Life in the clouds Gasp! “My water broke!” reported my wide-eyed wife. We had been looking forward to this day for 10 months, yet still the surprise took me off guard. After a quick recovery from the drop in my stomach, I got my jaw off the floor. “Alright! Yes! How are you? This is awesome!” Oh, the excitement that comes with a baby! My wife is a rock star! At 2:00 the … [Read more...]
One story of hope
We are in the midst of November. The end of autumn is a perfect point from which to look ahead to spring. The countryside reveals its period of rest and dormancy, a time when rebirth and renewal are just a few short months away. With the harvest ended, the land recovers. As it is now, we enter a season where hope takes us through the expectations of winter’s icy grip. … [Read more...]
What if we don’t FEEL thankful?
“Five weeks ago,” my husband perfectly stated, “I didn’t know or care that the human brain has a drain.” How often do we take for granted things in ignorance? Personally, I wasn’t thankful for mine - because I didn’t even realize I had one. Fast forward a few weeks, as I sat in the pediatric neurosurgery department holding my tiny baby as the specialists tried to explain … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that.
A tradition of gnomes The holiday season is all about traditions. Foods, decorations and hosting duties are often set in stone. My family has had to become more flexible over the years. We have one unique tradition that can be practiced any time of the year! It all started because my artist husband sold individually handcrafted ceramic figures at Nordic Fest in Decorah, … [Read more...]
Failure to notice
A couple days ago, I failed to notice something. It was a beautiful morning. The cows were milked and fed, calves were curled contentedly in their straw, and the wind was moving the trees just a little too much to be a good flying day. Before heading in for breakfast, I thought I would haul one quick load of manure. That’s where my trouble began. I hopped in the tractor, … [Read more...]
Many support Harmony’s upcoming Empty Bowls event to raise funds for area food shelf
Volunteers, restaurants and area artists are generously giving to Harmony’s upcoming Empty Bowls soup and bread dinner on Sunday, November 13. The event will take place at the Harmony Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread, and choose a one-of-a-kind bowl created by local potters and artisans. Diners choose a bowl for the meal, which they … [Read more...]
A Goodly Heritage – A wonderful October
Again we have come through a time of year that when it is passed, brings a sense of relief and rest. The deadlines of processing foods from the garden before spoilage sets in have been reached. The fresh garden vegetables are settled on the cellar shelves, or they are at rest in the deep freeze. Now I can look forward to equally-pressing work that has been set aside while … [Read more...]
Trying to survive mom-life on empty? This recipe changed everything for me!
Mom-life is no joke; but we often don’t take it seriously. Sure, keeping little people alive is serious, but the person who holds the “mom” title is often an afterthought. For many years, I ignored my mom-nutrition, and my whole family suffered for it. I’ve learned the hard way, that there is a better way. Recovering from my first daughter’s birth nine years ago was … [Read more...]
Real Bites: Saxon Hall along The Great River Road
As travelers gaze at the beauty and wonder of Historic Bluff Country – chiseled bluffs, winding roads, deer crossing roads in angst, the peacefulness of farmscapes, and waterways pushing toward the storied Mississippi River – they may find themselves in a traffic jam in a town of less than 700 people. A Saturday night in the little town of Brownsville, Minn., attracts a crowd … [Read more...]
A little of this, A little of that
Hocus Pocus, I need wine to focus! Just kidding. I have been watching too many “Fear Fest” movies on television. Most people associate October with Halloween. Who doesn’t like to dress up and get free candy? I think of October as a very romantic month. No, not because of “Bride of Dracula.” I was married on October 4. It was a beautiful day and many people helped make … [Read more...]