TO OUR READERS

Hello, readers! It’s spring at last!

The past month has likely been filled with fishing-opener plans. Lines are being strung, oil changed on boats, and tackle boxes packed in preparation for the big Minnesota fishing opener that takes place on May 15. The lakes will be filled with excited and anxious anglers ready to pull that first fish aboard.

Fishing enthusiasts aren’t the only ones chomping at the bit — many gardeners have shovels in hand, ready to toss the first pile of dirt for an incoming plant or seed. I bet many people have their flower pots ready, and gardens tilled.

The popular color for 2021 is cheery yellow, so for all of the gardening artists out there, this will be a fun year to see how many vibrant yellows beautify our Northland homes. I personally love to fill my gardens with beautiful yellow marigolds, geraniums and any other bright cheery colors. Though I want to always start my gardens early, the rule of thumb in our family is to plant Memorial Day weekend, with the hopes that we don’t see any more hard frosts.

If you are in need of some inspiration, we learned about a local gem right here in our Esko community called Pants Mary Land, where she shares her amazing journey on building her beautiful farm. Next we’ll travel east to Brule, Wisconsin, where Sue Ann Dumke shares her story of being a Wisconsin produce farmer and maple syrup making connoisseur.

May 6-12 is National Nurses week. Like so many in the medical field, these extraordinary individuals have been tested in every way this past year. Please take a moment to thank them for what they do in their line of work. We met with Dr. Verna Thornton, OBGYN at Community Memorial located in Cloquet, where she not only shared her story with us, but also noted how nurses in her field are so extremely important.

Have you thought about starting to enjoy the outdoors more, and perhaps entertaining the idea of hiking? In this issue you will hear from some local experts in the hiking field, as they share tips and tricks to help make this new journey an enjoyable one.

I also want to send a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the amazing mothers out there — this day is for you! I, for one, am a proud mother to 12 amazing fur babies (four dogs, two cats, one pig, four horses and a donkey!) that fill my heart with joy and entertainment every day. Sam Roffers (Fashions by Sam) and Ali Carlson (News Tribune multimedia executive) had a very special day with their beautiful daughters, and they were delighted to share that day with us. Ali and I also got to enjoy a very fun DIY project that is hilarious to try with your fur babies.

I hope you enjoy this May/June issue of The Woman Today; we have a delightful selection of fabulous stories to share about extraordinary Northland women. Thank you for picking up this issue of The Woman Today. Our advertisers and team truly appreciate it.

"When you smell a spring flower, it's as if the soul of that flower settles inside you! And then you become that flower for a short time." -Mehmet

Megan Keller Advertising Director