NEEDYOUWHENCAREIT.
During this time of uncertainty, Mayo Clinic Health System remains committed to providing the care you and your family need. Whether it’s through a virtual or an in-person appointment, we offer convenient and safe options to receive care, when you need it. For more information, visit mayoclinichealthsystem.org.
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Cool, crisp days and the changing of leaves paired perfectly with Halloween. It simply speaks to me on all levels and with COVID-19 slated to still be a pain in our collective behinds, it’s an even better reason to take a walk in the falling leaves.
Either way, it’s hard to find a downside to autumn, especially this year now that we’ve added something else to pair with it. As I touched on in the last issue, COVID-19 has gotten in the way of a few things and our schedule has been affected. Austin Expression, which typically runs in the July-August edition, had to be pushed back to this issue. The reason why it landed in that issue was to coincide with the Austin ArtWorks Festival. Unfortunately, the coronavirus played the spoiler for that as well. Even though we had to move it, we never once thought about not having it. The issue has become too popular over the years since Jason Schoonover conceived of it when he was co-editor.
Austin has become such an artistic town that we feel like Austin Expression has become a part of that rich history. We hope you enjoy the art that was submitted and we hope you enjoy the upcoming fall season as much as we do. Along the way Area Eats is back! It never went away really, but we’re excited now that Michael Stoll is able to get back into kitchens and dining rooms in some fashion or another to bring you some of the best food in the area.
Eric Johnson, Austin Living Editor
On the Cover Featured on the cover is a photo by Chanda Ounkong, one of the many artists in this year’s Austin Expression.
Provided I could convince myself I could get back up again.
PUBLISHER Crystal Miller EDITORIALEditor Eric Johnson Contributing Writers Rocky EricMichaelHulneStollJohnson Photographer Eric Johnson ART Art Director Eric Johnson Graphic Designers Eric CrystalJohnsonMiller SALES & PROMOTION Heather Biwer Mike BrendaDelhantyLandherr MARCH-APRIL 2020 Volume 8, Number 2 EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE: Editor, Austin Living 310 2nd Street NE Austin, MN 55912 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission. For comments, suggestions or story ideas call 507-434-2237. To purchase advertising, call 507-434-2220 © A Minnesota Publishers Inc. publication VISIT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ AUSTINLIVINGMAGAZINE CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK! EDITOR’S NOTE The arts of Austin 2 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 The season of Autumn is by far one of my favorite times of year, right behind winter. Yes, I said it, winter is my favorite season, but close behind that is fall. What is there not to like?
Like many people, I remember raking leaves and jumping into the piles. I remember pumpkins, hot chocolate and apple cider and I remember the anticipation of my most favorite of holidays and the candy it brought into my hands.As I’ve grown older I have come to find that very little has changed. I love the food and drink of the season and I might be tempted to jump into the piles of leaves in my own backyard on a chilly fall day.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 3
4 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 WHAT’S SEENSeptember-OctoberINSIDE2020 10 HEART AND SOUL OF A COMMUNITY Businesses use their windows to show off the strength of Austin during COVID-19. 11 WATCHING THE SUN SET A vacation to remember. AFTER PROM Still celebrating a special time without the dance. WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS 14 CELESTIAL VISITORS Comet NEOWISE shines over Hayfield. AREA EATS 18 MEET YOU DOWN AT THE CREEK Rose Creek cafe is a continuation of family tradition THE LIST 22 EMBRACE THE FRIGHT Breaking down ways to for you to take part in Halloween. THE HORMEL INSTITUTE 24 ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE INSTITUTE Jill Patterson carries local connections to the HI. HOME & HEARTH 26 JEN HAUGEN Cast iron skillet makes its return 27 AUSTIN ARTWORKS CENTER Featured Artist: Randy Mickelson. 28 NECTAR OF THE GODS A venture into the ancient art of fermenting honey. 31 NATURE NOTES Campground at Whitewater State Park getting upgrade. OUT & ABOUT 32 PICKEN’ A HOBBY Ukulele club is ready to strum up a good time. TRAVEL 52 ALL FOR ONE Northfield breweries, distillery provide a tasteful tour. LOOKING BACK 56 RECIPE FOR SUCCESS AREA HAPPENINGS 58 THE BIGGEST UPCOMING EVENTS BOOK REVIEW 60 THE PROMISE OF FORGETTING Brian Freeman’s “The Nightbird,” a thriller of the mind. WHY I LOVE AUSTIN 64 A PERFECT PLACE TO CALL HOME Gareth Hataye has found a place for family in Austin. Photo by Mark Lingl
READERS
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 5 AREA ART It’s time for our annual Austin Expression edition featuring our artistic readers.
Through strength of will, Lindsey and Shane Hanson have turned their art into a career.
42 HEAVY METAL Emerson Ruble uses the power of his plasma cutter to bring his art to life. FROM OUR
46
36 HANDS ON DESIGN
39 MAN OF GLASS Peter Waldman is hoping to make a name for the fragile art in Austin.
6 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 Your Preferred Community Lender SM
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 7 Your Preferred Community Lender SM
8 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 Copyright©2020 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation doing business as the Kris Heichel Team. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. Distribution to general public is prohibited. This is not considered an advertisement as defined by 12 CFR 226.2(a)(2). All rights reserved. FW 454038 MELONY BERNDT Licensed Loan Officer Assistant, NMLS #1985899 Direct: 507-460-4503 Cell: 507-219-5880 eFax: 866-630-1747 www.yourwaymortgage.commelony.berndt@fairwaymc.com 1403 15th Ave. NW, Suite A, Austin, MN 55912 Contact her today to learn more! The Kris Heichel Team of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation is excited to announce a new addition to our team, Melony Berndt! Melony is a Licensed Loan Officer Assistant and is passionate about the housing market and assisting buyers in making wise choices with their home purchase financing. She has an eagerness to serve and gives attention to every detail. She exemplifies Fairway’s core value of Speed to Respond and is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. MELONY LOOKS FORWARD TO HELPING YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF Welcome,HOMEOWNERSHIP!Melony Berndt!
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 9
Heart and
of a community
10 | Austin Living | September-October 2020 1.SEENTwice as Nice 2. Piggy Blues 3. George’s Pizza 4. Real Deals 5. Steve’s Pizza 1 2 43 5
COVID-19 has played the spoiler in most everything we do, threatening to stretch for an unknown amount of time. But in the midst of all this, people have been coming together and doing what they need to do to get through. Part of that display of solidarity early on was to place hearts and messages of hope in the windows of homes and businesses in a show of visible support for one another. A simple walk downtown was just an example of how the rest of Austin has met this challenge. soul
This was taken in Door County ( Egg Harbor, Wisconsin) during the Miller family’s yearly vacation.
September-October 2020 | Austin Living | 11
Emilee Lau, right, and McKenna Berg, dressed up for prom and holding a picture of the two from when they were younger. Right, Emilee Lau and her dad, Tim Lau, right, along with McKenna Berg with her dad, Galen Berg. Photos submitted by Amy Lau After Prom
Pictured left to right: Jaime Miller, the family dog Nina and Justin Miller. Submitted by Kelli Miller Watchingthesunset
12 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
September–October | Austin Living | 13 css.edu/socialwork The College of St. Scholastica is equipping care professionals through CSWE-accredited, values-based undergraduate and graduate social work programs. Master of Social Work • A flexible, hybrid learning environment with two tracks for those with and without a BA in Social Work BA in Social Work • Values-based curriculum including interprofessional education and 570 hours of in-field service • Social work healthcare certificate option
14 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 15 Celestial Visitors P hoto by E ric J ohnson Comet NEOWISE arcs over Hayfield during its visit in July. The comet won’t be seen again for close to 7,000 years. If you have a photo you think would be worth sharing, send it to Eric Johnson at photodesk@austindailyherald.com. Resolution must be 300 DPI and at least 14 inches wide.
16
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September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 17 129 Years of Service Austin Daily Herald OUR COMMITMENTTOYOU
18 | Austin Living | September-October 2020 Rose Creek cafe is a continuation of family tradition CKREE MEET YOU DOWN AT THE S tory and photo S by M ichael S t oll
purchased The Creek Bar and Grill in March 2018.
Husband and wife Mark and Kelly Lang
“I grew up in a family business,” he said. “My mom and dad had bars and restaurants for the past 40 to 50 years, so I grew up in bars and restaurants. To this day, we still own Bobee Jo’s in Austin. We’re big into family businesses.”
“I was at that point in my life where I wanted to have my own,” he recalled. “I have Bobee Jo’s now, but that was handed down from the family. This was my first; I was ready to buy my own place and venture out on my own.”
Mark said the Rose Creek community has embraced the business, giving it that true small town feel.
The Creek features daily specials that can be found posted on The Creek’s Facebook page or on boards inside and outside the restaurant. For those looking to satisfy their sweet tooth, The Creek offers daily fresh homemade desserts like cookies and “Therepies. are some days it’s more restaurant than bar,” Mark said. “We have a full service menu and we have everything from bar food to full dinner plates. Before COVID, we still had a salad bar. Not many places have a fresh salad bar anymore, but we still do on the weekends when we’re able to. Quality food is our number one thing; if you’re going to serve a product, it has to be the best product. My mom puts a lot of heart and soul into making sure our food is top notch.”
September-October 2020 | Austin Living | 19
“I remember it as a kid when it was called Woody’s years ago,” Mark said. “Then it went to The Creek.” Mark said his decision to purchase The Creek was based on his desire to have a bar and restaurant that he could call his.
The Creek Bar and Grill in Rose Creek. was at the point in my wantedwherelifeItohavemyown’
Mark Lang is no stranger to the bar and restaurant scene.
“I’ve never really been a server or a bartender,” he added. “I’ve always been a behind-the-scenes kind of guy. “ Those familiar with The Creek prior to the Langs taking over will see that the menu is similar to what it had before they purchased it. But, everything has had its own Lang family spin put on it thanks to Mark’s mother, Patti Lang.
“My mom was in the restaurant industry with my dad for years and top-quality food is high priority,” he said. “Ninety-five percent of our stuff is homemade; we don’t buy much of anything that’s pre-made.”
‘I
Growing up in Austin, the food service industry was what his family did.
A police officer with the Blooming Prairie Police Department, Mark runs a construction company and owns AB Taxi Service and Bubbles and Bows with his wife, Kelly “We’veLang.gotour hands in quite a few businesses, but the bar and restaurant industry is something that we just enjoy having,” Mark said. “It’s been a good part of my life.”Kelly, however, did not grow up with a background in bars or restaurants. “I’m from just south of St. Cloud and my parents had nothing to do with bars and restaurants.,” she said. “It’s kind of a shock with all the ins and outs that happen behind the scenes as far as keeping a bar and a restaurant going.”InMarch 2018, Mark and Kelly added another business to their repertoire: The Creek Bar and Grill in Rose Creek.
20 | Austin Living | September-October 2020
“I would say we have a fairly decent little following in the area,” Mark said. “People come here to have their special meal. We have families from up in the Blooming Prairie area that make the drive because they want their pork tenderloin sandwich or their chicken. People do travel to come to us.”
A thigh,withportions;crispy.friedcomfortquintessentialfood,TheCreek’schickenisjuicyandTheydon’tskimpononeordercomesfourpieces(breast,wingandleg)andaside to satisfy even the hardiest of appetites.
“The community is a great community and that’s one of the reasons I picked Rose Creek,” he said. “I’ve been a small town police officer for over 20 years, so I like the small town feel. The people in the community are more or less an extended family; you get to know their kids, you get to know their families. I like the small town and as for Rose Creek, we’ve been very well received. They’ve welcomed us with open arms. The community supports us and we try to support the community. We try to stay active with helping in events like the (Rose Creek) Fire Department functions. We try to be involved because we’re part of their little family. It’s gone very well.”But it’s not just Rose Creek that has embraced The Creek.
“People like small town restaurants and small town bars because they get that family service,” he added.
The Creek opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closing time varies depending on how busy they are, though Mark said they generally close at 1 a.m. The Creek is located at 202 West Thill Dr. off of Highway 52 across from Rose Creek Wayside Park. They can be reached at 507-437-0206.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU
BASKETBURGER
There are several burger options at The Creek: The Creek Burger (pictured), Rebel Yell, Three Alarm Burger, and 57 Burger on 56. Each is made from 1/3 pound of fresh beef (never frozen) and grilled up after being seasoned with Patti’s own seasoning blend, which elevates it from your standard burger to a flavorful experience that will make you ask where it has been all of your life. You could try to duplicate it if you feel confident enough because it is that good, but Patti wouldn’t say what was in it; even Mark and Kelly don’t know.
SANDWICHTENDERLOINPORK Pork SandwichTenderloin–Honestly, what’s more Minnesotan than a big piece of breaded pork tenderloin between two buns? Okay, fine, hot dish, but this battered and fried Midwest staple is high on that list. Hand-battered in The Creek’s housemade batter and fried to golden brown perfection, this juicy sandwich is sure to satisfy your pork cravings.
CHICKENFRIED
PLATTERHADDOCK Fried fish and small rural Minnesota towns go hand-in-hand, so it’s only natural that The Creek offers a way for residents of Rose Creek and the surrounding area to get their fried fish fix. Coated in The Creek’s awesome house-made batter and fried up nice, the flakiness of the fish contrasts well with the crunch of the batter. For an extra depth of flavor, dip it in the tartar sauce, also made in house. You’ll thank me later.
If you’ve never been to The Creek and aren’t sure what to have, Mark recommends a few of his favorites.
September-October 2020 | Austin Living | 21
F or most people, Halloween is one of those holidays they look forward to the most. It is one of those holidays that lends itself well for participation of all ages. Whether you are a child heading off for some trick-or-treating or an adult looking for a good scare, Halloween can be something for everybody. We’ve taken a look at the holiday and are hoping to help you with this year’s planning. It might look a bit different because of COVID-19, nonetheless, here are some routes to take if you want to take an active part in the scariest holiday of the year.
PUMPKIN CARVING IDEAS: home/crafts-projects/g950/funny-pumpkin-carving-ideas/www.womansday.com/
22 | Austin Living | September-October 2020 THE LIST EMBRACE THE FRIGHT
Take a walk
FRIGHTENING FOOD: halloween/g366/scary-halloween-recipes/www.delish.com/holiday-recipes/
Breaking down ways for you to take part in Halloween
As the sun sets much earlier, hopefully it provides an opportunity to take a seasonal walk in a spooky setting. Places like the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center or even Todd Park can provided a backdrop for a walk at sunset complete with the rattling of bare branches and the rustle of dead leaves. And be sure to see what the rest of the state has to offer. It’s not only a chance to feel some frights, but it’s also a chance to get out in nature.
SCARY MOVIES: top_100_horror_movies/www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/
Food, food, food Like so many other holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas, food pairs extremely well, while at the same time allows for an immersion into the season. The neat thing is, food can be taken the next step during Halloween and can be a part of the season’s narrative.Brain’s made from Jell-O? You bet. You can have just as much fun with the edible side of Halloween while keeping the fright.
Catch a scary movie, read a scary book There is no shortage of movies or books that tell a terrifying tale. Slasher fix in the vein of “Friday the 13th” or a “Nightmare on Elm Street” are a dime a dozen, while Stephen King is a go-to when it comes to the macabre. However, maybe take the opportunity to make use of the year’s scariest season and expand your view of horror. Among the first to weave a fright is H.P. Lovecraft and his tales of cosmic horror, while underappreciated gems like “The Exorcist III” are always good for a dark and stormy night.
CARVE A PUMPKIN Family friendly while still basking in the Halloween spirit, carving a pumpkin is rich in tradition. The tradition had its beginnings in Ireland, where the people would carve faces into a turnip or potato. As Irish immigrants began coming to American, the tradition came with. Carving a pumpkin can be as simple or intricate as you wish, but regardless of how much you challenge yourself, it’s worth keeping in mind to include the whole family for the full experience.
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: article/prettiest-places-to-hike-minnesota-falwww.exploreminnesota.com/
HORROR NOVELS: click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-storieswww.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/
September-October 2020 | Austin Living | 23
“I remember sitting at the Lyle Area Cancer auction and thinking I needed to do something more to do my part,” said Patterson.
Jill Patterson Crop for the Cure, started by Jill Patterson as a way to contribute to the Lyle Area Cancer Auction
For Jill Patterson, one of the few employees hired during COVID-19, it seems all roads led her to working at The Hormel Institute. Patterson, a graphics and web-design expert, gained her education locally and also her broad experience. She also has helped raise over $100,000 for the Institute through the Lyle Area Cancer Auction with her event “Crop for the Cure.”
All roads lead to the institute
Pattersonwin-win.”andCreative Memories colleague Jodi Attig, whose father had passed away from cancer, organized the first “Crop for the Cure” fundraising event in 2008. Their goal was to get 20 people to attend - the first year 84 people attended and the event raised $3,500. Jill’s mom died from cancer just two months prior to that first Nowevent.about 60 people attend the event and last year they raised $11,000. Another volunteer, Amanda Barber, also joined the organizing team. The main funds come from the registration fee, which covers table space, gifts, door prizes, meals and drinks. T-shirts and other items are custom designed and sold each year.
Jill Patterson carries local connections to the HI
Hormel Institute
“One thing that I enjoy doing is holding scrapbooking workshops and retreats for my Creative Memories business. I thought if I could do a “Crop for the Cure” and scrapbook with friends while raising some money, it would be a
B y T he h ormel I ns TIT u T e , P ho T os P rov I ded
“Jill is an example of the heart and soul behind the Eagles Cancer Telethon and Lyle Area Cancer Auction’s success,” said Teresa Chapman, director of the Eagles Cancer Telethon. The Eagles Cancer Research Telethon has donated over $17 million to cancer research at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic.
The 13th Annual Crop for the Cure is scheduled for November 13-15. The event is held at the Carpenter Community Center in Carpenter, IA. For details, search “Crop for the Cure” on Facebooknew people are welcome!
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 25
A popular silent auction grows larger every year, according to Patterson, with items brought in by attendees or local businesses. The unique scrap bookers’ garage sale is a big hit with “one scrappers’ junk another’s treasure” and the group also adds new activities like $1-a-minute chair massages. Popular annual traditions such as Pixi Stix Races continue.
“Everyone has been touched by cancer and now I can use my skills to support cancer research directly. My experience in helping with Lyle Area Cancer and the Crop for the Cure is a bonus.”
Crop for the Cure
Patterson is a Communications Associate and will work in graphic design, printing, website management, social media, photography and will also support event planning for conferences and meetings for The Hormel Institute’s Development and Public Relations department.
Jill Patterson, along with Larry Ricke, hold up a dollar amount raised from Crop for the Cure.
“Like all of us, she wants to do as much as possible to stop this disease that hurts so many. We will love seeing her at The Hormel Institute and knowing she is doing even more to help support cancer research.”
“I feel like all roads have led me here,” said Patterson.
y J en H augen , RD n , LD Mini CobblersFruitinaMiniCastIronSkillet 26 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 HOME & HEARTH
Find Jen on Instagram: blog:PackageRealJenHaugenRDFacebook:com/JenHaugenRDwww.instagram.andonwww.facebook.com/AndgrabherMeals,RealMomsRecipebysubscribingtoherwww.jenhaugen.com
• Pizza: To make two personal-pan pizzas start with a preheated oven to 350 degrees. Lightly brush two mini skillets with oil using a kitchen spritzer. Roll out two pieces of large refrigerated biscuits to fit each mini skillet. Place one in each skillet. Dollop with 1-2 tablespoons pizza sauce on top of each biscuit dough. Sprinkle with cheese, veggies and your favorite toppings. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the cheese melts and the outer edge of the biscuit is lightlyAnotherbrowned.advantage to smaller cast iron pans is that they are easier to transport and take camping. They are excellent for campfire cooking and grilling because they can take intense heat and evenly disperse heat to cook pizza, bacon and hashbrowns. But big flames are not ideal - you are looking for even heat from the coals of a fire. For the best campfire experience, divide your firepit into two zones. One zone for “live fire” with burning wood. And a second zone for hot coals that have burned down. This hot bed of coals is ideal for your cooking with a cast iron pan zone. Rustic cobblers, skillet brownies, and other treats are delicious too. With all the opportunities you have with cooking with cast iron, why not get a set of mini cast iron skillets of your own and make this recipe (it’s melt in your mouth delicious!)?
Here are some ideas of what you can do with these:
Around the Table
About Jen Jen Haugen, RDN, LD, is a mom on a mission to making everyday cooking easier so you can live your dreams. She’s a local small business owner, author and registered dietitian nutritionist. She owns her own business as a Pampered Chef consultant where she loves teaching how to make cooking fast and easy and healthy. If you would love to gather your friends for a fun evening of cooking together with tools that get the job done quicker, and learn simple cooking tips to make everyday cooking easier, then call Jen to set up your date:Want507-438-7109.dailytips?
• Basic Baked Eggs: You can cook eggs in cast iron as easily as other non-stick pans. And the eggs turn out fantastic thanks to consistent, even heating of cast iron. Just preheat your oven to 425 degrees, and grease the skillet with oil. Crack two eggs into each pan and season any way you like. Bake for 6-7 minutes. Top them with your favorite ideas too!
Cast iron skillet makes its return
To purchase yours: pamperedchef.com/pws/jenhaugenwww. or call me and I will help you: 507-438-7109.
One of the kitchen tools that’s making a comeback is the cast iron skillet. Have you noticed how many cookbooks lately are highlighting recipes in this cookware?
• Frittatas: When you don’t know what to make for dinner, and have a lot of different ingredients handy, this can save the day. You can add leftover veggies and any meat you like! Start by preheating your oven to 425, and grease the skillets with oil. Heat for 1-2 minutes over medium heat. Add desired veggies and cook for 3-5 minutes. Whisk four eggs along with ¼ cup milk. Once veggies soften, divide the egg mixture between both skillets and season. Bake for 6-7 minutes or until slightly puffed and light brown along the edges. Let cool 5 minutes before digging in.
B
I certainly have. From one pan meals, to desserts, to cornbread, to breakfast, there are so many options with this type of cookware. It’s no surprise as cast iron’s indestructible construction and versatility in the kitchen continues to shine. Whether you are cooking for one or two, or you love to camp, or you cook for a family, you can surely find a lot of success with cast iron. And my new favorite cast iron are the Mini Cast Iron Skillets!
● ½ cup (125 mL) self-rising flour
1 g, Sugars 114 g, Added Sugars 0 g,
Mini Cobblers in
a Mini Cast Iron Skillet Yield: 2-4
● In a medium bowl, combine the flour and heavy whipping cream. Use the Medium Scoop to add dough to each skillet. If desired, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
● Bake for 20 minutes or until the bis cuit dough is lightly browned.
Fruit
MickelsonRandy Artwork currently priced at $6-$55 Featured Artist Austin ArtWorks Center
450 mg, Carbohydrate 157 g,
6
● 1 can (21 oz. /595 g) any flavor pie filling (about 2 cups/500 mL)
Cholesterol 70
● ½ cup (125 mL) heavy whipping cream ● Ground cinnamon and sugar, to taste ● Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (optional) Directions ● Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pour the pie filling in equal parts into two 5.5” (14-cm) Cast Iron Skillets.
Ingredientsservings
● Remove from the oven; let stand 5 minutes and serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired. Nutrients per serving U.S. nutrients per serving: Calories 840, Total Fat 22g, Saturated Fat 14 g, mg, Sodium Fiber Protein g I started wood turning 10 years ago on a very part-time basis. It was a nice activity for winter time. I also make furniture in my spare time. I greatly enjoy working with wood. I’m fascinated by the many varieties and the patterns of the wood grain. We have lots of trees on our property and each time we cut down a tree or even a large limb, I harvest some of the wood for future projects. That way I can associate a bowl or vase with a tree that was once in our backyard. If you have a tree that must be cut down, I would be willing to save some of the wood and turn a piece of your tree into something that you can keep. I make bowls, vases, plates, platters, salt and pepper shakers, toothpick holders, tealight holders, boxes, and children’s tops. Contact: randyjm48@gmail.com.
28 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 29
I created my first batch in late March and through enough fumbling created something that was drinkable and fermented; however, there were mistakes, as there always is with trying things for the first time.
fermentingAdventureintotheancientartofhoney
Nectar of the Gods
Over recent years, the world of craft brewing and home brewing have expanded and in recent months, I have become part of that trend — with a difference.Instead of beer, I have taken up the brewing of honey mead. You have no doubt seen mead portrayed or mentioned in movies and in books. In one of my favorite movies, “The 13th Warrior,” the main character Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, played by Antonio Banderas, turns down an alcoholic drink, which he suspects as being wine or beer, from Herger the Joyous, played by DennisFahdlanStorhøi.explains, “I can taste neither the fermentation of the grape, nor of wheat,” to which Herger responds, laughing as he does, “HONEY! It’s made fromIt’shoney.”aline I remember, not only because it’s humor, but also because I’ve been interested in the drink ever since, though it’s also partly because of my Scandinavian heretage and my interest in the ancient Norse cultures. I tried my first “mead’ when a buddy brought some back from a trip to Ireland a number of years ago. More recently, I would taste what I could at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and began growing more of a taste from it from there. There was something enticing about the drink, partially due to the historical connection to my ancestory I suspect, but on a base level it just tasted good. For many it might be comparable to a wine and when refined enough it’s easy to see the comparision, yet it can be so much more and experimentation with it is akin to being a mad Norse scientist. Mead is the earliest example of alcohol known to man simply because of the ease in which it’s made. The brew was known as far back as 9,000 years and can be traced to China, perhaps even further. Mead can be traced to China, India, Egypt and throughout Europe. The drink made sense as honey was often used to sweeten things during those times so it was both familiar and readily available. Being a history nut, the idea of combining both mead and history has been appealing, but I first had to get over the idea that I could do Fermentationthis.comes uncomfortably close to the chemistry I struggled so much with in school. I’ve never been good at these types of things, but the more I looked into this the more I became enamored with the idea of trying until finally, I ordered “Make Mead Like a Viking: Traditional Techniques for Brewing Natural, WildFermented, Honey-Based Wines and Beers,” by Jereme Zimmerman
The book opened up the world of home brewing mead and provided an easily accessible road to making the brew. It simplified the science using a connection to the old world.
For all intents and purposes, mead is essentially two main ingredients: water and honey. There’s more to it of course including the use of tannins and acids along with flavoring ingredients, but when you start something with such ease, everything else comes a bit smoother.
S tory and P hoto S by E ric J ohn S on
The process I’m using, gleaned from Zimmerman’s book, is a wild ferment. This is a method where I coax fermentation by using that which I can find in Nonature.yeastpackets from home brewing stores, though you can use that. Instead, these are yeasts I can find right out my backFordoor.instance, a one-gallon batch of small mead starts with the aforementioned honey and water at a proportion of more water to honey (think 4:1 or 3:1 depending on the recipe and the degree of sweet you want with an eye to aging). To this wild ferment is added organic raisins, which not only are good for tannins, but also the yeasts they are covered with. If I’m not using a bug or barm (a bit of the “must” taken from fermented mead and used to start the next batch) then small sticks, raspberry leaves (also good for tannins) and clovers can be added for extra yeasty Anywherepunch.between 5-7 and 1-2 days will be needed to get a fermented mead indicated by the foam visible on the surface from the carbonation released as you stir it.
There’s so much to go into and still being new much I’m sure I’ve missed, but perhaps it’s better to just give you a taste, as it were, of the world of home brewing mead. If home brewing is something you have been interested in, then maybe this a good place to start.
A good vigorous mix is required at the start, usually about five minutes. You’ll see the foam, but this will not be from a successful ferment. Fermentation will usually be evident anywhere between 3-5 days, but be prepared for it to take a little longer.
What I had created was the small mead i mentioned earlier. This a mead that is made to be drunk soon after fermentation.Iwaitedtwo weeks with the mead bubbling along within its carboy, but realized that while drinkable, it was too young. It had a strong bread taste to it. Should you try this, I suggest a month at least for a small mead, but there are meads that should take between six months and a year to age.
The second and third attempts were much better and now I’m moving along with a mead hall (our dining room) occupied by several carboys filled with mead with more added every coupleTwoweeks.ofthese are in for the long haul using recipes that require the long-term aging.
The idea that alcohol could be created so easily was never really a consideration, but has quickly turned into a passion. It can be a tad spendy to start, but it is reasonable and many of the items I use can be found at home. I use a three-gallon crock for the initial ferment, which I had to purchase. A number of years ago my mom offered one of her five-gallon crocks and like a fool I turned it down. You’ll need carboys and bottles, some tubing to transfer from carboy to carboy or carboy to bottle, funnels and strainers, but they are all very doable depending on where you go. You can get things like pumps (though the pump I used didn’t work nearly as well as simply syphoning, but if you share with friends then maybe a pump is the way to go). The internet can be invaluable and won’t take you long find different paths to your own mead hall. I also highly recommend Zimmerman’s book.
30 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
What I’ve discovered is just how fascinating the whole process is, which is amazing considering how impatient I am with most everything and patience is most definitely the key.
The process is simple and rewarding and really, just a lot of fun.Happy meading!
• Improved drainage and stormwater management.
• Additional accessible campsites and longer parking spurs at campsites to accommodate the larger recreational vehicles.
One of Minnesota’s most popular state parks is getting an upgrade this summer to better serve campers, thanks to state bonds and dedicated funds from the Parks and Trails Legacy Amendment. Whitewater State Park is located midway between Rochester and Winona. Work began in April on the park’s Cedar Hill Campground. When the project is completed by the end of this year, the campground will feature:•A new accessible shower building with a solar thermal hot water system, LED lights, and low flow fixtures to reduce energy and water demands.
• Four new accessible vault toilets.
News from the
The project is the next step in a comprehensive redesign of the park’s campgrounds to enhance campers’ experiences while eliminating the hazards associated with flash flooding on the Whitewater River. This effort began in 2011 and has included decommissioning of the Gooseberry Glen Campground and establishment of a new Minneiska Campground. With its shady valleys, dramatic bluffs, miles of hiking trails and excellent trout fishing all within a relatively short drive of the Twin Cities as well as Rochester, the 2,700-acre Whitewater State Park consistently ranks among the top ten most visited Minnesota state parks. To learn more about camping and other recreational opportunities in Minnesota, visit mndnr.gov.
• Tree and shrub plantings to provide more screening and shade.
• A new campground septic system.
Nature Notes Minnesota
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 31
Honey is the superstar and main ingredient of mead. The more honey, the sweeter it will be. Make sure you are testing thorughout the process to determine whether or not the balance of sweet and citrus is kept. Of course, taste is in the eye of the beholder.
• New paved roads, designed with better traffic flow to minimize camper disturbance.
• Upgraded electrical service at campsites in the Upper Cedar loops.
Department of Natural Reources
• The $3.98 million Cedar Hill campground upgrade is being paid for by the constitutionally dedicated Legacy Fund (55 percent), and state asset preservation bonds (45 percent).
Campground at Whitewater State Park getting upgrade
32 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
J ulie Clinefelter used the COVID-19 pandemic to pick up a newNowhobby.she’sbeen sharing with others. Clinefelter, who is the executive director of the Austin Public Library, has helped bring music to life with a group of ukulele players on Tuesday afternoons just outside the library. Everybody in the group is still learning to play, but they’ve already figured out they can play quite a few tunes by mastering a few chords.
OUT & ABOUT
HobbyPicken’
A
Ukulele Club is ready to strum up a good time B y R ocky H ulne , P H otos B y e R ic J o H nson
The adult members of the ukulele club meet at the Austin Public Library. Below, Caitlin Vasquez Beckman plays her ukulele during a meeting of the children’s ukulele club
As the group continues to hit the chords, they’ll learn more songs and more aspects of the ukulele.“I’m still learning too. That’s the fun part,” Clinefelter said. “I told them right away that I’m not an expert. At the library, we’re all about lifelong learning and this is something you can learn as you go.” Anyone interested in joining the ukulele club may contact the Austin Public Library.
“I thought it might be something fun to do in my down time and then I really enjoyed it and I thought that other people might want to try it as well,” Clinefelter said. “I think a lot of people want masks.”canandmeetingcancolder,AsableluckyIdifferentsomethingtodoandthinkwe’vebeenthatwe’vebeentodoitoutside.theweathergetsI’mhopingwehaveoneofourroomsopentheeightofusmeetinsidewithThegrouptypically
“I picked it up as a meditation thing to do for myself,” she said. “Music is a universal thing, but not all of us feel musically inclined. I always thought that my brother had all of the musical talent in our family, but the ukulele lends itself fairly easily and you can play quite a few songs with just a couple of chords.”
Clinefelter never considered herself much of a musician before, but now she’s learning to look forward to her jam sessions on the ukulele.
begins playing at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays for kids, followed by adults. They are hoping to eventually bring in musicians who play other instruments to come in as guests.
Eileen Chao follows along with the music during a meeting of the ukulele club at the Austin Public Library. Music is
butuniversalathing,notallofusfeelmusicallyinclined
After starting with children’s songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Someone to Love,” the group has moved on to the catalog of Bob Dylan while also learning “Take Me Home, Country Road” by John Denver and “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tommy James and the Shondells and later by 80s pop star Tiffany.
Lucas Vasquez Beckman checks his finger positioning during a meeting of the ukulele club.
Clinefelter has been meeting with eight adults and four kids and they’ve all been learning how to strum the ukulele together.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 33
34 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
Mark Lingl captures the lively world of a flower its visitor.
and
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 35 Sharingskills Readers share their art and prose Craftingart Three people are hands-oncreatingart
Hands onDesign
36 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
Through strength of will, Lindsey and Shane Hanson have turned art into a career S tory and P hoto S by E ric J ohn S on Lindsey and Shane Hanson in their shop located in rural Adams.
Lindsey and Shane Hanson have put themselves in a position to leave their jobs to pursue a dream in the making in Rustic Oak Designs. The business that creates and sells custom signage, 3D cutouts and printed pictures has taken off since its start in 2017.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 37
With Lindsey’s talents for design on the computer and Shane’s carpentry background, the Hansons have settled into a home decor niche that can artistically set off a home.
“We booked our first pop-up show or vender show before we even made one sign, which is kind of crazy, but I think we had a lot of faith and we knew we would figure it out,” Lindsey said. “We made over 100 signs the first month and it was a huge hit for us and very successful.”
In the space of just a few years, the Hanson’s got to a point where they were able to make something more of this opportunity, and while any small business venture takes some bravery, the Hanson’s really had to steele themselves for the next step.
Sitting on an acreage just north of Adams, the shop features room for both avenues of the Hansons: A place to print and construct.Inthe smaller of the two rooms, Lindsey designs and prints, while on a work table in the same room as well as in the bigger workshop, Shane does the finishing work on the frames as well as assembling the final project.
Don’t let the presence of a large printer and 3D printer fool you. Rustic Oak came from the humble beginnings at the Hanson’s kitchen table.
W hat started out as a quest for an artistic hobby has turned into a successful business in rural Adams.
“You’ve been talking about wanting to make signs for years,” Shane tells his wife on a sunny afternoon in the couple’s shop.
“It was like a process,” Lindsey said. “(Shane) would come down here and cut the sign and then bring it up here and I would paint and stencil it. Then I would bring it back down here to frame it.”
For about a year and half the couple did things like this, learning as they went.“I didn’t really know what I was doing either,” she said. “We just figured it out as we went, even though we’ve never done it, we figured it out.”
This past May, Lindsey left her position as RN at Mayo Clinic — just as COVID-19 was taking off. Shane, likewise, has shifted to part-time construction work with an eye of getting out all together.
Together, the two had the creative skills to make it work, but time really put a pinch on everything.
From its earliest beginnings in 2012, when the couple first started thinking of the venture, Rustic Oak was to be a hobby, but with early success it swiftly turned into something more.
The printer opened up the world to Lindsey and Shane, who soon after added more options to their business.
Both were working their full time jobs and in their free time, they had to make Rustic Oak work.
“We did a lot of research, so we decided to do a printer to help us with sign-making in 2019,” Lindsey said.
On top of that, the Hansons are parents to four children, whom they obviously didn’t want to neglect.
“We want to figure out a way to grow,” Lindsey said.
“We’re still fine turning it” Shane said. “We’re always fine tuning it in ways to make things go smoother and more efficient.”
Oftentimes, it resulted in both Lindsey and Shane staying up to 1 or 2 a.m. and even later at times. The problem of time was complicated by the fact that Lindsey was doing everything by hand. That was when they decided to make an even bigger leap in purchasing a printer.
Through it all, the Hansons have built a creative business out of sheer determination and neither one of them harbors any regrets about taking this path. With each step, the Hanson’s are becoming ever more successful with a careful eye on the future and the next steps.
For more on Rustic Oaks Design
• www.facebook.com/rusticoakdesign
This sign encompasses the Hansen’s story as they build their business.
38 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
the two continued to work through it and even though there are doubts sometimes, confidence wins out.
To view the items they have for sale
•
“We were able to do photos,” Shane said with Lindsey adding, “And that’s really taken off for us. It’s probably our no. 1Mostseller.”ofthe Hanson’s business is done online through their Etsy store, though they have gone to shows and festivals. However, with the online portion doing so well, the couple has started moving away from those. Even though Rustic Oak is finding its stride, it doesn’t mean there haven’t been some headaches during the process. Not long after the printer was purchased, Lindsey’s computer crashed and it wasn’t properly backed-up. Over 350 designs were lost and to further complicate matters, it was just before Christmas.“Ididn’t have it backed up properly and I didn’t know I didn’t have it backed up properly,” Lindsey said. “So then Shane and I are like, ‘What are we doing? Are we going to lose our butt?’”However,
“I still feel like that every once and awhile,” Shane said as he talked about occasional doubt. “I have no doubts we’ll continue to be busy and if we’re not, we’ll figure out a way to be busy.”
The next step was the purchase of the 3D printer that allowed them to branch out even further with cutouts that can run simultaneously with the printer.
GUBYd0s_H7Jsd_Ck_fUOfWPYlkkSR-GowJE-jE4shop_redirect&fbclid=IwAR30ZOvrlkvB9SLVdWeb-www.etsy.com/shop/rusticoakdesign?ref=search_
Peter Waldman hoping to make a name for the fragile art in Austin S tory and P hoto S by E ric J ohn S on
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 39
P eter Waldman is a jolly soul, laughing in most every sentence he speaks.It’sbecause of this that it’s easy to talk with him about one of his greatest artistic joys: blowing glass. Visitors to the previous years of the Austin Artworks Festivals may recognize Waldman. During the two-day festival, he’s often been seen blowing glass while describing the process of what he does. Often with plenty of laughter.
Peter Waldman sits with one of his glass galaxies, an item that taps into his creative side.
Man of GLASS
Peter Waldman’s galaxies on display. Photo provided
From that first moment Waldman was hooked, but it took some time before he was really on his way down the path.He admitted that getting through school was difficult.
40 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
“The process I call the makers delight,” Waldman said, sitting in his home studio on a farmstead northeast of Austin, which includes the homemade furnace he built. “That’s why I like to make glass in front of people. I think performing is what it’s about, whether the performance is just for me or one person or for 100 people. But you have to understand it’s like a dance.”That dance has been many years in the making and taken him across the country to Austin. His early days were spent growing up in Pennsylvania, where some of his earliest memories of glass blowing took place, without instruction and only a child’s curiosity.
“I was a horrible student,” he said. “I was ADD before ADD was ADD. They didn’t have terms like that, but my parents were savvy enough that they knew I needed help.”
His parents arranged for tutors, but after his ninth grade year and a move to a smaller school, those resources weren’t available to However,him.Waldman was pulled toward industrial arts.
During the process that included time working as a carpenter, Waldman eventually returned to glass blowing. He was going to college and got the opportunity to be mentored by an instructor that spent time with his craft at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.
“When I was a kid my dad, who is a biochemist, had a little box in a garage with some pipe and tubing and being the that I was, I liked to blow things up,” Waldman said. “I got a propane torch and I got a little ball on the end of a pipe and it blew into a sphere so thin that it popped. The glass was so thin and lightweight, it floated like snow.”
pyromaniac
• To learn more about Peter Waldman’s art of glass blowing or to purchase some of his pieces, call 1-917596-7567 or email him at peterwaldman@hotmail. com. His pieces can also be found at the Austin ArtWorks Center. An example of Waldman’s glass vases
Eventually, Waldman came to Austin, where he has begun to work up a presence in the community around his glass blowing, hoping people will take an interest in blowing glass and that he can be the one to teach them. However, it’s certainly not easy. It’s an artform that takes plenty of concentration.
“I was a glass gypsy,” Waldman quipped.Hefollowed the glass to a couple different places in New York during a 25year span and he would “twist balloons” in the park, creating balloon figures for children.
“Once you pick up that glass you have to be in orbit the whole time,” Waldman said. “It gets hard fast, but when it’s in that liquid state it’s dancing. If you stop turning it it’s going to be on the floor. If you’re not paying attention to the heat, it’s going to crack and it’s going to be on the floor.”
Want more glass?
Waldman creates bowls, glasses and goblets, but one of his specialties are galaxies. There’s no secret — the galaxies are exactly what they sound like: circles of glass with galaxies and stars swirling in the glass he shapes. It’s this side Waldman hopes he can explore more of as he builds and expands his studio. He also hopes that others will come with him and enjoy those things about glass blowing that he himself enjoys.
“Glass blowing is a lot of fun and you can do it,” Waldman said. “It’s not that hard to sit at the bench and have an experience.”
Peter Waldman has made appearances at the Austin ArtWorks Festival.
From this man, Waldman learned even more of the basics and was he able to make liberal use of his time in college at Millersville University in Pennsylvania.“Ispenthours and hours and hours — I would work into the wee hours of the night and I would keep going and going,” Waldman said. The art had hooked him and he knew he wanted to go further. Realizing this, he knew his next stop was in Corning, New York.“We needed a new furnace and I went to Corning and I saw what was there and I thought, ‘oh my God, there is a whole world, a whole movement,’” he said. “Corning was like Mecca for me. Everything I had read in school pointed to Corning.”Notlong after, Waldman became a journeyman, spending time in Corning before moving to Tennessee, Florida and then finally to New York City.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 41
42 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
Emerson Ruble stands in his shop, with examples of his art pieces hangingin in the background.
In his workshop just outside of Moscow, Emerson has hanging from the walls various pieces of art he has cut from metal sheets. Standing in various parts of the shop are wine trees and above everything is a metallic T-rex.
Heavy Metal
In particular, Emerson through the years has worked in the agricultural field, helping farmers with repairs when needed.
S tory and P hoto S by E ric J ohn S on E merson Ruble has worked with metal for several years, whether it’s machining parts on his plasma cutter at home or welding fixes to farm equipment.However,now Ruble is starting to turn his talents closer to the artistic, following a long-time interest in art.
Emerson Ruble uses the power of his plasma cutter to bring his art to life
“If you can think it, we can make it,” Emerson said. “That’s originally how it started.”
For years, Emerson has dabbled on and off in the world of art, finding the time to pursue it in between his full time job and welding or machining in a freelance type of role.Working metal has been a part of his family for years. He remembers hanging out with his uncle in his machine shop as a child and along the way started learning more and more.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 43
“I spent a lot of time down there,” Emerson said. “I helped him figure stuff out and helped him a little bit.”
But there’s more if you look hard enough, including metal roses that come complete with their own stands.
• For more on the art of Emerson Ruble, visit: https:// Youcreativemetalspecialties.com/canalsoseehisworkatthe Austin ArtWorks Center. Emerson Ruble’s plasma cutter traces a rose pattern on a fresh sheet of metal.
44 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
But he also still fosters the desire to be more on the artistic“He’sside.always sort of had a creative mind,” his wife Nikki said. “It runs in the family.” Early on, many of the pieces Emerson created were through welding. On this day, he showed off a cross made of railroad spikes, one of many he has made over time.He also makes the wine trees.
“I’m still learning the basics and trying to jump to a new level,” Emerson said. More and more, Emerson has been looking closer at becoming more involved in his art and that includes getting his pieces out in the community more. To that end, he has entertained the idea of attending shows and festivals.
At the plasma cutter
“I wanted to be able to make my own designs,” Emerson said. “It has a lot of programs on it already installed, but I’m able to make my own. It’s very practical.”It’sabig step for a man who admittedly has stayed away from computers.
Eventually, Emerson was gifted a small plasma cutter, but it was hand-held and somewhat limited in what he could do — both artistically and professionally.
“I love doing that,” Emerson said. “We went to Northfield, a tractor show, and did really well. We sold a lot.”While many of his pieces are ornamental and decorative for the walls of home, Emerson will also spend his time making smaller items, including the roses.He has made bottle openers and small dinosaurs for children. It’s simply part of the fun that comes with the whole“It’sprocess.funwatching the machine work, seeing a piece come out of the sheet metal,” Emerson said. At the same time there is another aspect to Emerson’s work that he enjoys. A side product of the art he produces.Thesocial aspect. “I love going out and visiting with people, whether they buy anything or not,” he said. “It’s fun to visit and talk.”He remembered one particular time where he was talking to an older gentleman who was looking over his work.After a while the man told him, “You better be careful, you’re going to be busy.” And that works fine with Emerson. “I’m happy with what I’m doing now,” he said.
The next step was something larger that would allow him the capability to do both. Two years ago Emerson purchased a large table plasma cutter. It came ready to work, but it also allowed Emerson the chance to expand on his own talents.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 45 NEWSPAPER POWER. Print, Digital & Targeted Solutions for our advertisers. TOGETHERALLNOW. We’ve been hard at work reporting the latest news and informing you about a pandemic that’s disrupted everyone’s lives. We’re proud of our brand of trusted journalism. Now, as our nation looks to reopen, rebound and resurge, our advertising representatives are here to help your business. Hire us to help get your customers back and your employees ready. Nobody cares more about your success than us. No one has an engaged audience like ours. Our growth online, combined with print, is impressive as more readers turn to us for local news. Newspapers are your best investment. We care about local. Mike 507-434-2223Delhanty mike.delhanty@ austindailyherald.com Heather 507-434-2222Biwer heather.biwer@ austindailyherald.com Brenda507-434-2226Landherr brenda.landherr@ austindailyherald.com
46 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 FromourReaders From the studio B y E mploy EE s of th E A ustin A rt W orks C E nt E r J E nn A G r ABA u A ndr EA f unk k E ls E y r it C hi l A ur A h E ll E l or A l EE B A u E r W r E n C lin E f E lt E rs A m d E yo o livi A C ul BE rt
Knees touching like blood brothers
A yellowed lampshade stained with gossip
Bound in tired leather worn as his chair
Like secrets that bleed out under rocks
The fire spitting behind him set his wispy hair aglow
Along the way I swear I smell mahogany and smoke
Sit before him
Watch for a spark in those eyes I tell him of Heroes and Thieves
Bandits and Prey Our every nerve alert
I pick him out by his eyebrows … still wild like the prairie
Stories of tension and release
Spurs hung like paintings cast a shadow on mahogany walls
The coming of boys to men
i. Inside a house in Brentwood Past chandeliers and doilies
Like an old drifter at camp
B y v i C ky k in G
“Heroes and Horseshoes; Bandits and Prey”
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 47
Stories tumbled with deliberate caution
“Lake of Glass” A l BE rt l EA l A k E from th E south shor E lookin G AC ross A t m yr E s t A t E p A rk p hoto B y m i C h AE l J ord A l “Pristine Lilly” A m E ri CA n W hit E W A t E rlily A t E A st s id E l A k E on J uly 2. p hoto B y t im r uz E k
Tolstoy and Faulkner renting space
Was the door to Grandad’s room
With eyes glassy as blue aggie shooters
His words edgy as he told of
ii. The walk to Grandad’s place is different now
And the man no big city could tame
Leave my shoes outside on concrete … my tie on the stair rail
Heroes and Horseshoes
He sat before us … legs split … leaning forward … hands thick as mitts
On faded tapestry we circled ‘round him cross-legged
“Redwood” B y K ellimarie m ash
Each minute in the car, Kinsley put another mile between herself and the shrinking buildings in her rearview. A blinking hazel eye kept watch until the peak of the skyline melted into the horizon. She rolled down the window; tension slowly left. Blonde hair flew out, riding the wind, bouncing to the steady hum of rolling tires.
Kellimarie Mash graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2019 with a degree in Communication Arts and Literature and Secondary Education. Originally from Minneapolis, she recently moved to Mower County, where she will begin her career this fall. Since graduating college, she has focused her free time on her personal writing. You can usually find her typing away, coffee in hand
48 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
Kinsley fidgeted with the tiny handle growing from the thin china. “Why did you leave? This town is all you’ve ever known, why did you go?”
An eager woman with silver hair stood perked up behind the front desk. “Just me. Probably a couple, I’m not too sure.” Kinsley feigned a half-smile
“Have you always lived here?” Kinsley asked, sitting down next to Joni at the edge of the balcony, legs hanging off the edge.“Yes, I have,” Joni joyfully responded, “my mama was born here, and my dad was born here. I grew up here. I left for a few years, but I found my way back.” Kinsley’s eyes scanned the room and the state of the siding. Joni seemed bright. Put together in a place that fell apart. “It’s not much,” Joni said, following Kinsley’s eyes, “but despite its obvious glory, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” A glint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes, framed by prominent smile lines. She brought her tea cup to her lips, her frail hands had the faintest shake.
The yellow hatchback slowed. Kinsley leaned in close to the steering wheel as if the proximity would show her where to go. She peeled off towards a patch of gravel. The car lurched as she stopped and parked. To her right, an old house with cracked siding sat silent. A faded sign introduced the Cedar River Inn. She slammed her car door behind her. Hopping over the many missing slats of wood on the porch, she made her way to the front door. “Oh my, welcome to the Cedar River Inn. How many guests? How many nights?”
“What brings you to Redwood, Kinsley?” Kinsley didn’t want to respond. She took a long, slow slip. Hot Earl Gray crawled down her throat. Two weeks ago, she’d fractured into pieces sitting on her living room floor. She was perfectly fine. A split second later, she sat there fragmented.“Idon’t mean to pry. We don’t get many visitors in Redwood. Extended family comes around the holidays, and that’s usually it for the year.”
Two weeks ago, leaving was not on Kinsley’s mind. She sat unaffected and mildly happy in her overpriced apartment, staring down at the traffic and the people. Today, she packed her bags and gunned it towards nowhere.
Welcome to Redwood: Population 596
“I thought I’d bring tea to you!” The woman said, too excitedly. “Oh, um, Joni,” she said, shoving her hand awkwardly towards Kinsley. The tea tray she carried almost fell out of her Kinsley’shand.hands shot up, quickly saving Earl Gray and cream from a long trip down. “Kinsley,” she replied. She shook her hand.Thetwo women made their way to the balcony.
Kinsley didn’t know how to respond.
“My parents left me this little house when I was only nineteen years old. I’d grown up here with my older siblings who all moved away as soon as they could. I got married the year after high school and Mama and dad gave me the house. They fled for warmer weather. My husband and I raised three children here, each of them equally precious and rambunctious. I stayed at home and watched them grow. They each left when they turned eighteen. College, relationships. And then my husband passed away five years ago. He’d only been retired three months, if you can believe that. It was…,” Joni trailed off. “I’m sorry, Joni,” Kinsley spoke with sincerity.
“Alright, darling, I’ve got the perfect room for you.” She grabbed keys and led Kinsley up a staircase. “This room has a balcony with the best view of the river. Let me know if you need anything.” She hesitated at the door. “I usually put on tea around seven. I wouldn’t mind the company if you wanted to join.” She gently shut the door, leaving KinsleyKinsleyalone.tipped her head back and slowly spun in a circle. She took in everything. The splintering bed frame; the wallpaper from a different century, peeling in every corner. Spidering cracks crawled up the walls, towards the ceiling. Her glinting eyes followed the pattern, eventually landing on the balcony door. She pushed through. The balcony stood above the river and looked over the rest of Redwood. A green and white flannel, overworn and huge, hung on Kinsley’s hips. She smoothed it out over her high-waisted Levi’s, gently lowering herself, dangling her feet directly over the slow current beneath her. She threw her hair up, readjusted her plain white tee-shirt. Letting out a sigh, she looked at the town in front of her. The Cedar River bent and curved, hugging the left side of the town. Like veins, streams branched off the main river. Each branch cutting through the streets, trying to find its way through the mess, the town a mosaic in its wake. She tilted her round chin towards the sky, the grayness seeping into her fragments. At seven, Kinsley heard a knock on her door. The woman with the silver hair stood in front of her, bright, and holding a tray of tea. Her shoulders perked up when Kinsley invited her into the room.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 49
“Did it get better? Easier?” Kinsley asked.“You can’t minimize the space the brokenness took from you, but the Gold will rush in if you allow. It protects the space with strength, and it’s malleable enough for new beginnings. Changes. Growth. I’ve got rivers of Gold flowing within me, darling, and they’re keeping the pieces together. I’m more whole than I ever thought I could be. I can’t say it’s easier, but it’s more beautiful than I ever envisioned. “How are you, Kinsley?” Kinsley looked out towards the horizon. The clouds had cleared, and all that remained was the setting sun. The room behind her, so chipped and damaged just moments before, glowed. In front of her, Redwood looked whole, strong, sure. Below her dangling feet, a river of Gold gently flowed.
“Everything felt broken, so I ran,” Joni continued, “As fast as I could, I ran and I didn’t look back. For two years, I didn’t give Redwood a second of my thoughts. And then one day someone asked me how I was doing. This poor stranger asked me a simple question in a cafe and I cried for an hour. She held my hand, waiting for me to find the words.“You can run as fast and as far as your little legs will take you, but when the brokenness is inside you, it will find you wherever you are. Brokenness is patient. It gently creeps up from time to time. It gives you time to build up just enough courage to turn around and put up a“Youfight.can’t wait too long though, darling. Brokenness is also growing. It takes up space in the cracks. The longer you wait, the more it grows. The brokenness feeds off of the weak walls within you. Don’t wait too long, darling.”“You came back?” Kinsley asked. “I came back the night I broke down holding a stranger’s hand. I came back to this dusty old house. Everything was falling apart just as I left it, just as it is now. Everything was falling apart, but this time I was ready to face it. Everything was falling apart in front of me and yet everything was Gold.”
“Surrounded by Corn” B y K im J ohnson “Mayfly” B y T im r ie T z
Becca jumped. As she jumped, her bell-bottoms jeans caught on a piece of wood trim on the garage. This made a midair sound effect of several nails been simultaneously pulled from a scrap of lumber as the trim was pulled away from the garage. The snag of her jeans also caused the flight of her jump to change in a way that she landed shoulder-to-shoulder on Royal, knocking them both to the ground.
“Thanks Royal. See ya tomorrow.”
“I’ve got to go. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Becca said as she sprinted for home. “I’m right here dad,” Royal and Scotty heard Becca shout as she stepped into her yard.
“Foley will never notice,” Royal assured.
“Strutter come!” Royal instructed softly. Strutter immediately joined them in the alley.
“Becca, come on!” “I can’t Royal. I’m scared!” “But we’ve done this a thousand times before.”Rebecca Hobbs, Royal Gillespie and Scotty Brock had just spent another evening sitting atop a neighborhood garage. They had taken up this pastime of late primarily for the sense of adventure, but it also provided a means of escape.Royal had already dismounted Old Man Foley’s garage and was trying to persuade Becca to jump down.
“I know, but this one seems higher and I can’t see down there,” Becca said. Royal shifted his effort. “Okay Scotty, why don’t you jump down next?” “I will Royal!” Scotty said in his ever-present effort to please Royal.Scotty immediately jumped and as he landed he hit an empty Schmidt Beer can that Foley had left laying in the yard. The beer can went swirling down the driveway for what seemed like an eternity making enough racket to arouse Foley’s German Shepherd. The dog started barking frantically. This set off Royal’s mutt, Strutter. “Strutter hush!” Royal commanded. Strutter was immediately silent. “Becca, you have to jump right now! I’ll catch you and break your landing.”
50 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 “To Learn the Rules.”
“Yeah if you wouldn’t have jumped when you did, Becca would still be up there on Old Man Foleys’ garage and her dad probably would’ve done more than just give her a shove tonight. We need you in our trio.”
“Why’s he gotta treat Becca like that?” Royal rhetorically asked Scotty as they started again for home. “Well, see you tomorrow Scotty, you were cool.”
“See ya Scotty.” Royal walked past a couple more homes then into his kitchen and said, “Mom, I’m home!” “Okay honey,” his mom said and Royal knew how good he had it.
The trio didn’t care or even know that they were considered to be in the lower-to-middle poverty range. They had a great adolescence living day-to-day in their realm. After all, they lived
“We’ve got to get home,” Becca said. “Yeah, it’s almost past curfew,” Royal agreed. They got up and started walking the block to their homes with their hearts still thumping and slight smiles on the faces of Royal and Scotty. “That was cool!” Scotty said in an attempt to show that even though he was two years younger than Royal, he was every bit as brave.“Yeah, let’s do it again tomorrow night,” Royal said.
Foley let out his dog and hollered, “Who’s out there?”
“Becca, I have to be home by 10:30.”
“Becca, where the hell are ya?” He had obviously been drinking again which meant he could be mean.
The German Shepherd sniffed around and immediately caught the scent of kids (or perhaps Strutter). He pranced over to their spot behind the car in the alley and started barking again in an attempt to signal to Foley that he had found the intruders.
My name is Michael Mathias Wein mann and I have lived in Austin (on and off) for most of my life.
* Royal Gillespie was 15 years old. Rebecca Hobbs was 14 and Scotty Brock was 13. They lived on the east side of town where, although it was not one of the more affluent neighborhoods in the town of Thornton, only some of the houses were run down. It was like Royal’s mom always said, “It’s what you make of it.”
“I don’t know…” Becca started to protest but was cut short just as she heard her dad yell from their porch in a slur.
“Butdoor.Dad, I’m not late,” Royal and Scotty could still hear Becca say as the kitchen door slammed. “You get your goddyamn assh to bed right now and no talkin on the phone to that loozyer Royal Gilleschpie.”
“Are you okay, Becca?” Royal asked out of deep concern. “I’m okay except I ripped the leg of my jeans and my mom is going to kill me.” “I told you I would break your fall.” Royal said. “Yeah, but what about that board on the garage being pulled away?” Becca asked.
Strutter growled at the shepherd so viciously that it made Becca and Scotty startle back from their haunched positions to their rear ends. Foley’s dog turned tail and began grazing in the yard as though he had been let outside solely for the purpose of relieving himself. This is exactly what he did before running back to Foley and signifying that there is nothing to worry about out here. Foley let his dog back in the house, grabbed another beer out of the porch refrigerator and settled back down on the couch to watch the rest of this week’s episode of The Rockford Files.
“You get your assh in this housh right now!” Vincent Hobbs said as he gave Becca a little shove from the screen door to the kitchen
“Night momma, I love you,” Becca said to her mother.
B y M ichael M athias W ein M ann
With Foley’s dog still barking, the porch light came on. “Let’s get out of here!” Scotty said. They all got up and Scotty ran while Becca and Royal somewhat limped to a spot behind a brown Dodge Dart parked in the alley next to the garage.
“I love you too honey, Goodnight.”
“Do you mean it, Royal?”
“Well, I will stop by and get Scotty and we’ll be over in a few minutes.”“Okay,Royal. See you in a bit”
“Hi, “Hey,Royal.”Becca. Did you get in trouble with your dad last night?”“No, I think he passed out on the couch just after he sent me to bed. My mom came up before I fell asleep, turned on the light and noticed my ripped jeans on the floor. She just rolled her eyes, shook her head and half smiled. I don’t think she wanted to add to the way my dad treated me last night.”
“I did and she told me that she must’ve snagged them on something. Are you two in cahoots?”
“Never mind. Here’s Becca. And Royal tell your mom hello for me and that the goulash recipe she gave me was wonderful.”
“See ya.”
“I’m not sure, Mrs. Hobbs, she must’ve snagged them on something. Did you ask her?”
“What does cahoots mean, Mrs. Hobbs?”
“Say Royal, how did Becca’s jeans get ripped last night?”
“You want to go swimming in the lake?” “No, the water is gross this time of year.” “What do you want to do today?” Royal asked in a slightly frustrated tone. “I don’t know.”
“Reversal of Fall” B y c handa o unkong
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 51
“She is just finishing the breakfast dishes, Royal. How are you?”“I’m fine Mrs. Hobbs.”
*
“Hello,“Hello?”Mrs. Hobbs. Can you call Becca to the phone?”
Two blocks from their house in the other direction of the lake was another geographic blessing. Here was located the town of Thornton’s railroad yard which was accompanied by a (full city block long) pedestrian overhead walking bridge. The bridge had a steep incline on each end that took the youngsters to the heights of the telephone wires before leveling off and spanning the width of the twenty-four tracks in the railroad yard below. Shipping by railroad cars was still considered to be a viable means of transporting goods in the late 1970’s. There was always some degree of train traffic to watch. The panoramic view of the trains provided by the Soo Line Railroad and the Great Chicago-Northwestern Railroad in building this bridge was a delight to adult pedestrians and an inadvertent source of imagination provided for Becca, Royal and Scotty. Looking a bit beyond the neighborhood, the town of Thornton was a wonderful place to live. It was surrounded on all sides by small family farms that relied on this community for all of life’s necessities from supplies to wholesome entertainment. There were no corporate or industrial headquarters located in this hamlet of less than three thousand citizens. The business district was completely adequate as it covered two blocks of Main Street and another two blocks of Washington Avenue. Law violations were pretty much nonexistent and the achievements of the public school system were admired throughout the state.
“Cool! What do you want to do today? You want to go fishing?”“No.
“Paramount”
“I will Mrs. Hobbs.”
M aggie V lasaty is an a ustin nati V e currently li V ing in M inneapolis M aggie illustrated the p ara M ount t heatre B ecause it W as a places she re M e MB ers M ost fro M her childhood e V en though it W as a place she didn ’ t V isit often , it W as a place that had so M e good M e M ories a block away from the only lake in the town. Here they would go fishing and swimming in the summer and ice-skating in the winter. They spent some of their summer and fall evenings on the banks of the lake just looking out at the stars, talking and pondering in the way that kids sometimes do.
Fishing is gross.”
B y R ocky H ulne P H otos PR ovided
There is a cooperation that goes beyond company names in the Northfield area that combines people with spirits, history and relaxation all at once.
Chapel
ImminentBreweryBrewing
52 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
Tracie Vranich, owner of Chapel Brewing, has seen all four establishments work together since they opened around around the same time three years ago and she often recommends Imminent Brewing for those who are looking to see live music and Tanzenwald for those who are looking to grab a bite to eat.
tastefulbreweries,distilleryprovideatour
Imminent Brewing, Tanzenwald, Chapel Brewery and Loon Liquors Distillery have all emerged in the last three years and they’ve taken an all for one approach in keeping visitors coming in.
Travel
LoonTanzenwaldLiquors
... .. Imminent Brewing and Chapel Brewing have created a destination in Northfield.
Since opening, Schiller has tried to stay as local as possible as Loon Liquor gathers 90 percent of its ingredients from a 10 to 15 mile area around Northfield. He said the business has been good and Northfield has become a destination area for thirsty customers.
They’ve also given back to the community and beyond by producing hand sanitizer and distributing it to local police departments and hospitals.“We’ve been giving out a lot of Southern Minnesota love and it’s been super rewarding,” Schiller said. “Not bad for an idea, we stumbled into at a white Russian party.”
“We all give each other free beers and we’re the only ones that can commiserate with each other because we can relate to each other,” BellPittmanImminentsaid.
When Tanzenwald ran out of cans during the COVID-19 shutdown, Chapel Brewing lent them cans and one of the brewers from Imminent Brewing helped mentor a brewer from Chapel Brewing, which has its tap room in old Chapel in Dundas that was built in 1880 by a family that were Plymouth brethren.
Laura said she was excited when Chapel and Tanzenwald announced they were opening and she has also been welcoming to Loon Liquors and Keepsake Cidery, which is also located in Dundas.
“We get a lot of people coming to Northfield and Dundas because of the breweries and because we’re close to Austin and Rochester. It’s another layer when you think about people wanting to go on a day trip. Breweries have always allowed people to make these day trips with a sense of being able to do other things in conjunction with going to a brewery,” Vranich said. “We don’t compete with one another. Honestly we collaborate with one another and we help one another. We think it’s great that people come and they go to all three of the breweries.”
“It’s about the time we spend with people, connecting with old friends or making new friends over a beer. Also, it’s about the time we take picking ingredients and crafting beers.”
...alongTanzenwald,with...LoonLiquors
Mark Schiller, the CFO and co-founder of Loon Liquor, started making booze with his high school friend and current business partner 10 years ago. Schiller said the brewery boom hit Northfield once the state of Minnesota’s charge of selling your own distilled liquor and brew went down from $30,000 to around $1,000.
“It is possible to all come together and make the ‘south of the metro’ a destination for all craft beverage lovers,” she said. “We work together with several of the local beverage joints.”
Bell-Pittman said that Tanzenwald is now starting to emerge and it’s picking up its distribution, while also adding a new front patio to the brewery. She said it is helpful to have other brewers nearby who are always willing to offer a helping hand.
“We get a ton of people from out of town from all over the state. It’s been great,” Schiller said. “It’s still very new and there are still people asking how do you make vodka and gin.”When Schiller and his friend began their venture into distilling booze, it began with making coffee liquers in college. Since then, they’ve learned a lot more about making products like whiskey, vodka, gin and rum.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 53
All three breweries can be reached on the East Cannon River Trail, which is paved and allows bikers and walkers. They all offer a unique experience, with Chapel Brewery offering a glimpse at history and a comfortable place to sip down a beer while overlooking the CannonJenaveveRiver.Bell-Pittman, co-owner and general manager of Tanzenwald, and her husband Steve Pittman, co-owner and brewer, were the first ones to start the brewing trend in Northfield as they took on the early struggle of trying to balance a new brewery that also serves food. Besides having to get their name out, Tanzenwald had to shuffle it’s menu back and forth to find the right audience and it also had to find reliable staff. “It was really hard at first. Now, it’s much easier after being established,” Bell-Pittman said. “It’s a huge initial investment. The equipment is outrageously expensive and our building was horrendous when we moved in. It’s a huge risk and it was all just very scary.”
The Loon Liquor Company’s tap room is also located near the Cannon River and they’ve blended in well along with the breweries in a community that is famous for the defeat of the outlaw Jesse James.
Brewing was the first of the three breweries to open and is located in an old National Guard Armory Garage. It is placed right next to the old Armory Square that is now an eventOwnersspace.Derek and Laura Meyer have taken a customer first approach, where they treat employees like family and customers like friends.“Our motto is ‘it’s about time,’ Laura said.
54 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 Thank you Mower County for voting us ‘Best Financial Institution’ for 17 years! Thank you Mower County for voting us ‘Best Financial Institution’ for 17 years! accentracu.org Albert Lea & Austin • 800-533-0448
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 55
Henry (known as “Nick” because he looked so much like his uncle Nicholas) was born to Paul and Catherine Zender on Aug. 1, 1874, and went on to be a lifelong Austin resident. When the Spanish-American war broke out, he was the first to volunteer for service with Company G. He served as a wagoner during the conflict. He returned to Austin and married Margie Anderson on New Year’s Eve 1907. He worked as a bill poster until 1909, when he took over his father’s bakery with business partner Otto Jensen.
is
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ori
Henry and Otto made many improvements and updates to the bakery, but Henry was in a car accident in 1913 or 1914 and was unable to work. He died in 1916 as a result of his injuries. The Home Bakery changed hands a few more times, but seems to have gone out of business once and for all in 1922. B y J aimie T imm , m ower C oun T y H is T ori C o C ie T y • a ll p H o T os C our T esy of TH e m ower C oun T y H T C C ie T y Henry “Nick” Zender in his military uniform, ca. 1898.
Recipe for Success
Paul and Henry Zender –proprietors of the Home Bakery
al s o
Paul H. Zender was a German immigrant who became a valued Austin businessman and civil servant. Opening the Home Bakery in 1900 was just one step in a long journey. Born in Luxembourg, Germany, in 1846, Paul traveled to America with his parents in 1852. The 86-day journey was difficult and culminated in a shipwreck. After three days in the water, the Zender family was rescued and eventually made their way to Quebec with nothing except the clothes they wore. After marrying in 1869, Paul and his wife, Catherine, lived in Calmar, Iowa, where he operated a meat market.They moved to Austin in April 1873. Paul opened another meat market before moving into the bakery business in 1900. He was a member of several fraternal organizations and held many roles in the community. He was the long-time aldermanat-large of the city and was acting mayor for one year after Mayor Sutton died. He and his wife had eight children and was known as a “man who loved his home and family greatly” when he died in 1912.
The Home Bakery on Mill Street shortly after it opened in 1900. The poster on the electric pole advertises an Autumn Carnival street fair scheduled for late-September 1900.
56 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
LOOKING BACK
Above, articles in the Mower County Tran script that detailed the opening of the bakery and of Henry taking it over. Left, Paul Zender’s home around 1904. This is presumably where Henry and his siblings grew up.
The Zender brothers – Joe, Henry (“Nick”), and Frank. Based on how the photograph is labeled, the brothers are on the right side of the photograph. The man on the far left is unknown.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 57
58 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 Sept. 11
Sure Shot Archery Challenge When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Cedar River Archery Club Special event presenting a competitive opportunity to win all sorts of prizes. Come out for a fun, family sporting event. $10 for members, $15 for non-members (family and child rates available). For more information, go to www.cedarriverarcheryclub.com or call 507-2085698. Sept. 26
Oct. 11 2020 Taste of Nations When: 1-4 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center Rescheduled from April. Celebrating our cultural heritage with information, food samples, dance performances, music and art from all over the world. This is a free community event. For more information, email herve@austinwelcomecenter.org or call 507-434-2863.
Oct. 31 MN Softball Hall of Fame When: 5-8 p.m. Where: Holiday Inn Austin Conference Center For more information, call 507-433-1000. D ue to the C o VID-19 s I tuat I on , all D ates , t I mes , an D lo C at I ons are subje C t to C hange
Gallery Opening: Lori Biwer-Stewart & Tara Schneider When: 5-7 p.m. Where: Austin ArtWorks Center Sept. 12-13
Fall Harvest Drive-By Bake Sale When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Where: Mower County Historical Society Our Fall Harvest Celebration will look a little different this year as MCHS continues to monitor the coronavirus pandemic. However, our bakers will be offering a delicious assortment of baked goods for curbside pick-up. Self-service pumpkin wagon will also be available near the Administration Building. Pies, breads, bars, lefse, cookies and more. Pre-order only; order deadline is Sept. 16. To place your order in advance or for more information, call 507-437 -6082 or email director@ mowercountyhistory.org.
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 59
TURN THE PAGE If you like this book by Brian Freeman, you may enjoy these books.
IdentityBourneThe by RobertTheLudlumDrift by J.T.
B y H olly J o H nson
60 | Austin Living | September–October 2020
The promise of forgetting Brian Freeman’s ‘The Night Bird’ a thriller of the mind
Dr. Francesca Stein can help people do just that in “The Night Bird,” the first novel in the Frost Easton series by Minnesota author Brian Freeman. Stein helps people forget the tragedies or fears that paralyze their lives. She manipulates reality so that her patients can move on from memories that haunt them. But the events of the book make her question if what she is doing is helping or actually hurting people further, especially as she struggles with her own less than perfect family history.
DavidEightsAcesRyanandbyArcher
Frankie, as she is called, is a psychiatrist respected in the scientific field for her expertise in memory reconsolidation. However, her methods are controversial and some feel like her mind altering techniques are unethical. She is a workaholic who has wrapped herself in a coat of self-reliance that keeps others just far enough away so they can’t crack her exterior of competence. “The Night Bird” begins when Lucy Hagen’s roommate, Brynn, who had been a patient of Dr. Stein, suddenly leaps from the Bay Bridge. Lucy is left at the scene horrified trying to figure out the sudden erratic behavior of her friend. When Detective Frost Easton of the San Francisco Police Department arrives at the bridge, he and Lucy become unseemly partners as they piece together what happened to Brynn. Over time the tragic deaths of two other women are linked to Dr. Stein, and Lucy and Easton find themselves in a dangerous web of Detectivetheories.Easton, also a victim of haunting memories, uses his connections to find out about Dr. Stein’s work. He discovers that her testimony allowed a suspected sociopath to be exonerated of rape charges. However, many, including Easton’s superiors, are convinced her patient is guilty and may be behind the mysterious recent deaths. Easton, Lucy and Dr. Stein eventually begin unraveling the events but not without putting themselves in peril. In the end, Dr. Stein, Lucy, and Easton are changed but not through memory reconsolidation. They each have new scars that need healing, but they will use them to manage through the next phases of their individual journeys. Freeman states on his website that he wants his characters “to live in the real world, where morality means tough choices and a lot of shades of gray. I hope that’s why readers relate so intensely to the people in my books.” The cast of players in “The Night Bird” faced real and personal challenges that readers can certainly identifyThewith.“Night Bird” had me engaged from the beginning, and kept me guessing right up to the end. I would recommend Freeman’s Frost Easton series as well as his other riveting stories. Freeman has been chosen by the Ludlum estate and Putnam Books to continue the Jason Bourne tradition so if you are a fan of the classic Ludlum series look for Freeman’s new book, “The Bourne Evolution.” I don’t often reach for a thriller but I am glad I did in this case, although, I don’t think I will be looking into memory reconsolidation.
PAGE TURNERS Have you ever wanted to erase a memory? To un-see something you saw or un-hear something you heard? To change the way something happened?
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 61
expose them to different objects used around the house, especially items that make different sounds like vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances, or the garden hose and the lawnmower. even the crinkle of a plastic bag, the pounding of a nail, the slamming of a door, your hair dryer, all will help to desensitize your pet to new noises. it’s important your pet learns early on there is no reason to fear these sounds.don’t forget about getting your pets used to being handled, by you and others. Pay special attention to the handling of the paws for nail trims, cleaning their ears and introducing a toothbrush for proper dental care. Give them regular baths so they get used to the bathing process — this includes cats, too. even putting your fingers in their food bowl while they are eating, removing the food and then putting it back in the bowl, helps them to not become food aggressive. you never know when a toddler will decide to put their little fingers in the food bowl while your dog is eating. you want the variety of experiences to be safe and positive, so if your pet shows signs of being anxious, do not force her to proceed, but divert to play time instead. you can always try again tomorrow. remember, you want your pet to go their own pace.
t he socialization process doesn’t end at 12 weeks, it continues throughout the first year of life. make sure you are introducing your pet regularly to new experiences, whether it’s a walk around the lake, a trip to the dog park, a visit to t he Pet authority or a sporting event; give your pet the extra grace they need to be comfortable with each new experience.
Michelle Nelson is the owner of The Pet Authority. healthy pets | by mi C helle nels On adding a new furry member to your family is a very exciting time. While making this lifetime commitment, it is extremely important to socialize your pets properly. between 3 to 14 weeks of age for puppies and 3 to 9 weeks of age for kittens, your new pets experiences, or lack of experiences, will shape his/her adult personality and behavior. during this sensitive time, you will need to provide your pet with a variety of daily, positive and unique experiences for proper socialization. e arly socialization begins at 3 to 5 weeks of age; they learn to interact with their littermates as well as people. exposure to adults, both male and female, children and different ethnic backgrounds are all very important. if you are buying a pet from a reputable breeder or a rescue, it is important to ask about their socialization program. (Puppy mills and poor breeders will have no socialization program). Growing up on a farm, i quickly learned that finding the new batch of kittens was a top priority. We knew if we didn’t find them when they were young to play with them, they would be impossible to catch when they got older. at 8 weeks of age, most puppies and kittens are ready to leave the rest of their litter and go to their forever home. t his is when you have control over the socialization process. Until your pet is fully immunized, most of the socialization process will be done at home. t his is the time where you need to engage all your pet’s senses, including sight, sounds, smells and touch. start with having friends and their pets come over for a visit, allowing them to warm up to each other at their own pace. a gain, continue exposing to male and female, different ages and ethnic backgrounds during this process.
Proper socialization and when it needs to happen
62 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 54 | ALBERT LEA mAgAzinE advertisement CO ntent
September–October 2020 | Austin Living | 63
I love about Austin! WHY I LOVE AUSTIN 64 | Austin Living | September–October 2020 A perfect place to call home B y G areth h ataye • P hoto B y e ric J ohnson
Some say that the days of stable, personal businesses are gone, but I care to differ. Look around Austin, as there are many businesses that have stood the test of time. As our eyecare practice has grown over the years, it has been built on our patients’ trust and our commitment to the community. We’ve grown our practice, embraced technology, and flowed with the changing trends. We provide a full scope of eyecare, from regular eye exams to contact lenses. But, the medical side of eyecare is often overlooked. From treating eye infections to corneal foreign bodies, to eye disease detection and management, we often act as a gatekeeper for referrals for more serious eye conditions. We’ve seen toddlers become teenagers, teens become adults, and adults become parents, bringing things full circle. I guess doing something you love for almost 35 years probably has that Ifeffect.I’mnot at work, or home with family, you can probably find me on a bike, cross country skis, or working on Austin’s very own mountain bike trail. With approximately five miles of trail on Schindler’s Way Mountain Bike Trail, we’ve created a place where one can find exercise, others serenity. Having hosted 5 Minnesota High School Cycling League races, it attracts many visitors to our community. Many volunteers have spent countless hours sculpting the trail to become a hidden jewel that our community can speak of with pride. As I drive around Austin, I see a community that is relaxed as a warm summer day, serious, when issues need to be solved, understanding when we need to be heard, and caring all the time. Having grown up in Hawaii, Austin might not seem to be the ideal place to call home. It is the birthplace of Spam, though. And, maybe an occasional SPAM musubi. But, as a place to raise your children, personally develop, start and grow a business and give back in ways you wouldn’t think possible, it may be the perfect doggone place to call home! That is what
Our family arrived in Austin in 1994. Having just purchased our optometric practice, with my wife Dr. Alaina, 2-year-old Sydney, and 1-year-old Selena in hand, the transition was quite busy. Having moved from Duluth without family in town, the presence of our parents, and Uncle Dick and Aunt Belita made for a much welcomed change. The 25 years have gone by so quickly, and the kids have grown up and moved away. The busy early years with kid’s activities and programs having been replaced by volunteering, coaching, and bringing mountain bike trails to the community. Austin is a community where many are understanding, caring, willing to help when in need, and to lead by example. A vibrant community with a healthy arts and recreation scene, is there more you can ask for? Like the old saying goes, “Does it get any better than this?”
HAVE A BALANCE.PORK-LIFEBETTER
