It’s been a busy week!

There are times when we are stressed out because of being too busy. There are times when the busyness of the time allows us to engage ourselves to see and learn new things. For example…

We took a couple of road trips this last week that meant driving almost 900 miles. We were busy preparing for the adventure, and almost let that feeling of being too busy blind us to what we were going to experience. We experienced the beauty of northern woods, the awesomeness of Lake Superior and the peaceful beauty of the prairie.

I enjoy Lake Superior. It’s so unique to us, and offers sights we don’t see everyday. Sights such as a Coast Guard boat floating into the harbor, a sailboat gathering on the lake that showed us a myriad of colorful sails, and the beauty of walking on the new boardwalk that gives us a sense of being one with the lake. But, that’s not all!

During our time on Canal Park, I got to enjoy a glass of Dark Horse Pinot Noir — a good old friend that always pleases me. Of course, one has to sample the locally made beers, too! You should never be too busy to not do that!

The beers that pleased me included a Castle Danger 300 IPA. It had such nice hop flavors to go along with the malty flavor of the brew. A real treat and made just down the street from our hotel. I also got to enjoy a Bent Paddle IPA with a meal. Life is so hard sometimes, isn’t it? I really enjoy tasting locally made brews, and these two did not disappoint me.

We were lucky enough to have a balcony on which we could sit and look at the lake. It was there that I poured us the Dark Horse Pinot Noir. I can’t fully explain the comfort and peace I felt sitting there and seeing that awesome body of water. I’ll never be too busy to sit there, and I eagerly anticipate our return.

Allow me to explain something to you. I am a prairie boy. Always will be and that’s the way it is. But I absolutely love the bluffs of the Mississippi River, the woods of northern Minnesota and the transitional ecosystems that lead to the prairie. It’s driving along that route that I saw so much gorgeous scenery, so many beautiful wild flowers and the awesomeness of the woods. So, let me give you some words of advice.

Never be too busy to notice the natural beauty around you.

Part of that natural beauty is the elegance it brings to you. Always see, smell and embrace it. What you see may only last a little while — embrace it.

Never be too busy to spend time with family. We had a sibling reunion this past week. It was short, laugh filled and so precious. We got to physically connect again, to tell stories (Some you may not want to hear!) and to just enjoy the spirit of family.

Of course, a bottle of Bogle Chardonnay was gifted to the hosting family, and we shared glasses of Starborough Sauvignon Blanc. It’s an amazingly crisp and fruity tasting white wine from New Zealand, and it primed many conversations.

Never be to busy to not notice the beauty that flows by you as you drive along the highways of our state. Notice the wild flowers, the fields of crops, the flight of a crow or the lay of the land. It’s all free and waiting for you.

Yes, it’s been a busy week, but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. To see nature, smell the water of the lake, to see people walking along the shoreline, to hear family members talking, laughing and giving each other a bad time is invaluable.

Never be too busy to not see the little bits of goodness that surround us. What happens is that over time these little bits of goodness become larger bits of goodness. Never be too busy to sip a glass of wine with friends, family or nature.

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!