Troll Hunting and critters

 A birthday gift for myself this year was to travel to Detroit Lakes and surrounding towns to find Thomas Dambo's amazing trolls that are here in Minnesota. I'm planning on adding more troll hunts in the future as they are scattered all over the United States as well as other countries. It's been a work in progress for a while now to find time to see this through.

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

and posting to City Daily Photo

My photos from this trip begin with the World's Largest Turkey (nicknamed Big Tom) he's located at the Lions Park in Frazee, Minnesota and 10.5 miles from Detroit Lakes.

Big Tom weighs 5,000 pounds.

I found this amazing discovery in the back of the Lions Park.

"Clarity arrives when we stop explaining ourselves and start listening to what matters most."

Onto Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Five giant trolls, three magical portals, 800 birdhouses (which guide you through the woods and trails to find these trolls) and yes there is a Golden Rabbit too.

Alexa's Elixer

The wise old traveling brewer of potions. Always dragging her portals, ingredients and mighty spoon. She solves problems all over the land for trolls and humans alike.

On the way to my next troll. . . . .

"We can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown."

Charles Benard

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the wilderness of nature and breathe in the air around you."

Keep your eyes open for the birdhouses, on poles, or in clusters on trees.

"Goodness consists not in the outward things we do, but in the inward thing we are."

 E. H. Chapin

Ronny Funny Face

Always on the outlook for a laugh Ronny wants 

to make the whole world smile

.

Next we meet

Barefoot Frida 

An outdoors type, she loves to build small yet fun challenges for her friends in nature. She's located on land inside Ortenstone Gardens and Sculpture Park. I've included a few below.

"The wisest mind has something yet to learn."

George Santayana

Off to the next extremely tall troll.

 

"Always new. Always exciting. Always full of promise. The mornings of our lives. Each a personal daily miracle." 

Gloria Gaither

Long Leif

A friend of trees, he has learned their secret of growth and has become as tall as the best of them. 

Onward to another.

The birdhouses have led us past this covered bridge and more birdhouses ahead.

"Always new. Always exciting. Always full of promise. The mornings of our lives. Each a personal daily miracle." Gloria Gaither

Meet Jacob Everear

Because he loves to listen, his ears have grown and grows.

On my last day I had to revisit Alexa where my first troll hunting began. 

 

Alexa's arms have a reach and can be found outside the Perham City Hall in Perham, Minnesota.

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of."

Charles Richards 

Thank you for your visit and maybe there's a troll hunt in your future too! Another highlight to this scavenger hunt is meeting other folks at each troll. Exchanging stories, (no politics at all) taking pictures for each other to remember our adventures.

Take good care of you.

Gasoline stop in Perham headed home when I spotted my childhood favorite.

Carry the Day Away and Critters

Welcome to my post for 

 SATURDAY'S CRITTERS

 and I'm also posting to City Daily Photo

This is how I like to begin a post, nothing in particular just some random thoughts.

 

It's amazing how one small positive thought early in the morning can change your whole day.

Bring over the time capsule and lantern to light my way. It's not the questions alone that I love it's all the puzzles buried beneath answers found in old bookstores over cups of coffee and endless pages.

"Looking at beauty in the world, is the first step of purifying the mind." Amit Ray

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. Feel that earth beneath your feet and skip over hot white sandy beaches. I would chase down more lighthouses and dance much more. I would live somewhere on the water and sail along on as many tugboats as possible.

"You will never get everything in life, but you will get enough."

Sanhita Baruah

"Leaving the world of reality behind and disappearing into a world of make-believe and imagination, is a solace you get from nothing else." Sanhita Baruah

Stay positive better days are on the way.

One of Artemis's favorite places is riding in the truck.

All things are difficult before they are easy.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra!

"We all have forests in our minds. Forest unexplored, unending. Each one of us gets lost in the forest, every night, alone."

Ursula K. Le Guin

"The energy of the mind is the essence of life."

Aristotle

Local artists and Minnesota history is so rewarding.

Thank you for taking time to stop by and leaving a comment that always truly makes my day brighter.

Take good care of you.

I worked on Mother's Day, but my oldest son thought this is a special place to celebrate Mothers and so we did.

Off Roading

 Good morning, everyone happy May and welcome to  

SATURDAY'S CRITTERS 

and my post for City Daily Photo

Northfield, Minnesota 

Notice the building within this building?

My post is about after you do the things, daily chores, go to work, fix things, manage other things, why not lighten your tomorrow by "off roading" or "unexpected exploring" with your pleasures in mind. 

Weekend off yesterday began by joining a Pond & Park Cleanup that involved more than beautifying the area but meeting humans walking their dogs or out for a brisk early morning walk. Isn't it amazing how many trails are built into neighborhoods. Wish they'd done that when I grew up. Or maybe not that's how we learned to blaze trails and paths where others have not yet gone. 

We do our daily responsibilities, get things done, go to work, pay bills and push out the day until it begins all over again tomorrow. Now with responsibilities complete the hunger for your dreams comes to life.

My off roading yesterday began at 

Welcome to Whitetail Woods Regional Park

Planning future things gives you something to look forward to. But. Unexpected exploring lightens your daily load. 

Follow your path. Be adventurous, there's always something waiting just around the corner.

"The journey not the arrival matters." T.S. Eliot

One of the cabins to rent.

"I will go anywhere, as long as it is forward."

David Livingstone

Another cabin to rent.

From there who would ever pass up a Tulip Festival?

Special treat as this is part of the Brand Farms you ride a hayride to the tulips and when you come back for the apple orchard blossoms it's another hayride.

"I set out to find my peace in the skies and the tulips, in the howling of the winds, in the rain under the shed and it was right there residing within me."

Suyasha Subedi 

Sometimes "It's a Sad and Beautiful World" 

so, spruce up your life!

Below random photos from other off roading adventures.

Ignite your wanderlust and embrace the unknown.

 

"Because in the end, you won't remember the times you spent in the office or mowing your lawn." Climb the goddam mountain." Jack Kerouac

"The danger of adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort." 

Paulo Coelho

(reread that)

One of my Instagram projects about wandering. Imagine that.

Never stop exploring.

Thank you so much for stopping by and gifting me with your thoughts and comments.

Take good care of you and hey get out there and explore some.