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The Vietnam War – Marland Burckhardt – Farm and family life in rural Russell

We have begun learning about Marland Burckhardt, who grew up in rural Russell as the first of three sons born to Katie (Wixon) Burckhardt and Edward Burckhardt. Marland described his mom’s roles in the family. “Mom was a housewife and took care of meals and housework. The chickens were also her responsibility. She had a big garden and much of our produce came from that garden. She canned the excess for winter use. Mom would ask us to help weed the garden. I liked the products, but wasn’t fond of weeding. I probably pulled as many vegetable plants as weeds.” (Marland ...

That color-changing tree reminds us to ‘be’, not just ‘do’

As I slowly cruised the lakeshore, a tradition I do before heading to my favorite fishing spot on the lake, this past week, I was startled to see the lone hardwood tree, already dappled in orange and yellow leaves. Just the one tree. There wasn’t another tree around the entire lake that was changing into its autumnal formalwear. But it was enough to set off a bit of a panic in me. Trees changing color! Wait, what? … But summer has only begun! No, I guess not. We are already into late August, and some kids are back in school. … And, oh my, was that just a couple of geese ...

Prioritize your well-being

August is National Wellness Month, a time to focus on self-care, stress management, and building healthy habits that support overall well-being. In our busy lives, it’s easy to put ourselves last, but caring for our physical, mental, and emotional health is essential—not a luxury. Even small, intentional steps toward wellness can boost energy, improve resilience, and help us show up as our best selves for the people and commitments that matter most. This month invites us to pause, reflect, and invest in ourselves. Neglecting self-care impacts both mind and body. Chronic stress, ...

An airhead at an air show

The blue Helldiver — a WW II single-engine dive bomber — was taxiing placidly down the runway when its wing abruptly dipped. The airplane came to a halt at an unsettling angle. Its right wheel had strayed off the paved runway and onto its border, which had been turned into mush by a lengthy spate of monsoon-like rains. “This is wonderful!” I thought. “That’s exactly the kind of thing that might have happened in real life. This is so authentic!” Thus began the Victory at Sea airshow, held recently at the Fagen Fighters WW II Museum located near Granite Falls. The ...

Fall trout prep

It’s been a summer. Not a particularly warm or stable one, but it’s been a summer, and that means in these northern latitudes that the season is perhaps the most fleeting of the four we receive in a given year. Sure, by writing about it and turning these thoughts into the reality of black and white, I’ve put it out into the universe, and we’re likely to see 85 and sun every day until Halloween just out of spite, which I guess I’d accept. As unlikely as that is however, a cooler summer does set the stage for some great fall fishing, and where available and allowed by ...

It’s empty!

It’s always a bit unsettling when you notice something is empty, right? Or is it an opportunity for further enrichment? Back in the day when I was attending college in Lafayette, Louisiana, we planned a road adventure to see the Grand Canyon. Not familiar with the desert southwest, I didn’t pay attention or plan gas stops. Suddenly, I noticed our gas tank was almost empty. Of course, we were in the middle of nowhere, and my anxiety rose dramatically. Then thankfully, a little town appeared, and I pulled into the local gas station. The gas station attendant — a very young ...