Being a woman is a trip Yes, it’s a trip — a trip through body-shaping, calorie counting, face firming, hair poofing, thinking-about-exercising days, and finally the fact that all of the clothes you wore a few years ago shrunk while in the closet. Did you move the button of your favorite shorts this summer or have you started cutting off the size tags on your shirts or … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that.
Time travel only takes place in science fiction movies and books. Right? If a time machine really did exist most of us wouldn’t be able to afford a ticket. Right? WRONG! This week-end I traveled back in time to my childhood for only 49 cents. Let me explain. My nephew Michael invited his mother, sister, cousins and his three aunts (who are of a certain age) to his … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage
I am a Wisconsin native who was transplanted here when I married. Accustomed to the sound of seagulls flying over my hometown, the scent of the fresh air wafting off of Lake Superior, wild blueberries and wintergreen popping up in the north woods, I expected Minnesota to be just about the same. To my surprise, my husband brought me to live in the only county in Minnesota … [Read more...]
The Plant Lady
Jessi Jablonski Spring has finally arrived! April showers brought May flowers, along with some flooding. The intermittent stream in the back corner of my property has been bubbling along every time I walk by it. The natural landscape of this area is so interesting; gorgeous exposed bluffs telling their stories through erosion, rolling hills with both meadows and woodlands, … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that.
“Better late than never” and “Better never late” are two philosophies of time. I favor the first while my husband prefers the second. I realize that being on time is important, but sometimes things happen that make it impossible. For instance, when I was a counselor in Winona, I traveled between seven buildings. The train tracks are in the middle of town. That means … [Read more...]
The Working Mom
It started with the nugget When I was young and remember being a mile within Rochester, I also remember begging to have my parents stop at McDonalds. It might not seem like a big deal these days but we lived 30 miles from a fast food restaurant and, with four kids, it was rare that we stopped to feed the crew unless we were on a long trip. The ask was not for Burger King … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that
Who knew that growing up poor in the Midwest could be such an advantage! As a young person I quickly learned the value of hard work. That’s how I earned money for clothes and make-up and records (they came before cassettes and cds for any young people reading this column). I babysat and worked as a carhop at the root beer stand. Later I worked at the radio station. Having … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that.
Imagine, “The Munsters Ghastly Glow Lamp” for only $225. Surely, you remember the spooky funny TV show by that name. It starred Herman, the head of the family with a Frankenstein-like head, his wife Lily, their son Eddie and Goofy Grandpa who all lived at 13 Mockingbird Lane. They also had a daughter, Marilyn, who was a total outcast because she looked like an all-American … [Read more...]
The Working Mom
Taking the time It seems like many people are reciting the same phrase about trying to “take the time” to get something done or to spend time with someone. The time in the day is often filled with work commitments, children’s school and athletic activities, upkeep of our homes, and daily chores and we try to carve out time around all of that busy time to maintain cherished … [Read more...]
A View From The Woods
One hundred columns Thank you, readers of A View from the Woods, for allowing me to write this, my one hundredth column. I began 18 years ago, when then-editor of the Fillmore County Journal, John Torgrimson, called for prospective columnists to apply. Thinking I might enjoy the discipline of writing about my experiences in this beautiful rural area, I hoped others would like … [Read more...]