Mankato Magazine

The Quiet of Winter

Not a creature was stirring ...

Mankato: Ravine country State park winter cabins

Also in this Issue: Healthy meals on the go • Vetter Sales & Service • Look back: Winter Carnival •

JANUARY 2012

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ANKATO M

FEATU RES JANUARY 2012 Volume 6, Issue 11

magazine

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Ravine country Ravines are a historical and popular feature of the Minnesota River Valley.

24 The Quiet of Winter

Not a creature was stirring ...

Mankato: Ravine country State park winter cabins

20

Not a creature was stirring ... ... except turkeys and deer and squirrels and foxes. In January, the outdoors quiet down, but there is still plenty of wildlife around.

Shelter from the cold Cabins offer warm refuge for winter weather enthusiasts at state parks.

On the cover: In January, the Minnesota landscape becomes quiet and still, but not as much at state parks like Minneopa.

Photo By Pat Christman

Also in this Issue: • • •

Healthy meals on the go Vetter Sales & Service Look back: Winter Carnival

JANUARY 2012

$2.95

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 3

ANKATO M

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6 From the Editor The quiet winter pleasures 10 Familiar Faces Jerry Vetter of Vetter Sales 12 Artist Insight Suszi Grudem 28 Fashion Currents Winter beauty tips 30 Places in the Past Winter Carnival 32 That’s Life ‘Oh, Pioneer!’

34 From the kitchen Keeping resolutions 35 Happy Hour Malbec wine 36 Good Health Couch exercises 37 Things to Do, Places to Go Events to check out this month 38 Get Out! Adventure reads 46 The Way It Is My winter world begins to stir

Coming up in the February issue of Mankato Magazine ...

A return to the simpler side of love.

Oftentimes, the “many-splendored thing” seems a very complicated and entangled one. Sometimes during the month of February, love even becomes a commercial thing, a thing to be bought and sold.

But in our February issue, we’ll remember poetry and first dates. We’ll remember the crooners and the love songs. We’ll remember the magic of “Will you marry me?”

34 4 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

35

Join us, and perhaps we’ll find the next great love story right around the corner.

MANKATO magazine

JANUARY 2012 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11 PUBLISHER EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

James P. Santori Joe Spear Amanda Dyslin Amanda Dyslin Rachael Hanel Nell Musolf Adam Pulchinski Pete Steiner Grace Webb Marie Wood

PHOTOGRAPHERS

John Cross Pat Christman

PAGE DESIGNER

Tricia Gieseke

ADVERTISING MANAGER

David Habrat

ADVERTISING SALES

Cheryl Olson

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT

Barb Wass

ADVERTISING DESIGNERS

Seth Glaser Sue Hammar Tony Helget Liz Klukas Christina Sankey

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Denise Zernechel

Mankato Magazine is published monthly at 418 South Second St., Mankato, MN., 56001.

To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $19.95 for 12 issues.

For editorial inquiries, call Amanda Dyslin at 344-6388, or e-mail adyslin@mankatofreepress.com.

For advertising, call Cheryl Olson at 344-6390, or e-mail mankatomag@mankatofreepress.com.

From The Editor

By Joe Spear

The quiet winter pleasures

W

inter arrived later than usual this year, and for that many Minnesotans are thankful.

But probably not Jerry Vetter.

He sells and services and loves snowmobiles. The snow machines with the Polaris brand have been part of his life since the 1960s, the year his dad started a small shop in the family’s garage. Vetter Sales & Service is now in its 48th year of business, and one of the five oldest Polaris dealers in existence.

Like enduring a long, cold winter, Vetter has survived and thrived by all accounts.

Whether there’s a lot of snow or not, Vetter’s business revs up in January. The snowmobile season is, he says, only a couple of months long these days, and many of his customers travel to find the snow.

Vetter talks enthusiastically about things like the Pro R Switchback, one of the most popular snow machines this year, with a “pro ride rear suspension.” Makes me think this will be one smooth-riding snow vehicle.

Such technological comforts always make it easier to get through winter.

But for folks who rent Minneopa Park’s 12- by 16-foot cabin in the winter, the thrills are a bit quieter. Assistant Park Manager Steve Rose says the cabin is booked every weekend in the winter. It has heaters and bunks, sleeping up to six.

People come to the winter hideaway to relax, he says.

In fact, cabins are becoming so in demand at state parks, the state is putting in several more every year at about $60,000 a crack.

If you’re looking for a wild winter party, you might have to go back in time about 90 years. Grace Webb’s Places in the Past article features the much heralded 1920 Mankato Mid-Winter Fete and Carnival (or the Mankato Winter Carnival). It sounds like it was one hell of a town celebration — for one year. After 1920, it was done, and no one really knows what happened.

The week-long festival of events and games included a queen contest, tobogganing and a parade. Royalty from St. Paul’s Winter Carnival traveled to Mankato by train. People from the hinterlands of Lake Crystal and Fairmont were brought

6 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

in.

Companies like the George E. Brett store provided special Winter Carnival party wear to their employees.

The idea had been tried again and again over the years, and St. Peter has had some success with a winter fest, but none of the recent events seem to match the 1920 party.

And if you’re just needing a break from a little cabin fever, Merrill Frydendall, longtime orinthologist and local birder, has some suggestions.

Frydendall has tracked 267 species of birds in the area as part of an annual New Year’s Day bird count he conducts for the Audobon Society. He invites anyone to come along.

And birds aren’t the only wildlife to watch in the Minnesota winter.

Department of Natural Resources wildlife manager Joe Stangel, based in Nicollet, tells writer Adam Pulchinski that sometimes you just have to get out in the country and stay away from roads to connect with wildlife.

In the five counties Stangel overseas there are some 120,000 acres in 120 wildlife management areas, and nine designated wildlife lakes of 15,000 acres. These habitats offer cover for turkeys, deer, voles, mice, a variety of fox, partridge, pheasants and coyotes, according to Stangel.

So from snowmobiling to snowshoes, we’ve got your winter recreation list covered. Oh yeah, staying inside and reading books and magazines is OK, too. M

Joe Spear is editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6382 or jspear@mankatofreepress.com.

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January Almanac

Fitness Tips Millions of people are vowing to get fit and exercise, but many will lose the motivation it takes to sustain a fit and active lifestyle within just a few weeks.

Maintain your fitness motivation with these techniques: • Start Small — If you haven’t been active in a long time, don’t stress your muscles by doing too much too fast. Start slowly by taking the stairs or squeezing in a 20-minute jog on your lunch break.

• Build Up Endurance — Track your progress and continue to build upon your activities to push yourself a little farther each week.

• Mix it Up —To stay motivated, try changing your workout. From walking to running to cycling, you can always find a new activity to challenge yourself.

• Grab a Partner — You can improve exercise performance by having a partner who pushes you to your limits.

Eating Healthy With New Year’s comes weight-loss goals. This recipe will help you satisfy your cravings without winter weight gain. The entire quesadilla has 295 calories and 8 grams of fat.

Hey Mambo! Veggie Italiano Quesadilla

1/3 cup canned cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained and rinsed 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 large low carb/high fiber tortilla 1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil cheese 1/4 cup sliced zucchini 1/4 cup sliced red bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 tablespoons cubed Swiss cheese Optional toppings: low-fat marinara sauce, fat-free sour cream Place beans in blender or food processor with 1 tablespoon water; blend until mostly smooth. Add Italian seasoning and mix well.

Lay tortilla flat; spread half of the upward-facing side with bean mixture.

Spread cheese wedge on other half; set aside.

Bring skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on stove.

Add veggies and, stirring occasionally, cook until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer veggies to side of tortilla spread with cheese wedge.

Top veggies evenly with chopped cheese. Fold bean-covered side of tortilla over other side and press gently to seal, forming quesadilla.

To learn more, call us at 800-729-7575

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Remove skillet from heat, re-spray with nonstick spray, and return to medium-high heat. Place quesadilla in skillet; cook for about 2 minutes per side, until outside is toasty and inside is hot.

Cut into triangles and serve with marinara sauce or sour cream.

Did you know?

Harris, who also penned the cookbook “Fresh: Nourishing Salads for All Seasons,” provides a large selection of recipes, many of which are dairy- and/or gluten-free or have dairy or gluten-free options. Offerings come in categories including $10 mains, $5 sides and vegetarian, and include recipes like Savory Bacon Zucchini Frittata and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto.

There also are plenty of entries on frugal tips and nourishing practices, as well as an interesting section on nourishing basics. Here Harris tackles the foundations of her health-conscious cooking practices from traditional foods and natural sweeteners to the benefits of soaking foods and the merits of raw milk.

Jan. 1, 1840: Lawrence Taliaferro, tired of bribery attempts by crooked individuals, steps down as Indian agent at Fort Snelling, a position he had held since 1820. Indians and whites alike esteemed him for his honesty and intelligence, and his diaries of life at Fort Snelling provide a detailed record of frontier Minnesota. He died on January 22, 1871, age 81.

Jan. 11, 1883: Henry Wilson, a “professional burglar,” and his pal Frank Wilmar, a horse thief, are caught by an alert janitor and the sheriff as they attempt to escape from the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.

Jan. 5, 1928: Walter “Fritz” Mondale is born in Ceylon, Minn. A lifelong public servant, he would represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate, occupy the vice-presidency under Jimmy Carter, run for president against Ronald Reagan, and serve as U.S. ambassador to Japan.

Jan. 14, 1993: Ann Bancroft of St. Paul reaches the South Pole by skis, becoming the first woman to travel overland to both the North and South Poles. She leads the American Women’s Expedition on a 67-day trek during which the four women cover 660 miles on skis. Additionally, in 2001 Ann Bancroft and Liv Arneson would become the first women to ski across Antarctica.

So arts and culture thrive

Jan. 8, 1934: During the Great Depression, the U.S. Supreme Court upholds a Minnesota mortgage moratorium law, a decision that state Attorney General Harry H. Peterson applauds as a “victory for the people of Minnesota that will enable many farmers and city dwellers to hold onto their homes until good times return.”

Twin Rivers Council for the Arts located in Emy Frentz Arts Guild 523 South Second Street Mankato, MN 56001 507-387-1008 info@twinriversarts.org SoutherMnArts.org

www.twinriversarts.org

This Day in History

GreaterMankatoEvents.com A calendar of events in our region including sports, arts, history, nature, festivals and expos...

The food blog The Nourishing Gourmet (www.thenourishinggourmet.com) is run by mother, wife and piano teacher Kimberly Harris and is “devoted to nourishing recipes, sustainable practices, and making it all work for real families on a budget.”

Familiar Faces

By Amanda Dyslin • Photos By John Cross

It’s sled season

Jerry Vetter owns Vetter Sales & Service, which has been in business for almost five decades.

J

erry Vetter’s love of snowmobiles began in the 1960s in his garage, when his dad brought home their first Polaris. That’s also when Vetter’s career in snowmobiles began, although he probably didn’t know it at the time.

Vetter’s dad started a small shop out of the family’s garage, which turned into a family business. In its 48th year of business, Vetter is the owner and manager of Vetter Sales & Service, which today is one of the five oldest Polaris dealers in existence.

Also dealing in ATVs and other recreational vehicles, Vetter’s business stays busy year-round. But in January, the snowmobile side of the business really heats up.

Mankato Magazine: By the time this article publishes, we should have some snow on the ground. What kinds of winter sports do you enjoy this time of year?

Jerry Vetter: In the winter it is extremely busy, which

10 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

leaves little time for other activities.

MM: Are you a snowmobile enthusiast?

JV: Yes, I am still an enthusiast, but don’t find the time to ride like I wish I could.

A wonderful part of my job is when our customers come in with pictures and stories of their snowmobiling adventures and share their experiences with me.

MM: How did Vetter Sales & Service begin, and how long have you been in business?

JV: When I was 12 years old, my dad bought his first Polaris snowmobile and opened a small shop out of our garage in December of 1964. It turned into a family business between my mom, dad, brother, Jim, and myself. For years, we worked other day jobs and spent nights and weekends getting the snowmobile business going. January marks the beginning of our 48th year.

MM: This time of year must be good for business. Do you get pretty busy?

JV: Winter is a very busy time for us, especially when you realize that the snowmobiling season is compacted into a few months out of a year.

MM: Does it get frustrating during the summer months when business slows down? Or do you get enough ATV and side-by-side utility vehicle business to supplement during the warm seasons?

JV: We have been fortunate to be busy year-round, largely due to the blend of customers from the farming community and sports enthusiasts.

MM: What is your top-selling snowmobile this season, and what makes it so popular?

JV: Our best seller this year is the new Pro R Switchback.

It is popular because of its pro ride rear suspension. There is nothing like it in the industry. No doubt it will be voted No. 1 snowmobile of the year.

MM: What is something people would be surprised to learn about Vetter Sales?

JV: People would be surprised to know that we are among the five oldest Polaris dealers in existence. Today, we draw many of our customers from as far south as the Iowa border to as far north as the Twin Cities. It is the employees of our company that make the real difference. In a business that normally has a high employee turnover rate, we pride ourselves in the longevity of our employees. They build relationships with our customers, just as I have.

MM: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

JV: Wow, that is a hard one. I would say I have a crazy knack for remembering the names of most of our custom-

Jeff Pesek (front) and Jake Gilbert work at Vetter Sales & Service.

ers. I can’t explain it, but I can also recall what they bought from us in the past. But please, don’t ask me what I ate for lunch yesterday!

MM: What are some of your interests outside of work?

JV: I like spending time with my family. Many years ago, my sons, Ryan and Jason, twisted my arm to buy a go-kart.

Since then, we have spent many weekends traveling to gokart races locally and across the upper Midwest. Even though my sons are older now, we still enjoy it whether we win or lose. It’s great family fun. M

Jerry Vetter City of residence: North Mankato How long lived in the area: 59 years Hometown: Kasota Education: St. Peter High School, graduated 1971; South Central Technical College, graduated 1973 Job title: Owner/manager of Vetter Sales & Service LLC Work history: Business System Sales, Motor Cycle Accessory Sales, Vetter Stone Co., Vetter Sales & Service Family: Wife, Cathy; son, Dustin, of Panama City, Fla.; son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Annie of Eagan; son, Jason, of St. Louis Park

Artist Insight

By Nell Musolf • Photos By John Cross

Queen of the Glue Gun oughly enjoying.

One of her new duties is to help oversee the building of a country store at McGowan’s that will feature plenty of local artists and crafts. The store will also sell historical toys and penny candy as well as items that the re-enactors will be able to purchase and use during their acts. Grudem thought the idea for the store was a long time coming.

“We had a little space where we sold things during History Fest, and I said to Jack, ‘Why don’t you build me a real store out here?’” Grudem recalls. “I thought it would be a good idea since we always sell out the inventory of historical toys every year.”

Once the new store is completed, Grudem will be keeping her eyes open for more artisans to help her keep the shelves stocked.

In addition to being a new storekeeper, Grudem is continuing with the photography that she considers her “passion.” Self-taught, Grudem enjoys taking pictures of proms, births, weddings and anything else her clients might request. She especially loves to photograph births.

“That’s really special to me. It’s nice for the parents too because, at the time, there’s so much going on that the new mom or dad can’t really remember everything,” Grudem says. “When they have photographs of the big day, it’s very meaningful and very sweet.”

In addition to taking photographs, Grudem also likes to teach people how to take good pictures themselves. Grudem instructs photography newbies at home parties.

Suszi Grudem is quite crafty. She’s even making the flowers for her daughter’s wedding.

L

ike most creative people, Mankatoan Suszi Grudem has been artistic for as long as she can remember. Grudem grew up in Janesville, attended school in Mankato and now works as a photographer — in addition to several other creative pursuits — all while helping run Jack McGowan’s farm.

Grudem volunteered at McGowan’s farm for years while her daughter Helena was growing up, especially during the always hectic History Fest time. During the last few years, her work changed from one of volunteerism to a full-time position.

Grudem now serves as executive of the board at Jack McGowan’s Farm, a job she says she is thor-

12 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Grudem has been artistic as long as she can remember.

“Most people have pretty nice cameras nowadays,” Grudem said. “But they also don’t usually know how to use them or how to use all the little extras that are on their cameras. I show them how.”

But Grudem’s artistic talents go beyond photography. She also paints murals, designs sets and makes hair ornaments. Along with her daughter, Helena, Grudem has started Suszi Q Hairbows, colorful hair decorations made out of felt, buttons and other materials.

“I’m the Queen of the Glue Gun,” Grudem says with a laugh.

“I’ve gone through a lot of them over the years.”

Again, she is self taught when it comes to the accessory business. As the mother of three and with a full life in addition to all of her creative endeavors, Grudem says she’s never really had time to go to school. But she is a quick learner and as a plus finds making the hair ornaments — especially the ones made out of felt — “very relaxing. I could do that all day long.”

When she isn’t taking pictures, working at McGowan’s farm or whipping up hair ornaments out of felt, Grudem might be found creating a fairy costume for her daughter Helena. Helena has recently become a professional fairy named Pukka and performs at events, such as History Fest and Renaissance fairs.

“Mom made my first fairy costume a few years ago,” Helena says. “She made everything — the outfit, the wings, the fairy headdress.”

Grudem will have the opportunity to expend more artistic efforts when Helena gets married in the spring. She has designed the wedding invitations and will be making the flowers instead of buying fresh ones.

“I saw how much fresh ones would cost and I knew how much I could make flowers for,” Grudem says. “There really wasn’t much of a choice.”

Teaching, sewing, taking pictures or whipping up a fairy costume, it all adds up to keep Grudem fulfilled.

“There’s creativity in everyone,” Grudem said. “That’s what I want to let people know.” M

Grudem also makes hair ornaments. Along with her daughter, Helena, Grudem started Suszi Q Hairbows, colorful hair decorations made out of felt, buttons and other materials.

Grudem calls herself Queen of the Glue Gun, creating various unique items from hair ornaments to set designs.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 13

The Frentzes enjoy the beautiful wooded view off their deck.

Ravine lots: real-estate gold

Ravines are a historical and popular feature of the Minnesota River Valley

By Marie Wood Photos By John Cross

T

he Minnesota River Valley has inspired writers, photographers, artists and geologists alike. Locals are treated to the seasonal splendor of a wooded hillside whenever they drive down North Mankato’s Lee Boulevard or Mankato’s Warren Street.

Within this valley, there are an abundance of ravines. Ravine lots have become real estate gold, because they offer seclusion, beauty and a small chunk of wilderness within the city limits. It’s a place for dogs to run, kids to play and deer to graze.

One sparkly morning, Jane Cannella awoke to the beauty of a hoarfrost in the wooded ravine in her backyard. The Cannellas live in a new home in Mankato’s hilltop area.

“We love it, because of the four seasons,” said Cannella.

“You always have the woods and nature behind you.”

The Cannellas moved into their home late last fall. Although they moved in after the peak fall foliage, Cannella got a preview of an array of orange and red foliage.

Cannella, who is originally from Mississippi, also enjoys watching birds and wildlife. Before winter set in, she counted three wild turkeys and a deer. While Jane doesn’t have bird feeders yet, she’s entertaining the idea.

Their home is filled with windows and views of the backyard and woods from a sun room off the kitchen, a great room, bedrooms and a cozy second-story sitting area.

Frentz Construction built the Cannellas’ home and many of the neighboring homes on Woodhill Court. General contractor Tony Frentz has been building homes for 11 years and the majority are on ravines. In fact, ravine lots are usually the first to sell in a development.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 15

Tony Frentz reads a book in a room of his home that overlooks a ravine.

Americans like their backyards, and given the choice of looking at another house or into the woods, they choose the seclusion and beauty of a ravine lot, Frentz said.

“The cool part about Mankato is that it is surrounded by hills. There are pockets of wooded hilltops, bluffs and ravines,” Frentz said.

Frentz and his wife, Anne, also built their home on a ravine in Woodhill Court.

“I like the privacy best. We have colorful Maple trees. It’s really pretty,” Frentz said.

The Frentzes’ two school-aged daughters hike and play in the woods, and their preschool-age son collects sticks and pretends they’re swords.

“It’s nice to have woods around, because the girls get used to being outdoors,” Frentz said.

Mary Ann Donahue, real estate agent for Century 21 Atwood Realty, educates people moving to Mankato about the value of ravine lots. While decorating trends come and go, ravine lots are always in demand.

On average, Donahue estimates that ravine homes in older neighborhoods can be $40,000 more than non-ravine homes, and in new neighborhoods, they can be up to $60,000 more.

Ravine lots have two main advantages: privacy and view.

Privacy is the No. 1 reason that people choose ravine lots, Donahue said.

“I’ve sold a lot of upper end homes on ravine lots in the past year in this economy,” Donahue said.

16 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Donahue advises her clients to look at what’s behind the ravine. In the summer, she makes sure they see the back of the ravine, because for six months of the year when the leaves are down, that’s the view.

In the winter, Donahue recommends that clients have an arborist inspect the trees for diseases or dead trees. When spring comes, they may have a costly project if there are large dead or diseased trees on their property.

Typically, ravine lots require little upkeep, as Steve and Connie Saggau have found. For seven years, they have made their home on a ravine on South Brook Circle in Mankato.

“It’s one of the prettiest settings we’ve had,” Steve said.

The Saggaus have lived all over the upper Midwest, including two lake homes. They moved to their current home from the country.

“With a ravine lot, it’s the best of living in the country, but with pizza delivery,” Connie said.

Currently, they are listing their home with Donahue, because they are moving back to Ceylon, where they are refurbishing the family farmstead.

Connie enjoys watching their resident doe with two new fawns in tow almost every year. They also see wild turkeys, cardinals and a family of robins. Wildflowers decorate the woods, too.

“The view is never the same when you look out. When one wildflower stops blooming, another one begins,” Connie said. M

Did you know?

Do you know how the Minnesota River Valley was formed? Chad Wittkop, assistant professor in the Chemistry and Geology Department at Minnesota State University, does.

Glacial ice originating in Canada advanced into our area about 750,000 years ago, and geologists estimate that there may have been four or more advances. The last advance ended 20,000 years ago, Wittkop said.

“Most of the upland features in our area formed as glacial ice was retreating for the last time. Those features include low ranges of hills called moraines, and kettle lakes formed from large blocks of ice that melted after being buried by sediment,” said Wittkop.

Around 13,500 years ago, the glaciers retreated north of the Canadian border and trapped melt water, which led to the growth of Glacial Lake Agassiz. At its maximum, Lake Agassiz was larger than all five of the Great Lakes combined.

“At times, this lake drained to the south through the present-day Minnesota River Valley,” Wittkop said.

Geologists refer to this ancestral river fed by Lake Agassiz as Glacial River Warren.

“River Warren flows were as much as five times the present day flow of the Mississippi at the Gulf of Mexico, and eroded the deep Minnesota River Valley very quickly, within a few thousand years. Pulses of erosion during this time left behind step-like terraces elevated above the river bottom, but below the top of the bluff. Downtown Mankato and New Ulm are built on such terraces,” he said.

According to Wittkop, Lake Agassiz and River Warren are known to geologists around the world and played a major role in the creation of our deep valley, ravines and bluffs.

Frentz and his wife, Anne, built their home on a ravine in Woodhill Court.

Not a creature was stirring ... ... except turkeys and deer and squirrels and foxes

By Adam Pulchinski Owls are stirring in the woods during winter.

Submitted Photo

W

hen winter begins, nature feels bright and cheery with the first fresh snowfalls. But, as winter moves along, the snow becomes hard and packed, and the air becomes a harsher cold.

The Minnesota outdoors seem still, with only the sounds of crunching snow below our feet and howling winds outside our windows.

To a casual observer, the wildlife and the birds have all but gone or migrated, or have taken up shelter from the uninvit-

20 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

ing elements. To those who know better, though, the furry friends and feathered aviators are out and about, living and surviving as the season dictates.

If you desire to find these wintry wildlife denizens, you simply have to understand the creature you’re looking for, and what their winter habits might be.

“The main thing is getting out there,” said Joe Stangel.

“Get away from the roads to find species you may want to photograph or look at.”

Stangel is the area wildlife supervisor in Nicollet for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Stangel oversees a five-county area, which includes McLeod, Sibley, Nicollet, LeSueur, Blue Earth and Faribault counties. The area is about 120,000 acres with 120 wildlife management areas, nine designated wildlife lakes of about 15,000 acres, and statutory refugees.

Finding food is a large part of when and where wildlife can be found. Some, like turkeys, will huddle together in large groups for a feeding advantage to uncover what is hidden under the snow. Others will hole up near water sources as long as they are open and free of ice. Many animals will build food stores, but some may have suffered from poor planning, or aren’t able to store enough food for the winter months. Coyote and fox are some species that have to hunt every day, for example.

People should search certain habitats for certain animals. In a woodland area, hikers and sightseers are likely to find deer, turkey, squirrels, mice, voles and various kinds of foxes. Partridge, rabbits and pheasants can be found in grasslands. There are also wetland areas where some animals will go because of emergent vegetation.

One advantage people may have in spotting critters is the simple fact that a bright, white blanket covers the landscape.

“You don’t notice them in summer because they blend in,” Stangel said. “(In winter) they stand out

because of the white.”

For nature lovers, the wide variety of birds in the area may stand out, too. Merrill Frydendall takes notice of the 267 species of birds in the area for recreation and as part of a few services used to track bird population. Frydendall got his Ph.D. from Utah State in ornithology, a branch of zoology that studies birds. He moved to Mankato in 1966 to teach at Minnesota State University. Frydendall, who retired from teaching 14 years ago, has been “birding” for most of his life.

“I’ve always been interested in wildlife,” he said.

Frydendall takes part in the Spring Breeding Bird Census every year for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and also does the Christmas Bird Count for the Audubon Society.

The bird count breaks up a 7.5-mile radius of Mankato with the center point at Main and Front streets. Participants count every species of bird and how many of each species.

Like other wildlife, bird sightings depend on the habitat and other conditions, such as the weather of any given year, or if they are injured. Frydendall said even though they are generally migratory, many species of waterfowl will stick around the area if the weather cooperates and if there are good food sources or open water areas. Waterfowl may even stay year-round.

Some of the species that are most prevalent in the winter months include finches, warblers, woodpeckers like the

The tree sparrow can still be found this time of year.

Submitted Photo

Finches stick around, even in wintertime.

Submitted Photo

northern flicker, the common and red-breasted nuthatches, the black cat chickadee, American tree sparrows, brown creepers, and several more. They can be found at many of the parks and refuges within the area.

Some that Frydendall said were good spots included Minneopa State Park, Williams State Park, Rasmussen Woods and, for a good place to see a bald eagle, Sibley Park. Frydendall said Mankato and North Mankato also have several parks that are good for birding.

One thing to look for are birds that may not look like themselves as a result of the time of year. Molting will change the coloring of some birds, and novices could misidentify them. To curb misidentification, and to help people who wish to go birding, Frydendall had some tips.

“It would be best to get with somebody who birds,” said Frydendall, who likes to get a start early in the morning.

Getting a guide is one way to find certain species and identify them. If that is not an option, Frydendall also encouraged potential birders to pick up a copy of a field guide.

To identify and view birds, another helpful tool is a good set of binoculars, particularly a set with a lot of magnification. Finding species is one thing, just as with wildlife, but photographing them is another.

“It’s very difficult,” Frydendall said. “It’s a very challenging thing. The birds are quite timid, and they’re quick.”

People shouldn’t expect to capture good photos with any point and shoot camera, either, unless taking pictures at a bird feeder. As with binoculars, the camera should have a good zoom and lens, and despite the advent of auto focus, birders would be better off to do it manually. Tripod work probably won’t get any good pictures because of the movements of the birds.

One thing to remember is to not get frustrated. Even people like Frydendall stay out for hours without one good picture. His advice for outdoor photography could be the same for finding wildlife and birds in general: “You have to be very patient,” Frydendall said. “And knowing something about birds’ behavior helps — where and when they’ll be.” M

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 21

Reflections

By John Cross

It is axiomatic in Minnesota that come January there will be ice.

And that if there is ice, then skaters will be out there gliding effortlessly across its surface.

While scientists can agree that ice is indeed a slippery material, they hardly are in agreement over what makes it so.

A widely held belief has been that friction caused by the blades create a thin layer of water on the ice.

Another theory holds that instead of friction, vibrating water molecules at the ice surface create the thin layer of water.

Whatever the reason, what matters most to winter sports enthusiasts is that there is enough of the slippery material out there to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities.

And for anyone outside of the snowbelt, perhaps the biggest mystery of ice is this: Why would any sane person drive their car out onto a place where mere weeks before, they still were floating boats?

22 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 23

Shelter from the cold

Many people who spend weekends in the winter at the Minneopa cabin come to cross-country ski.

24 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

M

Cabins offer warm refuge for winter weather enthusiasts at state parks

By Grace Webb Photos By Pat Christman

innesota winters can be harsh. Snow storms bury the ground under a foot of snow as temperatures plummet below zero.

Roads suddenly get coated with ice, and sharp winds cut daggers into those brave enough to venture outside. Most people are content to stay at home, burrowed under blankets and sipping hot chocolate.

But some people are hardy enough to head out into the frozen Minnesota wilderness. The Minnesota State Park System has cabins open year-round for those brave souls who want to continue their camping trips no matter how low the temperature drops.

And while some people may not think camping in the winter is appealing, others find it quite fun and relaxing.

“The main reason that people come here is to relax,” said Steve Rose, assistant park manager at Minneopa State Park. “They don’t have to set up a tent. More people just come for the relaxation part than anything else.”

Minneopa’s popular cabin

Minneopa has been offering its cabin year-round to visitors for at

least a decade, Rose said. It’s one of the oldest ones in the system.

“There was a demand for cabins because people wanted to use them year-round,” Rose said. “In the winter, if you want to camp, it’s pretty chilly. This way, you have some place warm to go.”

Minneopa has only one cabin, but Rose said it is booked almost every weekend every month. He estimates it is in use at least 150 days of the year.

The 12- by 16-foot cabin is propane-heated, so visitors need to cook outside unless they bring a crock pot. It is also equipped with electricity, which not all cabins in the park system have, driving up the price to $50 a night. The cabin comes furnished with a table, benches and bunk beds with mattresses.

Rose said the cabin can sleep up to six adults, but that gets crowded with only four bunk beds (two double and two single).

“During the summer, it’s not so bad, since you spend most of your time outside,” he said. “If you get four or five adults in there, it does tend to get kind of crowded.”

People often book the cabin during the winter because they enjoy the outdoor winter activi-

Steve Rose, assistant park manager at Minneopa State Park, sweeps the deck at the cabin.

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 25

Rose stands beside bunk beds at the cabin, which allow for more people to sleep comfortably. ties that Minneopa offers, Rose said. The park has winter hiking trails and also began renting out snowshoes last year.

“A lot of people come because it’s really relaxing,” Rose said. “It’s a quiet place to come camp. It’s very popular.

Rarely do we have anybody who is not happy.”

In fact, Rose said the cabins have many veteran users who come back year after year.

“We do get quite a lot of the same people coming back,” he said. “It’s not the same every year, but a lot of people seem to book the same date year after year.”

New at Flandrau

Flandrau State Park, located in southwest New Ulm, is another park within the Minnesota State Park system that offers cabins for all four seasons. Park manager Gary Teipel said the cabins were built after park staff noticed how popular other parks’ cabins were.

“They’ve been pretty popular in other state parks, and we’re close enough to town and to the metro area that we figured that we’d get a lot of people coming out to use (them),” Teipel said.

The park just recently began offering its two cabins in 2010, but they’ve already become pretty popular.

“They’ve gotten a lot of use,” Teipel said. “In general, they’re rented almost every weekend during the year. During the summertime, they’re rented most days.”

Flandrau’s two cabins have different features for different users. One has two bunk beds and is handicapped accessible. It sleeps five. The other cabin sleeps six. Like all cabins within the Minnesota State Parks system, these have outdoor grills and fire rings, and they don’t have indoor plumbing, but bathrooms with showers are available at the park. Visitors need to bring their own utensils and bedding.

Teipel said people book the cabins for a number of reasons.

“We have all kinds of different people coming,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s families using them, sometimes it’s a gals’ night out. … In the wintertime, we get people who want to cross-country ski and snowshoe.”

26 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

The ski trail goes right past the cabins, and there are also hiking trails available. These are just a few of the many winter activities Flandrau has available when the snow hits.

More cabins on the way

Because of how popular winter cabins have become, more are being planned.

“There’s always a demand for them, and they are being utilized at a high rate,” Rose said. “They are being added every year to state parks.”

Rose said he doesn’t think Minneopa will build another cabin for some time, though, partly because of how expensive cabins can be to construct. He said when Minneopa’s first cabin was built, it only cost around $15,000. Now, cabins can cost up to $60,000 to build.

For now, outdoor adventurers hoping to make some memories this winter should book early, especially for weekend dates. (Cabins can be reserved in person, by calling 1-866857-2757, or by going online at www.stateparks.com.) M

The stove keeps cabin campers warm during the cold months.

Fashion Currents

By Family Features

Winter beauty tips

...for less T

he harsh elements of winter make it tough to look your best. The wind blows your hair around. The cold air makes your cheeks red and your nose run.

And don’t even get us started on the dry skin.

This time of year, you’ve got to work harder to look your best. And after the holidays, we don’t have much money to spend on doing so.

So here are some helpful tips on how to look sensational without breaking the budget:

Keep skin moisturized

With the dry winter air, make sure to keep your skin moisturized, especially when you’re showing more skin in cocktail dresses. One of our favorite inexpensive tricks that works wonders is coconut oil. It absorbs quickly into skin and smells amazing. You can also use it in your hair as a leave-in conditioner.

Add a splash of berry

There have been tons of berry tones on the runways, and one easy way to work them into your wardrobe is on your lips. A raspberry or burgundy shade is the perfect way to boost your holiday look. Make sure to keep lips moisturized before you apply. Try a sugar scrub or rich balm to keep your pout kissable.

Stay Smooth

One thing you want to avoid before you step under the mistletoe is unwanted facial hair. Make sure your face is smooth by using a depilatory or wax.

Show off your face

Don’t worry if you don’t have time for a blowout hairstyle. One of the nicest holiday looks is a chignon, which pairs perfectly with metallic-shaded eyes and strong lips that are hot this season. Try a low bun off to one side for a look that keeps the emphasis on you.

There you have it — some easy ways to look your best without spending a lot of time or money. Now, that’s something that will help you weather the rest of winter. M

28 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

For more information, contact the advancement ofďŹ ce at 507.344.7313

Places

T

in the

Past

By Grace Webb

Spectacular winter carnival lasted just one year

he crowd waited impatiently, breaths puffing out in white frozen wisps. It was Thursday, Jan. 22, 1920, and it was time to announce who had won the coveted title of her majesty.

All week, the young women competing for the position had campaigned and volunteered to show their carnival spirit. Now all the votes were in, counted and re-counted. Mary Crane had earned 400 votes. Loretta Mayer had won 92,300. But it was Miss Pauline Koke, a pretty brunette, who had earned a whopping 381,000 votes and shot to first place, beating runner up Stella Chambers by more than 100,000 votes.

Koke was the winner, which meant she was the first Queen of the Mankato Mid-Winter Fete and Carnival.

Finally, amid dazzling displays of opulent court ceremony, Pauline Koke was crowned The Ice Palace was built on the Bridge Square depot platform out of blocks of ice. queen Friday, Jan. 23. She had never dreamed Photo courtesy of the Blue Earth County Historical Society she’d actually win the position; all week, she’d members organizing a club and pledging to attend every festival trailed behind Stella Chambers and Loretta Mayer. In fact, Mayer activity and event. had grabbed a huge lead before Koke finally overtook her.

But it wasn’t only Mankato companies and residents who parBut the final vote was in, and Koke was the winner by a huge ticipated in the festival’s activities. Before the grand opening, margin. Now, she stood at the front of the ice palace, which Mankato residents took a train to Minneopa, Lake Crystal, sparkled like a diamond in the light of so many festival decoraGarden City, Vernon Center, Amboy, Winnebago, Blue Earth and tions. It was cold, but no one cared. Everyone was having too Fairmont to spread the word and invite people to come visit. The much fun to notice how nippy the air was.

St. Paul Pioneer Press picked up the story and promoted it in the The shining crown was lowered onto Koke’s head, and the newspaper, and 13 members of the St. Paul Winter Carnival roycrowd cheered its approval. She was who they picked. The joyful alty came down. In addition, 125 St. Paul businessmen took a coronation was a fitting end to Mankato’s first Winter Carnival, a train down to Mankato for the last day of the festival. They all week-long festival filled with laughter, creativity and good oldwore special festival suits. fashioned fun.

The Winter Carnival had something for everyone. The festival The Mankato Mid-Winter Fete and Carnival (also referred to as officially started Monday, Jan. 20, with The Free Press urging simply the Mankato Winter Carnival) began in 1920 as a weeklong festival of events and games. The plan was to host a highenergy carnival to boost people’s spirits (after all, Prohibition had The Blue Earth County Historical just been enacted). The five-day event lasted from Jan. 19 to Jan. Society has numerous artifacts 24 and included such diverse activities as tobogganing and a from the Winter Carnival parade.

Photo By Pat Christman “It was such a spectacular event,” said Jessica Potter, executive director of the Blue Earth County Historical Society. “Having (the festival) in Mankato showed the community spirit, and that was the idea behind it.”

With as much positive energy that the carnival created its first year, it is hard to understand why Mankato didn’t make the Winter Carnival a yearly tradition.

“That’s part of the mystery of it,” Potter said. “It was a spectacular event that never happened again.”

The George E. Brett Company was the first Mankato company to organize a club meant to participate in the festivities, buying special “festival suits” to wear all week in honor of the festival.

Many other companies soon followed suit by organizing their own festival clubs. Even The Free Press joined the fun, with 25

30 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

Mankato residents to “forget cares and worries and join in the general spirit of ‘Just For Fun’ which will characterize all activities during the entire week.” Businesses and shops were encouraged to get into the spirit by stringing up lights: “Let the city at night time, which will be fun time, be ablaze, with lights of every color,” the newspaper stated.

The festival opened with a grand parade Monday evening. The biggest part of the parade was the float that Mayor E. V. Watters rode, seated on a throne and surrounded by his council members. The float, created by the Team Owners Protection Association, was 20 feet long, covered in lights and pulled by 100 horses. In addition, the Mankato Fire Department firefighters drove their shiny red fire truck and company clubs marched in clusters, holding signs and banners.

Besides the parade, the festival hosted several other events during its week of activities, including amateur ice skating speed championships, skating exhibitions, tobogganing, illuminated airplane flights, fireworks, skiing, dogsled races, clowns and dances. Of course, a contest was also held to find the first Winter Carnival Queen. Young ladies could register if they mustered 400 qualifying votes.

“I can’t imagine that there was a group of people that (the festivities) did not touch,” Potter said. “I can’t think of anything that happens today that appears to involve every nook and cranny of the community like (the Winter Carnival) did.”

Perhaps one of the most spectacular parts of the Winter Carnival was the Ice Palace. Built on the Bridge Square depot platform, the palace was constructed out of blocks of ice and meant to house the royal court.

According to The Free Press, the local bricklayers’ union built the palace using ice provided by Miller Ice Co. “It’s one of those events that I wish I could go back in time and witness,” Potter said. M Those interested in learning more about the Winter Carnival can visit the Blue Earth County Historical Society, which has carnival artifacts and photographs available for viewing.

That's Life

By Nell Musolf

‘Oh, Pioneer!’

W

henever I wake up on a frigid winter morning (which in Minnesota where my family lives is typically every winter morning), I do two things right away: start the coffee and thank God that I’m not a pioneer.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway runs near our home, named in honor of the author who gave us what might be the most memorable picture of what life was like for a pioneer family in the latter years of the 19th century.

The highway follows the route the Ingalls family took from Wisconsin, across southern Minnesota, and finally ends in South Dakota where the Ingallses settled.

Driving over the local stretch of the highway in a car equipped with a CD player, comfortable seats and, most importantly, HEAT, I think about the Ingalls and all the other pioneers who made their way from the eastern part of the country across the middle section and beyond.

And as I turn the heat up a little higher to combat the negative zero temperatures and icy winds outside the car, I wonder each time how they ever stood it.

“What would Pa Ingalls think about this?” my husband always asks as he points the remote control at our gas fireplace and flames burst into life with no more effort from him than a little pressure of his index finger.

Indeed, what would any of the Ingalls think if they could see how different winter is now in southern Minnesota?

We don’t have to go to a well for water, haul the water back

32 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

to a house we built for ourselves, heat the water over a fire built out of wood we chopped, cook, drink and bathe with said water, and then finally toss whatever’s left of the water back outside when we’re through with it. We don’t wake up with snow on our beds that fell through the cracks in the roof at night. And best of all, we have indoor plumbing.

I get exhausted just thinking about what the average Mrs. Pioneer did on a daily basis. Her life had to be hard enough during the non-frozen Midwestern months with the endless cooking, baking, cleaning and washing she had to do — all without the help of a vacuum cleaner or microwave or even a Swiffer.

And let’s not forget what childbirth must have been like for pioneer women. They went typically went through that experience all alone with no dula in attendance, other than Pa, and definitely not a pain pill in sight. And during winter? Fugedaboutit.

I have no doubt that had I been a new pioneer wife during the months of November through April, and my husband and I were wending our way westward, I would have been dropped off somewhere along the yet-to-be-named Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway with a handful of dried corn and curt instructions to find my own way back to civilization.

Frankly, I don’t know why any pioneers stayed in this region. One winter of blizzards and ice storms would have been enough for me to encourage Pa to keep going west, preferably all the way to southern California where we could have staked a claim in Malibu while there was still a glut of affordable real estate available.

I suppose it’s necessary to remember that Minnesota was settled by largely Scandinavian and German people, both known for their tendency toward, to put it kindly, bull-headed stubbornness. Perhaps Minnesota reminded them of the land they’d just left behind. Perhaps winters here were mild when compared to the ones in Oslo or Prague. Or maybe they were simply too tired to go any farther.

I know the feeling. Winter in Minnesota does tend to wear one out, gas fireplaces and Swiffers aside. So why do we stay? Why don’t we (OK, I) stop complaining, pack the long underwear and get onto the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Highway and head for a milder climate?

Because I’m half Swedish and my husband is half Norwegian and neither of us is willing to be the first to say, “I surrender!” Because we do have furnaces, microwaves and Swiffers.

And most of all, because when all is said and done, this frozen land is home. I suppose there must be some residual pioneer stock left in all of us here. M Nell Musolf is a mom and a freelance writer from Mankato.

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From

the

Kitchen

Y

ear after year, saving money and eating healthier rank high on the list of New Year’s resolutions, but as many know all too well, busy schedules can make it hard to

By Family Features

Keeping resolutions on the go For the salad: 4 cups dark, leafy mixed greens 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced thin 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed 1 avocado, sliced thin

keep these resolutions up.

“Pretty Delicious” author and “Top Chef” alum Candice Kumai has created delicious recipes that help bring healthy food out of the kitchen, and in turn, help to save you both the cost and calories associated with eating lunch out.

“Now there’s no excuse for us to break our New Year’s resolutions,” says Kumai. “My recipes are not only healthy, delicious, convenient meal time options, but they fit into our everyday lives while helping to save money, time and calories and reduce waste.”

Spicy Tequila Lime Shrimp Salad For the shrimp: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin Pinch red pepper flakes 1 pound medium shrimp, deveined 3 tablespoons high-quality tequila Salt, to taste 1 teaspoon dried chipotle powder 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

For the dressing: 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons high-quality tequila 1 tablespoon grated lime zest 1 teaspoon hot sauce 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice Pinch of sea salt to taste Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once oil is hot, add chopped garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add cumin and red pepper flakes, and let flavors blend together.

Add shrimp and toss. Carefully add tequila and cook until alcohol burns off. Season with salt, and add dried chipotle powder. Once shrimp are cooked, add chopped cilantro, toss and put aside on a plate.

Toss mixed greens in a large salad bowl and add in roasted red peppers and black beans. In medium bowl, whisk all of the dressing ingredients together and alter to desired taste by adding additional hot sauce and salt.

Top with avocado slices and sautéed shrimp.

1/2 cup candied walnuts Sea salt to taste For the dressing: 3 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/4 teaspoon sea salt To roast figs, preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove stems off end of each fig, then slice fig in half. Roast for approximately 30 minutes or until a bit golden brown. Remove and cool slightly.

In small mixing bowl, mix 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, olive oil and honey. Add figs and toss to coat

Roasted Fig and Blue Cheese Salad For the figs: 2 cups fresh black mission figs, sliced in half 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon sea salt For the salad: 1/2 cup blue cheese, cut into elegant wedges or thin slices 6 cups mixed salad greens with arugula

34 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

evenly. Marinate for 5 to 10 minutes.

Whisk honey, mustard, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and sea salt together to create dressing.

Place greens in large salad bowl; toss in candied walnuts. Serve with two fig halves on top of each salad with a blue cheese wedge. M

Happy Hour

By McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Malbec: Soft, sweet and user-friendly

T

ake a chocolate-covered cherry candy, turn it somehow into a red wine, and you’d have malbec — maybe the world’s most user-friendly red wine.

The more inexpensive ones are soft and sweet, good starter reds for those who only drink white but want to expand their horizons and find a wine to go with a burger or steak. Malbecs are good with spicy barbecue because of their sweet fruit.

Good with chicken, spaghetti with red sauce or even tuna because of their soft tannins.

The more powerful, somewhat more expensive malbecs have the big, ripe tannins to go well with grilled steak or chicken, even a roast goose.

Malbec made its early reputation as a blending grape for France’s big, red Bordeaux wines — added for its inky color and stiff tannins in Bordeaux’s cool, damp maritime climate. But, taken to Argentina a century ago, it became softer, sweeter and riper in that country’s sunny weather.

Highly recommended:

2008 Clos de los Siete Malbec Blend (56 percent malbec, 21 percent merlot, 10 percent cabernet sauvignon, 11 percent syrah, 2 percent petit verdot), Canton de Tunuyan, Mendoza, Argentina: powerful, smooth and aromatic, with aromas and flavors of black plums, spice and mocha, big, ripe tannins, long and smooth finish; $18.

2010 Bodega Elena de Mendoza Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina: deep purple hue, aromas and flavors of black raspberries and dark chocolate, soft tannins, very smooth; $11.

2008 Pulenta Estate Gran Malbec, by Paul Hobbs, Mendoza, Argentina: inky hue, hints of flowers and oak aroma, spicy black plum flavors, ripe tannins; $40. M

Strengthens Brand Awareness Promotes Your Products and Services Trusted Source

Contact

Cheryl Olson,

Marketing Consultant

507-344-6390

mankatomag@mankatofreepress.com

Good Health

By McClatchy-Tribune News Service

No, no. Don’t get up.

5 exercises you can do without upsetting your inner couch potato Roll down with knee squeeze

(For abs and inner thighs) On a firm sofa, sit up with knees bent, feet flat on the couch cushion, and back straight. Place a throw pillow between your knees. Lean back, grasping back of thighs just below the knees, and tuck chin toward chest. Squeeze into the pillow as you slowly roll down one vertebrae at a time — sort of a reverse sit up — until your arms are straight and your head is almost on the couch behind you. Hold for four to five deep breaths. Then slowly roll back up. Repeat eight to 10 times.

Bridge kick

(For butt and thighs) Lay on your back with heels planted on the armrest, arms down at your sides. Squeeze glutes and lift hips so body forms a straight line. Lift the right leg, extending it as high as comfortably possible. Lower back to start, and repeat with the left leg. Do 20 total reps (10 per side).

Triceps dip

I

t’s January. You and everybody else in America are thinking about the same thing: weight loss. But for some people, going to the gym is such drudgery. You have to drag your lazy butt off the couch, you need to make yourself presentable, then you have to haul yourself out the door.

But what if you didn’t have to leave your home? What if you didn’t even have to leave your couch? That you can wear a tattered Three Stooges T-shirt and stained sweat pants is just gravy.

Yes, says Selene Yeager, a certified personal trainer and author, you can get something out of a 15-minute session on your couch.

“People see that ‘15-minute workout’ and are skeptical,” says Yeager. “To those people I say, honestly, just try it. Do pushups. Are you working? You better believe it. And you can honestly do a few very effective exercises on your couch. Before you snarkily toss them aside, try them. You’ll see they work.”

So here are five easy and beneficial exercises for you couch potatoes. And they can be done without equipment.

“Don’t need dumbbells in the living room,” Yeager says.

36 • JANUARY 2012 • MANKATO MAGAZINE

(For triceps, shoulders and back) Scoot to the edge of the sofa. Grasp the sofa with your hands positioned wider than shoulder-width apart. Keeping elbows slightly bent, inch your butt off the sofa, keeping your legs bent and feet flat on the floor. Straighten your arms and lift your torso upward. Bend elbows, lowering hips toward the floor until your upper arms are parallel with the floor. Straighten arms and return to start. Repeat for 10 reps.

Armrest press

(For chest and triceps) Kneel on the sofa and put your hands on the armrest about shoulder-width apart. Your body should form a straight line from head to knees. Bend elbows and lower chest toward armrest until elbows are in line with shoulders. Pause, then push back to starting position. Repeat eight to 12 times.

Seated scissors

(For thighs and core) Scoot to the edge of the sofa seat and sit straight up.

Extend legs straight in front of you, feet as far off the floor as comfortably possible, about hip- to shoulder-width apart.

Point your toes and turn your legs out slightly. Keeping your legs straight, cross your left ankle over the right, then your right over the left. Keep switching quickly, 30 to 40 times. Make the move harder (and add super ab work) by holding your arms out in front of you. M

Things

to do,

Places

to go

JANUARY Through

Jan. 11

Laura Veenhuis art exhibit Twin Rivers Center for the Arts, Emy Frentz Arts Guild 523 S. Second St., Mankato • Free 387-1008 • info@twinriversarts.org

12 Art lecture and reception, Brian McClain; work on display through Feb. 10 7-8 p.m. • Fine Arts Center Bethany Lutheran College • events@blc.edu

14 Southern Minnesota Poets Society’s Poetry luncheon and reading 12:30-2:30 p.m. • Emy Frentz Arts Guild • Free 344-8709 • bajanorthwest@yahoo.com

3Fitness Days for children

Repeats every Tuesday and Friday 9-10 a.m. • St. Peter Community Center Gym 351-4284 • creativeplayplace@gmail.com

5Stories, Songs & Movement for children Repeats every Thursday • 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Creative Play Place • Free 351-4284 • creativeplayplace@gmail.com

14 An evening with Peter Mayer

7-9 p.m. • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 937 Charles Ave., Mankato • $15 388-5022 • uufm@hickorytech.net

17 Faculty Recital by Bethel Balge,piano

7:30 p.m. • Trinity Chapel, Bethany Lutheran College Free • blc.edu

22 Music on the Hill: The Brahms Concert Mankato Symphony Orchestra 2 p.m. • Chapel at Good Counsel, Mankato $12 in advance, $15 at the door • 625-8880

26-29 Minnesota State University’s Department of 11 - Feb. 15 “The Image and the Word”

photography-inspires-poetry art exhibit Emy Frentz Arts Guild • Free 344-8709 • bajanorthwest@yahoo.com

Theatre and Dance presents “I Hate Hamlet” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26-28, 2 p.m. Jan. 29 Andreas Theatre of the Performing Arts Center 320 Maywood Ave. $16 general admission, $14 discounted and $11 for current MSU students • 389-6661

27 Minnesota State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents a Guest Artist Performance by Dance Zorongo 4 p.m. • Ostrander Auditorium Centennial Student Union msutheatre.com

MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 37

Get Out!

By Rachael Hanel

Adventure reads to inspire outdoor enthusiasts

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n my dreams I’m an adventurer, but in reality my outdoor excursions are confined mostly to Madison Lake, or on occasion, to

Minnesota’s North Shore.

I likely will not ever climb Mt. Everest. Or get a chance to spend a few weeks in the Alaska wild. Or traverse the Arabian desert on camel.

Unless, of course, I find that elusive “money tree” that everyone talks about but never seems to find.

So in absence of those far-flung destinations, I make do with what I can: books. Even when I was a child I was drawn to books that described exotic locales. I still vividly remember Pippi Longstocking’s adventures on her father’s ship or Heidi’s charmed life in the Swiss Alps.

I never stopped reading adventure stories. I enjoy reading true stories of people who have traveled to remote parts of the world. To that end, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite adventure books.

These books describe locations and actions so well that, for a few moments, I can believe that I’m somewhere other than Minnesota. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not advocating curling up inside with books all winter. I’m the first to extol the virtues of exploring our winter wonderland.

But there will be days in which a warm fire, a hot beverage and sitting on the sofa with a good book is oh-sotempting.

Here’s my list to get you started: “Into Thin Air,” by Jon Krakauer:

Krakauer, in my opinion, is the master writer of the true-life adventure story. He has parlayed a writing career in magazines into a career as a successful book author. “Into Thin Air” recounts the ill-fated 1996 ascent of Mt. Everest, in which five people died.

Krakauer is not simply an objective reporter. He was there on the mountain when the tragedies occurred. His first-person account expertly recaptures the environment and mood of the most extreme mountain on Earth.

“Into the Wild,” by Jon Krakauer.

I cannot stop myself from putting another Krakauer book on the list.

I’ve read this book several times, and it never gets old. It’s a great example of both adventure storytelling and investigative reporting as Krakauer doggedly pursues the last few mysterious months of Chris McCandless’ life.

McCandless, at 24 years old, entered the Alaskan wilderness in 1992 and never emerged alive. Many of us, at one time or another, have contemplated leaving everything behind and setting off into the unknown. But very few of us act upon it.

McCandless lived a life of adventure, but ultimately his adventures claimed him.

“North to the Pole,” by Will Steger and Paul Schurke: I read this book in preparation for my first trip to Ely’s Wintergreen dogsled lodge, which is owned by Schurke. Schurke, Steger and four others traveled to the North Pole in 1986 — a trip taken exclusively by dogsled.

It was also a self-supported trip; they did not arrange for food or supply drops along the way. The Minnesota connection resonated with me. Schurke and Steger were from Minnesota, as was Ann Bancroft, the only woman on the trip. As a coldweather fan, I enjoyed learning how people survived in extreme cold conditions. It gave me a great perspective

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on the few days I spent in below-zero weather on the dogsled, and how lucky I was to have plenty of warm food and warm lodging waiting for me at the end of each day.

“Arabian Sands,” by Wilfred Thesiger: I picked up this book on a whim many years ago. It was an odd choice, considering I prefer tundra over desert. But I’m a history buff and adventure buff and an Anglophile, so the combination of all three resulted in a brilliant read.

Thesiger published the book in 1959, and it recounts his adventures in the Arabian desert between 1945 and 1950. What I liked best about this book is Thesiger’s encounters with the Bedouin, the native people of Arabia. Even though he was traveling the desert in the early 20th century, very little had changed in the Bedouin way of life over the centuries.

This was the closest anyone has come to time travel, I thought, and I was fascinated by what he saw in the desert.

•••• These books capture not only adventure, but also adventure’s everpresent twin — danger. While I fancy myself an adventurist, I also hold onto a high degree of uncertainty and fear. Could I really attempt to scale Everest? Would I really walk into the Alaskan wild by myself? Would I dogsled to the North Pole with a group, or traverse the desert?

Since I have a hard time not hitting my bicycle brakes on the Mankato area’s steep descents, I somehow think I’m not cut out for more daring adventures. Yet, I’m envious of the people who did these things. Each one of them responded to the call to adventure that lived within them.

How many of us can say that?

What are your favorite real-life adventure books? Feel free to post a comment on my blog: http://rachaelhanel.blogspot.com/. M Rachael Hanel is an outdoor enthusiast who lives in Madison Lake.

Faces & Places

Photos By Sport Pix

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Wired to the Heart

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1. Contributers to the Wired to the Heart fundraiser peruse silent auction items at the event.

2. Habib and Rita Sadaka (right) try their hands at blackjack with Nick Rahme and dealer Paul Gaspar in the Wired to the Heart Casino.

3. Rev. John Kunz listens in on the live auction.

4. Rob and Natalie Gunther (right) take their spin at roulette with Justin Miller (left).

5. Greg Olson donates his time to be a dealer at the Wired to the Heart charity event.

6. LuAnn Reynolds shows off her prize necklace won in one of the evening’s charity games.

BECAUSE The love of friends I’ve made here keeps me running.

MANKATO FAMILY YMCA For so many reasons.

Faces & Places 1

Photos By Sport Pix 2

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Southern Minnesota Children’s Museum Fall Festival 5

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1. Alecia Woods helps Sasha Rodeback put on her surgical mask as she plays doctor.

2. Rita Rassbach (right) helps her daughter Alexa at one of the many stations at the Southern Minnesota Children’s Museum fall festival.

3. Oren Struck, a student at Gustavus Adolphus College, helps Callum Harmes arrange some boxes.

4. The empty boxes were one of the main attractions as kids used them to build forts.

5. Maggie Lane (left) helps Brooke Schwandt make some homemade play-dough.

6. Morgan Stadheim of Gustavus Adolphus College helps children decorate hats during the event.

Faces & Places 1

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Chili Fest

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1. Another good crowd turns out at Buster’s Sports Bar and Grill again this year for ChiliFest.

2. Anthony Martens serves up some of his Sweet Sixteen chili.

3. Gilbert Rodriguez gets a bite to eat at ChiliFest.

4. Bidders take a look at the items up for auction.

5. Chuck Vokal gives current bid prices for high-ticket items in the silent auction.

6. Matt Little of Buster’s gives listeners an idea which silent auctions are available.

7. Pete Ybarra braves the elements as he competes in the bean bag tournament.

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Faces & Places 1

Photos By Sport Pix 1. Torey Richards prepares to practice laying down a bunt.

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2. Kelsey Goettl takes advantage of the new pitching area.

3. The new MAGFA indoor practice facility is just off Highway 22, sharing the building with KG Gymnastics.

4. A group of girls sifts through the table of giveaway items that were laid out as MAGFA prepares to rebrand all of their teams under the Peppers’ banner.

5. Lily Andrego gives the new batting cages a try.

6. The new facility has areas for hitting, pitching and an open area for fielding and throwing practice.

7. Carie Weller, a coach and board member,chats with parents between sessions with players.

8. MAGFA Vice President and Peppers Coach Tomm Richards takes a turn running the pitching machine.

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MAGFA Open House 5

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Faces & Places

Photos By Sport Pix

santa’s arrival

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1. A group of anxious children welcomes the arrival of Santa.

2. Breven Buer looks over the holiday card he created.

3. Santa receives a little help from Mankato Ford getting from his sleigh to the River Hills Mall.

4. Eileen Heller of the Mankato Clinic helps Clara Jo Legg of Lake Crystal check the health of her stuffed animal.

5. Colten Claussen tells Santa what he wants for Christmas.

6. The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota provides plenty of activities for kids while waiting for Santa to arrive.

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MANKATO MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2012 • 43

The Way It Is

By Pete Steiner

My winter world begins to stir

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anuary, long past the hectic Christmas rush, I sip steaming morning coffee, gaze out on the quiet whiteness of the day. Snow has flocked the spruce trees, buried the garden. It’s a good thing, it’s insulation for the irises and peonies.

Regardless of the temperature, sparrows will be at the feeders. As the sun climbs ever higher, a pair of squirrels may frolic in the walnut tree. All through a stretch of numbing nights and days, a great quiet had settled over our back yard. Apart from an occasional noisy crow, it seemed the whole world had gone dormant.

Of course, it’s never as completely serene as it looks. I’ll find evidence in the spring of voles that were tunneling between my lawn and the bottom of the snow pack, gleaning spillage from the bird feeders. And on a moonlit night, despite the cold, one or two rabbits might be spotted at the edges of the garden, searching for an edible twig or leaf.

If there’s a heroic creature, here is one: the sparrow in winter. Tiny in size, with a magnificent heart, house sparrows for some reason never joined the other birds that seemed to follow common sense and migrated as autumn temperatures declined. During winter’s coldest stretches, sparrows retreat into the deep woods of nearby ravines, but come a day like this, with sun and temperatures in the 20s, they’re back, clustering at the feeders.

I’m not the only one who knows they’ll be there. One year a kestrel paid a visit. I had been sitting at the table on

the porch, munching a chicken drumstick, when something flashed past the big picture window. I got up to look, and there on the ground just a few feet from the bird feeder, the sleek blue and grey raptor had whacked a sparrow and was proceeding to rapidly dismantle and devour the hapless creature.

The kestrel saw me watching him, but did not seem the least bit intimidated. It took him about 10 minutes to completely ingest the sparrow, leaving only a few downy feathers. I did consider the irony that the kestrel and I both were predators, both dining on fowl. The rest of the sparrows had quickly fled and did not return to the feeder for a couple of weeks.

Crows will visit in the morning. On Saturday, they wake us with loud caws.

Crows deploy early in the day to search for an easy meal, maybe restaurant scraps or carrion. Some cultures have regarded these large black birds with dread, as harbingers of death. I instead admire them, for their resourcefulness and gregariousness. In late afternoon, from all the far-flung places they’ve been, they’ll gather by the hundreds, with a great cacophony of cawing, and fill the treetops that border downtown, their black silhouettes stark against a dreamsicle sunset.

•••• The massive walnut tree is crucial to the world of my backyard. Especially late in winter, squirrels will stretch themselves along the largest branches, gathering what warmth the waxing March sunshine imparts.

There’s a crucial symbiosis between squirrels and the walnut. The great tree gives them shelter, and every other autumn provides them with thousands of nourishing nuts. Anyone who’s ever tried to crack a walnut knows how hard the wrinkled black shells can be, and yet, the squirrels shred them effortlessly, taking just seconds to access the tender sweet meat inside. But with far more walnuts than the squirrels can eat, they bury many, subsequently forgetting where they’re stashed. Over the decades, many nuts sprout, liberally sprinkling the neighborhood with new

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walnut trees to sustain more squirrels.

•••• Winter mercifully slows the pace of life. It gives us time to catch up on our reading. Or we can re-caulk the sink or spend an afternoon in the basement clearing cobwebs. Spiders seek the cracks in our foundation late in the fall, and inside find enough protein to survive. Like the crows, spiders are creatures I admire. They’re said to carry few diseases, and insects they devour are far more loathsome to me than arachnids. So we co-exist.

•••• On languid winter days, I can pay the bills. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, even as I empty my bank account.

Each bill paid is like a marker, a small rung on the ladder of life. Not to imply, of course, that life is always moving upward.

I note that many of the payees are urging me to pay online. Save a stamp, they implore, but I know it’s not my benefit they seek. Maybe it’s my age, but I hate imagining an anonymous entity reaching into my bank account to pull out money when THEY want it.

Besides, a bill arriving in the mailbox each month confirms my physical existence at a concrete place. I resent the lords of cyberspace conspiring to reduce me to a mere avatar of my real self, a denizen that would inhabit a netherworld of fungible ones and zeros without my crows and squirrels and rabbits and sparrows.

•••• Winter grinds and scours the land and the soul. Only the strong survive.

Yet the season of hastas will arrive soon enough. First crocuses and daffodils, then tulips will color the backyard’s wind-chilled monochrome. Relentless spring will gloriously thrust itself onto the stage, sweeping away snow and frost. Peonies and irises will burst forth, returning sumptuousness to the land.

I, too, will again venture mittenless, head uncovered, into June’s pleasant breezes. I will celebrate having persevered. M Pete Steiner is a longtime radio announcer, newsman and news director for KTOE Radio.

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