Stepping into the Swedish Crown Bakery in Anoka, Minnesota, is like stepping into a hybrid of Grandma’s house. There are huge convection ovens, and huge tubs of flours and sugars, and huge mixers that Grandma never had. However, and here is where Grandma enters the picture, there are authentic ingredients lining the shelves and refrigerators. Real butter, fresh eggs, whole… Read More

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day. The Today Show was dedicating the time to inspirational stories of soldiers making their way back home on many levels. Some have physical wounds to heal, some have emotional scars, and some have both. I have known many military soldiers…my grandfathers, my dad, my first and current husband, my brothers, my son. Each had a reason… Read More

Each week I tell a brief story about something I found amusing, touching, or meaningful. My intent is not to blather on about all things “me,” but to prompt others to think about the best part of their day. Gratitude is important, and focusing on what is right/great/exciting rather than what is wrong/bad/irritating spirals us ever upwards into a better… Read More

I was splashing around in the vast and seemingly endless sea of social media and came across this set of lyrics by a man named John Gorka. The original post was made by Barney Davey under career success. See if Mr. Gorka’s words do not uplift and resonate: Morningside From the album: Company You Keep Am I a fool at this… Read More

“Where have you been?  I was worried!”  My husband, usually a calm and steady rock of a man, entered my car, omitted the kiss and greeting, and flung those words at me like tiny Ninja knives.  His angst took me aback, and I pondered my response accordingly. This past Sunday he sang in the choir at both church services.  Fearing… Read More

I love the smell of a wood fire on a cool night.  Maybe it’s because my childhood home was heated with wood that I appreciate what it takes to go from standing tree to fragrant warmth. It was part of the seasonal farm routine to take the tractor and wagon, bump along a narrow logging road, and cut and load… Read More

After leaving my father’s farm, I decided to drive the short distance to where my mother’s grave site is located.  Two miles from the farm take a right, go about another mile south (not too far past Edna’s old farm!), and there is the tiny, almost hidden cemetery.  The autumn-clad trees surrounding the small meadow wore reds, golds, and coppery… Read More

As my siblings and I arrange the funeral for my father, I offered to contact a florist.  Operating on a budget, we nonetheless wanted flowers that echo the essence of Dad.  Flowers festive enough for celebrating his life, and masculine enough to indicate his love of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. My husband called Vicky Chenoweth, a kind and compassionate… Read More

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with the American Red Cross.  I love what they do, but I don’t always love the way they do it.  I’m referring to their various blood drives and my part in them. Once I started donating years ago, I began getting phone calls, emails, and cards in the regular mail.  Each… Read More

“You won’t be canning the tomatoes from the CSA share,” my husband said.  I tilted my head in confusion.  “Were there none in the box?” I asked.   “There was no box,” said my husband. He had stopped at our local grocery store to pick up the CSA  (community supported agriculture) box that arrives every Friday morning.  This time of year… Read More

My most wonderful friend and wise counsel has just launched her website, healththruchaos.com. Dr. Claudia Kittock has been through hellish trenches with colon cancer, its treatments, and the physical and psychological ramifications that evolved as a result. Now cancer free, she wants to help others realize the importance of real food, exercise, and giving oneself permission to put health and healing… Read More

Pudgy has a way of speaking very loudly when she wants something.  Not in words, of course, but in the language of cat. For instance, if I’m not awake at a time she deems necessary for her breakfast needs, she’ll stick her wet nose on mine and wait. If that doesn’t rouse me she’ll walk across my chest…repeatedly.  It’s shocking… Read More

Our refrigerator bulged with garden produce.  What a gift!  What a challenge! I decided to tackle the veggie bins and came up with a hodge-podge casserole that leaned towards something, somewhat, Italian in a Minnesotan (hot dish) sort of way.  Zucchini, tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, and hamburger.  I added rice noodles, seasonings, and parmesan cheese.  In the oven it… Read More

There is a thin veneer writers maintain in order to live in the world.  We sit in a puddle of thoughts, splashing our words onto paper, napkins, or computer screens, and hope others will want to see the results.  To be that open…to invite judgment and criticism… is torturous.  And yet not to share what is within is even more… Read More

The hunger for soil under the fingernails in spring’s first warm days does crazy things to the mind.  Each year I mentally plot out my garden with the intention of rotating crops. This time I wondered if I put in two mounds of squash could I plant sunflowers around them? My idea was that the squash would use the sturdy… Read More

Poor Pudgy.  She pee’d on the bathroom run.  She pee’d on the boot tray. She pee’d on the kitchen rug, and she pee’d in a freshly dried basket of laundry.  Pudgy was miserable, and I wasn’t far behind. Earlier in the week I had taken her to the Veterinarian where it was discovered she had a urinary infection.  The Vet… Read More

Mud, an inch thick, coated the pavers beneath the planter.  Flowers, bent and broken, looked as though a monster had tossed them into a blender and hit the “puree” button.  Booker, our beloved husky, rounded the corner of the house to greet me with pink tongue wagging, blue eyes shining, and white paws very, very, unwhite.  Not again. As promised… Read More

Who doesn’t love a jaw-dropping sunset?  One minute you’re outside swatting a mosquito or thirty, and the next minute it is as though the Universe dropped a paint palette on the horizon.  Yellows, oranges, plums, and pinks saturate the blue-grey clouds and steal any hope of indifference.  My camera shutter made a staccato sound as I clicked away in sheer… Read More

“Twerp!” Thus was the loving sign-off my dear friend Kathleen offered as our phone conversation concluded.  I had to laugh. Kathleen is immensely talented on countless levels.  And, what’s more vexing is she makes all her talents and endeavors look easy.  Stunning cottage garden in her backyard? Done.  Spotless house? Done. Excellent cook? Done. Perfect fingernails? Done. College English teacher?… Read More

When a visitor arrives at Windigo, a two to three hour ferry ride from Grand Portage, Minnesota, a park ranger greets him or her on the dock.  A quick, fun, tutorial is provided on what is expected behavior while on Isle Royale.  One of the first “rules” is to avoid feeding the wildlife.  As the nice young ranger explained, “After… Read More

If you look under my In-10-tions videos, you’ll find the interview I did with Eva some time ago.  We had been classmates in college, learning about various approaches to integrated and holistic healing and living.  Eva discovered a deep interest in reflexology and naturopathy.  Her path took her interesting places, and I delighted whenever we had the chance to catch… Read More

Why? Why do I jump into things without thinking them through?  I’m going to blame my Bohemian blood unless someone can prove otherwise. The local county fair is, disturbingly, only a few weeks away.  For those who choose to enter flowers, for example, it is going to be tough year.  My garden calla lilies are about an inch high at… Read More

The countdown begins, and the silent auction concludes.  A few folks are caught with pen in hand attempting to outbid the previous offer by a few dollars, but they are denied with gentle reprimands.  My husband grins and slips a piece of paper into his pocket. For the past three years my husband has gotten me—at silent auction—a gift certificate… Read More

Dew sparkled on the grass blades like crystal freckles strewn across Mother Nature’s face.  It was a pretty morning after a stormy night, and I waited with quiet acceptance for the deliverymen to arrive.  I had been given a time frame for their arrival, but not a definitive appointment. In today’s world the norm holds that the customer can wait. … Read More

I was recently browsing the website of Trepak Siberian Huskies because our dog Booker’s sire is listed there.  Booker’s father is named Ch. Trepak’s Likely Story, and you can find him listed under the “boys” icon on the home page. Good looks obviously run in the family. 🙂 Why was I visiting the website?  Every so often I just like… Read More

So I order a few things.  An Amazon book here, a box of vitamins there.  No biggie, right?  However, my husband has accused me—incorrectly I might add—of having the hots for our UPS driver.  He claims that is why I order as many UPS-able items as possible. I mean, sure, the guy is cute, and he certainly can carry a… Read More

My Review of Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II Nikkor ED-IF Lens Originally submitted at Adorama Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II Zoom-Nikkor ED-IF Lens – Black Finish – 5 Year Nikon U.S.A. Warranty Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II Nikkor ED-IF Lens – Nikon U.S.A. Warranty So Very Fine By GieseGirl from North Branch, MN on 5/21/2013 5out of… Read More

I swear God invented lilacs as the cure for tattered souls.  Our late spring had me wondering if my favorite white lilac would bloom by July given it’s slowly budding branches.  My mom’s birthday was this past Saturday, and I usually bring a bouquet of lilacs when I visit her grave.  They were her favorite flower, although she was not… Read More

The flower “buckets” stood empty, and I was amazed.  I had never gone into a Trader Joe’s grocery store without seeing a dazzling display of bouquets, orchids, and blooms.  At first I thought something must have happened—like a freak freeze—but then it slowly dawned on me why there were no flowers.  Mother’s Day happened. Even now as I think about… Read More

Grandma handed me a pair of dainty white gloves and tucked a wayward curl behind my ear.  “I just don’t understand why your hair isn’t as nice as your cousin’s,” she clucked with the staccato timing frustration warrants.  I shrugged in response, which once again dislodged the fat sausage curl, and placed the white bonnet on my head.  I knew… Read More