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A tough job

My wife and I recently provided day care for our 6-year-old grandson for a week. It will probably take me a month to recover. We had taken care of little boys before, obviously, although that was more than thirty years ago. We aren’t as young as we were back then, but little boys are still as energetic as tornadoes. My grandfathers were stoic, stately men who sat on the couch and drank black coffee and talked about crops and world events. They did not get on the floor with their grandkids and played with toys with them. But in their defense, they each had a score of ...

Water and more for dove success

The transition of summer into fall brings with it the first upland season of the year with mourning dove hunting beginning on Sept. 1. While I can recall endlessly entertaining afternoons walking shelterbelts to flush these fast-flying birds from their daytime roosts, the most memorable hunts ...

Lots of visitors

It's always nice to have visitors. Recently, an old friend of ours came through our city and shared a cup of coffee with us. It was good to see her, and her very talented daughter, to hear their voices and to share concerns, good news and laughs. The conversation reminded me how important it is to have visitors cross one's pathway. Now, to a whole different type of visitor. Every year, our river city hosts a swarm of Mayflies. Their life story is fascinating and kind of sad. Mayflies hatch from the bottom of the river, form swarms that travel up the Mississippi River for a few days. ...

Northern Minn. fires indicate reality of climate change

The North Woods are something that makes Minnesota stand out on both an economic scale and in terms of recreational resources. The far north provides lumber, paper, iron ore, fishing, boating, canoe routes, and many excellent resorts, The recent fires near Ely show that it’s not something to be taken for granted. Forest fires occurred near the start of the region’s summer tourism season. Smoke and haze covered a wide area. It kept away many tourists, turning what would have been busy weeks into a much quieter and less profitable time period. It made headlines in statewide ...

Ice cream and food trailers a sweet success for Lingens

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, food trucks have surged into a multi-billion dollar industry. There are probably a variety of reasons for their popularity such as offering unique cuisine that might not be available nearby and the lower startup costs than brick-and-motor ...

Country School Kids – Larry Van Moer – Growing up on the Van Moer farm

We have begun learning about Larry Van Moer, who was the second of five children born to Marie (Marcotte) and Herbert Francis Van Moer. Larry and his siblings grew up on their family farm north of Amiret As a farm kid, Larry grew up with his share of farm chores. He described his earliest ...