We’re moving and almost done. Not very far, just about 12 miles down the road to a bigger town, and oh my God what a hassle! They say moving is almost as stressful as a divorce. Now add the fact the ex came down to help the kids move their stuff and it’s right up there stress-wise. ...

Memorial Day has come and gone, bringing the unofficial start of summer! And just like that, we are switching from blowing snow to other outdoor activities like gardening and mowing grass; I love this time of year, but Mother Nature could use a dimmer switch! On Saturday morning, I ...

If I were a space alien visiting Earth for the first time and I attended the town hall meeting in Marshall on June 1 with Senator Dahms and Representative Swedzinski, I would conclude that the most important thing to Earthlings was money. Money is the god people worship here. People don’t ...

It sure seemed slow in coming, but now that the sunshine and warmth of the season has arrived, we’re all ready for more time outside. Like everything in life, moderation is key. Avoiding the risks of the great outdoors takes a little forethought. Consider these important facts before you go ...

Three things in my backyard that I value every spring are my rain gauge, my iris flowers and my asparagus. They’re all classic parts of spring in much of the Upper Midwest. I look forward to all three during our long Minnesota winters. I like rain gauges because they’re simple and ...

The main thing my wife and I did to prepare for our recent trip to Mason City, Iowa was watch the 1962 movie “The Music Man.” This wasn’t just because my wife loves Shirley Jones and once had a crush on her stepson, David Cassidy. It was also because we wanted to prepare ourselves for ...