October 2022

Punxutawney Phil, the groundhog famously celebrated for predicting spring weather each year, is only right less than 40% of the time. He is, however, among a fraternity of Ma Nature’s critters and plant lore believed to be able to manifest certain forthcoming meteorological conditions. For example: If the black band on a Wooly Bear Cattepillar is wider than the brown one, lore says it means a long, cold winter. Someone also determined that pigs gathering leaves and straw in fall means frigid weather ahead. Extra fluffy rabbit tails and bushy squirrel tails both are signs of a cold winter. Insects get into the act, too. Watch where hornets have built their nests…It’s a sign for how high the snow will be. Spiders tend to infiltrate a house before impending colder weather, and make bigger webs, too.

We’re getting closer to the Great Minnesota Cook-Off, thus I’ve been working on plans, and organizing, hoping for a good turnout and a fun event for all. As I’ve been preparing I’ve been thinking about what kinds of things we really exclusively call Minnesotan. It was Betsy at Bluenose Gopher Public House that brought to my attention that we really refer to certain desserts as “bars” as a Minnesota thing. I had no idea.

United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UWSWMN) has kicked off their annual fundraising campaign, and this year’s theme is Live United to the Power of Five. The Power of Five shows the value of community and that every effort can go much further by working together.

In the fall of each school year the question I most frequently get asked is, “how’s it going at school?” It is well understood by staff and community members that each school year brings itsown uniqueness making this question an excellent one. How’s it going? Rather than the brief, great! I thought ’d dedicate a small article to that question.

And again I say, “I don’t like this time of year”. I really don’t know what I can do about that but grin and bear it.

I hope you aren’t tired of reading about Medicare Open Enrollment yet! It really is an important time and there’s so much information that I could probably fill a page and still wish I had more space. Each year I meet with people who have never participated before and so I’d like to share what happens at the appointment.