Valentine wishes It is not always that I get the chance to publish an article on the exact date of a holiday.  So this is a unique opportunity to share with you something out of the ordinary.  My interest in writing did not emerge until my children began to learn about composition and creative writing in high school.  Since then I have tried my hand at writing short stories, … [Read more...]

Last year’s growing season seemed longer than normal.  Windy, dry days with rising prices of fertilizer, fuel, and other supplies became frustrating. Equipment seemed to constantly break. I began to fall out of love with my job.  My mood was touchy, irritable, and defensive. I was exhausted but couldn’t sleep.  The seasonal aches and pains seemed extra achy. Add this to dealing … [Read more...]

Math was never my best subject.  My high school algebra teacher, Ken Denny did his best.  By the time I figured out how to balance equations, it was time for geometry.  It seemed hopeless.  Why did I have to figure out proofs?  I was willing to accept whatever had been already been  proven!  I have memorized this formula:  Family (friends) + delicious food (and plenty of it) = … [Read more...]

My “Milky Whey” day Today went quite well.  Early in the morning, my husband gifted me with a bucket containing about three gallons of raw, chilled milk and its cream.  He carried it from the milk house ready for my use. Since my refrigerator was already filled with all of the milk and cream I could use, I skimmed off the cream and dutifully began making butter.  Mixing the … [Read more...]

I’ve got plants in tough places... We all have it; the frustrating spot in the garden where nothing seems to want to grow. Many gardeners respond by planting tough plants. Hosta for shade, even though the deer eat it. Iris for full sun, even though the bloom time is so short. Some plants, although challenging to find, are great candidates for tough spaces in the landscape. The … [Read more...]

At the newspaper, many of us wear multiple hats.  Paul Trende is our sports coverage guru along with some other reporting, and he also makes sure all of the newspapers make it to each post office location in our coverage area.  When the newspaper grows beyond a certain page count, we have to haul over 5,000 pounds of newspapers in two one-ton vans to get the newspapers … [Read more...]

Well, it is about time to take down the old Christmas tree.  Some years I have been the lone decorator. At other times I have been delighted by a surprise when my family put up the tree and donned it with lights, garlands and ornaments.  Our first Christmas tree filled our apartment with the typical refreshing scent of pine. As a young married couple, our budget did not allow … [Read more...]

We’ve had a few breweries pop up in the Fillmore County area in the past five years, which is quite a draw for tourists and locals alike. One in Chatfield, Fountain, Preston, and Lanesboro. In the 2020-2021 Visit Bluff Country Magazine, there was even a brewery, distillery, and wine tour map dedicated to promoting these venues. In Preston, Minn., they are fortunate to … [Read more...]

Stumpy’s Restaurant & Bar Within the past couple weeks, I was blessed with a couple of great opportunities in Rushford, Minn. First, I was looking forward to my dental check-up at Rushford Dental Clinic.  I was seriously excited about going to the dentist.  My teeth always feel so good after they’ve been cleaned.  And, I think it is important to be aware of the … [Read more...]

The adults were whispering, and when I entered the room, they were silent.  That’s when children (whose parents swear that they are hard of hearing) really start to listen.  Being exceptionally nosy and very good at hearing behind a closed door, I decided to investigate.  The adults were talking about my Grandma Ruth, the matriarch of the family.  What had my sainted … [Read more...]