Noteworthy

SIP BIG BATCH BEVERAGE

iStock.com/antonbelo; Illustrations by Jamie Klang BOURBON AND VODKA SPIKED HOLIDAY PUNCH

» 375 ml vodka » 375 ml bourbon » 4 cups cranberry juice » 12 oz. frozen lemonade » 12 oz. frozen orange juice » 2 liters ginger ale » cranberries, orange slices and lemon slices, for garnish

Combine vodka, bourbon, juices and lemonade in a punch bowl or large beverage vessel. Add ginger ale just before serving. Garnish with cranberries and orange and slices.

Pro Tip: Consider Northland vodka and J. Carver bourbon, both produced in Minnesota.

Dan Keegan is the owner of Glenlake Wine and Spirits in Minnetonka. Find more at glenlakews.com.

PETS Share the Love

The holiday season is here. It’s a time to think of others—both humans and pets.

Those of us with pets understand the human-pet bond is special. Pets are good company and are good for our heart and mental health. They also help us look outside of ourselves and care for other living beings. As a source of entertainment, they also keep us laughing with their little tricks or antics. In terms of physical wellness, taking a dog for a walk gives us an opportunity to be out in the fresh air and keep our bodies moving and in shape.

Knowing how your pet benefits you, consider sharing your pet with someone else. There is something special that occurs when you bring a pet into a home. People open up and maybe even share memories of the pets they have had in their past.

Consider asking a neighbor, someone living alone or a person from your church if they would enjoy a visit from you and your pet. The joy you and your pet could bring is worth the effort.

Also, in this season of giving, consider donating pet food to a local food shelf. ICA Food Shelf in Minnetonka and the Westonka Food Shelf are two local entities that take pet food donations.

Your kindness makes a difference.

Jackie Piepkorn, DVM, co-owns Westonka Animal Hospital and the Lake Minnetonka Pet Wellness Center. Learn more at westonka.vet.

VIEW Playful Art

Artist Andy Ness has a playful whim with his work, inspired by his travels abroad, his love of amusement parks and the nostalgic glimmer of vintage days gone by. This abstract piece feels like a big holiday bow, a cheery red poinsettia, some tinsel glimmering off the tree and a tapestry of layers that loved ones merrily gathered.

Artist: Andy Ness Title: Flora and Fauna Scale: 15x16 Medium: Original pigment dispersion, polymer, acrylic, spray paint, ink, paper and metallic leaf on canvas

Hollie Blanchard is a founder and art concierge with The Art Girls. View more at artgirlsmpls.com. Art Girls Minneapolis @artgirls_mpls 9541 5th Avenue S 18790 Azure Road 3555 Therese Street 20565 Linden Road Tis the season for 20765 Linwood Road 7220 York Avenue S #117 Gratitude! 201 Mill Street #W201 1530 Ottawa Avenue S 4880 Lodge Lane 13524 Territorial Circle N 6675 S Saunders Lake Drive 9099 Many thanks for Parell Circle NE 2189 Sargent Avenue another great year! 5920 Ayrshire Lane 20270 Excelsior Boulevard 150 Interlachen Lane 7110 Rolling Acres Road 3921 Maple Shores Drive 7423 Fawn Hill Road We appreciate your 2585 Highcrest Circle 6474 Murray Hill Road 1122 Symphony Lane 28597 Jeffrey Avenue trust & support! 18790 Azure Road 18175 Carole Lane 19645 Manor Road 20565 Linden Road Wishing comfort 3365 Hill Lane 18092 Settlers Way 11076 Hyland Terrace 7000 W 175th Avenue & Joy for you 7220 York Avenue S #117 203 Mill Street #N101 4880 Lodge Lane 5105 Greenwood Circle & your family this & your family this 424 8th Avenue NE 3417 Therese Street 6170 Dallas Lane N 19840 Waterford Place holiday season! holiday season!

KRISTI WEINSTOCK

REALTOR® C. 612.309.8332 kdweinstock@cbburnet.com weinstockgroup.com

19400 Highway 7 Excelsior, MN 55331

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verifi cation. Affi liated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2021 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offi ces which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offi ces which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. 2125C5-DC_MN_12/21

GROW Rooted in Tradition

At this time of year, we are reminded of family traditions—small acts that can grow in meaning with each consecutive year.

It’s the passing of time that made Bob Horn’s family tradition so impressive to me. One spring, he gifted me with a passion flower vine, growing in a gallonsized pot. He had tended to the plant in his kitchen window over the winter. That previous summer, Horn gathered cuttings from the vine and took them inside to root-out in a glass of water. Once they had grown sufficient roots, he transplanted the vines into soil and cared for them in a sun-filled kitchen window. It was a passion project, if you will.

Horn had been diligently executing this annual ritual since 1986—the year his father, Herb Horn, passed away. The elder Horn started the family tradition in the early 1940s when a neighbor gifted him the plant while living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For more than 80 years, the Horns have enjoyed the exotic blooms of this tropical species right here in the frigid North.

I felt inspired to keep my gifted passion flower vine alive, as well. After two seasons of failed attempts and Horn’s continued encouragement, tips and generosity in sharing plant propagations, I have now successfully overwintered last year’s vine. I believe another family tradition is beginning to take root.

Alison Feik of Excelsior has a degree in landscape architecture and holds a wealth of knowledge about local plants and gardening. Grow more at beingstronginnature.com.

DISCOVER Bringing Local History to You Since ’72

The Excelsior Lake-Minnetonka Historical Society (ELMHS) is celebrating its 50th anniversary, but collecting history in the Lake Minnetonka area goes back much farther than that. A Lake Minnetonka historical society was mentioned in an 1891 issue of the Minneapolis Tribune.

Preparations for the celebration of the country’s 1976 bicentennial inspired a renewed interest in history. Kari Rice, Mary Haering, Fern Michael, Mary Willis and Fran Windmuller thought if the community was going to celebrate its history, they’d better discover what that history was all about. In 1972, they formed ELMHS with the mission to preserve and share the history of the south lake area.

Fifty years later, ELMHS has an archive bursting at the seams with historical photos, documents and items to help the public with local history discovery. Its seasonal museum in the old Excelsior Depot welcomes people of all ages. The public can learn more about local history on one of the Lake Minnetonka history cruises or at a Tapping History presentation in the Excelsior Brewing Company. ELMHS also sells local history publications, framed historic maps and prints of the area and ELMHS apparel.

Kirsten Pardoe serves as the secretary of the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society’s Board of Directors. Discover more at elmhs.org.

MOVE Festive Fitness

Staying on track with your health and wellness during the holiday season can be challenging, considering the full schedule of parties, stress, travel and loads of fun that come with it. Don’t worry about losing your momentum during this time. Let’s strategize and plan to keep you motivated with these five simple tips.

1. Set your alarm for earlier than usual. Research shows that people who work out in the morning are more likely to keep a consistent routine and sleep more soundly at night. 2. Schedule your workouts. Sticking to a schedule is by far one of the most effective ways to stay on your game when it comes to working out. 3. Participate in a holiday-themed run. Grab your family and friends for a festive fun run. Many of these runs support local charities, making it even more motivating to sign up. 4. Set up a family challenge. Step challenges are a fun way to keep us moving, and the competitive nature of this will help you engage with each other in a different way. Make sure there is a reward at the end. 5. Use online resources. Don’t forget about virtual workouts for an easy and convenient way to stay on a consistent exercise regimen.

Laurel Famigletti is an area resident and owner of EndorP.H.I.T, where she provides virtual group fitness classes, in-home personal training and virtual nutrition coaching. se