sitting in an overstuffed chair, situated next to a cozy fire that is blazing in the old stone fireplace in my mind. Although I have neither an overstuffed chair, nor the fireplace, I can allow myself to daydream. Some folks daydream about winning the lottery and what that would bring to their life, but I am more into the simple things.

Watching birds at my feeder going about their business on a snowy winter day gives me a sense of fulfillment. I also like watching the rabbits and squirrels as they scurry around the yard, which makes me wonder where they have their nest. Looking around the yard I see tracks of bunnies and squirrels as they no doubt are searching for food. There are many nights when I have returned home from either coaching hockey or working at the City Arena when I have turned into the driveway only to see a rabbit or two scurrying into the back yard. I have also seen them sitting on the edge of my sidewalk just staring across the street. One morning I found fresh footprints on the front steps from a rabbit that had seemingly been sitting on the third step. It is little insignificant things like this that give me great pleasure. I enjoy watching wildlife and to have these critters right here in my own backyard is pretty awesome.

Every time that I drive out to the City Arena I know that there is a good chance that I will see wildlife. There are a lot of deer in that general area and there have been many nights when I have had deer run in front of me either when I am leaving or going to the arena. Once again, that experience gives me a good feeling knowing there are actually wild critters to be found this close to home.

Until next time: I’d like to wish everyone a very Happy New Years!

Please take some time during the holiday season, and all year long, to honor those that have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Also take a little extra time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who have served and those troops that are serving today.