Christmas Memories we wish we could forget

Have you ever had a Christmastime mishap? Or maybe in the attempt to create really special memories or a family tradition things go really badly and that new special memory may actually require your loved ones to get therapy in future? By now I am sure you can guess that all of the above applies to me and my family.
Let’s start with the making of rosettes. I love rosettes and no one in my family makes rosettes (now I know why) so I decided that I needed to take that task on myself, I mean really how hard could it be? Off I go to purchase the little rosette maker and the ingredients to make them. I should have been leery as soon as I noticed I need to heat grease, that never goes well for me and this time was no exception. With a batter or dough of sorts and frying pan sizzling with hot grease we dipped the rosette thing-a-ma-gig into the batter and then into the frying pan and everything just seemed to fall apart and become a big clump of gooey mush. I didn’t give up right away I kept at it until the house was filled with smoke and smelled like a greasy dinner. Eventually I was yelling, Kent was looking for a fire extinguisher and both kids were in tears. I have never tried to make a rosette since. For years I kept that rosette maker in my drawer just in case I got my nerve up to try again. One day I just couldn’t take having it in the kitchen drawer sneering at me and daring me to try again so I donated it to the thrift store so that some other family could be tortured by trying to make rosettes. When I eat a rosette you better believe I savor every bite.
I tried my hand at making divinity once, again something I love. Along with hot grease anything that requires me to determine a soft ball or hard ball stage or take the temperature of something boing on my stove provesto be just too much for me. I was making the divinity to bring to a Christmas gathering I was attending. Liquid, that’s all I really have to say. My divinity was liquid; I poured it into the decorative tin, brought it to the party and suggested serving it with a straw.
Lefse; don’t you wish I had a story for making lefes? But I’m no fool I’ve never even attempted. I am resolved to the fact that some of us can make Scandinavian treats and others of us can just eat them. Trust me, it could be worse.
One Christmas Eve poor, dear old Kent stubbed his toe on a doorknob and I am pretty sure broke his toe. He wasn’t doing a cartwheel or anything, our house is always in state of being remodeled
(part of the charm of living in an old house) so this particular door was lying on its side in our closet. The kids and I were trying to rush Kent, who had just gotten in from blowing snow, because we were filled anticipation for Christmas Eve and couldn’t wait to get to the big family gathering. In haste, Kent stubbed his toe on this doorknob and was instantly doing a Fred Flintstone kind of rant, holding his toe, yelling and turning in a circle. I could not and still cannot muster up any sympathy; all I can do is laugh until I cry just thinking about it. Kent’s toe turned black and blue instantly and it hurt to but socks on let alone shoes. Eventually we were all in the car headed to our family gathering, as we were driving on highway 59, cruise control set at about 55 (or so) Kent missed our turn onto the interstate. Of course I was the total critical passenger, “Kent what are you doing you’ve missed our turn.” To which Kent replied, “I can’t step on the break it hurts my toe too bad.” I apologized to the Kids telling them that apparently we were going to have to keep driving until we ran out of gas and then spend Christmas Eve where ever we ended up. Merry Christmas

School Referendum Letter to Editor

This is my letter to the editor in support of our school's upcoming referendum.

I am proud to be voting YES for West Central Area School’s referendum in the upcoming election. I understand the direct correlation between investing in a quality education and building a strong local economy. When attracting people to our rural communities we need to have a global view and rely on what research has been showing us for a number of years. The future does not lay in industry; building a new factory and paying people substandard wages is a regressive initiative at best; it is unsustainable and will result in no real economic growth. Real economic growth is going to be in attracting the creative class and gold collar workers to our community. It is no longer jobs that attract people to a community, it is a community that attracts people and those people bring or create jobs.
Over the past few years I have meet a number of new families who have moved into our community. Upon asking them what brought them here, I found it was our quaint little town, the sense of community, the beauty of the region, all of the amenities that were available in our small town and overwhelmingly, our school. Some of these people work from home so they could choose to live anywhere but they choose here. In essence it was our infrastructure that attracted them and not in the traditional sense of the word. Our infrastructure includes core services, such as utilities, streets, and telecommunications (all of which are top notch), but it goes beyond that. The creative class and gold collar workers are looking for value added services such as parks, trails, charm, libraries, cultural activities and quality schools. This group of people is not going to settle for average or hum drum, and they don’t have to because they can telecommute and are willing to travel to work as long as where they live provides them and their families with the amenities they are looking for. They relocate to the community of their dreams, so to speak.
I am also a bit perplexed by the referendum neigh sayers obsession with teacher’s salaries. In no way do I think our teachers are overpaid, I have reviewed the state’s teacher’s pay statistics at the Minnesota department of Education’s website and you can too. What might be more pertinent to compare is what the average person with a four year degree or master’s degree is paid. Trust me; teachers are at the low end of that scale. Since when it is our goal to under pay teachers? I want our local educators to be well compensated for the outstanding and eminently important and essential work they do. I believe that the work educators do is paramount to the growth, sustainability and economic health of our community.
The dedication of our local teachers is par excellence. Drive by the local elementary school one evening or weekend and notice the cars out front that belong to teachers who are spending their own, unpaid time working in the classroom to get done what the normal work week doesn’t allow for. I also know personally that many teachers use their own money to supplement resources and materials for their classrooms in order to enhance the experience of their students. We have outstanding teachers who deserve fair pay for their work.
Educational funding in the state of Minnesota has changed and the responsibility has been put into the hands of local residents. The state is in essence giving us the opportunity to say “Yes, we value and are willing to support quality education.” Or we can devastate our local schools which will eventually cripple our local economies and send our small towns into a downward spiral that we can’t work our way out of”.
I too, like most people I know, live on a fixed income. I wanted to buy a new pair of shoes, but instead I chose to have this letter published in our local paper. My income may be fixed, but my priorities are straight.
While some people hop on that, “No new taxes” mantra . I don’t like to have a blanket response to issues. I like to do some research and dig into things a bit. As it turns out, with this referendum the return on our tax investment is amazingly high. It is what I would consider too good of a deal to pass up. Please join me in investing in the future by voting yes.

Gail Hedstrom
Elbow Lake

Maple syrup and the other good things in life

My husband repeatedly tells me, "It's not all about the food." To which I always firmly
disagree. When I go out to eat I want to feel like the people preparing and serving the food have pride in the product; starting with the ingredients, moving on the to preparation and finally the delivery; the way the plate is set down on my table.
Now, not all restaurants, diners or cafes lend themselves to the same experience. I am looking for something completely different when I go into Monte's in Fargo or the Viking in Fergus Falls; both by the way places I love.
There are a few things in life that I won't compromise on; one being half & half for my coffee~ I won't touch those "needs no refrigeration" things left on the table all day~ no way, that is not going in my coffee. Second, I only want real maple syrup. I do not ever want corn syrup with maple flavoring on my pancakes or waffles.
I implore you to only use real maple syrup. As a matter of fact get up now and look in your pantry for your bottle maple syrup (I'm using the term loosely) and read the ingredients. shocked? Disappointed? I know I was. They really shouldn't even be able to call it maple syrup~ it's a lie.
Recently I was out eating (a slightly below average experience) I ordered French toast (it was marginal at best) the waitress brought a bottle of store brand syrup to our table ~ huge faux pas~ never put the jug of anything on the table put it in a serving piece~ I might lightening up on this if you were serving REAL, LOCALLY MADE, maple syrup~ it might be nice to see that little bottle and confirm that it is indeed real. Any way this ugly, solid, cheap plastic bottle of store brand "maple syrup" is set on the table and if that isn't bad enough the bottle brags, "made with 2% real maple syrup." Really? Like that's something to brag about? Trust me, I'm not putting that on my French toast.
Real maple syrup is going to cost more than a cheap substitute. In my humble opinion that is probably because maple syrup does not receive the farm subsidies that corn does~ go figure.

But here is the story on real maple syrup. The Sugar Maple is a tree and in the spring when the days get warm but the nights still often return to freezing temperatures, the sap, which is stored as starch in the trees roots during the winter begins to run This is refereed to the sugaring season or sugaring off. Those harvesting the sap use a technique such as cutting a V shape or small hole into the tree and inserting a tube from which you hang a bucket and the sap slowing runs into the bucket. The harvester returns to the trees and gathers the sap that has collected in the buckets. It is beautiful, and the temperature is brisk it is this crisp time of spring before everything gets all muddy. My Grandfather, Gordon Supernois, used to make maple syrup and I remember collecting buckets of sap with the my dad, Gary. I never much followed what happened in that syrup making shed at the end of the driveway, it was warm and there a was glow from the heat of cooking sap which was to become syrup. I knew the end results tasted great and that people from all over came to puchase the locally produced syrup.

So there you have it, take some pride in what you put into your body and use real maple syrup. When you are out eating ask if they have real maple syrup, insist on it.

You can buy real maple syrup at Dean's Super Valu in Elbow Lake as well as Meadow Farm Foods in Fergus Falls. Cafe 116 in Fergus Falls uses real maple syrup.

http://www.cafe116.com/front/
http://meadowfarmfoods.com/
Dean's Super Valu
http://www3.mda.state.mn.us/mngrown/

Dwell; really?

I call this little blog "Dwellings" because I think were we dwell tells a bit about us to say the least. I don't think that our homes or belongings define us, but when given the opportunity to make purchase or spend time in a place or at a place perhaps there is something to be learned. The books we read, the movies we watch the organizations we belong are all a bit of a link to who we are, who we wish were or maybe who we hope to become.

The other day I got the mail and there was a magazine called "dewll" (all small letters). My first thought was that it was a mistake, I don't subscribe to "dwell." According to the label and the fact that the magazine keeps arriving in my mailbox, I must subscribe to "dwell" http://www.dwell.com/ I concede, I somehow, without realizing it subscribe to "dwell." It's a nice magazine and I've read some really good articles, I like the design element, but truth be told I'm more of a "Traditional Home" magazine person or "Martha Stewart Living" or "Victoria." My house is a mixture of stuff much gathered up along the way so to speak and I love traditional elements with a little funk thrown in here and there (I mean we have to keep it interesting). Like my glass head. One year while shopping at Pier One with my grandma Gert, she asked if there was anything there I would like for Christmas. I responded, "Yes indeed there was, that glass head." That is exactly what she gave me for Christmas, probably more than 12 years ago. The head, in all of its simplicity is really diverse. Sometimes I fill it with lights and call it headlights, the head is kind of like possibility.

Where to eat: Monte's in Fargo http://www.montesdowntown.com/

Shop: Funky Junk downtown Fargo http://www.funkyjunque.com/

Book to read: just finished reading two kids books, one was a reread of a childhood favorite~ "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Sheldon actually I listened to the audio and the reader was fabulous. The other book was "The Magician's Elephant" by Kate DiCamillo and it was beautiful.

I am going to read a grown up book soon.

Artist: Calvin DeRuyter http://www.calsportfolio.net/ I absolutely love his work~ it just sticks in my head.

Music ~ Well how about a little Christine Rosholt http://www.christinerosholt.com/ who will be performing at the Barrett Pavilion on Saturday, September 18th.

Television: I simply only watch "Mad Men."

Tips

I forgot to leave any tips.....

Places to eat The Brewhouse http://www.brewhouse.net/2005/

Places to shop ~ The Blue Heron antique store in Vining

Ipod: Sound track to RENT

CD: Amy Grant

great magazine "Kiwi: Growing families the natural and organic way" http://www.kiwimagonline.com/

When things go according to plan...

A person hates to be all positive because just when things seem really good; the rug can be pulled out from beneath your feet. However, one of the last elements of our kitchen remodel is complete ~ the built in hutch is in (no hardware yet, but that is so minor) what's more the hutch is everything I was hoping for and more. It is totally period, 1920's and completes our kitchen perfectly. I loved carefully placing my yellow ware bowls, vintage table clothes and of course my cookbooks into the hutch I love love love it.

The weather has inspired me to bake so I made orange fennel muffins and chocolate zucchini cake both turned out perfectly ~ see what I mean things are going to0 smoothly. I plan on making a fresh peach pie, wish me luck.
On Friday night Kent and I painted for more than two hours but it was the final coat of paint for all the trip in the den and three doors~ it was good to get that out of the way and not have it hanging over my head all weekend. While we painted we listened to a couple of sermons by Gregory Boyd http://www.gregboyd.org/ which reconfirmed to me what a gifted spiritual leader he is. It is nice to feel like you are on the same page as someone else.
The last of of crown molding and baseboards were installed today so I have minimal painting to do, it seems like there is an end in sight (at least until we start the next project). I have to mention that our kitchen cabinets were made by Jim Kreft of Arlington and our trim work was installed by his brother John Kreft~ if you are in the market to hire someone for this type of work I promise you there is no one better.
Earlier in the week my mom and I went to see Britt at college and we had a very adventurous time. I made a point to connect with a few people who I hadn't seen in years (one in about 25 years) and I have to tell you it was the best descision I have ever made. We talk about people being more important than things but often we put off the act of actually contacting people, that is such a shame. I had a fantastic time visiting with old friends and am really looking forward to the next time we can get together.
Britt took us to a great spot called Wisconsin Point, http://www.ci.superior.wi.us/index.aspx?NID=226 this is like the best kept secret in the world; it was so beautiful.
We spent some time Superior and we found some of the best antique, thrift and consignment stores, it is worth your drive over the bridge to do a little shopping.
Time to start the pie~ I will post photos if I get the batteries charged.

It is all so very Wicked

Before I get crazy and tell you all about my fun weekend I have to put it out there that I am still painting trim.
All of the wide baseboards, moldings, and crown moldings look fantastic and it wonderful to see our 1920's home return to its original, authentic charm. It just seems that projects like this are always more time consuming than you think. Each piece of molding has numerous nail holes to fill and then sand, all of the trim needs to be taped off on the walls and floor (I am a rather messy painter) and then of course we need to prime and give two coats of paint. I'm not complaining so much, it's just I'd like to read a book or something.
My dear sweet husband took me to "Wicked" http://www.wickedthemusical.com/at the Orpheum http://hennepintheatretrust.org/ this weekend and it indeed was very wicked, cleaver, funny, touching and in my eyes had many many important messages, which I will blog about on the library's blog. I loved "Wicked" I feel a little connection to the Wicked Witch of the West having played the part in a Children's Theatre Production of "The Wizard of Oz"a very long time ago. I could call that experience "How theatre saved my life" but I'm not going to get into that now.
My husband also totally indulged me by booking a room at the Sofitel http://www.sofitel.com/ (being French is there really any place to stay)? The Sofitel was totally fabulous from the minute I walked in the door I thought," Hey, these people are glad we are here." You see they are very good at what they do. The room was large, comfortable and the heat and cooling is centralized, meaning you don't have to listen to some annoying fan kick on and off all night, YES! The feature bed was amazingly comfortable and everyone must think so because right in your room is information on how to purchase the bed and bedding.
Let's talk about the food because isn't that really what it's all about. I normally don't indulge in drink but couldn't resist ordering a white chocolate raspberry martini, yum. When the server brought the martini shaker and poured it at my table I looked at Kent and said "I want to live here." I also ordered chocolate cake that was so tasty it had warm chocolate oozing out of it with raspberries, believe it or not I couldn't even finish it, not so much because I was full but because it was so rich~ and this is me talking, I never say that.
Breakfast was also at the Sofitel. Breakfast is my favorite meal so this could have been a deal breaker but no indeed it only got better. My fruit, yogurt and chocolate croissant were perfect, the presentation was lovely, the coffee was strong the orange juice was freshly squeezed. In good form I also tasted all of Kent's food which included has browns and an omelet yum, yum, yum.
What a wonderful weekend and now, I am back to painting trim.

I almost forgot to make some reccomendations:

Eating: & Sleeping: www.sofitel.com

Reading: "Mmnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Shopping: http://www.ohbabystyle.com/page.cfm/quesera.html

Listening: The music from "Wicked" (really were you expecting anything else)?

Tip of the day

The latest CD added to my small collection "Gypsy In My Soul" by Connie Evingson with the Clearwater Hot Club and others including the totally fabulous Sam Mitlitch.

On my ipod of note "Drag" by K.D. Lang

Book I'm currently devouring "Out of the Dust" by Karen Hesse (juvie fiction) sad
"Griff Carver, Hallway Patrol" by Jim Krieg (Juvie Fiction) funny

On the tele "Mad Men"

Recent Movie "Gilda" staring Rita Haywroth

What I'm eating ~ Ploughshare veggies and fennel orange muffins http://www.ploughsharefarm.com/

Where to eat out ~ "Hans House" Elbow Lake makes great French Toast

Looking forward to Flekkefest on August 6, 7 & 8 especially the Scandinavian food trust me when I say there is nothing better than Rommegrot. Also totally excited about the arts and crafts show.

Artist to look for where ever you go "Jenny Field."

What I'm enjoying most this summer? Having my kids home.

What's on my mind, ipod & night stand

In the interest of time I'll start with my night stand.
My night stand is always a base for leaning tower of books; currently that tower consists of "If This is Happiness: a Biography of Rita Hayworth" by Barbara Leaming, "Bang:Getting your Message Heard in a Noisy World" by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, "The Small Public LIbrary Survival Guide: Thriving on Less" by Herbert B. Landau and "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo and how could I forget Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose and for book group Romeo & Juliet.