I grew up just a mile from the Cross River Café in Schroeder. Don’t look for it now, it burned down several years ago…. I wish it were still there though because I think every small town grows closer together if they have a café. Where else do you meet and greet over a cup of coffee? Cafés have a... READ MORE >
From my days of watching early morning cartoons to the present day, I have loved carrots. My brother and I would munch along with Bugs Bunny every Saturday morning and I am sure my mom heard “What’s up Doc” more times than she could shake a stick at. What is it about a carrot that makes it so inviting? For... READ MORE >
My son Jack heads off to the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center (ELC) in Finland, MN with his sixth grade class this week. I did not attend ELC when I was young, as it didn’t open in Finland until 1988. However I was lucky enough to visit Wolf Ridge with my daughter six years ago with her class. We climbed... READ MORE >
Most people spend a lot of time (and money) trying to attract birds to their yards or interact with them in nature. I love to feed the birds and I get very excited when a bluebird or cardinal couple decides to nest in our back yard. I believe I put out about 50 gallons of hummingbird juice every summer. Some... READ MORE >
One of my favorite short stories comes from a man named Moses. Moses was not a handsome man. He was short and he also had a hunched back. When he met a beautiful young lady named Frumtje, Moses fell madly in love, but Frumtje was repulsed by his appearance and his hunched back. Finally getting the courage to talk to... READ MORE >
Usually I try to be a glass half full kind of gal but seriously having a cold for 10-plus days can really dampen a person’s spirits. And how do Tylenol Cold tablets know exactly when four hours have passed? I swear I could set my clock by my cold medicine wearing off—2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. to be specific. My... READ MORE >
I once had a friend who was in desperate need of a job. She had been laid off and she was running out of money fast. They were hiring for one position where I worked so I encouraged her to apply. We both thought it would be fun to work together. She got a first interview and then a second... READ MORE >
I once worked with a woman who had a no-nonsense personality. She wasn’t rude per se; she just liked to keep it all business and no chitchat. A real hard nut to crack. At one point we were entertaining clients from out of town and decided to take them to the play How to Talk Minnesotan. It was hilarious “don’t-cha-know,”... READ MORE >
I happen to love salt and Lord knows I have met my share of dogs—both the two and four-legged variety. But how did the two ever get put together as an expression? I will tell you—it is the most delicious candy bar you will ever taste. Sea salt and dark chocolate together is truly delightful. Delightful is not an expression... READ MORE >
I received an e-mail last week from a friend who was threatening to take her son “behind the woodshed.” I really did laugh out loud as I had not heard that expression in some time. (Probably on an old Andy Griffith episode.) I asked my son Jack if he knew what it meant and surprisingly he did although he personally... READ MORE >
