Time and again summer calls us – to the water or the woods – to find rest, recreation, and wellness. Whether seaside vacation, weekend on the river, or a mindful forest hike, a seasonal restoration of our connection with the natural world seems essential, and it’s a thirst the weekly lawn-mowing or even daily garden maintenance alone cannot quench. Long before the term … [Read more...]
Fountain’s Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery
Brothers Kevin and Bryan Logue first opened Sugar Creek Vineyard and Meadery to the public in 2021 in rural Fountain. With the COVID pandemic ongoing, they opened an outside area to accommodate visitors for the first few years. In 2023, in a perfectly timed move, they added an indoor tasting room. Providing an indoor spot proved to be great when smoke from wildfires moved into … [Read more...]
Gateway Cafe Rises From the Ashes, Rebuilt by a Community Determined To Bring It Home
If you drive down Gold Street in Wykoff most mornings, you’ll find a familiar sight that was sorely missed for more than a year. The coffee is pouring, the air is thick with the scent of breakfast, and the Gateway Cafe has reclaimed its rightful place as the heartbeat of the community. Following the official reopening on May 1, co-owners Jennie Moreland, Leroy Ellis, and Mary … [Read more...]
A Picture from the Past
Besides the picnics, parades and fireworks that typically happen on the Fourth of July, I had the opportunity to attend the program event put on by the Fillmore County Historical Society. It provided its viewers with a window into the past. On July 5, at the site of the Fillmore County Museum located in Fountain, Minnesota, nearly 100 guests crowded the landscape to enjoy … [Read more...]
Start With Your Shopping Cart
By Sara Mensink Over the last two years, my husband and I have slowly been making small changes to live a more sustainable life. This new way of thinking started while I was pregnant with our son. Having a child made us stop and ask ourselves what changes we could make to create a healthier, more intentional life for our family. There’s so many ways to go about this and … [Read more...]
An American Classic
Which historic food has no reservations about being served at a Minnesota farm table or on prestigious Capitol Hill? Was a Minnesota senator behind this culinary staple being served almost daily at Senate restaurants for about the past 125 years? As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, let’s talk about an American classic, the humble but iconic bean soup, best served with … [Read more...]
Happy Independence Cake!
Time and again, tastes change, and once beloved traditions fade to memory. In our modern 24/7 newsfeed societies, where we have social media misinformation and TikTok trends continually assaulting our senses, it’s a wonder anyone can recall what they had for breakfast, let alone what they read last week. Whether that’s by design or simply symptomatic of the Information Age we … [Read more...]
Hello? Do You Copy?
One of the biggest problems with flying a paramotor is that you can’t really share the experience with someone. Sure, you can take pictures. You can tell stories. You can point to the sunset and say, “You should have seen it from up there!” But it’s not quite the same. So I thought I had partially solved the problem. I bought a helmet with communications built in so I could … [Read more...]
Party of Seven!
And just like that - we are Gerdes, party of seven!! You know when you’re 4 and you’re excited about being a “whole handful” when you turn 5? Well, I feel like I just turned 5 - a whole handful of treasure! It’s quite the adventure having a baby within the same week as you get a teenager. Our oldest turned 13 and seven days later, our youngest was born. To say we’re having … [Read more...]
Twisted or Straight?
It all happened one evening in April when my husband was at his men’s Bible Study. Shadows lengthened as the springtime sun descended. Winds whistled past our windows. Trees branches bounced briskly in the strong breezes. But inside our over 100-year-old dwelling, it was calm and comfortable. This old farmhouse has stood strong against many harsh storms over its six … [Read more...]