By Lee Epps Part three of a series In his second day in Minnesota Territory in 1852, teenager Sam McIntire was teased, that unless his hunting marksmanship improved, the wolves in the valley might catch him off guard and make a meal of him. That may have been said in jest, but under certain circumstances, wolves were feared as evidenced by one recollection McIntire described … [Read more...]
If You Want to Find Something, Look for Something Else
By Al Batt I had decided what I was going to wear for Halloween. My costume will be a gas pump. That will throw a scare into anybody who provides profits for the petroleum industry. The truth is that I haven't gone as anything other than myself at Halloween in eons. I figure I'm frightening enough. Not having to decide on a costume left me with time to do something I'd … [Read more...]
What an Extraordinary Journey a Mustard Packet Provides
I had fixed a leaking sink. I had retrieved items from tall grocery shelves at the request of two shoppers. I had easily opened plastic produce bags to put my apples in one and tomatoes in another. How did I do those incredible things? The sink repair was due to experience and luck. Success requires good luck. I grabbed the items from the tallest shelf because of genetics. … [Read more...]
If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is
By Al Batt Now that I'm the youngest I'll ever be, I've become a person with ambition. I did some minor sink repair, which required me to get down on all fours. I've realized that I've reached the age where I don't kneel without a plan to get back up. Did my reaching the pinnacle of human achievement by fixing the sink impress my wife? No, but it surprised her. The small … [Read more...]
Houston County Sixth Graders Day at Winnebago Springs
Winnebago Springs welcomed 210 students for the annual Sixth Grade Environmental Day on October 15. Nestled in the hills just outside Caledonia along Winnebago Creek, the scenic venue offered students an ideal setting for hands-on environmental learning. “The best classroom and the richest classroom are roofed only by the sky.” -Margaret McMillan Janice Messner, Root River … [Read more...]
Hardy Mums for Minnesota Gardens: Color That Returns Every Fall
By Robin Trott University of Minnesota Extension, Douglas County ALEXANDRIA, MN, August 24, 2026 - Shorter days and cooler nights signal that autumn is right around the corner. Colors shift not only in our trees, but across our gardens. Chrysanthemums, those bright, cheerful fall bloomers, are suddenly everywhere. The mums stacked outside big box stores and … [Read more...]
Attract Winged Friends With These Bird Feeders
Birds are beautiful creatures that can make a lawn and garden feel even more serene. Providing snacks to supplement what birds naturally find in the wild guarantees up close and personal interactions with the scores of species that call neighborhoods home. Bird feeders are particularly important in colder climates and during wintertime when food may be scarce. Keeping birds … [Read more...]
Whistling While Your Dog Does Not Herd Sheep
By Al Batt A family member was inducted into something great. As her name was announced, I stood and gave a loud whistle. I'd have done more, but I wasn't sure what the rules allowed because she was one of the first to be introduced. It turned out I could have stomped, screamed and made a complete fool of myself, generally behaving as if civilization had passed me by. A … [Read more...]
Kenny Might Have Been Wearing Substandard Bowling Shoes
The tire blew. It was louder than loud. I was waiting to walk across a road when a truck pulling a flatbed trailer carrying a backhoe had a trailer tire blowout as it went past me. The world became quieter. It reminded me of bowling. Before pickleball, there was bowling. Our phy ed teacher, in an effort to oust us from our opaque corners, decided our steep learning … [Read more...]
There’s a Butterfly On My Foot and It’s Not a Tattoo
It's another day Goal achieved. I enjoy going places and seeing things. That was part of the reason I went out onto the deck of our home, but the primary reason was to fill the birdbath with water. I do that faithfully. Before I could pour any water, a northern house wren, a tiny bird whose name is bigger than it is, yelled at me. I don't believe he was shouting … [Read more...]