Photo Caption: A yearling, Little Buck, a white-tailed deer passes through the Laurie (Loucks) Burt Wildlife Sanctuary, in Lisa Loucks-Christenson's Oak Savanna in Rochester, Minnesota 16:31 on 3/26/2026, Sunday. Copyright (C) 2026 Lisa Loucks-Christenson. All Rights Reserved.
Minnesota Buck to Wisconsin West Coast Pickles
By Lisa Loucks-Christenson, MMJ and Publisher for the Rochester Sun Times News.
March 29, 2026 | Published March 30, 2026 at 12:27 AM CDT
Sunday dawned with a shy visitor in Rochester, Minnesota's oak savanna at the Laurie (Loucks) Burt Wildlife Sanctuary. Little Buck, the yearling deer I’ve come to know, watched from behind fallen trees along my paths—his curious eyes a gentle welcome to the day.
From there, the journey crossed into Pepin, Wisconsin, chasing the evening sunset over the mighty Mississippi. Eagles soared high, a lone white pelican graced the waters, and a scoundrel of coots bobbed with nervous energy, dipping heads every which way to battle the river currents without a single paddle. Terns darted above as a barge muscled 100 feet of cargo down the Minnesota-side of the river and views of their blufflands, dodging Wisconsin's fabled West Coast.
A massive eagle perched in a towering tree overlooked it all, right in front of the Pickle Factory—a must-stop for deep-fried pickles that once inspired my poetry contest win. (I’ll unearth that poem and photos soon to tempt you riverward.) Why not boat, float, climb a tree, or just "see" the Mississippi’s endless stories floating between Minnesota men and Wisconsin bluffs?
These scenes capture my motto: collecting "Stories Picturing Daily Life." Tomorrow brings more—until the east-rising sun sets in the west, I’ll be out there gathering them. MMJ Lisa Loucks-Christenson.
Photo Caption: A barge pushing its load down the Mississippi River, Sunday, March 29, 2026 around 7:28 P.M., Minnesota East Coast bluffs in view. Copyright (C) 2026 Lisa Loucks-Christenson. All Rights Reserved.
Lisa Loucks-Christenson is the Founder, Publisher and MMJ for the Rochester Sun Times News. An award-winning author, illustrator, poet, wildlife documentarian, and independent journalist, she has written and illustrated and/or photographed over 400 books and stories, hundreds of poems, thousands of original comics, interviewed countless celebrities and guests, and produced captivating documentaries on nature and local history. Her work seamlessly covers independent news and reports intertwined with her travels and adventures across the heartland. If you would like to be featured or considered for a story, reach out to Lisa at News@LisaLC.com or use the contact form.
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