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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA’S LEADING WOMEN’S MAGAZINE

June 2016

Juicing their way through sickness and health

Kristi & Marie

AN ACTIVE CHILD AN ACTIVE CHILD

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FROM THE EDITOR — Beth Forkner Moe is the editor of Girlfriends magazine.

Color palettes are always “warm” (reds, oranges, yellows) and “cool” (blues, greens). This never made sense to me – I always felt that blue and green were warm shades. One day, I realized why. What are the colors of summer in Minnesota?

Blue and green, of course! Green for the beautiful fields, bluffs and grasslands. Blue for all the water – the lakes, rivers and streams. And that’s what we are seeing right now – blue and green, which stand for the beautiful warm days of our region.

There are so many things to do during this short season, and we are sharing just a few of them with you in this issue.

What could be better than being outside on a lovely summer evening, eating pizza? Learn more about wood-fired pizza farms in our area, as well as a farm that produces cheese (yum – my favorite “food group”). And who doesn’t love ice cream?

At Toody’s Sweet Treats in Henderson, you can eat ice cream to your heart’s content. Picnics, potlucks and other gatherings – we share ways to make them easier and more fun, so you have more time to enjoy with friends and family.

Other stories talk about healthy living (juicing, yoga, mindfulness), which we need any time of year.

We also share struggles and joys of women in our area, from women raising their grandchildren to our profile about a woman who joyfully goes to work each day, knowing she is going to bring pleasure to audiences from the work she does on the stage.

Finally, learn more about what’s known as the sharing economy – when people make money sharing what they have, whether it’s their home (for people or for pets) or their vehicle. Our personal experience with the sharing economy has been remarkable and provided wonderful vacations for our family for more than 25 years. Long before Airbnb, VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) and others, we used the old-fashioned method of renting lake cabins by looking at classified ads in the local newspapers. Those vacations provided literally months of relaxation for us (not to mention the fond memories) over those years. And they were always – always - by the water (getting back to why I associate blue with warmth).

Enjoy this issue, and make the most of the fleeting days of summer!

“Everyone was so kind and took such great care of me, like I was their own kid.”

Madeline Nelson To read more of Madeline’s story, go to northfieldhospital.org/madeline

Andy Rezac

When her knee popped during a section finals lacrosse game, there was more at stake than the score.

Lakeville South High School needed one more win to go to state. An opponent faked left; as Madeline followed, she twisted her knee, heard a pop, and fell. The next morning, her doctor suggested seeing an orthopaedic surgeon. A close family friend recommended Dr. Hans Bengtson, an orthopaedic surgeon with Northfield Hospital & Clinics and an experienced athlete himself. “She said, ‘If you were my own child, I’d take you to Dr. Bengtson,’” Madeline recalls.

Dr. Bengtson suspected a tear of the ACL, one of the most common knee injuries for athletes. He ordered an MRI at Northfield Hospital, which showed an ACL tear plus a tear in the meniscus. Surgery would repair both.

They found an empathetic expert in Dr. Bengtson, who had knee surgery for a sports injury when he was around Madeline’s age.

“We got along really well,” Madeline says. “I was very confident with him.”

Madeline went home after surgery, and started physical therapy the next day. Therapist Lori Lubow at Center for Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation in Lakeville monitored healing of the surgical site, helped manage Madeline’s pain, and

got her moving again and rebuilding muscle.

“Lori was with me the whole way,” Madeline says. “She made me feel so welcomed and confident.”

Dr. Bengtson helped Madeline pace herself. “I wanted to get back so bad, I wouldn’t admit to myself that I’m hurting. He told me I needed to stop and take it easy. As an athlete, “he understands how hard it is to slow down, and he can tell you how important it is to do it.”

Now she’s back at lacrosse.

She’s hoping to get to state one more time before graduating.

“I highly recommend Northfield Hospital,” Madeline says. “I loved it there. Everyone was so kind and took such great care of me, like I was their own kid.

They genuinely care. It was a great experience.”

And her teammate? “I love Dr. Bengtson and I was so thankful for him,” she says. “But at that last appointment, I told him, ‘I’m really glad to be done with you now.’”

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Find Girlfriends on Facebook Watch for our next edition coming in August!

Center for Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Northfield: 507-646-8800 Lakeville: 952-985-2020

www.northfieldhospital.org

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contents THE JUNE ISSUE 2016

about us Volume 8, Issue 5

Copyright © Girlfriends 2016 Published June 2016 by: Southern Minn Media 514 Central Avenue Faribault, MN 55021

8

Send releases and story ideas to:

Beth Forkner Moe at Girlfriends magazine, bfmoe@southernminn.com Editor:

Beth Forkner Moe Contributing Writers:

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Kari Berit Brianna Darling Kemry Gett Trent Jonas Rian Dicke-Michels Rachel Minske Sarah Osterbauer Terri Schlichenmeyer Grace Webb Gina Van Thomme Isabelle Wattenberg

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Multimedia Consultants:

Kristie Biehn Ginny Bergerson Nicole Brandon Kathleen Davies Missy Daschner Pam DeMorett Chad Hjellming Joan Koester Per Kvalsten Mark Nelson Lori Nickel Stacy Murphy Ryan Oldham Jay Petsche Jennifer Sorenson Gayle Stelten Autumn Van Ravenhorst Elizabeth Williams

features WYSIWYG Juice COmpany | 5 Juicing their way through sickness and health.

PROFILE: Adrienne SWEENEY | 8 Living and loving a life in the theater.

Shepherd’s Way Farms | 10 Delicious cheese made in our own back yard.

Destination Winona | 14 Known for its spectacular scenery, arts and vast array of activities and events.

Graphic Designer:

Mindfulness for beginners | 16

Kate Townsend-Noet

How it can change your life for the better.

Ad Designers:

Mary Jo Blanchard Nicole Gilmore Keeley Krebsbach Jenine Kubista Kelly Kubista Kate McGillen Kayla McMullen Jennifer Schoenbauer

The second time around | 20 Grandparents raising grandchildren.

Simplify... | 23 How to host the perfect summer potluck.

what’s mine is yours | 24 Three women in the sharing economy share their stories.

Yoga | 27 Yoga offers something for everyone.

accessories A MAN’S PERSPECTIVE | 13 Book Review | 22 FROM THE EDITOR | 3 From the Kitchen | 19 GIRLFRIENDS GUIDE | 29 Here’s to good health | 26 Unexpected Caregiver | 28 WE TIME | 18

ON THE COVER: Kristi & Marie are owners of WYSIWYG Juice Company.

See their story next page

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Juicing their way through sickness and health

WYSIWYG Juice Company

By Grace Webb

K

risti Schuck and Marie Farley Christensen met under the worst of circumstances.

The two women were attending a support group in Mankato for people who lost their spouses to cancer. In Farley Christensen’s case, her husband, Bob, had passed away nearly 10 years previously after a fight with colorectal cancer. Schuck’s husband, Wes, had passed away only months earlier from the same disease.

As the women talked and shared their struggles, they came to

discover many other things they shared—from the number of kids they have (three each) to their deep interest in nutrition, which they used to help their husbands achieve the best quality of life possible despite deteriorating health. The more time they spent together, the stronger their friendship grew.

One particular interest they shared was juicing. In fact, Schuck was so passionate about its good effects she decided to start her own juicing business. Almost as soon as she made the decision, Farley Christensen came on board as partner. Together, they opened WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) in January.

Theirs is a poignant story of turning life’s tragedies into blessings—and they’re only getting started. uuu JUNE ISSUE 2016 |

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Kristi’s story Schuck grew up in Minnetonka and studied health science and exercise physiology at Gustavus Adolphus College. She met husband Wes there and married him in 1997 after they graduated.

They moved to Mankato and opened several businesses, including a recording studio. In addition, Schuck started offering fitness classes at the Mankato YMCA. In 2001, 36-year-old Wes was diagnosed with stage-four colorectal cancer and told he only had about four months to live. Instead of despairing in the face of such a bleak diagnosis, the couple began aggressively researching other health options to supplement the chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

“We were stunned to get this diagnosis, but we were also very much realistic about it,” Schuck explained. “We thought, ‘There’s more to this than cancer—there’s also health.’ So we just went gangbusters on how to support his health. And we left the cancer to the medical world. We knew we needed them in partnership. But we

Not all creations are equally tasty When it comes to the juices on WYSIWYG’s menu, some have long histories and some are new experiments. Many of the juices come from recipes Farley Christensen and Schuck created with their husbands.

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knew focusing on health was what helped us thrive every day and really just honor the quality of life.”

The first step was cleaning up Wes’s diet, which quickly led to the rest of the family following suit.

“My oldest daughter, who was 10, asked, ‘Well if Dad’s eating this way because he has cancer, shouldn’t we all eat this way since we don’t want cancer?’” Schuck said. “Our whole family just jumped on board. It took some time. It wasn’t like all of a sudden we sat down to this happy meal of brussels sprouts. But after a while, everybody came along, and we started enjoying brussels sprouts.”

Schuck also developed a deep interest in juicing, pulling out a previously unused juicer she had received as a wedding present 14 years earlier. She said juicing greatly helped her husband.

“I’d see Wes spend days with chemotherapy and turn around within 20 minutes, saying, ‘Oh, I’m heading off to work and feel fantastic,’ with a juice in his hand,” she remembers. “He would say, ‘I feel like I can do anything. This disease has no grip on me at all.’”

Wes passed away in 2015 after a four-year fight. He had much

“There are a lot of juices that are from our past, that are part of our history that we used in our family recipes,” Schuck said.

She admitted that some ingredients blended together better than others.

“Once, Wes and I said,‘Let’s try juicing turnips,’” Schuck remembers.“You won’t see turnips on the menu, because they didn’t turn out so well. But he tried it.

Our husbands were kind of our crash test dummies.”

“They were victims of many juices,” Farley Christensen agreed,“and some were just terrible.”

The women still experiment with new recipes now, crediting their complementary taste palettes. You never know what you’ll see on the menu—but there’s a pretty good chance you’ll like it.

more time than originally predicted; but, more importantly, but he had a much better life during the time he had.

“We sincerely believe that nutrition is so important. It’s the one thing in our life that we can use to make a direct impact on how we feel.” -Kristi & Marie Marie’s story Farley Christensen grew up in St. James, Minnesota and attended Augsburg College to study marketing and economics. While in college, she met husband Bob, whom she married in 1990. The two of them moved to Wisconsin after graduation. In 2006, 34-year-old Bob was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and given only 18 months to live.

“We just turned the house upside-down,” Farley Christensen recalled. “When you have little kids [ages 2, 4 and 6 at the time], and you’re faced with a diagnosis like that, we really asked ourselves, ‘How can we give him the best chance possible?’”

The family moved back to Minnesota shortly afterwards, and Farley Christensen really started paying closer attention to what was on the dinner table—and in everyone’s glasses.

“I got rid of everything unhealthy,” she said. “I remember going through my pantry and cleaning out the closet. I gave everything away.”

The family switched to organic foods and raw juices with no glutens or sugars. It was a time-consuming task to make such health-conscious decisions and meals, but Farley Christensen said the choices had clear benefits.

“When Bob was going through chemo and radiation and surgeries, he said, ‘How can it be that when I’m as sick as I’ve ever been in my life, I feel the greatest I’ve ever felt?’” she said.

Ultimately, Bob lived for another four years after receiving the diagnosis.

“There were so many miracles along the way,” Farley Christensen said. “He outlived everyone’s expectations.”

“I just knew that if we could offer this to everybody, it would be a gift,” she explained. “Most people, I believe, would eat or drink healthy if it was easy. It’s a lot of work (though). We really want to offer that nutrition to the people of Mankato.”

Since opening about six months ago, they already have about 20 employees. They use as many local organic suppliers as they can.

Their menu includes all organic, gluten-free foods from non-GMO sources. Perhaps the most popular items are their 100 percent raw juices, which are bottled fresh every day, but there are also smoothies, salads, desserts, coffees and more, including vegan and vegetarian options.

The business may be fairly new to the Mankato scene, but it has already received a lot of positive attention.

“The support has been just beyond our wildest dreams,” Schuck said. “We’ve been so embraced, and we feel so blessed and so fortunate. It’s really exciting.”

The women say they hope to establish their current location as the WYSIWYG flagship store, before branching out into catering, distributing to local stores and gyms, and starting a franchise.

Wherever the business leads them, though, they say they’re committed to offering nutritious choices to their customers.

“Regardless of the number of your days, it really is about the quality of your days,” Farley Christensen said. “When you are diagnosed with cancer, hope just always rises to the top. It comes in so many different ways. And we just chose to bring that here: hoping tomorrow nutritionally, you might be a better version of yourself.

There’s many things in the illness that you cannot control, but your nutrition is one that you have direct input into, and that you can enhance to give yourself the best life, whether it’s cancer or just daily nutrition.”

Grace Webb is a wandering reporter whose home base is Mankato.

The business Schuck and Farley Christensen met at a LIVESTRONG support group in September 2015 and also became work acquaintances at the Mankato YMCA, where they both led fitness classes.

“It was just amazing, how similar our stories were,” Farley Christensen said. “For the first time, I had somebody to talk to. I just adored her.”

As the friendship grew, Schuck shared an idea that she had been mulling over for some time: starting her own juice bar. She had become inspired by all the juice bars her husband found while he was traveling for business, and how helpful they had been when it came to eating right—which could be very difficult because of the limited options in the area.

“We’d ask ourselves, ‘Where can we eat that we wouldn’t have to sacrifice the integrity of our choices to eat nutritiously based on our health?’” she said. “There didn’t exist a place like this yet, to this degree.”

Schuck asked Farley Christensen if she wanted to invest in the business plan, but her friend went even further, becoming a partner.

Contact info Address: 527 S. Front Street, Mankato Website: www.wysiwygjuice.com Facebook: WYSIWYG Juice Co. Phone number: 507-387-5651

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Sweeney Adrienne

Profile

Living and loving a life in the theater

Peterson and the surrounding area. It’s considered an artist/administrative model; in other words, we all do a bit of everything. On any given night, I might work concessions. The next night, I may be on stage. Another night, you won’t see me because I’ll be doing props backstage. I may be tearing tickets on yet another night. It makes our art more accessible; we build relationships with the community and our patrons. You can talk to any of us at intermission. This is an intentional model that helps de-mystify the art.

It’s like working in a family business, such as a hardware store.

None of us get to say, “That’s not my job.” We all pitch in and do whatever needs to be done.

This is a tragically rare model in the United States, especially for a company our size (we have about an $800,000 annual budget); it’s more common in smaller theaters.

What makes this such a good model?

A

By Beth Forkner Moe drienne Sweeney always thought she would live in large cities, growing up in Philadelphia and attending college at Loyola University in Baltimore.

Working in marketing, advertising and magazine design, she moved to Minneapolis in 1993, where she began acting.

She hired an acting coach, who told her, “You have the talent, but not the technique.” As Sweeney explained, it’s important to have technique in order to keep things consistent during the run of a show, often 20 or more appearances in a row. She then attended graduate school at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she earned a Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) degree.

She kept auditioning and getting parts, mostly with community theater groups, while also working in marketing.

And then she discovered the Commonweal Theatre, located in Lanesboro, Minnesota. “I realized I was not meant to be a big city girl anymore,” she said.

She has not looked back since.

How did you get involved with the Commonweal?

I worked for the Commonweal in marketing, design and editing. In 2001, I got a part in an Ibsen show, plus parts in two of the summer shows. I loved it, the town and the community. Most importantly, I loved and continue to love the concept of the Commonweal, being part of a company of with a repertory ensemble cast.

I didn’t want to give up my original work with the theater, but I also wanted to act. When they asked me to craft my perfect job, they created it for me. So in 2002, I was hired full-time to promote the Ibsen Festival. Now, in addition to acting full-time during the season, I am the Associate Artist Director, Director of External Communications, and the Ibsen Festival Coordinator.

Explain what a theater ensemble is.

Fourteen of us work at the Commonweal. We all live in Lanesboro,

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It’s all about ownership and accountability. We all look at the budget. We all know what’s happening. We’ve been together a long time; some of us have been here 16, 18, even 25 years. We know each other; we’re like family. We know each other’s habits, talents and tricks. The trust is there; we don’t have to build it each season. We can challenge and encourage each other, safely.

There is very little “reporting to” anyone. Hal (Cropp, the Executive Director) oversees everything, but we have five people in leadership roles. Each manages an arm of the company, but we all act in collaboration with each other. We are all considered equal and part of the consulting body.

What do you like best about acting?

There is something magic about acting on stage. Regardless of the story – a tear-jerker, musical or drama – we are in a dark room together, sharing a one-time experience, including the audience. The audience doesn’t know how much a part of it they are, but they make up part of the experience. Everyone is right there. Every time is different. This particular experience will never be replicated.

What do you like least about acting?

I love rehearsals and the performances. But I don’t love “tech week.” Everything happens at once – lights, costumes, tech. This is when the insecurities come out. “Am I going to be able to do this?

No, I’m going to fail.” But the insecurity is part of the process. It’s like throwing a party and wondering if anyone is going to come. The older you get, though, the more you learn. You just have to remember to find yourself during this process.

What are your favorite and least favorite genres of theater?

I love comedies. It’s such a good feeling to be on stage and hearing people laugh. I love to give people reasons to laugh. I also value and respect drama. If it’s good, smart communication with heart, I would do it every day of the year. On the other hand, I’m terrible with verse (like Shakespeare), and I am not good with farce, which is different from comedy.

Have you written any plays yourself?

No, I haven’t. I have stories I would like to tell and have ideas to share. I would love to collaborate with others. My husband Hal (Cropp) and others in the company have written plays.

OK, we have to ask – how do you and your husband manage to work together, be part of the same management team, etc.? How are you able to keep all your various roles separate?

Well, we met while both working at the Commonweal. So we got to know each other within the confines and parameters of this particular universe. We’ve been together for 13 years and have been married for 8. We are very careful and aware of other people in the company, to make sure we don’t appear to have conflicts of interest.

What are you working on now?

I’m in three shows this season. I play a villain in “Three Musketeers.” I’m excited that I get to fight, using swords, rapiers and knives.

We’ve been working on the choreography since January. It’s fun to be able to use the whole space in the theater.

Information about the Commonweal: Mission: To enrich the common good through actor based story telling which is both transcendent and relevant.

Website: www.commonwealtheatre.org

I’m also in “Christmas Carol,” which I adore and would do anytime. It’s a company-written script that we perform every three years.

I love it; it boils down life to the basic essence of man’s redemption.

And I’m most excited about being in “Pride’s Crossing,” our fall show. It’s beautiful and not done very often.

Tell us more about “Pride’s Crossing.”

It’s about a fictional character, Mabel Bigelow Tiding, but based on a real person – Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. It’s an account of “Mabel’s” experience, starting on the eve of her 90th birthday, and moving back and forth in time. It explores her memories and elements we as women deal with, choices we have made – or not made – who make us who we are.

It makes us think about what we remember and why. And what do we think we’ll remember? For example, look back 20 years in your own life. What was important then, and what did you think would be important going forward? Life isn’t just about what happened, but also about what didn’t happen.

It’s a gorgeous play, and very uplifting and empowering for women.

Beth Forkner Moe is the editor of Girlfriends magazine.

Dates of plays in which Adrienne Sweeney appears: • Three Musketeers – June 17 - Oct 24 • Pride’s Crossing – Sept 9 - Nov 13 • Christmas Carol – Nov18 - Dec 20

Most unusual fact about the Commonweal: Because Lanesboro is located amidst a high concentration of Norwegian-American families, the Commonweal produces the works of Henrik Ibsen annually, and remains the only theatre company in North America with such a commitment.

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Delicious cheese made in our own back yard

By Isabelle Wattenberg Photos courtesy of ShepherdsWayFarm.com and Facebook

W

hen Jodi Ohlsen Read started selling cheese in 1998, she covered the wheels in black wax - not to protect the flavor or preserve the shape, but because she wanted her cheese to look approachable.

She had secured a section of shelf at Surdyk’s Liquor and Cheese Shop/Deli and was debuting Friesago, a nutty, aged sheep milk cheese, at a time when popular cheeses bore the hallmarks of uniformity, familiarity and predictability.

“Fast forward: it’s very different,” Ohlsen Read said. “Now our customers look for the quality that shows [cheese] is made in small batches by hand. And because consumers are more interested in where their food comes from, the number of people open to the kind of cheese we make has grown.”

Before the emergence and rise of the artisan cheese movement that added asiago and bloomy rind to our vocabulary, Shepherd’s Way Farms - owned and run by Ohlsen Read and her husband Steven - was producing small-batch sheep milk cheese. Drive to the Nerstrand farm in early spring, and you’ll pass stretches of snowless plains, left-over stalks of corn tousled like the hair on a baby’s balding head, Shepherd’s Way neighbors’ organic and conventional farms, CSAs and fellow cheesemakers. When a catastrophic fire wiped out more than 500 of the farm’s sheep and

lambs along with their barns in 2005, these neighbors, along with many long-time supporters of the farm, provided resources to rebuild.

Currently, Ohlsen Read’s flock of sheep is just over half the size it was before the fire. The re-growth has taken time, partially because they select only the best milkers to breed, but also because they run such a small operation. Aside from a half-dozen part-time employees and their four sons, the Reads manage everything from lambing to transporting the aged cheeses to stores.

“I like to wear many hats,” Ohlsen Read said. “I like the magical points of cheese-making, like the point of transformation from the liquid to the curds and whey. You have tangible results. You can see and feel the result of what you did all day.”

While new cheesemakers often begin selling at farmers’ markets before distributing in stores, Shepherd’s Way didn’t initially have the people power to staff a booth every weekend, so they did it backwards, first sharing their products at Surdyk’s.

In 2006, Brenda Langton brought together a group of artisans and local farmers to form the Mill City Farmers’ Market, a year-round market located in Minneapolis. Shepherd’s Way signed on that year. Now, the market is a staple source of business, as well as a sort of test kitchen. Ohlsen Read recently experimented with a ricotta that sold out at the Mill City market before most shoppers had even parked their cars.

As interest in more complex cheeses has grown, Shepherd’s Way uuu

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Cheese Pairings: Jodi Ohlsen Read and her husband Steven Read established Shepherd’s Way Farm in rural Carver County Minnesota with a small flock of dairy sheep in 1994.

Get Involved!

• Join the farm’s CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture share) and receive a monthly assortment of classic and limited release Shepherds Way Cheeses and member-only information and invitations, including an annual member appreciation day at the farm.

Pick up locations are offered across the Twin Cities and in Northfield, and you can choose from a traditional and CSA-Plus package (the latter includes holiday boxes and the opportunity to visit the farm during lambing season).

• Attend the Eat Local Tour. Scheduled for July 16 this year, local farms of all kinds around Southern Minnesota open their barn doors for the public to tour and buy fresh goods on the same stretch of land they were grown on. Shepherd’s Way is a key stop along the path, which includes both produce and animal farms.

Not sure how to put that wheel of cheese in action? Here’s how Jodi Ohlson Read likes to slice it: Shepherd’s Hope or other soft cheese: Pair with pepper jelly or mix with herbs and spread on grilled corn.

Big Woods Blue or other blue cheese: For a three-ingredient meal, grill romaine leaves, drizzle with olive oil, and crumble blue cheese on top. Big Woods and Friesago also make great burger partners.

Hidden Falls, Morcella, or Brie cheese: All you need are some crackers, a glass of Prosecco, and a pal or two.

Contact info, address, etc.: 507.663.9040 8626 160th St. E., Nerstrand, MN 55053 shepherdswayfarms.com Facebook JUNE ISSUE 2016 |

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“I like to live where I work; every day is different. There’s always possibility. I like the story part of what we do.” - Jodi Ohlsen Read

By the Numbers: Number of lambs born this year (as of early May): 400 Number of moms/ewes: 250 Amount of milk one ewe produces in a day: ¼ gallon (1 quart) Gallons needed to make a pound of cheese: 1-2 gallons (that’s 4-8 ewes!)

Number of cheese wheels made in a day: Anywhere between 40 and 90 Number of people who visit the booth at Mill City Farmer’s Market (www.millcityfarmersmarket.org) on a given Saturday: 2,000-3,000

n o i t tes ina

D

has expanded its production to offer seven cheeses, including a soft cheese, a blue, and - most recently - the semi-hard Burr Oak. Before adding new cheeses to Shepherd’s Way’s repertoire, Ohlsen Read said she considers several factors, including practicality - does the farm have the facilities and manpower available to consistently make the cheese? - and current cheese competition. As a hand-made sheep milk cheese, Shepherd’s Way naturally differentiates itself, but a cheese must be able to stand on its own within the bigger market.

The cheese is gaining popularity in markets from coast to coast; shops in New York and California carry Shepherd’s Way cheese. If she can figure out how to increase production, Ohlsen Read would like to see this expand, although not so much that the farm loses its homegrown roots.

“I like to live where I work; every day is different,” she said.

“There’s always possibility. I like the story part of what we do.”

Isabelle Wattenberg is a social media and data analytics specialist for MSP Communications. She spends her spare moments listening to opera, reading Alice in Wonderland, and writing about Minnesota happenings.

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Purple Musings TRENT JONAS

Trent Jonas is a Twin Cities-based writer and divorced father of two. He is fascinated and frightened by women but is working through his issues.

Like many of us in Minnesota, I had a lot of thoughts about Prince even before his death in April – but many were tucked deeper away in my head than I realized. At first, I was surprised by how much his death affected me. After a few weeks of reflection, however, it’s clear that he was always just there: a foundational, visible part of the Twin Cities, who consistently contributed music and charity and hosted regular late-night dance parties at Paisley Park. I took for granted that Prince was there.

Until he wasn’t.

Prince emerged as a global icon during the sweet spot of my teen years in Iowa. “Little Red Corvette” still conjures memories of hot, summer nights when I was fourteen, prowling my suburb with the neighbor girls I not-so-secretly pined for. I was a sophomore in high school when I saw Purple Rain at the drive-in, and in 1986, I moved to Minneapolis for college. Walking around downtown for the first time, I made a beeline for First Avenue and halfexpected to see Prince just hanging around outside.

The angst-y sensuality and local color of his music imprinted on my teen being.

Over the next couple decades, I finished school, got married, and started a career and a family. I don’t remember Prince being so much on my mind, but I recall several specific instances where his music was a backdrop to my life, including seeing him in-theround at the Xcel Energy Center.

chicagotribune.com

It was not until 2010, when I became a regular listener of the Current, a public radio station based in the Twin Cities, that I felt a reconnection with Prince. He released new music, announced his Paisley Park parties and, in many ways, communicated with his fans through the station.

It’s only fitting that the Current became the global meeting place for those to celebrate and remember Prince after his death.

I always meant to get down to one of the Paisley Park events. They always seemed a little too late, a little too far from home or on a work-night. I figured, at some point though, my schedule and his would eventually coincide. But they never did.

So, my takeaway from Prince’s death is to make the time to do the things that are important to you.

If you keep putting them off, the chance may never return. Take that trip, write that story, go see that game.

More importantly, though is my takeaway from Prince’s life. He was a man who wrote his own story and owned it like no one else. He wrote and released what he wanted, when he wanted. He dressed how he chose and expressed sexuality as he felt it. Prince was a prolific, often anonymous, philanthropist. It seems that practically no one questions his genius, his goodness or his uniqueness.

Prince was, in many ways, what a male role model should be.

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Winona Destination

Known for its spectacular scenery, arts and vast array of activities and events.

I

By Kemry Gett f you have been searching for a vacation spot that offers a little bit of everything, look no further than Winona, Minnesota. Winona has always been known for its spectacular scenery, but in recent years has become known for its thriving arts and culture, as well as the vast array of activities and events available to those who decide to visit the historic island city. The summer months, in particular, offer a variety of different options, both for residents and visitors.

“Winona gets very busy around May (and through the summer), with graduations and tournaments, weddings and family reunions,” said Pat Mutter, Executive Director at Visit Winona. This town of around 27,500 is home to Winona State University (WSU), Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (SMU), and Minnesota State College – Southeast Technical, so it’s no wonder Winona is at its busiest during graduation season. Luckily, visiting families, friends and relatives will cityofwinona.com have no trouble filling up their spare time.

Located in the southeastern corner of Minnesota, Winona is nestled between the bluffs and the Mississippi River. This beautiful setting offers an assortment of ways to experience and enjoy the river. The Winona Tour Boat offers hour-long river cruises Wednesday through Sunday.

Groups can also tour the river on WSU’s boat, the Cal Fremling, through “History on the River” cruises. Or they can charter and participate in educational events on the boat. Visitors can also walk alongside the river near downtown Winona or they can enjoy a day on the beach on

JUNE Issue 2016 | gf | Girlfriends.mn Minnesota Marine Art Museum - mmam.org

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Fountian in Central Park - pintrest.com

Latsch Island (right across the river from downtown).

If you are looking for a tour of the town rather than the river, Trester Trolley tours offer 60-minute tours of downtown Winona, immersing you in the history and architecture without the hassle of having to drive yourself around.

Winona has an array of lodging for every traveler’s needs. Just a few examples: • The Village House Inn – a fully restored farmhouse with four beautiful bedrooms – has the option to rent out just a

Winona County Historical Society - tripadvisor.com

single room, or the whole house. They have a Girlfriends Getaway package, which includes rental of the whole house for one night, either a trolley tour or a sunset cruise on the Winona Tour Boat, a $25.00 gift card to Signatures Restaurant for each guest, one ticket to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum for each guest, and a self-serve continental breakfast.

• The Alexander Mansion Historic Bed and Breakfast is another favorite, offering wine and movie nights in the Library to any guests who may be interested.

• The Windom Park Bed and Breakfast offers a 5-course breakfast served in a formal dining room.

• The Carriage House Bed and Breakfast offers free tandem bikes to their guests.

If you want to participate in outdoor activities while visiting Winona, you will not be disappointed. There are multiple trails along the bluffs, such as the hike up the Garvin Heights Overlook, which offers stunning views, all the way to the Wisconsin bluffs. Three state parks are located within 30 miles: Whitewater State Park, Great River Bluffs State Park, and John A. Latsch State Park. If you prefer to stay in town, stop by the Lake Lodge Recreation Center on East Lake Winona and sign up for the $15 membership which gives you a year

of free rentals, whether it be paddle boarding, kayaking, or ice skating in the winter months.

Or take a walk on the beautiful paved paths that encircle both East Lake Winona – 3.7 miles – and West Lake Winona – 1.8 miles.

Winona offers more than five miles of scenic biking and hiking routes right in town, with bench swings and playgrounds along the way.

Of course, there are plenty of food and dining options in Winona, but if you want to go somewhere uniquely Winona, “You have to visit Bloedow’s Bakery and Lakeview Drive Inn,” according to Mutter. Bloedow’s was recently voted the best donut shop in Minnesota, and Lakeview Drive Inn is Winona’s oldest restaurant, open since 1938.

In the summer months, Winona is filled with annual and special events for the whole family. Every Wednesday evening, there is a band concert at the Lake Park Band Shell.

Saturday mornings May through October, a Farmers’ Market is held downtown, along with one on Wednesday afternoons at Winona Health.

Steamboat Days, Winona’s annual community-wide celebration, takes place June 15-19. The Great River Shakespeare Festival is held June 22-July 31, giving you plenty of time to catch a performance. The Minnesota

Sugarloaf - mapio.net

Beethoven Festival is June 25-July 17, and the Art of Fine Furniture, an exhibit of studio furniture crafted by both professional and hobbyist furniture makers, is June 18-July 31.

Theatre du Mississippi, in partnership with the Winona County Historical Society, holds performances each weekend June 18-August 14, at the historic Bunnell House.

For more information, go to Visitwinona. com, or stop by the Visitors’ Center at 924 Huff St. Kemry Gett is a student at Winona State University and a freelance writer for Girlfriends magazine.

un JUNE ISSUE 2016 | gf | Girlfriends.mn Minnesota Marine Art Museum - schwabllc.com

15

Wellness

Mindfulness for beginners:

How it can change your life for the better

B

Story and Photos By Rachel Minske uddhist monk Bhante Sathi sat on a cushion in a small circle in a simple room. He was barefoot and draped in a crimson robe. With his eyes closed, his legs in a meditative pose and his right hand placed in his left, he led a group of four in a session on mindfulness.

The room was silent except for the occasional soft reminder from Sathi to focus on breathing and to disregard any thoughts that crept into the mind.

“How do you feel?” he asked the group after they were instructed to open their eyes.

Some said they felt peaceful and re-centered, while others said they felt tired.

Sathi has practiced as a monk for more than 25 years, ever since emerging spiritual interests in his early teens led him to be ordained as a novice

Photo of Buddhist monk Bhante Sathi at a Mindfulness Center, 212 N. Chestnut St., in Chaska.

monk at age 19 in Sri Lanka, his native country.

He moved to Minnesota in 2003, when he founded Triple Gem of the North in Mankato, a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and practice of the teachings of the Buddha.

That particular class was taught at the Mindfulness Center in Chaska, although Sathi travels around the state teaching sessions on mindfulness, including bi-weekly classes at Carleton College in Northfield and weekly classes in Mankato and St. Peter, among other locations and scheduled retreats.

Those who take his classes come for a variety of reasons, Sathi said.

Some are looking for help with their stressful lives, some seek peace or health benefits, some are in search of a spiritual community and others are just curious.

So what is mindfulness? Sathi compared it to a bottle of water filled with mud. A person can never forcefully make the dirt settle at the bottom

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of the bottle. It has to happen peacefully, by blocking out all other disturbances. That metaphor carries over to those who practice mindfulness, Sathi said.

“When it settles, you can see it clearly,” he said. “You can see the color of fish. You can see anxiety, lust, compassion, love. You can see all these things clearly.”

And being mindful is all about settling, said Sathi. It’s not about finding control, but instead about finding self-awareness.

According to The Greater Good Science Center based at the University of California Berkeley, mindfulness is maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surrounding environment.

Although it has roots in Buddhist meditation, according to The Greater Good Science Center, mindfulness is becoming more and more mainstream.

Sathi agreed. The monk said in recent years there’s been a shift in how health is approached; people value mental wellness as much as they do physical robustness.

Although, he noted, “educated” communities tend to embrace mindfulness more often.

“Meditation is something anyone can practice,” he said.

The Mayo Clinic lists the benefits of mindfulness exercise as improved mood, less negative thinking and distractions and reduced stress, anxiety and depression. The Mayo Clinic Health System in St. Peter has offered an

eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course in the past.

Becoming mindful In his class, Sathi instructed his students to sit in a meditative pose (think legs formed like a pretzel, but not crossed) and with the right hand cupped in the left.

To hold hands or make the “OK” sign with your hands raised in the air is incorrect and somewhat of a marketing strategy that portrays the practice in an incorrect light, Sathi said.

It’s not unusual for beginners to feel discomfort in the pose; legs can fall asleep or there may be stiffness in the back or neck.

It’s extremely common, but will go away with practice, Sathi said.

Plus, it’s possible that one’s mind could even create “fake pain,” that will also go away over time.

Sathi offered two main recommendations for those who wish to incorporate mindfulness into their own lives: find a teacher and be committed. A teacher will offer advice and resources far beyond what the Internet or a book can, Sathi said. And commitment is essential to turning the practice into a lifestyle.

The monk compared mindfullness commitment to baking a cake. One would not mix together the batter, place it in the oven and switch the temperature on and off at will. That’s no way to bake a cake, he said. Instead, the oven needs to be on at a consistent temperature to ensure the cake

turns out desirably.

Sathi recommended beginners attend a weekly class over 16 to 18 weeks. If one class is missed, they should start the count back at No. 1.

While Sathi said he meditates for many hours every day, in addition to practicing mindfulness in everything that he does (even washing the dishes), beginners should also practice at home independently three to four times per week.

While Sathi recommends those beginning to explore mindfulness meet with a teacher regularly, there are a number of mindfulness phone apps that are currently trending in a big way.

The following apps are three of many that offer guidance with incorporating mindfulness into your lifestyle: • Stop Breathe and Think: This application is a free mindfulness, meditation and compassionbuilding tool. Users can check in how they’re feeling and thinking and select emotions that guide them to recommended meditations. Available for iPhone and

Android.

• Calm: This is a simple mindfulness meditation app that aims to bring clarity, joy and peace of mind to users. The app features 25 soothing, calming sounds and three different meditation options: 7 to 21 days of guided meditation programs, unguided meditation sessions and over 25 guided meditation sessions that last up to 20 minutes. Available for iPhone and Android.

• The Mindfulness Training App: Users will find a selection of interactive audio, video and written instruction to fit a variety of learning styles. Further, the application offers training programs with a number of health and wellness experts. Available for iPhone.

To learn more about the Triple Gem of the North, visit triplegem.org. Aside from meditation sessions, the organization offers retreats, workshops and yoga classes.

Rachel Minske is a multimedia journalist. When not writing, she’s usually drinking coffee and asking questions.

Open now at roundbank.com Waseca Waldorf Farmington New Prague

507-835-4220, 200 2nd Street NE 507-239-2166, 102 South Main 651-463-8300, 3380 Vermillion River Trail 952-758-BANK (2265), 1100 1st Street NE

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We Time Additional Information: Berne Wood-Fired Pizza

• Located at 23148 Co. Hwy. 24, West Concord (on grounds of Zwingli United Church of Christ).

• Orders are taken 5-8 p.m.

Wednesday nights in June, July and August. Grounds are open until all pizzas have been served and enjoyed by guests. Pizzas can be taken to-go, but call ahead orders are not taken.

• There are generally seven types of pizza available; they typically cost $18-$22. Gluten-free crusts are not available.

• Credit/debit cards are not accepted; bring cash.

• Musicians perform each evening beginning at 6:30 p.m.

• Pizzas are served on the box with napkins. Diners are asked to bring their own plates, utensils, etc.

Some guests bring their own lawn chairs or blankets, although picnic tables are available.

• Pop, water, ice cream and chips are sold on the grounds. Guests are welcome to bring their beverage of choice, including beer or wine.

Directions: - From Owatonna: Take Hwy. 14 to the Kasson exit. Berne is located 10 miles north of Kasson, and a ½-mile off of Hwy. 57 on Dodge Co. 24.

- From Rochester: Take Hwy. 52 north.

Berne is located 7 miles west of Pine Island on Dodge Co. 24.

Red Barn Farm

• Located at 10063 110th St. E., Northfield.

• Orders are taken 4-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday nights May-October.

Orders are also taken 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. the third Saturday of each of those months.

• Pizzas cost $25 (16”), or $20 for 4-cheese. Gluten-free personal pizzas are $10, as are dessert pizzas.

• Credit/debit cards are not accepted; cash and checks are.

• Local musicians are welcome to perform during the pizza events. Contact Red Barn Farm for more information.

• Pizzas come in a box. Guests are asked to supply plates, utensils, beverages (including beer and wine, if desired), appetizers, etc.

• There is a General Store available, where guests can purchase salsa, specialty sauces, appetizers, beverages, eggs, homemade baked goods and unique gifts.

• Red Barn Farm was voted “Best Pizza” by SouthernMinn SCENE (a sister publication of Girlfriends Magazine) in 2004.

Both organizations have Facebook pages, where youIssue can2016 learn more. | gf | Girlfriends.mn JUNE

18

By Rachel Minske

P

eople will go to great lengths for good pizza.

Just ask Angela Organ, a volunteer at Berne Wood-Fired Pizza, a destination for those who love the Italian dish, music and camaraderie.

Every Wednesday night between June and August, roughly 60 volunteers help make enough pizza to feed the throngs of customers who stop by for a slice. Located in Berne – about seven miles north of Kasson on Highway 57 – the weekly operation is a fundraiser for Zwingli United Church of Christ. Many of the volunteers are also members of the church, Organ said.

Customers travel from all over the state and some beyond that – it’s not uncommon to serve pizza to motorcyclists from South Dakota or Iowa, Organ said.

Part of the attraction in making the trip to such a rural setting is, of course, the pizza, Organ said.

But it’s also the opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

“Being off the beaten path is part of the draw,” she said.

Situated on several acres, Berne Wood-Fired Pizza has a pizza garage on-site. There are two outdoor ovens and an outdoor stage that houses the venue’s summer concert series. A big grassy area is available for seating. Some use the provided picnic tables while others bring their own chairs or blankets.

“People just sprawl out,” Organ said.

Berne Wood-Fired Pizza

Customers are invited to bring their own beverages, but can also purchase soda, chips and ice cream while there, if desired.

Organ said Berne Wood-Fired Pizza “doesn’t skimp” on its quality ingredients. Customers can

order a wide variety of pizzas – anything from a Greek pizza to sauerkraut one, she said.

“They love the pizza,” she said of the customers.

“They love the crust.”

The “character of the crust” is also what keeps people coming back to the Red Barn Farm of Northfield, owner Pat Winter said. “We’ve worked on it for five years,” he said of the crust. “You get some charred, some chewiness.”

Winter’s business is another destination for many pizza-lovers on Wednesday nights between May and October and the third Sunday of each of these months.

Red Barn Farm

Most of the ingredients are locally sourced, said Winter. In fact, they’re grown only about 50 feet away in the family’s garden. Sausage for the pizza is purchased at Nerstrand Meats & Catering, he said.

Food, service and atmosphere are the three ingredients needed to bring customers back time and time again, Winter said. While he has the food and service aspects down pat (between 400 and 500 pizzas are served each night they’re open), there’s a societal push for unique dining atmospheres, he said.

And the Red Barn Farm of Northfield offers that, he said.

The business is situated on the family’s 10-acre hobby farm in Northfield – a venue he likened to “a Norman Rockwell painting.” Customers enjoy that there are cats and chickens roaming around and they often like to walk through the nearby grape vineyards.

“I like to say it’s a whole new sense of community,” he said. “It’s a melting pot of people who are forced to sit and have a picnic.”

Rachel Minske is a multimedia journalist. When not writing, she’s usually drinking coffee and asking questions.

From The Kitchen

Healthy skin.

Happy you.

Toody’s Sweet Treats is an OldFashioned Ice Cream Shoppe and Luncheonette. Toody’s features malts, shakes, phosphates, sundaes, ice cream cones, Heggies pizzas, homemade goodies, hot dogs, sandwiches, and says owner Ruth Ann Nytes, “if you are lucky, even homemade pie which does not last long when I do get a chance to make it”.

Toody’s is located in an historic building (built in 1897) in downtown Henderson. The building was built in 1897.

It started as a dry goods and notions store. It later added shoes, hats, clothing and groceries. It eventually became a pharmacy and soda fountain. It is still a soda fountain with a pharmacy located inside the same building. It has been known as Toody’s for 6 1/2 years.

Nytes says she is often asked why she named the business Toody’s. “Well, my name is Ruth Ann and my uncle would always say here comes ‘Roody Toody’” she said. “A friend of mine picked up on that and gave me the nickname Toody”.

Says Nytes, “It is a short drive to Henderson to experience an Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain, where all your old friends can meet and make new friends in a town that is known for its hospitality and charm. Toody’s is known for its large portions - we

often have to say ‘we don’t know what small is’, quality ice cream, homemade baked goodies, and a unique atmosphere not found in franchises. Come to Toody’s and become a friend and regular customer.”

Toody’s has been recognized as one of Explore Minnesota’s 45 Must-Visit Ice Cream Shops.

Rhubarb Cake 1 box yellow cake mix 4-1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped 1 cup sugar 1/2 pint whipping cream Mix cake mix as directed on package and pour into 9x13 inch pan. Cover batter with 4 1/2 cups rhubarb. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar. Pour whipping cream (not whipped) over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Store in refrigerator. Cream and rhubarb will sink to bottom to form a custard layer.

Toody’s Sweet Treats 417 Main St., Henderson 507-248-3177

Accessible providers at two convenient locations.

When your skin is healthy, you’re more confident and happy. Our team of nine dermatology providers have extensive training and experience with skin care and skin diseases. They are passionate about providing you with the most complete care to help you keep your skin healthy and feeling great.

Our Dermatology Providers can help you with: • • • • • • • •

Acne Age Spots, Birthmarks, Growths and Warts Eczema Psoriasis Skin Rashes, Allergies and Infections Skin Disorders Skin Cancer Photo Therapy

Call today to schedule your appointment.

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MANKATO 507-389-8538 Madison East Center 1400 Madison Avenue Suite 400A

Open every day:

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Please call ahead for lunch parties of 6 or more, so they can better serve you.

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J

By Sarah Osterbauer ean Hayes laughs affectionately recalling a story her 15-year-old granddaughter Imani told her about one of Imani’s teachers.

“She’s funny!” Jean cites as one of the biggest rewards she gains from raising her granddaughter.

You can sense her glowing pride through the phone as she talks about Imani. Jean and her husband Gary have had custody of Imani since she was 10 years old. Prior to that she

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had lived with them at various times.

Jean and Gary are part of a growing population of grandparents raising grandchildren in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2.7 million grandparents were raising grandchildren in 2012. The Bureau also reports that 39% of them had been raising them for five years or more. The Bureau reports this change in family unit has to do primarily with longer life expectancy (grandparents have more ability to provide care) and the fact that more households have both parents working full-time.

Unfortunately, for many families who find themselves in need of a family member (other than a parent) to take on full-time care, the events that spark the need are dire.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) says the reasons grandparents typically take over care is due to parents (or sometimes the children themselves) dealing with physical/mental health issues, substance abuse, addiction, incarceration or death. Whatever the initial scenario may be, the transition from grandparent to parent is not easy.

“Jean, when we started this (raising Imani), it was so hard and seemed like it was going to be forever. Now there are only three years left and I can’t imagine living without her!” - Gary Hayes According to the AAMFT, the children may experience feelings of rejection, abandonment, anger and guilt. These feelings can manifest into behavioral problems such as defiance, anger and aggression. For Jean and Carol (Carol’s name has been changed to protect her privacy), these issues are all too familiar.

Carol and her husband are raising their grandson, who has issues with substance abuse and mental illness. Once he needed more care than his mother could handle, Carol and her husband took him in.

Depending on the situation, managing and maintaining the relationship with the child’s parents is an added challenge. More difficult still is that these responsibilities are put onto grandparents who thought their time as hands-on parents had ended.

Becoming a parent for a second time comes with its own challenges. In addition to obvious generational differences between the children they raised and their grandchildren, the rules of parenting changed.

As Jean said, “The rules that we had the first time did not seem to apply the second time. So it seems like we had to start over.”

When they have questions about the rules, Jean says the easiest way to figure it out is to consult other parents. For her, the community has been supportive and helpful. It’s been important for them to seek outside help, especially in the beginning of the transition. For Carol, the core values remained the same, but her communication style with her grandson is different than what it was with her children.

Resorces for grandparents raising (or considering raising) their grandchildren Minnesota Board on Aging: www.mnaging.org/Administrator/ GrandparentsRaisingGrandchildren.aspx

A new support network has spread out across the state to provide assistance to grandparents – along with other older, nontraditional parents – raising “grandkin.” Host agencies have been identified in each part of the state that corresponds to an Area Agency on Aging. Through those hosts, support groups and mentoring programs have been set up to meet the needs of parenting grandparents in that portion of the state. To find a host agency near you, contact the Senior LinkAge Line® at 1-800333-2433.

Grandparent caregivers are real-life safety nets, keeping the children they love safe and their families together when birth parents are unable or unwilling to parent.

Both women and their families have seen therapists and joined support groups. The Hayes attended a group in Winona specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren, as well as taking various parenting classes.

While all these things were helpful and necessary, “Time was the most significant (factor),” Jean said.

Nothing was going to happen quickly.

Enough time had to pass to get into routines and acceptance mode. Imani had to accept that Jean and Gary were going to be her primary authority figures. Jean and Gary had to accept that their new primary focus was to be parents.

Part of that focus meant putting their retirement plans on hold. It also meant taking better care of themselves, both physically and mentally. Carol and her husband also started making sure they went to the doctor regularly.

Having a younger person depend on the couples means doing everything they can to ensure they will be around long enough to see their grandchildren into adulthood.

Jean is confident that they will make it to the

college years but has concern about Imani’s future beyond that.

“If you remember your own growing up, you didn’t want to leave your parents,” she said. “You want to be kind of well into adulthood before you want to manage without them.”

Now that the Hayes are over the hump, and the three of them feel like a family, things have gotten a lot better. As an example, Jean said, “As a threesome we’re able to make decisions now about what trip we’re going to take; before it was always just a fight.

Now we can actually have a conversation about it, whether it’s a trip or an obligation. It can be a discussion.”

Both women feel the experience of raising their grandchildren has taught them a great deal, about communication, mental health and building trust. It’s important to take things day by day and enjoy it when things are good, recognizing all the progress that’s been made. As much as there have been struggles, they say they would not have it any other way.

Reasons for a parent’s absence or unwillingness can include:

• County services – child protection, case management services • Educational services – resources for your child

• Substance abuse • HIV/AIDS • Death • Abandonment • Teen pregnancy

• Incarceration • Divorce • Poverty • Mental health issues

Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota:

www.lssmn.org/raising-relative-children/mkca/ www.lssmn.org/kinshipcaregivers/

For more information, contact the Warmline:

651-917-4640 or 877-917-4640 Warmline@lssmn.org

The Warmline can help you understand:

• Legal options – custody, adoption, guardianship or private agreements • Financial benefits – MFIP Child Only Grants, Social Security benefits, child support and more • Relationships – changing situations and dynamics, co-parenting and visitation

Sarah Osterbauer is a freelance writer based in St. Paul.

Grandparents and Kinship Caregivers support group in Mankato: When: 2nd Thursday of each month (check first to make sure date has not changed).

Where: New Creation Church in Mankato on Hwy 169 across from Perkins Time: 6 - 7:30 pm What: Speakers available providing helpful information to grandparents, meals provided, and child care provided. Please RSVP or for more information email Kelijo at Kebobw@hickorytech. net

MN Adopt: www.mnadopt.org/resources/kinshiprelativecare/

Grandparenting Blog: www.grandparentingblog.com

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Book Review

Locally Laid: How We Built a Plucky, Industry-Changing Egg Farm – From Scratch Max Craven Photography

c.2016, Avery $26.00 / $34.00 Canada 320 pages Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm

T

here are many ways to feather your nest.

Some people take in work at home. Others tackle extra hours, extra tasks, or have part-time jobs.

And then there are entrepreneurs who put everything on the line – which is what Lucie B. Amundsen and her family did not long ago, and in the new book “Locally Laid,” it almost put egg on their faces.

The moment definitely was not as romantic as Amundsen had anticipated.

When her husband, Jason, took her on a date so they could “talk… about something,” she never figured it would be chickens.

Specifically, commercial egg production. As in, a farm.

With neither of them being particularly handy, and Amundsen smarting over an unwanted move from her dream home in Minneapolis to an odd rental in Duluth, it

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by Lucie B. Amundsen

seemed like a disastrous idea. They didn’t really know much about chickens, and even less about raising them on pasture. After a chilly few days of tears, frowns, and silence, the idea was mutually tabled – until a lost job and a family disaster changed everything.

Chickens, to Amundsen’s chagrin, were in her future.

Finding the farm was the easy part: Jason scouted out a rental with ample room for several tube-shelters for slightly fewer than two thousand “young lady hens.” Procuring said hens was a little more difficult, until he found a man in Iowa who agreed to raise the hens to an almost-laying age, and deliver them to northern Minnesota. By the spring of 2012, the Amundsens were in business.

It didn’t take long for things to go fowl.

Improper paperwork, government regulations, dead chickens, bad weather, inadequate equipment, and exhaustion took their toll on the chickens, the farm, and the Amundsens, who both began to suffer health issues from stress. Despite support from family and friends, enthusiasm from customers, and a contest that brought a city together, Amundsen says she was “a prairie train wreck.”

“But there was nothing to do,” she says, “other than to ride through our rocky startup.”

Where does your food come from?

That’s a basic question asked in “Locally Laid,” and the answer may be different than it was even a few decades ago. In addition to sharing a story that’s funny and endearing, author Amundsen explains it, while also laying down a few brutal truths about what’s for breakfast.

For a consumer, that could cause scrambled thoughts, especially if you can’t tolerate too much information. Amundsen is honest about the bad, as well as the good – the latter of which she was slow to realize – and yes, there’s a happy ending. The surprise is that this is also a business tale with all the inherent frustrations, beautiful moments, workarounds, and triumphs of entrepreneurship.

And, of course, this tale is a charmer because… chickens.

So who should read this book? Well, anyone who eats, first of all, and anybody who’s ever loved a feathered friend. Farmers, foodies, and fans of a good story will also want to bring “Locally Laid” home to roost.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books. For more information, visit www.bookwormsez.com.

W

How to host the perfect summer potluck

Source: www.canadianliving.com ant to bring everyone together with a fun potluck party this summer? Here are some great tips for planning ahead and making sure you don’t end up with three potato salads.

When it comes to effortless summer entertaining, your goal should be simple: Keep things as light and breezy as your favorite summer dress and as stress-free as your perfect backyard lounge chair.

Potluck parties not only take some of the pressure off the host when it comes to food preparation; they’re also a great way to sample new dishes, keep your entertaining costs down and get your friends involved in the menu planning.

Potlucks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes: They’re flexible enough to feed a block party or simply a cluster of close friends - and all it takes is a little coordinating.

As the host, you’ll want to determine the parameters: will it be a foodie free-for-all, or do you want to establish a theme? Will you let your guests bring what they like (running the risk of a table groaning with nothing but dessert), or will you hand out assignments? Decide what kind of party you want to throw, and go forward in easy summer confidence!

1. Planning the party menu Part of what makes potlucks fun is not knowing exactly what you’re going to get, but a little coordinating will give you a better sense of how to plan the meal.

If you get your guests to commit to the kind of dish they’re bringing - whether it’s an appetizer, a salad, a main course or a dessert - you’ll know where the gaps are and you can plan your own dishes accordingly.

As the host, you’ll probably want to make sure that you’re providing a substantial enough dish that it can serve as an anchor for the rest of the meal. That way, if anyone shows up empty-handed, you can still feel confident that nobody will go home hungry.

If you’ve got friends who don’t like cooking (or who simply aren’t very good at it!), invite them to bring drinks, or to pick up a loaf of special bread, a block of nice cheese, or a container of great olives to add to the table.

2. Picking a party theme If you hate the idea of serving

Italian and Indian at the same meal, assigning a theme will better ensure a cohesive spread. Love Mexican food? Challenge your friends to whip up something appropriate, from spicy guacamole or salsa, to bean burritos. If it’s something with Asian flair that you’re hankering for, encourage attendees to try their hands at noodle dishes or cold spring rolls.

Or go al fresco! Have your guests bring different kinds of salads (grains, beans and leafy greens are all great picks!) and other cold dishes to suit the season and get the backyard ready for your summer party.

3. Laying the table Whether you eat inside or out, you’ll need to decide whether you’re hosting a sit-down meal or a buffet-style affair before your guests arrive. If it’s a sit-down meal, make up a side-table with a brightly colored tablecloth and invite people to plunk down their bowls and platters there. If it’s a buffet, you will need to add a stack of plates to the spread (if you can manage it, avoid paper and opt for colorful ceramics!), bundles of cutlery (forks and knives look attractive arranged in glassware), and bright, summer-y napkins.

Of course, if you’re going to be serving foor in the sun, you’ll want to keep things tucked in the fridge until it’s time to eat! (And even outside, you’ll want to have lots of ice, coolers, etc. to keep things cool.)

As the host, you’ll also want to make sure you’ve got lots of bowls, serving platters and utensils ready to go for when your guests arrive. Depending on how they’re travelling, they could be arriving with their dishes in plastic containers that won’t look so pretty on your table.

And when it comes to adding an effortless touch to the table, you can’t beat a bouquet of summer flowers in a simple centerpiece.

4. Managing appetites Because the food won’t come until your guests do, you’ll want to think about having some snacks ready to go for early arrivals. Chips and dip, cheese and crackers, and hummus and pita are all easy options that will give people something to nosh on while waiting for the rest of the meal to arrive.

Once everyone arrives and the drinks have been poured, you can dig in together and enjoy one another’s culinary labors. And don’t forget to send your guests home with leftovers ... if there are any!

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what’s mine is yours

So far, Marie has hosted more than a dozen guests in the two-bedroom suite that used to belong to her children. Many of her visitors have connections to Northfield’s colleges and are looking for a place that is both nearby and affordable. For $65 a night, her home meets both criteria and offers several other perks including breakfast, extra toiletries, and chocolates left by the bed.

And while some might be squeamish about trading in housekeeping and room service to stay in the house of a person they’ve just met, Marie says that too comes with its perks.

“People want to feel more a part of the city they are visiting. You stay in a neighborhood and experience it in a different way than being in a hotel,” she says. “So far it’s been great.”

Three women in the sharing economy share their stories

DogVacay

“S

By Gina Van Thomme

haring is caring,” may be the anthem of mothers everywhere, but it turns out sharing is also an economy.

This sharing economy is made up of peers who offer their goods and services to each other and, thanks to its convenience and costeffectiveness, has already transformed the way many Minnesotans are going about everyday tasks.

Here we meet some Minnesota women who are leveraging the benefits of this fast-growing industry by sharing their spare rooms, passenger seats, and love for dogs through three sharing economy sites.

She has since traveled with family members to locations ranging from Denver to Denmark.

Late last year, nearly seven years after her first stay, Marie decided to experience Airbnb from another perspective: as a host.

“I am semi-retired and the extra income

Airbnb Several years ago, Northfield resident Marie was planning a trip to visit her son in New York City when she set out to find an alternative to the steep hotel prices.

Her search yielded Airbnb, a website where people from around the world list their empty couches, extra bedrooms, or entire homes for interested travelers to browse and book. Her discovery meant more than just a wallet with a bit more cash; it also opened her eyes to a new way of experiencing the world.

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Airbnb.

and interaction with people was a big draw,” she says. “Staying (in other locations) so often was a big reason why I was excited to become a host.”

After Travis Martinson’s family lost their beloved dog Freckles several years ago, the family decided to remain pet-free to better accommodate her son’s busy hockey and soccer schedule.

Still, when a friend suggested Martinson try dog-sitting, she was excited about the prospects of getting a “dog-fix” that could coordinate with her calendar. This led her to registering as a sitter on DogVacay, a website where dog owners who will be away can find a place for their pups to stay.

As a sitter, Martinson has hosted more than 30 dogs. For $35 a night, doggy guests can stay in Martinson’s Lakeville home (dubbed the ‘Red Woof Inn’) while enjoying its large yard and nearby trails.

Martinson says that the most important things for potential hosts to consider is if they are able to adjust their lifestyles and schedules to suit the needs of the visiting dogs, while providing them with plenty of love, hugs and snuggles. So far, she has had no problems with the latter, and in return the dogs keep both her heart and camera full.

“We take a lot of pictures and are always laughing at how many more pictures of dogs I have on my phone than of my son,” Martinson jokes.

After dozens of pictures and nearly two years of hosting, Martinson says the biggest

discovered Uber.

Uber, a mobile app, allows users to request a ride, match with a nearby (and backgroundchecked!) driver, and get on their way. Not only is it uber-convenient for those who want to avoid airport drop-off duty or pricey parking ramps, but also for Uber drivers who use their own vehicles and set their Uber own hours.

In 2015, Jaye Intrigued by Millspaugh was the flexible working 80 schedule and hours a week in steady paydays, her commissionMillspaugh based insurance applied for and job and still got the job. barely making “I worked my ends meet. first Friday Millspaugh night bar crowd had recently shift and made moved to about $150,” Uber driver Jaye Millspaugh.

Minneapolis Millspaugh hoping to put said. “I couldn’t her journalism degree to use, but settled on the insurance job to pay the bills. Even so, she believe how easy and fun it was, so I quit was struggling financially and began searching my insurance sales job the following week. I for additional part-time work. That’s when she haven’t looked back.” perk is getting to know each of her doggy guests and their unique personas. “[The dogs] are all memorable in their own way, with very different personalities! We have so many that we love and see often,” she said. “It has been great to make so many new friends with the pup’s people and the dogs, too!”

Since trading her desk for the driver’s seat of her silver Toyota Corolla, Millspaugh has driven more than 1,500 passengers and made Uber her main source of income. The flexibility of the position has allowed her to focus on her passions, including part-time work as a fashion model.

“I love that I can plan my driving schedule around the rest of my life,” she said. “If I get sick or have a photo shoot or want to travel, I don’t have to ask for time off.”

Someday Millspaugh hopes to make her living through freelance writing and modeling, but for right now she is enjoying the drive.

“Uber has allowed me to take back my life,” she says.

Gina Van Thomme is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer and 2015 graduate of the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

What is the “sharing economy?” www.moneycrashers.com/sharing-economy/ www.researchgate.net/publication/255698095_The_Sharing_ Economy_Why_People_Participate_in_Collaborative_ Consumption

Shoes, Clothing & Accessories for Men & Women 401 Division Street • Northfield, MN 55057 645-4257 • www.rarepair.com JUNE ISSUE 2016 |

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Wellness

BRIANNA DARLING

Here’s to good health Brianna Darling, The Wedge Co-op Sponsored by Just Food Co-op

Save the date!

Eat Local Farm Tour – Saturday, July 16th, 2016 It’s all about the real people behind the real food.

The Twin Cities area food co-ops have come together to once again bring you a day that will change the way you experience your food. The Eat Local Farm Tour is a day dedicated to you, your farmers, and your food. Save the date to learn more about the families behind the fresh and tasty foods you buy at your local co-op.

On Saturday, July 16, farmers throughout central Minnesota will open their gates and barn doors to the public to share the stories and experiences behind their fruits, veggies, meats and dairy. This tour is free and self-guided. Pick up a guide at your local co-op and cater your tour to your needs and interests. Spend the afternoon hopping around to a few urban farms in the cities, or load the car up with snacks and sunscreen and make a day of it traveling to the further reaching pockets of central and southern Minnesota. Follow our Facebook page updates and more information on the farms: www. facebook.com/EatLocalFarmTour.coop/?fref=ts.

Sponsoring food co-ops include: Eastside Food Co-op, GrassRoots Co-op, Just Food Coop, Lakewinds Food Co-op, Linden Hills Co-op, Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op, People’s Food Co-op, River Market Community Co-op, Seward Community Co-op, St. Peter Food Co-op and Valley Natural Foods.

Tips for enjoying the tour: • Visit farms only during their set open hours.

• Because GPS can be spotty in rural areas, check your directions on Google Maps before heading out: http://s.coop/1usbu.

• Bring a cooler to store all the farm-fresh goods you find.

• Stay on established paths, and don’t pick

produce without the farmer’s permission.

• Leave pets at home.

• Swing by the local food co-op for snacks and drinks.

This year’s participating farms include: Participating Farms: • 10th Street Farm and Market • Blooming Prairie Natural Beef • Buttermilk Falls CSA & Folk School • Bull Brook Keep • Featherstone Farm • Ferndale Market • Garden Farme • Hmong American Farmers Association • Hoch Orchard and Gardens • Hope Creamery • Hungry Turtle Farm • Mississippi Mushrooms • Poplar Hill Dairy Goat Farm • Shepherd’s Way Farm • Simple Harvest Organics • Sin Fronteras • Star Prairie Trout • Steady Hand Farm • Stone’s Throw Urban Farm • Riverbend Farm • TC Farm • The Beez Kneez • Thousand Hills • Cattle Co. • Urban Roots • Whistling Well Farm • White Pine Berry Farm • Will Heal Farm • Windland Flats

local. organic. fresh.

Everyone’s welcome!

516 Water St S, Northfield 507-650-0106 · justfood.coop

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Yoga

Wellness

Offers Something for Everyone

By Rian Dicke-Michels

P

eople are rediscovering a long list of benefits to practicing yoga; in turn, many types of yoga have been developed to suit the lifestyles and personalities of certain populations.

You should know that yoga is not synonymous to the insane pretzel-like positions often pictured on the front of magazines or ads. Regular practice might give a person the ability to do those poses, but yoga isn’t about wrapping your legs around the back of your head while simultaneously performing an arm balance. (Writer’s note: I cannot do this.)

Yoga has become an every body deal; whether you’re looking to build lean muscles, to slow down and relax, low impact fitness, better sleep, migraine prevention, etc., yoga may be right for you. The key is finding a class that meets your schedule and your needs.

The word yoga means “to yoke,” or a union of the mind and the body. What often occurs in our modern culture is a separation from ourselves. We live most of our daily lives in our heads, thinking of our hands as separate from our hearts, or our throat as separate from our ears. When we practice yoga, we take a chance to form ourselves into one connected being and bring our concentration to a flow of breath with each movement. Fitness is simply another perk.

As a beginner finding yoga, a great first class might simply be a Yoga for Beginners class. These are typically designed to introduce asanas (poses) and proper alignment to the general population. I teach what is labeled as Hatha Yoga, and I teach it to fit levels zero to advanced. The greatest thing I’ve found about Hatha is its variability. By this, I meant that it is not limited to a specific end goal. The instructor should feel the energy of the class and skip or add to their sequence depending on the levels and emotions of their students at the time. I strive every day to do just that, and each week I take away new knowledge that I utilize in my next class.

The human race is diverse in shape and interests. Classes like yoga for cancer care, ariel, barre, prenatal, Piyo, Yoga Sculpt, and other fusion yogas follow suit and are worth looking up for more information. For those who like to sweat (kudos to you), Vinyasa Flow is a personal favorite when it comes to low-impact fitness. After warming

up, it incorporates what we call Sun Salutations, which are a series of poses in a certain order and repeats them several times before moving into balance and cool down postures. For fit-natics, Power Yoga is a vigorous Vinyasa-style that some refer to as “gym yoga,” and/or Hot Yoga which is performed in a room heated to 100 degrees in order to emulate the temperatures of India, where yoga was derived.

If you’re worried by that last paragraph, have no fear. You might have some minor health concerns, may just be looking for a weekly reset, or simply “an hour to myself, darn it.” As an individual with anxiety, and certain medical conditions, I can relate to needing time for calm, as well as a strong form of exercise.

Restorative, Relaxation, Gentle, or Yin might be where you can find this. In Restorative, the instructor takes significant time propping the student, in 4-5 poses, over the course of an hour to 90 minutes. It allows for the student to really experience a sense of rest and rejuvenation. Relaxation and Gentle does not require so many props, but gives the students time in their body to relax in very gentle postures that soothe rather than energize. And lastly, while the majority of yogas focus on the muscles, Yin works with bones and lubricates the joints and ligaments.

My mentors in the training program also believe that after getting to know their students, they may suggest other types of yoga to gain a sense of balance in their life. If you’re a get-up-and-go-getter, perhaps allowing yourself to slow down is the right contrast. If you lack a sense of activeness, take an hour to fire up your soul and fuel the body.

No matter the goal, there is a yoga to heal what ails you. You don’t have to be slim, or flexible, or strong. Yoga caters to the needs of many and over time can increase lung capacity, flexibility, weight loss, and reduce symptoms of anxiety, high blood pressure, insomnia, also assisting in the overall wellness of the individual. The list of benefits to practicing yoga is so lengthy, even hipsters will jump on this bandwagon. Just tell people you were doing yoga before it was cool.

*Please consult your doctor before engaging in a new fitness regimen Rian Dicke-Michels is a highly independent 24-year-old, an MSU Mankato graduate, a 200-hour certified yoga instructor, and the loving mother of a 4-year-old. Her goals in life are saturated with health, wellness, and loving oneself. “As a yogi,” she says, “I want to share this journey with you.”

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Kari Berit

Unexpected CaregiveR Kari Berit (KariBerit.net) is a national speaker and caregiver coach. She is the author of The Unexpected Caregiver. c.2016

A simple story to help understand memory loss I’m just like you; I get exhausted. When caring for someone with dementia, the TV often becomes the go-to pacifier. For some people, watching the same afternoon talk show provides a sense of normalcy. It’s okay. You’re not a bad caregiver, but I’d like to encourage you to find other tools than television.

May I suggest you first shift your understanding of Alzheimer’s disease? Try reading Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox; illustrations by Julie Vivas (1989: Kane/Miller Book Publishers). This sweet children’s book helps explain the disease in a manner that children and adults alike will find refreshing and thought-provoking.

Young Wilfrid Gordon lives next to a nursing home. He enjoys all the residents, but has a special connection with a woman he calls “Miss Nancy,” who has memory loss. Wilfrid seeks to understand what memory means by asking the other residents. He receives unique definitions from each one. He then collects items from his life that represent the variety of definitions of memory, then brings a basket of the items to Miss Nancy, which enables her to relate memories associated with the items.

Wilfrid is delighted that Miss Nancy has

memories again! Whether the memories are accurate is unimportant. This is a beautiful example of the power of providing tools that allow someone with memory loss to tell stories.

Being able to see them engaged and smiling makes all the difference.

Use Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge as a catalyst for talking about memory loss and how important it is to share our stories. In May’s Girlfriends Magazine, I talked about how putting life events into a coherent and selective story can be both satisfying and self-justifying for your parents. It reinforces your their selfworth. If one of them suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or another disease that causes dementia, they most likely experience holes in their overall life stories. They may even mix up details and call their brother by their father’s name. These details don’t matter. As young Wilfrid explains, the memories don’t have to be 100% accurate to be important.

Instead of the TV, maybe you could spend one or two nights with a basket of items to elicit memories—whether they are actual memories or simply stories. Be open to whatever stories arise, ask questions instead of correcting and simply be in the flow of who they are today.

“Let us enhance your independence” Faribault Senior Living is a stress free environment that can enhance the quality of your senior years.

Stop by and visit us today!

507-331-6510 \ Located on South Lyndale Ave. in Faribault \ faribaultseniorliving.com

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Girlfriends Guide

$ Financial Resources Brad L. Running CLU®

Financial Advisor. A unique and disciplined approach. Today, it’s natural to have questions about your retirement, even if you’ve saved and planned for it. With our proprietary Confident Retirement® approach, we’ll find answers and take the first step toward creating a road map to the future you want. We’ll talk through the four basic principles of retirement: (1) covering essential expenses, (2) assuring your lifestyle, (3) preparing for the unexpected and (4) leaving a legacy. And I’ll help you make adjustments as needed so you can retire on your terms. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., 1850 Austin Road, Suite 104, Owatonna, MN 55060, 507-455-4070 brad.l.running@ampf.com, ameripriseadvisors@ampf.com/brad.l.running.

Bremer Bank- Ryan Gillespie

Buying a new home should be exciting. At Bremer Bank, we’ll make sure that arranging your home financing is a positive experience. The process can be safe and simple when you work with a bank that helps you understand what you should know and takes action for you. Ryan Gillespie, experienced mortgage loan officer, can help with any mortgage need you have, whether you’re a first-time home buyer, looking to move into a different home, looking to refinance, or about to build a home. Ryan Gillespie, NMLS #503704, 507-676-2708, 730 West Bridge St, Owatonna. rlgillespie@bremer.com.

Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

Castle Rock Bank

The Castle Rock Bank has been serving the women in this community for 96 years. To answer the question, “What do women want in banking?” We believe the answer is, “To be heard, understood, respected and valued.” 27925 Danville Ave Castle Rock, 507-645-7751 www.castlerockbank.net.

Food & Entertainment Legacy Golf & The Grill at The Legacy The Legacy is a championship 18-hole facility offering value-added golf and a warm friendly environment for golf outings & casual dining.

It provides a unique setting for meetings, reunions, groom’s dinners, banquets and bridal showers. The indoor Grill can accommodate 30-50 people & the open-air Pavilion can accommodate up to 170. 1515 Shumway Ave, Faribault, 507-332-7177 www.legacygolf.net.

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+

Health & Wellness

Curves of Owatonna

Our Curves Complete program, offers women a complete weight loss solution— exercise, meal plans, and coaching—all in one location. Curves Protein Bars (Meal & Snack size) and Spot Toning classes. All Curves staff are certified by the Cleveland Clinic in Exercise, Nutrition and Behavior Coaching. Curves - 1828 S. Cedar Ave, Owatonna 507-455-4060.

Holland Family Dental

Holland Family Dental is located in the Professional Building on Hillcrest Ave. in Owatonna. We have been in Owatonna since 1996 and concentrate on dentistry for the entire family. We offer services in preventive, cosmetic and comprehensive care which includes implants and up-to-date dental technology. Please visit us at 605 Hillcrest Ave. Owatonna MN. 507-451-7250.

IN TOUCH PHYSICAL THERAPY

In Touch Physical Therapy is dedicated to providing hands on care to promote and maintain the healthy function of every client. Our doctors of physical therapy specialize in injury rehab, chronic pain, work comp injuries, car accidents, dizziness, pain management, sports training, and women’s health. We have one hour appointments.

Check us out at www.intouchpt.com. We work with all insurance companies. Your pain stops here! 123 W. Broadway St. Owatonna, MN.507451-7888.

The Northfield Area Family YMCA

The Northfield Area Family YMCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for all individuals, families, and the community to achieve their fullest potential. From summer camps, to youth sports, to preschool activities and adult wellness, we have something for everyone. Become a member of the YMCA! 1501 Honeylocust Drive, Northfield 507-6450088, www.northfieldymca.org. Scholarships are available to ensure everyone can participate.

Northfield Retirement Community

Situated on a 30-acre, beautifully landscaped campus, NRC was established in 1969 to provide housing and services specifically designed to meet the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of older adults. Housing options include apartments with a minimal level of services, as well as other home settings that make increasing levels of service readily available. Options include rental and owner-occupied living spaces. Units are available for both income-sensitive and market-rate income levels. NRC also provides a fully-staffed care center for those who desire a more traditional nursing home setting. 900 Cannon Valley Drive, Northfield, 507-645-9511, northfieldretirement.org.

Home & Garden

Millstream Commons Assisted Living

ENDRES WINDOW CLEANING

Millstream Commons Assisted Living is located in downtown Northfield. 44 Assisted Living apartments (studio, 1 and 2 BR) featuring three meals a day, supportive nursing care, respite care, & life enrichment activities. Pets allowed.

Licensed Housing with Services provider. Part of the Three Links Community. Member of Aging Services of Minnesota. 210 8th St W, Northfield, 507-650-9627, threelinks.org.

Here at Endres Window Cleaning, we pride ourselves in having the best value in the Midwest.

An often dirty and time-consuming job, professional window cleaning will protect your windows, boost the curb appeal of your home and allow you more time to do the things you enjoy. Family owned and operated since 1988, we offer residential and commercial services with quality that is guaranteed to shine through. Call us at 507-932-5326 for your free estimate today.

Northfield Urgent Care

Judy’s Floral Design

Tired of waiting to see your doctor for simple problems like sore throats and earaches? We provide walk-in medical care for all ages, from infants to adults. We are open 7 days per week and no appointment is needed! Quick, easy and efficient! 2014 Jefferson Rd Suite C, Northfield, MN 55057, 507-664-9999, northfieldurgentcare. com.

507-333-3115 nbrandon@faribault.com

Whether your wedding is black tie/ ballroom or barefoot on the beach or somewhere in between!

Beautiful, quality flowers and great ideas start with Judy Smith. “Specializing in fresh creative and affordable blooms for all the flower moments of your life” 507-645-0008, 300 Railway St. North, Dundas, judysfloraldesign.com.

Simon Bros Cement Co.

Simon Bros Cement Co. has been serving the Northfield area since 1969. We specialize in quality concrete and masonry including foundations, driveways, epoxy garage floors. Call for a free estimate. We will look at your project and use 40+ years of experience to share ideas and advice. Call Ray 612-328-4591.

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Girlfriends Guide Insurance

Shopping

American Family Insurance Bart Jackson Agency

American Family Insurance offers home, automobile, atv, motorcycle, boat, commercial business, farm and life insurance. We are available to meet with you personally to review your situation and provide recommendations as to the proper coverage’s for your needs. Bart Jackson Insurance Agency, 408 Central Ave N, Suite D, Faribault, MN 55021. 507-332-6812.

Northfield Lines, Inc.

The Paper Petalum

The Paper Petalum in the historic Archer House (212 Division St.) offers friendly customer service and unique gifts for all occasions. Locally owned and operated since 1987 we specialize in Scandinavian gifts, Minnesota products, decorative napkins, Polish Pottery, Rothschild foods, and much, much more. Stop in and visit us. 507-663-0565.

Travel Transportation

Salons

Community Co-op

BLOWN AWAY SALON & SPA

Blown Away Salon & Spa offers a variety of services that are perfect for any budget. The salon side offers hair cutting, styling, coloring, & perming. All of our staff is experienced and attends regular classes to keep our guests updated. On the spa side, we offer massage with therapists specializing in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Prenatal, & Reflexology. Our Esthetician does body waxing, makeup lessons/applications, lash extensions, facials, microderm, and chemical peels. Getting married? Check out our great bridal packages! 159 18th St. SW, Suite 4, Owatonna, MN 55060. www.blown-away-salon.com.

We buy by the truckload.

You save by the cartload.

We’ve locked down prices on hundreds of items.

Have your group arrive in style when you pull up in one of our luxurious motor or mini coaches.

Single or multi-day sightseeing trips, shopping, girlfriend getaways, dining, concerts, weddings, receptions, casino visits – you name the event and we will get your group there safely and on time.

32611 Northfield Blvd, Northfield, 800-9442190, www.northfieldlines.com.

CEDAR TRAVEL

The Community Co-op is located in beautiful and historic downtown Faribault, MN. We were organized in 1925 and have been a cornerstone of this community ever since. We specialize in fuels, lubricants, tires, and vehicle service, all for an affordable price. Women live busy lives, our staff understands how important service and convenience are. That is why we are the Company where our customers send their friends. 9 Central Ave, Faribault 507-334-2056, www.coopoilfblt. com.

Every week, a free item with your $30 purchase.

National brand quality at a low price.

Bulk Foods buy only the amount you need.

We pride ourselves to be a full service travel agency serving the needs of our customers since 1989! We want to take time to know your needs and find the perfect fit for your memorable vacation, so stop in or call for a consultation! Whether it’s a honeymoon, romantic vacation, family reunion or a getaway with your girlfriends, our agents are live and here for you!

Our staff is available Monday-Friday 8:30AM-5PM and enjoy sharing stories of our favorite destinations!

111 Cedar Avenue, N. Owatonna, MN 55060, 507455-1170, www.cedartravel.net.

Weekly advertised specials all over the store.

Keeping prices Prices dropped extra low to save low and money in our you money. community.

OPEN 24 HOURS FIND FIND US ONLINE AT WWW.CASHWISEDELIVERS.COM US ONLINE AT WWW.CASHWISE.COM 495 507-451-7220 496 West North Street, Owatonna • 507-451-7220 507-451-8440

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JUNE Issue 2016 |

gf

| Girlfriends.mn

Save the date

AN EVENING OF FOOD AND FUN! Cooking School and Vendor Show

Thursday, September 22, 2016 Vendor Show – 5:00-6:30pm

Cooking School – 7pm

Faribault Public High School – 1100 9th Ave SW, Faribault MN Presented by

Faribault Daily News

girlfriends turn!

Where local women

HOMETOWN TEAMWORK. HOMETOWN TEAMWORK. HOMETOWN TEAMWORK.

Still here. And Continuing to Provide Quality Care for over 30 years.

EXCEPTIONAL EXCEPTIONAL

CARING CARING CARING

EXCEPTIONAL

Hans C. Bengtson, M.D.

Gail, LPN

Hans C. Bengtson, M.D.

Gail, LPN

Hans C. Bengtson, M.D.

REASSURING REASSURING

REASSURING

Kate, PA-C Kate, PA-C

Gail, LPN

EXPERIENCED EXPERIENCED

EXPERIENCED Erik S. Stroemer, M.D.

ACCOMPLISHED ACCOMPLISHED ACCOMPLISHED

Clinton A. Muench, M.D.

Clinton A. Muench, M.D.

Clinton A. Muench, M.D.

WORKING TOGETHER WORKING WORKING FOR YOU TOGETHER TOGETHER EVERY FOR YOU FOR YOU STEP OF EVERY EVERY THE WAY. STEP OF STEP OF THE WAY.

THE WAY.

Erik S. Stroemer, M.D.

Faribault Chamber of Commerce 2016 Business of the Year Kate, PA-C

Erik S.

Keeping your Healthcare Close to Home

75623_OFC1502 Patient Choice_Faribault_half_pg_ad_1119b.indd 1

75623_OFC1502 Patient Choice_Faribault_half_pg_ad_1119b.indd 1

1502 Patient Choice_Faribault_half_pg_ad_1119b.indd 1

Blue Earth Dassel Stroemer, M.D. FARIBAULT Blue Earth Farmington Dassel Hutchinson FARIBAULT Farmington Hutchinson Blue Earth

Dassel FARIBAULT Farmington Hutchinson

Lakeville Redwood Falls Le Sueur St. Peter Litchfield Windom Lakeville Redwood Falls Northfield LeMankato Sueur St. Peter Litchfield Windom Northfield Mankato Lakeville Redwood Falls

507.334.1601 Le Sueur

Litchfield Northfield Mankato

St. Peter Windom

11/23/15 4:12 PM

11/23/15 4:12 PM

Job Number: OFC1502 Job Description: Patient Choice Campaign - Faribault - Half Page Ad

11/23/1