TO ALL THE SNOWBIRDS who’ve headed to Texas or Florida or Arizona for the winter. To all the people out there who consider Minnesota nothing more than a place of snow and cold. To any Minnesotan who complains about winter (and I have and I do), I present this weekend photo essay from balmy southern Minnesota:
Saturday afternoon in downtown Jordan was shirt-sleeve warm for this teen on his cellphone.
Families were out and about everywhere, including this sandal-clad girl with her baby doll in downtown Jordan.
Sand Creek rushes through the heart of Jordan with only remnants of snow remaining.
Bikers were out all over, some powered by their two feet and…
others powered by fuel, like these bikes parked in downtown Jordan.
Minnesotans fished, here Sunday afternoon from the banks of the Cannon River by the woolen mill dam in Faribault. Snow pushed from the parking lot edged the river bank.
Meanwhile, on Union Lake in northern Rice County, ice fisherman by the dozens fished Saturday afternoon despite water puddling atop ice near the shoreline. Vehicles lined the road in Albers Park next to the lake.
Saturday proved a perfect warm and sunny day for sitting on an overturned bucket or lawn chair on the frozen lake to fish.
Just south of Union Lake Trail along Rice County Road 46, a bald eagle watched me…
watching it.
At Faribault Energy Park Sunday afternoon, geese dealt with frozen and partially open pond water.
Runners ran along city streets and sidewalks and along rural roads in ideal weather conditions, here along Rice County Road 46.
At Oak Ridge Cemetery in Faribault, moss greened the ground.
At Faribault Energy Park, the windmill was set against a beautiful sunny blue sky on a day that felt more like spring than winter.
Remind me of this glorious, stunning, unbelievably warm weekend of near 60-degree temps after the next snowfall and the next plunge to sub-zero temps. I want to remember this stretch of February days and how our collective Minnesota spirit soared.
© Copyright 2017 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
All my Iowa friends were rejoicing! They did have to cancel the Color the Wind kite festival in Clear Lake because of too thin ice which was sad but better safe than sorry. At least you still had ice fishing in MN. Enjoy that weekend. We sat out on the deck yesterday so it was a day like yours here in NC.
Cancellation of winter events is the negative side of this incredibly warm weather. I feel for Clear Lake. So much time and planning and monies invested and then the kite fest can’t go on.
Sorry but it was much nicer in South Padre. Didn’t need a jacket to walk. 80’s. Beautiful laying on the beach. Can’t do that in MInn.
Glad you’re enjoying that additional warmth far from Minnesota. But near 60 here in February feels like South Padre.
It was wonderful, wasn’t it?
Loved every moment of the weekend and spent plenty of time outdoors.
Enjoyed your photos! I haven’t been to Minnesota very much so Fun to see! We grilled burgers yesterday. Instead of lake effect snow it was all “lake effect” sun1
I like that “lake effect sun.” My husband grills year-round, snow or no snow, warm/hot/sub-zero cold.
Wow! Do you shovel a little tunnel to the grill? Carve a fridge out of the ice? Say hi to your husband! He’s a trooper!
Usually we just shovel the snow from the patio in order to grill. And no gas grill for Randy. He uses a Weber charcoal grill. Years ago he grilled an entire turkey for a family Christmas dinner when the temps were in the twenties below zero.
That is the true grilling spirit. I am going to tell my son about this! Thanks!
We are pretty flabby in Ohio I guess
Randy is probably the exception, grilling with a charcoal grill year-round.
Yes, it was a beautiful weekend. I did, however, shudder to see photos of people out on that melting ice to fish! Yikes! Not this girl.
I was surprised to see so many angles on Union Lake. I’m with you; I wouldn’t walk onto the lake. That said, a friend claims the ice on Cedar Lake in rural Faribault is still 15 inches thick. I would have to question the integrity of that ice, though, given the warm weather. I wouldn’t take the chance.
Even I, a winter lover so enjoyed the mild weekend. We had the littles over on Sunday and played outside (Audrey in shorts), with no coat. We enjoyed a few walks, and grilled out on the deck for dinner last night. I do hope we get some more snow, I don’t wish to be robbed of winter when it is still that season, but the respite was welcome.
Snow predicted for Friday, dear lover of winter.
One can always hope 🙂
I am envious of your weekend weather wish we had it here! 15 inches of ice on the lake is plenty thick for safety. We have a chart showing how much weight for a given thickness of ice it can hold. I referred to this many times when flying ski-planes, however, I also looked at the overall color of the ice from the air to determine the quality of it. If it had a deep greyish look to it, it was rotten ice e.g. water logged and crystalized and not safe.
Looks like everyone was enjoying the weather while it lasted knowing that spring and breakup is still a ways off !!!!!!
Snow in the forecast for Friday.
You’re right about the 15 inch thickness of the ice making it safe. However, it’s the quality, as you point out, that matters. With the recent save of nearly 60-degree days, the ice may not be as strong as its thickness indicates.
It is soooo nice when winter gives us a break from well.. Winter!!
I agree. Have you had a break after your two most recent storms?
Not wanting to “jinx” ourselves but the weather has been rather nice since then and it appears that it will continue for at least the rest of the week and into the weekend. March is only a week away! Crossed fingers for an early spring! Lol
I’m with you on hoping for an early spring. Winter gets too long. Snow forecast for here on Friday. 😦
Once again we write about the same thing! The weather is glorious. We did get out for a bike ride today…the pedal kind (before the rain.)
So many people were out biking. Yes, the pedaling kind.
It was a beautiful weekend for the Midwest in February. I’m afraid this weekend won’t be looking the same. That tease of spring will have most of us complaining of winter.
And I am sure I will be among the complainers. Another beautiful day here in southeastern MN.
yes I did hear of this balmy event. great photos particularly like the eagle ones.
I was thrilled when Randy spotted that eagle within camera shot.