By Angela Denstad Time and again over the past 20 odd years, the infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) has been met with both delight and disgust. Only some of this polarizing effect is due to its notably pumpkin-less spice and more to do with the associated lifestyle of those who are most able to indulge in it. To be sure, it does take a certain amount of nonchalance concerning … [Read more...]
Evenson is Living Her Dream and Adding Sprinkles
Christina Evenson is one of those working women that customers are always happy to see and enjoy her company so much that they must take at least a minute or two to chat with her or at a minimum, share a quick wave into the kitchen if it’s a busy time. Evenson has been pleasing palates at Clara’s Eatery in downtown Lanesboro, Minnesota, since 2022 when she and her husband … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – Team of Four
By Wenda Grabau “Timber!” was the shout that never came that night. Yet down came a 60-foot tall poplar tree that had stood strong and tall for about 60 years. The crash as the tree hit the ground woke the folks in their cozy little cabin up north. Yes, you may guess that it is our family cabin. My sister and brother-in-law witnessed the damage done. Hence, we were urged to … [Read more...]
From Baby Chicks to Farm-Fresh Eggs
By Sara Mensink This spring, my family and I started an exciting new adventure … we became chicken farmers! We now have 21 chickens. Yes, TWENTY-ONE! I know what you’re thinking … that’s a lot of chickens! We originally planned to get twelve, but shipping was free if we ordered sixteen, so we went with the larger order. Little did we know, the hatchery also sends “a few” … [Read more...]
Memories of the School Cafeteria: When Pizzaburgers were a Favorite
By Rose Korabek Fall is here and the leaves are starting to change. The sounds of a nearby preschool and elementary school ring through our neighborhood. The high school marching band will resume practices and high school football games will be heard on Friday nights. School is back in session and that means school cafeterias are bustling on weekdays to feed hungry students … [Read more...]
An Apple, A Day
By Angela Denstad Time and again we’re rushed along through shopping seasons from one marketing milestone to the next in a seemingly endless state of anticipation – or is it agitation? – or is that just me? While I tend to be generally content, goal-oriented, and excited to have something to look forward to, as each year passes, it seem that so much of the seasonal hype is … [Read more...]
Things are Changing
By Wenda Grabau As the summer wanes and the onset of autumn appears, it is easy to notice things that are changing. The landscape highlighting the delicate white blooms of Queen Anne’s Lace in summer now supports the brilliance of autumn’s goldenrod. Wild cucumber vines which have been undercover climbing up and blanketing nearby sturdy supporting plants, now show what they … [Read more...]
Rediscovering Myself, One Hobby at a Time
By Sara Mensink One of my goals this year was to find some new hobbies while rediscovering a few old ones. Now that my son is sleeping through the night (mostly), I have a little more “me” time and a whole lot more energy! Over these last few months I’ve thought to myself, what do I actually want to do with my free time? One thing I knew for sure was that I wanted something … [Read more...]
The Tastes of Summer
By Rose Korabek It’s wonderful living in the Driftless Region where the seasons change. Summer brings farmers markets and plentiful gardens. There are so many summer tastes to enjoy! Who doesn’t love a fresh ripened peach? You bite into it and the juicy peach drips all over, but it’s a little taste of heaven to savor as summer winds down. Restaurants offer peach milkshakes, … [Read more...]
Time in a Bottle?
By Angela Denstad Time and again we talk about the weeks flying by, we compare the current weather to that of past seasons, we remark on the changes we notice from year to year. Whether small talk or the most profound poetical musings, it all amounts to more or less the same thing: Time passes. And as it does, there’s comfort in predictability, a familiar grounding of … [Read more...]