August/September 2016 issue of Live it! Magazine

Live it!

Pets:

MORE THAN COMPANIONS

Weaving

THE ART OF

Lasting FLAVORS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016 | FREE ISSUE

Family ...

Taking care of family is a reality of life, and something we do out of deep love.

For many, our four-legged friends are important members of the family as well.

I grew up on a farm.

Animals were awesome pets, but they stayed outside.

They were fed in the barn, or in later years, in the garage.

We cared for them the best we could when something happened, with only occasional trips to the veterinarian. The vet was called out only in extreme cases for livestock — animals that brought in money.

If we were going to be gone, someone was in charge of the chores for the livestock of course.

Oh, and could you please put out some dog/cat food as well?

There was no special boarding, just as there was no special grooming. We brushed the dogs and cats occasionally, cut out the cockleburs and pulled the wood ticks off. But that was about it. Their diet, which we now know isn’t the best option, was primarily table scraps.

Times have changed.

Today, just as with our two-legged family members, our fourlegged family medical care and hospitality are much different.

People go to extreme lengths to care for their pets, from grooming and boarding, to routine medical appointments and even major surgeries. As with us humans, medical bills sometimes mount, and there are insurance claims to be filed and loans to be had.

While we don’t have any household pets, our children do, and when they come to visit, their dogs also come to visit. Sometimes we are asked to “pet sit” … and, as you can see in this photo, Ella — our daughter’s miniature pinscher — loves to cuddle with “Papa.”

To many people, four-legged family members are as important as are their human counterparts. We care for them, we love them, and we hurt when they hurt.

This issue Dan takes us on a journey to explore one woman’s love of her dogs, while talking with others who make their living caring for people’s pets. We explore the lengths people go to to keep their animals healthy and happy. Some of our columnists join in on sharing their experiences with beloved pets as well.

In our food section, Anne gives us tips for preserving herbs for use beyond our summer growing season, and in our Money Matters we are reminded of tips for planning our retirement — tips for all stages of life, from early career to mid-career and beyond, and mistakes to avoid.

As always, if you have a topic you’d like to see in Live it!, send your story ideas to liveit@wctrib.com. We love to hear from our readers. You can also “like” us on Facebook or send us a tweet @Lilveitmag.

Life in west central Minnesota … it really is a beautiful thing …

Live it!

Sharon Bomstad Live it! Editor

g Manat tio lhbearaivfreoitmmyaogu.

We w et us @l trib.com Twe eit@wc ook eb l liv emai t us on fac ox 839, i s ! it B vi Live 56201. e t i r or w lmar MN ry ideas, Wil come sto ore. m el We w ments and m co Watch for our next issue, out Oct. 7, 2016 May we publish your letter?

On the mentoring feature in the June/July issue: Way to go Alayna Jo!!!

— Israel Mirales, via Facebook Very nice!! Look Courtney Koshenina, she’s a super star :-) — Nicole Franzwa, via Facebook A star is born.

— Kristi Friese, via Facebook

Great article!!

— Michelle Jenniges, via Facebook I love that I was a “mentee” I was so fortunate to be introduced to this program and also to the family that I was. Without the Asmus family giving away their mom/ wife to another girl during times she could have been with them is still so priceless and selfless to me. Thanks you guys!

— Janet Whetston, via Facebook This is such a great mentoring program for our girls!! So proud of Alayna along with so many other young women!!!

— Leah Zenner Thorpe, via Facebook Wonderful wonderful opportunity for young girls!! I love connecting girls to this program!!

— Heidi Steinkamp-Burton, via Facebook

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We love to hear from our readers.

“Like” us on Facebook, send us a tweet with your comments or even a new story idea, or email us at liveit@wctrib.com.

Watch for the next issue due out Oct. 7, 2016.

Live it! Magazine 3

Live it!

MAGAZINE

Can’t Live without it!

A publication of the West Central Tribune

Staff

Sharon Bomstad Magazine Editor

Dan Burdett

Magazine Writer/Social Media To contact Live it! call 320-235-1150 or email liveit@wctrib.com

Writing & photography Dan Burdett Anne Polta Kenzie Tenney Jen Anfinson Patti Loeppke

Marketing consultants Kevin Smith, Director ksmith@wctrib.com

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To advertise, call 320-214-4317 fax 320-235-6769 or email a listed consultant.

Administration

Steven Ammermann, Publisher Kelly Boldan, Editor

2208 W. Trott Ave., Willmar MN 56201 Volume 5, Issue 4

Copyright Š 2016 West Central Tribune Live it! magazine All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained.

Cover Story Pampered Pets

6

August 2016, Volume 5, Issue 4

WHAT’S INSIDE

FEATURING

6

6 Today’s pets are more

than just companions

12 Q&A: Owners take greater

steps to keep pets healthy

14 Lose yourself in weaving 25 Plan for retirement at any stage

of your career

DEPARTMENTS

3

READER’S MAILBAG

What we hear from our readers

14

DO-IT-YOURSELF

17

STYLE IT! Simple ways to keep

19

EAT IT! Maximize your summer herbs

24

LIFE HAPPENS The healing power of pets

25

MONEY MATTERS Plan now and not later

26

READ IT! Have a listen

27

SPIRITS A pet’s mark on a good wine

28

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

30

19

You can weave just about anything your clothes sharp

Mark your calendars now

GET IT! Comedy date night, home needs

25

27

A friend and

more

6 Live it! Magazine

For many owners, pets are family

By Dan Burdett PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN BURDETT AND PATTI LOEPPKE

Live it! Magazine 7

F

inn is 5.

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He’s a little more portly in the face, and, if the mood hits, can dial up the mischief on a dime.

They both love to be outside, play catch and run circles around their sister, Lina, an 8-year-old firecracker who nips at their sinewy legs.

And it’s in these moments Patti Loeppke is invariably happiest.

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He’s a hardy 96 pounds and has strawberry blonde hair, specked with white.

He’s a handsome sort, with brown saucers for eyes that serve as an entryway to a soul free of stringency. He’s so relaxed, in fact, he gives the impression remaining vertical is a chore.

His brother, Teddy, is 2.

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A 59-year-old mother of two grown children, Patti’s maternal streak is now nourished by these three canines.

“Look at them,” she says during a July 1 interview, while the pooches play in the profuse garden of her Willmar home. “How can you not smile?”

Her joy is indicative of the modern pet owner. There was a time when a pet was seemingly considered little more than a companion. But for many people, their animals have become innate members of the family.

In Patti’s case, she attributes it to a single factor: her dogs love her unconditionally.

“I feel a very deep connection with them,” she says. “They make me happy. And I think most people would say that about their dogs. Or why would you have them?”

Pampered and housed Across town, a stone’s throw from Kandiyohi, Marie Lingl is up to her ears in work.

She is the owner of Fancy Coats, a pet grooming and boarding business. And business is booming.

“It never stops,” says Marie, a petite woman with thin-rimmed glasses, a bob of grey hair and a playful banter. She seems far younger than her 74 years. Perhaps it’s because she spends her days doing a job she loves.

She uses a delicate touch to trim the fuzzy white hair from the muzzle of Sadie, a Bichon Frise, in a backroom that doubles as a doggie salon. A smile is never far from her face.

Across the corridor is a sprawling glass oasis. It’s fitted with a massive bay window through which natural light bleeds onto a curving jungle gym of plastic piping and rope.

It’s where boarded felines bask in the sun and play in those odd little ways only a cat can. The room even has an armchair. It’s occupied.

“Oh, yeah … we pamper ’em,” Marie says with a chuckle.

She says pet owners travel upward of 60 miles to groom or board their pets at Fancy Coats.

Her staff — today four are on duty — complete between eight and

a dozen grooms a day, six days a week. Nearly all those grooms are for repeat clients.

“These animals are part of people’s family,” she says. “We want them nice and clean and groomed for their owners. We want the pets and the owners to feel good.”

Back at Patti’s It’s time for a treat, and Finn and Teddy know the gig.

They sit like statues at Patti’s feet, their only movements the subtle gliding of their thick tails back and forth across the wooden deck. Lina’s turn will come.

Her yipping — a trait of her Pomeranian personality — got the better of her for a moment. So, for now, she’s in the house patrolling the kitchen with a hint of that little-doggie-that-could swagger to her step.

As with many golden retrievers, the boys exude magnetism.

It’s a trait Patti adores.

She’s a nurse by trade but has a passion for photography.

Live it! Magazine 9

10 Live it! Magazine

Many of her images feature Finn’s and Teddy’s likeness. She presents some of her photos as keepsakes and on thank-you cards. A number of the latter are displayed on the walls at Fancy Coats, where the boys have been groomed and boarded numerous times.

As Patti bends down to give the boys their rewards, her voice morphs into some garbled jargon that sends their tails into fifth gear. They don’t overly indulge in treats, Patti assures. But today, she “just can’t resist.”

“They’re so stinkin’ cute,” she says.

Diet is everything Dr. Steven Rumsey has seen innumerable changes in animal care since he graduated in 1977 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. From surgeries to fix ailments that once could have lead to euthanasia, to medications to remedy a myriad of conditions, to the money owners are willing to spend to keep their pets alive, Steven says the similarities between treating people and animals are countless.

But few things, he says, have been as integral to an animal’s health and longevity than changes in the food market.

In recent years, more companies have marketed foods free of dyes, corn, wheat gluten and other ingredients that can have the same adverse effects on an animal’s digestive system as that of a human.

“It pretty much begins with diet,” Steven says at South 71 Veterinary Clinic, a business he owns just south of Willmar. “The diet can make a major difference in the length of an animal’s life in the same way it can a person’s. We could be talking years.

As an example of the impact of bad food … and I don’t know the exact percentage … but somewhere between 10 and 15 (percent) of all ear infections in dogs can be attributed to the food they digest. So diet is a big thing.”

The food tends to be more expensive — sometimes double or triple the price of mass-marketed fare — but pet owners rarely flinch.

“They want to keep their pets healthy,” he says.

Adds Patti: “No grains enter my dogs’ diets.”

“In many ways … they are like children,” she says.

“For the most part, they just want that interaction.”

And while she admits her dogs are pampered, there are also rules in the home.

The boys sleep downstairs, never in or on the family beds.

And all three consume little to no scraps.

But beyond that, it’s a royal life.

There’s a moment on this day when Patti bends down to hug Finn.

His tongue shoots from his mouth as if springloaded and runs across the length of her flush cheek.

Back and forth it goes, as Patti pulls him closer and melts into him.

Teddy spots this from a distance and bounds toward master and sibling, tongue flailing. He slides right into Patti’s embrace, no stranger to the routine.

Dan Burdett is the lead writer for Live it! Magazine. You can follow Dan on Twitter @danburdett1 or email him at dburdett@wctrib.com.

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Patti believes canines possess an unspoken bond.

She sees it when the dogs venture to the lake for a swim or “play dates” with other canines at the dog park that opened on Willmar’s southwest side last August.

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Live it! Magazine 11

& Q A: A

different

world

People today go to greater lengths to keep pets healthy

By Dan Burdett dburdett@wctrib.com

12 Live it! Magazine

Steven Rumsey grew up on a farm and recalls a love of animals that was rivaled by only a love of science. It was little surprise to him, then, when he took an aptitude test in college and the results revealed he was most suited to be a veterinarian.

In the four decades he’s worked as a vet, Steven has seen innumerable changes in the industry, not only in how vets now treat animals, but the lengths people go to in an effort to provide healthy and long lives for their pets.

Live it!: Thank you for meeting with us, Steven.

So, firstly, why do you think animals play such a large role in the makeup of modern families?

Steven Rumsey: I think it’s a number of factors,

but the key is that animals, particularly dogs, are ever-loving. If you’re having a bad time or a bad day, they welcome you. You may come home and ignore them, but they still love you. They’re still right there.

I think we all feel good about ourselves when we take care of someone or something else.

Live it!: What changes have you seen during

your time in veterinary medicine regarding the lengths people will go to provide optimum health for their pets?

SR: In the days when I started it was just simple medicine. We’d do shots. Minimal care. I don’t think anyone back then would take a loan out to take care of a pet. But we see that now. People are willing to do more. It comes down to love. Companionship. I think many people view their pets as part of the family.

If Uncle George has a torn knee, you fix it. Well, if Fido has a torn cruciate ligament, we fix it. We’re in a position now where we can take that pain away.

Live it!: Are the surgeries you perform as extensive as those performed on humans.

SR: Oh yes. We work on all types of ailments. Torn ligaments. Hip replacements. Basically, if an owner has a hunting dog who has a torn ligament, most of the time they are going to come in and seek surgery.

We even have a board-certified surgeon who comes in sometimes to do trickier and more intricate surgeries like you would if you were operating on a person.

Live it!: Would you go so far as to say this is the new norm?

SR: Yes, to some degree. I think it’s becoming that.

It’s certainly far more common than ever before.

South 71 Veterinary Clinic is located at 4119 Abbott Drive in Willmar. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call 320-235-7396.

Live it!: You mentioned loans, please expand on the costs. For example, are you seeing more people with pet insurance? Do you see people getting creative with how they pay for treatments?

SR: Certainly. Way back it was all about people paying with cash and check. If they could afford to spend money they did. If not, they wouldn’t. They may not even bring the pet in. Whereas now there’s pet insurance and things like care credit, which is just like a credit card … a loan. Just last night I had someone use that option for care. So it’s changed a lot.

Live it! Magazine 13

Do-it!

yourself

By Jen Anfinson

Weaving is a calming way to create What started with a project for my daughter has become quite an obsession with me.

Weaving is a beautiful, calming hobby that is a creative endeavor for those of all ages.

It allows for a wide assortment of materials. The possibilities are endless.

Here are a few things I’ve tried that hopefully will get you inspired.

Step 1 You need to decide what you want to use for your loom.

I use paper plates for circles (which make great coasters), unique Y branches for wall art and cardboard rectangles for wall tapestries. You could also try using embroidery hoops and single sticks gathered in the center.

Step 2 Now, you need to add your choice of yarn or string to your loom. This is the material that will be stationary on your loom and what you will be weaving through. If you are using a plate or cardboard you will want to make small slits going all the way around your circle and on both sides of the cardboard. Knot the ends of the string when you begin and end. Using a Y branch simply means you will be winding your material back and forth between the branches creating small Vs. On embroidery hoops, I take small pieces of string and make individual lines across the hoop, knotting each, making a star pattern as I go. When I am done I tighten the top hoop over the bottom hoop so the loom strands will not move. Experiment with your materials! There is no right or wrong way to do this.

14 Live it! Magazine

Step 3 It’s time to start weaving. I usually lay out the materials I want to use, being thoughtful of my color palette and mixing in different textures. Start by going in and out each of your loom strings. Then change it up to create a more interesting look. Go over two and under two strings, then back to one again. I use my fingers instead of a needle for much of my weaving, but for smaller projects I cut a small straw’s end with a slit and wind my string through.

This is also a great needle for kids to weave as there are no sharp parts. I also like to use different amounts of material.

Sometimes I’ll make small weaving strips and sometimes I’ll make wide strips. Each time you change string, simply knot it to the next string you will be using.

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Step 4

Now, set your weaving on a table or hang it on a wall.

I guarantee it will be a conversation piece and you will enjoy looking at your handiwork.

Then it’s time to start a new one.

Jen Anfinson creates jewelry and other handmade items from her studio in Paynesville, and teaches DIY classes all over the state. For more information on upcoming classes, check out Jen Anfinson Studio on Facebook.

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When you are finished with your weaving, tuck the last string behind and it is time to enjoy it. If you are making a weaving using a plate and want to make coasters, simply and carefully take your weaving off your plate and tuck the loom strings underneath, or glue a piece of felt to the back. If you are using a cardboard loom for a tapestry, carefully take it off and cut the strings that were down the back in the middle.

Attach the top strings to a dowel or stick and leave fun fringes on the bottom.

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Style

! t i

By Kenzie Tenney

Maintain and stylize your clothing 16 Live it! Magazine

Comfortable ‘vintage’

Sometimes, those graphic T-shirts can be a bit stiff.

Sometimes, you just want your tee to feel like the vintage shirts you see in the stores — without the price. Brine your shirts in salt water for three days and wash afterward. Your tee will come out feeling soft like it was made in 1979.

Tight shoes

What a pill Sweater pills have to be one of the most frustrating fashion problems around!

Gently remove those stubborn buggers with a razor or pumice stone.

Ahhh! The beauty of new shoes. The pain they can cause. Put on a pair of thick socks with your new shoes and blow-dry the areas that feel tight.

A run in your tights Mist hairspray over your tights to prevent rips and stop rips from expanding.

A quick hem You just bought a new pair of slacks that you just can’t wait to wear this weekend but have no time to take them to your trusted tailor. For a temporary hem, use double-sided tape. Start at the seams, working with small sections, apply a piece of tape to the inside of your pants and secure to the inside hem.

Collar problems Battling with the iron to get that collar unwrinkled? Stop the fight and iron those kinks out with your hair straightener.

Clean suede Don’t feel disheartened with the dirt on your new suede shoes. Lightly rub the dirty area with a nail file.

Stubborn sweat stains To tackle those embarrassing sweat stains, simply spray the area with lemon juice before washing.

Kenzie Tenney is a freelance writer for Live it! Magazine

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Live it! Magazine 17

Preserve it!

Enjoy the flavor of herbs long after summer is over.

By Anne Polta Amidst the late-summer bounty of tomatoes, zucchini and sweet corn, it’s easy to overlook the humble presence of kitchen herbs. It’s true: basil, rosemary, thyme and the like aren’t bright-colored or flashy. Yet they deliver an unexpected and delightful touch of flavor that elevates even an average dish into something a bit more special.

Although fresh herbs are at their peak in summer, you can put them to work all year long by preserving them in various ways — butters, syrups, pestos and so on — and then pulling them out of your freezer for a taste of August in the middle of December.

Here is a trio of easy ways to make the most of a harvest of fresh herbs. If you don’t grow herbs, find a friend who does or look for them at a farmers market or in the produce section of your grocery store. Then make a note to yourself to plant your own herb minigarden next year.

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Anne Polta may be reached at apolta@wctrib.com or follow her on Twitter @AnnePolta.

Herb butter Herb butter is easy to make and keeps well in the freezer. Use it for a boost of flavor to freshly steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes or warm bread. It also works well as a lastminute addition atop a sizzling steak or fish fillets.

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 1 teaspoon lemon juice 5 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs Salt and white pepper, optional Optional: ½ teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest and/or minced garlic Cream the softened butter with the lemon juice and herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Shape mixture into a log, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and seal in a freezer bag. Slice off by the tablespoon or as much as needed. Can be kept in freezer for up to 6 months.

Suggested combinations: Tarragon, lemon zest and parsley Basil and garlic Rosemary, chives, parsley and garlic Basil, thyme and parsley Mint, garlic and parsley Sage, parsley and chives

Live it! Magazine 19

Fresh herbs can be used in a number of ways for a variety of dishes and preserved throughout the year.

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Classic pesto Pesto made with fresh herbs is more versatile than you think. Stir a small spoonful of homemade pesto to soup, or brush it onto chicken, fish or shrimp before grilling.

Combined with mayonnaise, it elevates sandwich spread to a new level. Other uses for pesto include drizzling it over a pasta salad or spreading it onto the crust of a home-baked pizza.

2 cups fresh basil leaves ½ cup fresh parsley leaves ½ cup olive oil 3 tablespoons pine nuts 2 garlic cloves, peeled ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 2 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature Salt to taste Puree the basil, parsley, olive oil, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor or blender. Add the Parmesan and butter and combine by hand; add salt to taste.

If you make the pesto ahead of time for later use, pour a thin layer of olive oil over the top and store in the refrigerator. If you plan to freeze your pesto, omit the Parmesan cheese and butter; add after pesto is thawed and ready to use.

Variations

Mint: substitute 2 ½ cups mint leaves and 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts for the basil and pine nuts.

This version goes especially well with chicken.

Cilantro: substitute 2 cups of fresh cilantro leaves for the basil. Add a small amount of lemon or lime juice before processing with the rest of the ingredients.

Live it! Magazine 21

Pesto can make a nice addition to pasta and offers a variation from traditional spaghetti dishes.

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22 Live it! Magazine

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201

5

Summertime tomato sauce Make this simple tomato sauce in late summer, when gardens and farmers markets are overflowing with fresh ingredients. Freeze, then pull out, thaw and heat to relive the flavors of summer in the depths of winter. Serve over hot spaghetti or penne pasta with a dusting of freshly ground Parmesan.

1½ to 2 pounds tomatoes 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced Ÿ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Freshly ground pepper and coarse salt 20 to 25 leaves chopped fresh basil

Remove skins and seeds from tomatoes; cut tomatoes into pieces. In saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat, then add garlic and saute a couple of minutes until fragrant. Add tomatoes and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to break down and the mixture thickens slightly, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in fresh basil and cook for another minute or so.

Remove from heat and cool slightly. Spoon sauce into one or two freezer-safe containers and store in freezer until ready to use.

Live it! Magazine 23

- Life Happens -

The healing power of pets

By Claudette Larson, LICSW Our featured story this issue on pets is near and dear to my heart.

I’ve had pets since I was a child.

There’s been dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, parakeets, fish and now, as adults, my husband and I have a collie named Sallie and three cats: Momma, Bodhi and Sweetpea.

We believe my only true responsibility in life is getting up at 4:30 a.m. to get their Whiska’s treats from the pantry.

Having animals has given me a sense of compassion for living beings other than myself, an understanding of responsibility. It has also taught me more about the eventualities of life and death than I have ever wanted to know.

As a clinician, I encourage people with mild to moderate mental health issues like depression and anxiety or social phobias to consider owning a pet if they do not have one.

Depending on a person’s capabilities and financial situation, owning a pet can be not only cathartic but a needed push for increased structure and activity that one may be avoiding when their mood is low.

Someone with a canine will need to feed and walk the dog on a routine basis.

The companionship will be healthy and help with feelings of isolation and loneliness.

It can also be a great opportunity for socialization and physical activity.

It’s amazing how many smiles a friendly puppy can bring to you and those around you.

More and more, animals are being included in the medical and mental health arenas through pet therapy.

Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, mental health programs and hospitals are using dogs and other

specially trained and licensed animals to visit patients and their families to provide comfort during what can be a difficult time.

We are even seeing hospitals allow families to bring pets from home to visit their loved ones during visiting hours in order to boost mood and increase motivation for recovery.

This certainly proves nothing lifts the spirits like the unconditional love of a furry friend.

Claudette Larson of New London is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 15 years of experience helping individuals, couples and families work on personal growth and real-life solutions.

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- Money Matters -

Investment mistakes to watch for at different stages of life Submitted By Jeanne Ashburn

As an investor, how can you avoid making mistakes?

It’s not always easy, because investing can be full of potential pitfalls.

But if you know what the most common mistakes are at different stages of an investor’s life, you may have a better chance of avoiding these costly errors.

Let’s take a look at some investment mistakes you’ll want to avoid when you’re young, when you’re in mid-career, when you’re nearing retirement and when you’ve just retired.

When you’re young Mistake: Investing too conservatively (or not at all).

If you’re just entering the working world, you may not have a lot of money with which to invest. But don’t wait until your income grows — putting away even a small amount each month can prove quite helpful. Additionally, don’t make the mistake of investing primarily in short-term vehicles that may preserve your principal but offer little in the way of growth potential. Instead, position your portfolio for growth. Of course, stock prices will always fluctuate, but you potentially have decades to overcome these shortterm declines. Since this money is for retirement, your focus should be on the long term — and it’s impossible to reach long-term goals with short-term, highly conservative investments.

When you’re in mid-career Mistake: Putting insufficient funds into your retirement accounts.

At this stage of your life, your earning power may well have increased substantially. As a result, you should have more money available to invest for the future — specifically, you may now be able to “max out” on your IRA and still boost your contributions to your employersponsored retirement plan, such as your 401(k), 403(b) or 457(b). These retirement accounts offer tax advantages that you may not receive in ordinary savings and investment accounts. Try to put more money into these retirement accounts every time your salary goes up.

When you’re nearing retirement Mistake: Not having balance in your investment portfolio.

When they’re within just a few years of retirement, some people may go to extremes, either investing too aggressively to try to make up for lost time or too conservatively in an attempt to avoid potential declines. Both these strategies could be risky. So as you near retirement, seek to balance your portfolio. This could mean shifting some of your investment dollars into fixed-income vehicles to provide for your current income needs while still owning stocks that provide the growth potential to help keep up with inflation in your retirement years.

When you’ve just retired Mistake: Failing to determine an appropriate withdrawal rate.

Upon reaching retirement, you will need to carefully manage the money you’ve accumulated in your IRA, 401(k) and all other investment accounts. Obviously, your chief concern is outliving your money, so you’ll need to determine how much you can withdraw each year. To arrive at this figure, take into account your current age, your projected longevity, the amount of money you’ve saved and the estimated rate of return you’re getting from your investments. This type of calculation is complex, so you may want to consult with a financial professional.

By avoiding these errors, you can help ensure that, at each stage of your life, you’re doing what you can to keep making progress toward your financial goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Jeanne Ashburn is a financial adviser with Edward Jones in Willmar.

Live it! Magazine 25

- Read it! -

Audiobooks are for everyone

By Syrena Maranell The summer travel season is in full swing, and what better way to spend your travel time than listening to an audiobook.

Audiobooks have recently become my favorite way to read. Why? Because I am a multi-tasker (and if I sit down with a book, I will most likely fall asleep within 10 minutes).

But audiobooks have come to my reading rescue.

Working out, cooking, playing Candy Crush, and, of course, traveling are great times to push play and get lost in an audiobook.

There are a few different format options available from the Willmar Public Library:

Audiobooks on CD

Pros: Great if you have a CD player

in your car (or home) Cons: Lack portability

Downloadable audiobooks from OverDrive Pros: Extremely portable

(if using a tablet or smartphone) Cons: Plan to download with Wifi

(your data will thank you),

don’t forget the charger

Pre-loaded iPod Shuffles Pros: Extremely portable Cons: Limited title selection

Road trips are the perfect time to listen to a family friendly audiobook. Choose any of the below titles for a great story the whole family will enjoy.

From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by E.L. Konigsburg The BFG by Roald Dahl Turtle in Pardise by Jennifer L. Holm The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin Wonder by R. J. Palacio One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia The Wednesday Wars by Gary Scmidt Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy The Crossover by Kwame Alexander Greenglass House by Kate Milford The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cat Valente Cinder by Marissa Meyer Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire Syrena Maranell is the Adult Services Librarian at the Willmar Public Library.

For more information on these audiobooks, swing by the Willmar Public Library.

The librarians are there to help you find your new favorite author. Check out the library’s blog at turningpages.areavoices.

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- Spirits! -

The love of a pet and a good wine

By Ron Skjong

Her name was Lady and I loved her.

It wasn’t just her gentle nature — it was her eyes that melted my heart.

Lady was a yellow Labrador puppy when we inherited her from my grandfather.

For a family information, she was the perfect family pet. A dog who protected, played with and loved all members of our family.

Her lifelong devotion was something poets write about but we got to live everyday.

Then one day, after a long period of failing health, I had to take her to the vet for the final chapter in the book of her life. I’ll never forget her sad, trusting and pleading eyes as I walked from her room.

I’m not embarrassed to say I cried.

Pets are important members of our families. They comfort us, give us companionship and provide a sense of loyalty only they can give.

Are they perfect? No, neither are we and maybe that’s why we need them in our lives.

And, it’s nice to know there are beverage makers who recognize what pets mean to us and allow us to have a different type of pet experience in the form of a good beer, a meaningful glass of wine or perhaps a soothing cocktail.

For example, nestled in California’s Napa Valley, Chateau La Paws not only provides outstanding wines but they proudly dedicate a portion of their income to support animal shelters and animal protection leagues around the country. Their bottle label features pictures of shelter dogs and is an effort to draw attention to the need for everyone to care for neglected and abused dogs. Viva Chateau La Paws!

Across the country, many other beverage makers honor animals and the one that strikes close to home for me is Boulder, Colorado’s Avery Brewing Company.

To honor his late chocolate Labrador, the brewer’s owner named one of his beers ­Ellie’s Brown Ale. Just as Ellie was comforting to her owner, this ale is full of comforting tastes of almond and vanilla – a perfect mate for a satisfying piece of chocolate cake!

And, of course, many other wine makers can’t resist the urge to name their wines after animals.

Fat Cat Cellars in Napa Valley proudly features a rotund cat on its wine labels. Not only is the feline a bit overweight but it wears very cool sunglasses and that makes the bottle easy to find on the liquor store shelves.

It’s a pretty darn good wine, too.

Whether you’re honoring a pet by making a special brew or placing a pet’s picture on a wine bottle, it points to the importance of pets for many of us.

However, I’ve heard of people who think it’s so cool to give a pet an alcoholic drink.

Please don’t do that. Alcohol is toxic to animals.

Yes, I’ll never forget Lady’s eyes and how she was such a good friend to us.

In her honor, I’ll raise a glass of Dancing Bull Chardonnay — here’s to you, Lady.

Thanks!

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!

Ron Skjong writes primarily about the wonderful world of wine but likes to explore various spirits and beers, too. He is married and has four grown children.

While stationed in Germany, he was introduced to German wines and from that introduction, a lifelong pursuit developed to find that perfect bottle of wine.

Live it! Magazine 27

Checkit!Out What’s happenin’ ?

August-September 2016

City celebrations Bechyn

County fairs Bird Island

Music concerts and more Glacial Ridge Winery

Aug. 14 Czech Heritage Festival, 25th annual festival with ethnic foods, music, folk dancers, children’s activities.

Aug. 12 Renville County Fair

Forest City

Aug. 12-13 Kandiyohi County Fair

Every Thursday through Sept. 8 Spicer, 6:30 to 8:30 pm., Glacial Ridge Winery, state Highway 23 between New London and Spicer; free music concerts by different individuals and groups.

Aug. 20-21 Stockade Rendezvous, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Raymond Aug. 27 Harvest Fest, parade 1 p.m., Saturday.

Appleton Sept. 17-18 Applefest, arts and crafts, flea market, motocross race, parade, fireworks, kid’s games and more.

Willmar

Morris Aug. 12-14 Stevens County Fair

Appleton Aug. 17-21 Swift County Fair

Madison Sept. 8-11 Lac qui Parle County Fair

Hinterland Vineyards Every Friday Clara City, 7 to 9 p.m., Hinterland Vineyards and Winery, 3060 120th Ave. S.E., free music concert by different individuals and groups.

Riverside Market and Muse Aug. 13 Granite Falls, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Music, crafts, art, vintage and more along the Minnesota River; Outta Towners and Ukulele Drive noon to 4 p.m.; Ron Hanson, Minnesota Sings contest, GFRR family picnic.

Music in the Park Aug. 14 Spicer, 4 to 6 p.m., City Park Deck, free concert by Jeff James Band.

28 Live it! Magazine

Music Festival

Farmer’s Market

Aug. 20 New London, noon to 6 p.m., Neer Park; family friendly day of eclectic live music, food and a kid-zone, www. newlondonmusicfestival.com.

Every Saturday through Oct. 8 Willmar, 6:30 a.m. to noon, YMCA parking lot; homegrown produce, farmraised meat and handmade items.

Danube Aug. 23 Danube, 7 p.m., Mueller Park bandstand by the water tower; Minneosta Over 60 Band, bring a lawn chair or blanket, free will donation, sponsored by the Danube Historical Society.

Riverside Market and Muse Sept. 10 Granite Falls, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Music, crafts, art, vintage and more along the Minnesota River; one day walking theater workshop and performance at 2 p.m.

Terrace Mill Sept. 28 Terrace, noon, 38th annual Fall Festival and Fiddlers’ contest: gate opens at noon, contest begins at 1 p.m. Crafts, troll shop, food stands and vendors.

New London Farmer’s Market Every Saturday through September New London, 8 a.m. to noon, Holm Park on the northwest corner of the Mill Pond; local produce, honey, cut flowers, baked goods and handcrafted items.

Movies in the Park Aug. 19 Willmar, dusky at Robbins Island, the movie “Hotel Transylvania 2” will be show, pre-activities for one hour before the movie, bring a chair or blanket to sit on; in case of bad weather it will be at WEAC.

Montevideo Aug. 19-21 36th annual Heritage Hill Antique Threshing Show featuring MinneapolisMoline tractors; Heritage Hill, four miles east of Montevideo; gates open 7 a.m. daily.

Prairie Pothole

Every Friday in August New London, 7 p.m., Neer Park, Aug. 12, 19 and 26, 320-354-5684.

Sept. 10 New London, 33rd Annual Prairie Pothole Day outdoor celebration beginning at 9 a.m.; Stoney Ridge Farm near the intersection of state Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 71 north of Sibley State Park.

Kerkhoven Farmers Market

Grape Stomp

Misc.

Little Crow Water Ski Show

Every Tuesday through August Kerkhoven, 3:30 to 7 p.m., Pillsbury Park; Locally grown garden produce, baked and canned goods and crafts from local vendors; food preparation demos will be held each week.

Sept. 10 Annual event from noon to 8 p.m. with wine tasting, stomp contests, food, entertainment, and more at Glacial Ridge Winery between New London and Spicer.

MidWeek Farmers Market

Sept. 10-11 Threshing Days, experience farm life in the by-gone days; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, east of town off U.S. Highway 12.

Every Wednesday Willmar, noon to 5:30 p.m., Kandi Mall east side parking lot, high-quality produce available that is grown within 100 miles of Willmar.

Becker Market Every Thursday through September Willmar, 2 to 6 p.m., on the sidewalk and inside The Hub, 213 Fourth Street downtown; experience Willmar’s multicultural flavor in an outdoor atmosphere of farmers, growers, producers, artisans and entertainment.

Atwater

Movies in the Park Sept. 16 Willmar, dusky at Robbins Island, the movie “The Good Dinosaur” will be show, pre-activities for one hour before the movie, bring a chair or blanket to sit on; in case of bad weather it will be at WEAC.

Harvest Fest Sept. 25 Spicer, Day for kids and families from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Glacial Ridge Winery between Spicer and New London.

Arts/Drama Little Theatre Aug. 12-13 New London, 7 p.m., Little Theatre; performance of “Those Crazy Ladies in the House on the Corner”; tickets at The Giving Tree Children’s Boutique and It’s About Hair in New London and at the door.

Barn Theatre Aug. 12-13, 15-19 Willmar, 7:30 p.m., The Barn Theatre, 321 Fourth St. S.W.; performance of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”; for tickets call 320-235-9500.

Barn Theatre Sept. 8-11, 15-18 Willmar, 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, The Barn Theatre, 321 Fourth St. S.W.; performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank”; for tickets call 320-235-9500.

Celebrate Art! Celebrate Coffee!

Sept. 17 Willmar, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., downtown Willmar; annual festival with demonstrations by artists, children’s tent activities, juried art exhibition and sale, food court, free coffee and entertainment on the outdoor stage.

Meander Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Five-county Upper Minnesota River art crawl, self-guided tour of 45 individual artist and 33 studios in and near the western Minnesota communities of Ortonville, Appleton, Madison, Milan, Dawson, Montevideo and Granite Falls.

Dances Tuxedo Junction Aug. 14 Glenwood, 4 to 8 p.m., Lakeside Ballroom; summer dances open to all, music by Tuxedo Junction; $15 per person, $10 ages 17-30; no jeans or shorts.

Jerry O’Hagan Sept. 18 Glenwood, 4 to 8 p.m., Lakeside Ballroom; summer dances open to all, music by the Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra; $15 per person, $10 ages 17-30; no jeans or shorts.

Submit for fall/winter issue: liveit@wctrib.com.

Live it! Magazine 29

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“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” Aug. 10-13, 15-19; 7:30 p.m. showtime, 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays; $10 for students, $20 for adults.

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