Inspire(d) Spring 2024

Inspire(d)

DRIFTLESS

AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS

No

SPRING 24.

TIME

Inspire(d)

DRIFTLESS

AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS

FOUNDERS

Aryn Henning Nichols / Editor-in-Chief + Designer

Benji Nichols / Head of Logistics + Advertising Sales (& husband, distributor, writer)

AT A TIME. we couldn’t do it without

CONTRIBUTORS

Sara Friedl-Putnam / writer

Sara Walters / writer

Hooray for thesehumans!amazing

Steve Harris / writer

Renee Brincks / writer

Lynsey D. Moritz / writer

Olivia Lynn Schnur / mental health writer

Craig Thompson / conservation writer

Mary Thompson / conservation artist

Brian Gibbs / center spread photographer

Allison Thomley / design intern

Anne Butera / cover artist

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Interested in becoming a contributor? Email work samples to Aryn at aryn@iloveinspired.com, and we’ll chat!

Inspire(d) Driftless Magazine is headquartered & created in Decorah, Iowa. We cover communities located in the NE IA, SE MN, and W WI area of the Driftless Region. Email aryn@iloveinspired.com to learn about Community Partnership opportunities in the future - we’ve got some fun ideas!

JOIN THE POSITIVE NEWS MOVEMENT

1. Buy local - We couldn’t make this magazine without our amazing advertisers and partners. Visit or shop with one (or many) of our advertisers, and let them know you saw them in Inspire(d)!

2. Become an Inspire(d) Member at iloveinspired.com/membership

3. Sign up for our Positive News Newsletter by scanning the QR code here ----- :

4. Visit us online – website and social – and share with your friends and family!

5. Listen to our “Rhymes With...” podcast at http://decorah.fun find the gnome...

G-Gnome is hiding somewhere in this magazine! The first five people (no previous winners please) to send us his page location through our contact form at iloveinspired.com/contact-inspired gets a free Inspire(d) 7-Year Pen in the mail!

iloveinspired.com

facebook.com/iloveinspired

@iloveinspired

What’s the name mean?

Inspire(d) – pronounced in-spy-erd... you know: inspired – stands for inspire and be inspired. The idea is that person one inspires person two. That person is now inspired. Then that person inspires person three (or person one again), who is now inspired. Then the cycle continues! That’s what those arrows around the (d) are about! We’re here to remind folks that people are good! Our mission is, ultimately, to change the world… starting with our own community. We like to call it an experiment in positive news.

Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Spring 2024, issue 76, volume 17, Copyright 2024 by Inspire(d) Magazine.

Support Inspire(d)

We want Inspire(d) to be accessible for all, which is why it is free on stands across the Driftless! But you can support Inspire(d) through Membership! We’ll send the magazine in the mail, to you or a loved one, for $35/year. Visit the Membership page at iloveinspired.com for details, or send a check for $35 to Inspire(d) Magazine, 412 Oak St., Decorah, Iowa 52101. Thank you for your support, and for joining the positive news movement!

Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine?

Email aryn@iloveinspired.com.

Interested in advertising?

Contact Benji at benji@iloveinspired.com or call 563-379-6315.

Itotally hated the phrase “late bloomer” when I was a kid. I had two cousins – both a little older and infinitely cooler – who said I was “just a late bloomer.” They didn’t say it with malice, but boy, did it sting.

Now, decades later, I want to tell that pre-teen: It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re working on you, you’ll get where you want to be –or where you’re supposed to be –eventually. Keep at it.

Of course, there are many things we’d tell our past selves if we could. The theme for this issue is a gentle reminder: We all bloom in our own time. All we need is just a little patience (thanks, Guns N’ Roses). I dive into this topic in my infographic, “Patience in Bloom,” which leads into our spring mental health article by Olivia Lynn Schnur. Olivia gives us tips for avoiding the comparison trap, so we can continue our paths at whatever pace necessary. Hint: We need to get clear on vision and values.

It was vision and values that led Anne Butera to art. The Viroqua-based artist taught herself how to paint with watercolors at age 34, and today she is a prolific artist, online art teacher, and the creative behind the website and blog, My Giant Strawberry. Anne’s gorgeous artwork is featured on this issue’s cover. Read her story on page 16.

Anne’s blog also inspired us to create the spring paper project: a Giant Strawberry Box! You can use it as a May Day basket, a favor box, or just because it’s cute!

We promise your name doesn’t have to be Anne, Annie, or Anni to be in Inspire(d) Magazine, but we happen to have all those names in this issue!

Annie Coleman was inspired by the summers she spent growing up at her grandparents’ Golden Horse Ranch resort north of Madison, Wisconsin. Decades later, she (along with some great help from her friends) opened Red Clover Ranch in rural Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, where folks can attend creative, enriching retreats, fun events, local dinners, and more (pg 48).

And last but most certainly not least in the “Anni list,” Anni Weilgart, former longtime Decorah resident and teacher, is featured as our Probituary (pg 66). Anni turned 100 in 2023, and as interviewer Lindy Weilgart says, “she has fewer ailments and healthier blood values than all of us.” I love the wisdom in these Q&As.

There’s a lot to be learned from our Driftless Community Builders as well. Ernie Johnson brings people together through vintage collectibles and cars – and with interesting conversation – at Ernie’s Garage in Whalan, Minnesota. In Decorah, Molly Holkesvik has taught, coached, and led students (and some adults) in various forms of self- and world-discovery for two decades through classes, theatre, and travel.

You don’t have to travel too far to embrace the season with our spring ideas for fun, from peony picking to maple syrup sampling (pg 44). And speaking of maple syrup, you can learn about Iowa’s longest running business in this issue’s Sum of Your Business. We feature a Q&A with Jeni (Green) Melcher, the sixth generation of Greens to tap maple trees on their farm in rural Northeast Iowa (pg 56). (Fun fact: I grew up just up the road from Greens’ Sugarbush!)

We’re lucky to have so many cool things to do here in the Driftless. As you get out there exploring, watch for the various insects and arachnids move around again. You can learn more about the latter in conservation writer Craig Thompson’s piece on spiders (pg 62). They really are amazing (but still…shudder)!

You really are amazing too, readers! Thanks for joining us for another year of positive news! You’re the best.

Looking forward,

P.S. Travel has always been an important part of Benji’s and my lives, so we were excited to take our first family trip across the Atlantic – to Greece (and a couple other spots) – in April of 2023! We learned some fun things along the way, and put together a pre-travel checklist, our itinerary, and more at iloveinspired.com.

What is the driftless?

It’s a region in the Midwest – Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and a wee bit of Northwest Illinois – that was skipped by the glaciers in the last ice age, leaving the area “lacking glacial drift” – i.e. Driftless. The gist of that is we get to enjoy bluffs, valleys, coulees, and other fun geographical features that don’t typically occur in other parts of our states (the Mississippi River contributes greatly to the geography as well). It’s a lovely place to live and visit, and we’re happy you’re here!

rad cover art by...

ANNE BUTERA •

mygiantstrawberry.com

Viroqua-based Anne Butera is the artist behind this beautiful Spring Inspire(d) cover! Read more about Anne & her rad work on page 16.

What We’re Loving right now

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS SPRING...

FIND AN ADVENTURE AT B&E’S TREES!

B&E’s Trees just outside of Cashton, Wisconsin (near Viroqua), are welcoming visitors to their farm with two events that we are loving the sound of this spring.

First, the Sap Run Scramble 5K on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from noon to 5 pm.

The non-competitive 5K scrambles through a (potentially muddy) “course” through the maple forest during the heart of syrup season. Bring a sense of adventure, a water bottle, and your best directional awareness, as the route winds through old logging trails, including 1000 feet of elevation gain, with an element of “wayfinding” via the ribbons and foxes distributed along the course. And, of course, there are tasty maple-based snack stops every kilometer or so.

All Friendly Humans are invited to register – Adults $25 / Youth $10 / 10 & Under Free. In addition, a hot tent, yard games, and other friendly humans will be on hand to socialize. Pre-registration is required online at embarkmaple.com.

Next up: The Ramp Romp is a weekend full of Biking, Hiking, Foraging, Eating, and Camping at B&E’s Trees April 26-28, 2024. The event is a playful exploration-by-bike of the Driftless watershed and the unique, delicious, and interesting ecosystem surrounding it. Expect a full day out playing, experiencing, and celebrating this unique place.

The bike route will consist mostly of paved country roads, with offroad and single-track optional segments, and stops for foraging and exploration throughout.

Weekend camping is suggested, with basecamp being a small intimate secluded field. This is an “off the grid” experience, so participants should plan accordingly. As the B&E Crew says… “You Can Do It! You Should Do It!” Find out all the details and register online at: embarkmaple.com. B&E’s Trees Farm 30904 Rognstad Ridge Road Cashton, WI, 54619

22ND ANNUAL WOMEN’S WEEKEND OUT

More than 40 Decorah Area businesses will join together to host Women’s Weekend Out in Decorah on April 5, 6, and 7. The threeday event, in its 22nd year, is a showcase for Decorah’s small retail and restaurant businesses with added entertainment and in-store experiences.

The Scramble starts at 1 pm and takes 1-3 hours for most folks to finish. It is designed to be interesting and accomplishable to most everyone, from seasoned trail runners to folks pushing themselves to get more active in beautiful places. Good hiking shoes are recommended, hiking poles and extra play clothes suggested – as chances are you’ll get muddy!

Sugar House Tours follow the scramble, and Embark maple products will be available for sale, along with wood-fired pizzas and beverages.

Joan Tupy, owner of J. Tupy’s on Water Street which celebrates 25 years this year, is one of five Women’s Weekend Out event committee members that works with the Chamber on the popular spring event. Joan coordinates the Saturday Style Show Brunch each year and hosts special guests and pop-up product lines in her downtown women’s clothing store. “This event is one of my favorites. Over the years it has become a tradition for groups of friends to gather here and enjoy a weekend together and for others it’s the perfect introduction to our town. There is something for everyone and you can feel the fun in the air. I think that the small business owners have as much fun as the customers!”

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What We’re Loving

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The weekend includes a variety of special events. Friday night T-Bock’s Sports Bar & Grill hosts a Comedy Show. Saturday morning is the long-time favorite Style Show Brunch at Hotel Winneshiek. Later on Saturday is a Cocktail Class w/ Traveling Tapster at Rendered Unique (registration required), a Driftless Jazz performance at Impact Coffee, and Musician Steve Schroeder at Toppling Goliath Brewing. All weekend long Convergence CiderWorks will host a special tasting collaboration with Water Street Deli.

To add to the weekend, the Committee offers SWAG bags for purchase at $10/each. Each bag is filled with products and promotions from participating businesses. 250 SWAG bags are for sale at decorahareachamber.com/event/womens-weekend-out/ or by calling the Decorah Chamber office at 563-382-3990.

CARLSON PARK TRAILS + DECORAH MTB TEAM!

Decorah’s newest Park will soon be sporting a new feature entrance trail - and you can help make it happen! Carlson Park, on Decorah’s South side, currently hosts a rustic, two-mile trail loop that outlines the property, but a comprehensive park plan that was finished in 2021 is now being implemented. The first step is the building of a feature entrance trail that will link the adjacent Minowa Heights Neighborhood to the park and allow easier access from Decorah.

The new entrance trail has been designed by the International Mountain Bike Association’s (IMBA) Trail Solutions team with multiple users in mind, with both pedestrian- and bicycle-optimized trails. Donations are now being accepted via the Community Foundation of NE Iowa’s “Carlson Park Trail Development Fund”.

The site will also showcase a grain bin “Binzebo” trail hub at the pedestrian and bicycle entrance. The Binzebo is a project of Decorah Rotary, who provided funding and labor to install the structure, which sits just across the road from Miller Park in Minowa Heights.

Additionally, the trail project will provide entry level (as well as

more advanced) riding opportunities for users of various skill levels, including Decorah’s fast growing Scholastic Mountain Biking Team. Scholastic (high school) Mountain Bike Racing has been one of the fastest growing sports in the US in the past decade. While states with larger outdoor recreation opportunities have led the way across the US, the Midwest – and Iowa – are seeing a quick growth in this sport that touts an “everyone gets to ride” mentality of inclusion. Minnesota has more than 70 current high school teams, and Wisconsin is close behind with near 50. Iowa currently has less than a dozen teams, including Decorah’s “DIRT” Mountain Bike Team, and the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Biking Organization is working to grow the sport. Keep an eye out as the sport –and Decorah’s team grows!

Carlson Park features more than 100 acres of mixed environments for park patrons of any kind, including hiking, trail running, dog walking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and more.

Support the project and find out more - visit Facebook “Carlson Park Trails - Decorah”, donate at www.cfneia.org/giving/find-afund/712-bv, scan this QR code, or email benjinichols@gmail.com for more information.

GALA, GALLERIES, AND LIFE DRAWING AHOY!

The Kentucky Derby Gala returns as ArtHaus’ annual fundraiser on Saturday, May 4 at 8 pm. Don your most festive hat and head out to place your bet on art races. Pottery throw down, wine and whisky walk, and the most fantastic silent auction you will find this side of the Upper Iowa River. Help support the art center that keeps bringing it year after year with classes, events, and open studio, all made possible because of you. Can’t imagine a Decorah without ArtHaus? Us either.

This spring, exhibitions continue in the Doyle G. Heyveld Gallery at ArtHaus. March features the art of Kenneth Hall: Love Bomb. Expect a mysterious, seductive, and immersive experience. The 2024 Emerging Artist Exhibition is in April, May features Artist Kim Behm; June, the annual favorite “Down on the Farm Iron Show”; and July, Jennifer Drinkwater. Everyone is welcome for each Exhibition’s Opening Reception, the first Friday of each month from 7-9 pm at Arthaus - on the corner of Washington and Broadway, just across from Convergence CiderWorks.

Last – butt – not least… Life Drawing Studio sessions are continuing each month through Spring. Join fellow artists at ArtHaus with your sketchbook for life drawing practice with live models. Sundays - March 3, April 7, May 5, 2024. Session fees and details at arthausdecorah.org

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What We’re Loving right now

RIDGE AND RIVERS BOOK FESTIVAL

The second annual Ridges & Rivers Book Festival, a three-day event in celebration of reading, writing, creativity, and community, will be held in Viroqua, Wisconsin, April 2627, 2024. The festival is sponsored by the Driftless Writing Center and the McIntosh Memorial Library.

The Ridges & Rivers Book Festival brings the community and visitors face-to-face with authors and illustrators in a variety of ways including readings, book-signings, workshops, presentations, story time for kids, and conversations. The performances and activities appeal to all ages and interests, readers, and non-readers alike. This year’s festival will feature more than 20 visiting authors from across the nation. New this year will be a Coptic Bookbinding workshop taught by Anneka

Baird of the Driftless Folk School (advance registration required), as well as story times for younger readers, and special offerings across downtown Viroqua.

Decorah’s own Dragonfly Books will be coordinating book sales and small/independent presses at the onsite book fair. Find additional information at www.facebook.com/RidgesandRiversBF

UPPER IOWA AUDUBON - NOT JUST FOR THE BIRDS!

The Upper Iowa Audubon Society continues to protect birds and their habitats across our region. From Bird counts to civic gatherings, this group helps ensure that our feathered friends thrive.

Here are just a few of the upcoming events:

March 9 – Friends of Pool 9 - Mississippi Wildlife Refuge 100th Anniversary Celebration. TJ Hunters Banquet Hall, Lansing, Iowa - featuring Big Blue Sky

March 16, 1:30 pm –

“Hummingbirds” with Tina Hall, Convergence CiderWorks, Decorah

April 6, 1 pm – “Bluebirds” presentation with Brian Preston of Dubuque Co Conservation w/ house kits available. Lansing Driftless Area Education & Visitors Center

April 29, 7 pm – “Real Life Great Horned Owl Soap Opera” at Convergence CiderWorks, with Friends of the Decorah Public Library and Karla Bloem of the International Owl Center in Houston, MN.

May 5, 7:30 am – Guided Birdwalk at Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm near Decorah.

May 11, 9 am – Spring Birdwalk at Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry. Find out more at upperiowaaudubon.org

NICHOLAS C. ROWLEY COURTNEY ROWLEY

DOMINIC PECHOTA JON SPECHT LAURA THOMPSON KAREN ZAHKA

IOWA THEATRE UNITES!

The Iowa Community Theatre Association (ICTA) is bringing all the theatrical fun (and awards!) to Decorah tor their biennial Convention April 6-7, 2024.

The Association is a non-profit organization with 26 member theatres across the state, dedicated to celebrating theatre in Iowa and exchanging ideas and resources to grow and enhance the experiences of its members.

ICTA Events Chair, Decorah resident, and steadfast member of New Minowa Players Sarah Brandt says, “We’re excited to be bringing the ICTA Convention back to Decorah for the first time since 1992! This will be the converging place for our members to participate in workshops, network with other member theatres, see live theatre, and attend the Awards of Excellence Gala, where we recognize and celebrate the best of the best in Iowa community theatre from the 2023 year.”

Sarah has also been featured on Inspire(d)’s companion podcast, “Rhymes With Decorah”, talking about the New Minowa Players Theatre, which you can find online at http://decorah.fun

Find out more about the ICTA facebook.com/iowatheatres/

MOLLIE B & COON CREEK WATERSHED CONSERVATION

On the east edge of the Mississippi, in the heart of the Driftless, the Coon Creek Watershed Council carries on the legacy of conservation leadership by improving and restoring the soil, water, and air of the 90,000-acre Coon Creek Watershed (CCW). Born in the 1930s, as the dustbowl exposed the effects of environmental neglect, the CCW is known as the nation’s first major soil and water conservation project, expanding on Wisconsin’s existing conservation research and work in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

The CCWC is thrilled to collaborate with Coon Valley Dairy Supply Company and the Town of Coon Valley (WI) to present Valley Conservation Day on May 4th, 2024. The Celebration includes live music from Mollie B, local food, craft beer, a vibrant market featuring local artisans, and family-friendly conservation activities. General admission is free, with tickets to Mollie B and Friends priced at $20 for adults, free for students, and free for children 10 and under. The event will take place at Coon Valley Dairy Supply Co. S688A WI162, Coon Valley, WI. Details, vendor information, and tickets at: cooncreekwatershed.org/coon-creek-conservation-day

THE CULTURE FARM & CABIN CONCERTS!

Down in the river valleys of Clayton County, more musical fun is brewing for 2024!

In 2023, Sara Davis and Gary Siegwarth purchased a beautiful 100-year-old barn that inspired a fun idea: create a community gathering space for culture, art, events, and good times!

“The Culture Farm” – a

What We’re Loving right now

TH E L A NDING

not-for-profit entity with a mission to support, promote, advance, and encourage cultural awareness in the fields of art and sustainable agriculture . Watch for workshops, mentorship programs, demonstrations, community events, collaborative projects, an artistin-residence program, and more. The crew has a GoFundMe account started to cover early 501c3 formation costs and will be sharing more via the @couleecreekbarn Instagram account as details unfold.

And save the date on Saturday, August 17, for a special Art in the Dark display and concert at The Culture Farm in celebration of Elkader’s Art in the Park festival.

Speaking of concerts: Word on the creek is that Turkey River Cabin Concert dates have been set for May 18, June 21-22, July 5, July 1213, and September 20-21. Keep an eye and an ear on cabinconcerts. org to keep up with all the deets!

CRUNCHY BITS!

Here at Inspire(d) HQ, we love a good little tidbit of fresh tips on fun places in our region - especially related to food and beverages!

Decorah’s own Blazing Star has become a downtown staple for vegan and vegetarian bowls, soups, and GF baked goodies - but did you hear about brunch? Stop in for this fantastic offering complete with thoughtfully sourced beverages and more. blazingstareats.com

Speaking of local eats, May brings the return of many regional farmers markets. With the odd winter patterns we’ve seen this year, it’s hard to say what early market surprises could appear! One thing is for sure – shopping local and direct from your neighbor farmers has never been better. Find your local market, or visit another regional market – like Decorah, Viroqua, or La Crosse!

It’s been a minute since we’ve written about beer, so let’s fix that! One thing is certain, the variety and access to craft beer in our region has grown exponentially in the past five years – and we’re here for it! Whether you fancy a Toppling Goliath hopbomb, or one of those crazy “pastry sour” concoctions that the gents at Pulpit Rock are whipping up, craft beer has never been so diverse. Enter BBQ. Yes, beer and BBQ (and maybe pizza) – there we said it! Our friends up in Spring Grove have been busy pounding screws and brewing up concrete for the new location of Fat Pat’s Brewery. Keep an eye out for opening details later this summer.

Across the river in Viroqua, the “Woolly Bear Taphouse” has been a welcome option for all the Coulee kids. Tyler and Hilary Conn have been bringing in the good stuff, so stop by and see the cozy confines - right behind WDRT on the main drag.

And big congrats to Ten Wasp Brewing in Sumner, Iowa. They opened their super cool new brewery mid-February (as this mag went to press), and we can’t wait to check them out! Cheers!

IN FULL BLOOM

Viroqua-based botanical painter and writer Anne Butera experimented with various roles before building a creative business that’s rooted in joy.

BY RENEE BRINCKS

Artwork by Anne Butera

Left: Monarchs in the Spring

Right: Colorful Iris

BY RENEE BRINCKS

IN FULL BLOOM

Working with watercolors, it seems, is a little like life. Creating something beautiful requires patience and practice.

“When you paint a flower with multiple petals, you can’t paint the whole flower at once because you will have a big blob of messy color. But if you paint one petal at a time, those colors will go where you want them to,” says Viroqua, Wisconsin-based artist Anne Butera. “It took a while for me to learn that, but the more I practiced and painted, the better I got. I was building my confidence as well as building my painting skills.”

Anne uses watercolors to capture moments in nature and time, like spring blossoms and blades of grass growing in yards across the Driftless. Her delicate, detailed plant and petal images grace prints,

Anne Butera cutting flowers in the garden outside her home in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Opposite page: Anne shows her painting process with violets. / Photos courtesy Anne Butera

cards, calendars, wallpaper, and fabric, all available through Anne’s online store/ blog, My Giant Strawberry. She also teaches online art classes and encourages creativity through a regular email dispatch dubbed the Joy Letter.

From the outside, Anne’s career looks like a steady string of artistic accomplishments. But the artist and writer explored assorted interests and directions before pursuing a full-time creative career in the late 2010s. As she navigated the twists and turns of adulthood, it wasn’t until she was 34 that she purchased some watercolors and taught herself to paint.

EARLY EXPLORATIONS

Anne was a creative child who learned to love nature while playing in her family’s suburban Chicago backyard. She attended college in Ohio before landing in Cleveland with Matthias Minnig, her thenboyfriend, now-husband. Anne worked at an art museum, took some creative writing classes, held various library roles, and returned to school for a master’s degree in library and information science.

After a few years, as she and Matthias talked about moving somewhere new, Anne also reconsidered her long-term career plans. Around that same time, in the fall of 2010, her parents bought some land near Viroqua, Wisconsin. They invited Anne to help them settle in.

“My mom and I moved and lived together for a year. We planted an orchard and raised baby chicks. I focused on crafting and started teaching myself how to paint. It was a very creative, inspiring time, but I was making no money,” she says.

Anne returned to Cleveland, armed with her renewed sense of creativity, and took a part-time bookstore job. She continued developing her painting skills and expanded My Giant Strawberry, a blog she had started shortly before that year in Viroqua.

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ridgesandriversbf

ridgesandriversbookfest

ridgesandriversbookfestival.org

Anne experiments with different flowers and styles in her sketchbooks throughout the seasons.

/ Photo courtesy Anne Butera

The title came from Anne’s childhood, when the fireflies, birds, vegetables, and flowers filling her family’s garden inspired lively fictional tales of a giant strawberry and pet giraffe living in the backyard.

Insistent that the young dreamer recognize the difference between imagination and fact, a kindergarten teacher brought Anne’s stories to a halt. Years later, Anne wanted to reconnect with the fearless, wonder-seeking person she’d been as a child. By naming her blog My Giant Strawberry, Anne honored that curious, playful version of herself. Her early online posts documented creative projects and provided an avenue for connecting with other artists who shared inspiration and encouragement along the way.

Over time, Anne started earning money from her art. She dabbled in fabric design. She submitted paintings for exhibitions held across the United States. Eager to trade Cleveland’s bigcity energy for easier nature access and life in a smaller community, she and Matthias moved to Viroqua in late 2013.

And then, out of the blue, Matthias was diagnosed with cancer.

“That just put everything up in the air again,” Anne says.

As Matthias went through treatments, Anne began working at the local Viroqua library and continued making art in her spare time. Matthias has since recovered and is doing well, but the experience reminded them to live in the moment.

“For both of us, it highlighted that you really need to do what you want now because life is short,” Anne says.

ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS

Painting, blogging, gardening, and practicing gratitude kept Anne grounded through the ups and downs. They also raised her visibility as an artist. A blog post listing joyful things sparked a similar weekly exercise, and that morphed into Anne’s Joy Letter email. Twice a month, her newsletter spotlights creative prompts, inspiring stories, project updates, and a mix of photographs, videos, and illustrated images.

Anne likens it to a note from a friend. “I just share encouragement and remind people to look for things that are joyful and beautiful,” she says.

In 2016, the online learning platform Skillshare contacted Anne about teaching art classes. She hesitated to say yes at first, because she was still mastering her own painting techniques. However, she realized that her blog already encouraged creativity. Teaching was a logical next step.

Anne now produces online courses that explore painting with watercolors, making block prints, establishing a daily art practice, overcoming creative challenges, launching an art-related website, celebrating the seasons through sketchbook activities, and more.

Anne teaches classes through the online learning platform, Skillshare. Her students get to explore subjects like painting with watercolors, establishing a daily art practice, launching an art-related website, and more. Opposite page: Anne displays new sunflower stickers. / Photos courtesy Anne Butera

Rather than teaching participants to follow a specific painting style, Anne encourages them to overcome fear and embrace creativity.

“I want to reach people who were like me. Maybe they were creative as children, or they weren’t but always wanted to be, and now they’re thinking, ‘I’d really like to try making art.’ I encourage those people to get past the hesitation and just try,” she says.

That message inspired Karen Houlding, the Seattle-area artist behind the I Am Chasing Butterflies blog. After taking several of Anne’s Skillshare classes, Karen considers the Wisconsin artist an influence and a source of support.

“Anne really encourages play and experimentation and curiosity,” Karen says. “That action of play helps so much when you get into her more detailed classes, where you’re painting leaves, flowers, birds, or butterflies. You have more confidence because you’ve already been playing in your sketchbook.”

In her classes, Anne shares lessons that come from her own experience.

“As a self-taught artist, I started out not knowing what I was doing. And yet, I’ve come very far,” she says. “If I can do it, other people can, too.”

ENCOURAGING CONNECTIONS

Anne actively builds community through her classes and website, responding directly to questions and regularly sharing links to students’ work. Karen Houlding even met one of her closest friends through Anne’s class on starting a blog. While the two have never gathered in person – one lives in Washington and the other in North Carolina – they regularly schedule video calls to chat.

Anne also supports local artists as a member of VIVA Gallery in Viroqua. The cooperative, which is celebrating 20 years in 2024, relies on volunteer support for its exhibitions, events, and outreach.

VIVA member artist Mike Lind first met Anne when she showed art at The Rooted Spoon, a former cafe and event space operated by Mike’s wife, Dani. At VIVA, he has been impressed by Anne’s willingness to help.

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People can purchase Anne’s work, like this “2024 Garden Joy Tea Towel” at mygiantstrawberry.com. / Photo courtesy Anne Butera

“We’re all very busy, and sometimes people are hesitant to put in a lot of time. But Anne came in and said, ‘What can I do? How can I help? Let me take this on,’” he says. “I sing her praises related to her work, but her overall message is equally as important and beautiful. It’s about being positive, looking on the bright side, and contributing to the community.”

Similar messages anchor each of Anne’s classes, blog posts, and newsletters. Embrace the moment. Notice glimmers of magic. Cultivate creativity. Choose joy over negativity.

“There’s so much in the news that is miserable, and it’s easy to get pulled down by that. I’m constantly reminding myself to slow down and see what’s beautiful in the world,” Anne says. “I love the quote from [Pulitzer Prize-winner and “Charlotte’s Web” author] E.B. White: Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

Renee Brincks (reneebrincks.com) writes about inspiring people, unforgettable places, and projects that make the world a better, happier place.

Whalan, MN Ernie Johnson

BY STEVE HARRIS

“Ernie’s Station” in Whalan: A Garage Full of Community

About Community Builders

Community-building happens in all kinds of places. A church. A local café. A bowling alley. Even an old garage, like Ernie’s Station, owned by Ernie Johnson of Whalan, Minnesota.

Ernie grew up in Whalan, a bluff country village perched on the Root River about four miles east of Lanesboro. He remembers the hometown of his youth as small-but-lively (the population still barely reaches 60) and filled with things to do.

“There were kids everywhere,” Ernie says, “playing ball, fishing, swimming, sledding in the winter. All the mothers in town were our mothers. All of us kids were like brothers and sisters. In fact, when we got into high school, Whalan boys wouldn’t think of dating Whalan girls. We went to other towns to meet people”.

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A community is defined as a unified body of individuals. You can build community in a neighborhood, city, region, state, nation… world, at any level. But it doesn’t have to be big to have a big impact. Building community is one of the most important things we can do in this life. Connecting with others helps us connect with our humanity, and realize we’re all in this together. Read more Community Builder stories at iloveinspired.com, and send us a note if you know someone we should feature here in the future!

Auny

Ernie Johnson next to his fully restored 1937 Plymouth pickup at “Ernie’s Station” in Whalan, Minnesota.

/ Photo by Steve Harris

“If boys from other towns showed interest in Whalan girls, we made sure they knew we were keeping an eye on them. We all watched out for each other. Whalan was like one big family.” The town is also “family” in the way people support each other during emergencies (that nearby river has produced a few floods) and personal crises (benefit dinners are not uncommon).

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Ernie certainly enjoyed the benefits of a close-knit community as a young boy, and as an adult, he’s helped build it. For years he served on planning/ zoning committees and claims to know town boundaries and property lines better than any surveyor. Having been connected to Whalan for more than half of the town’s entire existence, he’s a treasure-trove of local history and gladly shares those stories, often at Ernie’s Station.

The small gas station was first built in 1917 by Carl and Emil Severson, the construction partially financed by Emil’s pay as a World War I soldier. The station’s second owner in the 1930s expanded the building, and then Norman Larson became its longestserving proprietor from 1954 to 1991. In 1993, Ernie, then working full-time in road construction in the Twin Cities, had the idea to buy it.

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“I didn’t really need a filling station,” he says, “but I liked the idea of having a place to collect fun things you find in a place like that. I bought the building and when I saw something that fit, I’d buy it. That’s how ‘Ernie’s Station’ started.”

When he took over the building, it had four vintage gas signs. Today, after three decades of garage sales and old barn picking, the building is delightfully crammed with hundreds of automotive antiques, including his collection of vintage gas pumps with original glass globes. You also find unique tools, promotional sales banners (“Chevrolet – a Six in the price range of the four”), and oil signs from a variety of companies. “My favorites are from Tydol,” Ernie says. “The Nourse signs, originally from Kansas City, are special, too.”

book reveals visitors from across the United States and beyond (even New Zealand!). Car club members frequently cruise by eager to show off their classic rides and to visit with Ernie while he works on his own restorations.

“I have my first car and my first truck,” he says. “Not many people can say that. I spent nine years restoring that 1937 Plymouth pickup. I got it in high school from my Uncle Sam Sethre and used it when I was trapping gophers. I wasn’t old enough to drive so I had to stay on his farm. Now the pickup is totally restored; I’m very proud of how it came out.”

Beyond Ernie’s Station, Ernie and Joan, his wife of 50 years, also played a central role in building another popular Whalan tradition (now on hiatus). “A few of us were talking one day about ways to promote our town,” he says. “We agreed an annual festival might help. Dave Harrenstein from the pie shop told us about a small Iowa town that held a parade each year. The town was so small the parade stayed in one place while people walked around it. A ‘stand still parade’ sounded fun – we decided to give it a try.”

Whalan’s “Stand Still Parade” became an amazing communitybuilding event each May. In year three, CBS news showed up, and that national media exposure led to bigger and bigger crowds every year. People from all over fell in love with small-town Whalan. They couldn’t seem to get enough of the marching bands (stationary, of course), antique car displays, fire trucks, a petting zoo, lots of good food (including Norwegian goodies like lefse and rommegrot made by local Lutheran church ladies), craft vendors, family games, live

and more.

“Joan and I directed the Stand Still Parade for 11 years,” says Ernie, “and worked on it year-round. Everybody in town got involved. My Station was filled with visitors all day. It really pulled our entire community together.”

music,

Left: One of the vintage oil signs at Ernie’s Station in Whalan, MN.

Right: Original gas pump globes at Ernie’s Station.

/ Photos by Steve Harris

Left: Ernie’s Station from outside. Above: The Whalan Stand Still Parade, was a popular event for 25 years. / Photos courtesy Ernie’s Station

Sadly, the pandemic brought Whalan’s Stand Still Parade to another kind of “stand still.” After 25 years, its future remains in doubt. It’s a reminder that while communities are built, they also evolve over time. “Many of our friends and neighbors are gone now,” says Ernie. “But there are still many wonderful things about Whalan. People love living in this beautiful place. Thousands of people bike the trail running through it, the Aroma Pie Shoppe is busy all season, and the Cedar Valley Resort is a popular lodgingdestination. Whalan is still a lively place.”

That’s all true because of community members who value their town. People like Ernie Johnson. “The people of Whalan care about their town because they care for each other,” he says. “Like I said, this is family here. It’s always been that way. I hope it never changes.”

Classic cars were part of the Stand Still Parade and are also a frequent sight outside of Ernie’s Station. / Photo courtesy Ernie’s Station

Catered by River Road Bakery: Quiche Lorraine Salad &

BY SARA FRIEDL-PUTNAM

ICOMMUNITY BUILDERS

Molly Holkesvik

Decorah, IA

t is said the art of teaching is in leading others to discovery. And Molly Holkesvik, longtime English teacher at Decorah High School, has helped literally thousands of Northeast Iowa students discover concepts both large and small, both in and out of the classroom.

“It’s the moments of genuine learning – of discovery and realization – that we have together that keep me going,” she says. Luckily, she’s just as motivated today as the day she joined the DHS faculty in 2002.

In her 20-plus years in the classroom, Molly has helped students hone their communication skills in a variety of ways, from grasping correct grammar to enhancing vocabulary to mastering the ability to write concisely. Beyond the classroom – as a speech, cross country, and (sometime) swim/dive coach – she has helped many of those same students build confidence, achieve goals, and better understand the definition of teamwork.

“It is a totally different kind of learning for students,” Molly says. “And I really get to know them when I see them outside the classroom, in different realms; I get to push them in different ways and see them grow in different ways.”

As an assistant coach, she helped guide the DHS girls cross country team to a conference title in 2023 and an 11thplace finish at state. And as one of DHS’s six speech coaches, she helped program participants earn a school-record-tying 16 All-State Large Group Speech nominations in early February.

Above: Molly Holkesvik coordinates Viking Voyager trips. In 2021, DHS students (and some family and staff to help) went to Greece. Right: Molly poses with her husband of 30 years, Bob Holkesvik, her “ultimate support system.” / Photos courtesy Molly Holkesvik

Indeed, one might think that given all the long days Molly logs during the academic year – “so many hours” she confirms with her characteristic grin – she would take the summer off.

But for Molly, whose selfprofessed goal is to “help everyone I can and meet tons of people,” the summer months present yet another opportunity for discovery.

Several years ago, Molly took over what was then an annual summer trip for DHS students to New York, but when the number of participants began to dwindle, she reimagined the program, and Viking Voyagers was born. In 2019, she coordinated a trip for students, family members, and a few fellow DHS faculty members to Europe (England, France, and Italy). Subsequent groups have toured Greece and Spain (2021) and Costa Rica (2022 and 2023), while future trips are planned for Ireland, Scotland, and England (2024), and Japan (2025).

Molly traces her deep-seated passion for seeing the world (and helping others do the same) back to her childhood. “My father died when I was two-and-a-half, and that changed my life,” she explains. “When I was young, we couldn’t afford to travel much … and that’s why I’m so passionate about helping students see the world. It’s really important to me because they learn so much from these trips, not only facts, history, and situational awareness but also how to travel, how to appreciate different cultures, and how to maneuver unexpected challenges.”

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Top: Molly is currently board president of Decorah’s New Minowa Players theatre group. Bottom: She is also one of DHS’s six speech coaches. / Photos courtesy Molly Holkesvik

Listen to a Rhymes with Decorah podcast featuring Molly Holkesvik / New Minowa Players at http://decorah.fun.

Molly emphasizes that her dedication to educating today’s youth is simply paying forward the investment her own teachers made in her. She had many impactful experiences with her own English teachers at DHS, she says, and also lots of fun participating in speech, drama, choir, band, and cross country throughout high school.

Those experiences steered Molly toward studying speech and drama, English, and secondary education at Luther College in 1992; there she encountered “amazing, inspiring, wonderful” professors like Mary Hull Mohr, Peter Scholl, and Terry Sparkes. These and other teachers reinforced her career path even as she and her husband, Bob, also a Luther student, started a family that would ultimately include one daughter (Marea) and four sons (Hans, Steven, Dawson, and Nils).

“When we could, Bob and I found classes that were opposite of each other, so when I was in class, he was watching the kids, and when he was in class, I was watching the kids, and somehow that worked,” Molly reflects. “Isn’t that wild?”

/ Photos courtesy Molly Holkesvik

Molly went on to earn a master’s degree in communication arts from the University of Northern Iowa in 2002. Beyond furthering her own education – and devoting her career to educating others – Molly has finished two full Ironmans (2.4mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.22 run), three half-Ironmans, and multiple marathons. In the community, she’s acted in, directed productions for, and currently serves as the board president of the New Minowa Players community theater group. Last November, she co-directed (with Alison Blake) Ye Olde Cabaret: New Minowa Players Through the Years, its 200th show. “It emphasized how important every single person involved in each community theater production really is, from the performers on stage to the people setting up that stage to the people coming to watch,” says Molly. “In order for community theater to work, that continuum of support has to happen, and I think Decorah excels in that.”

Given all she has accomplished in roles as teacher, coach, wife, mother of five, and grandmother of four, it would be remiss not to ask Molly how she’s able to wear so many hats. Her response is lightning-quick: the unfailing assistance and partnership of her husband of more than 30 years. “Bob is the be-all, end-all of husbands,” she says. “He really is the ultimate support system.”

Sara Friedl-Putnam enjoyed learning more about Molly Holkesvik while writing this piece and is thankful for the investment Molly made in her own daughter, Maddie, as her English teacher, speech and dive coach, and all-around cheerleader.

EMPOWER YOUR RIDE

Top: Molly poses with two of her grandkids. Bottom: Molly has trained for and completed multiple races.

Create Folk Art! Online and In Person

Vesterheim Folk Art School registration is open!

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Vesterheim offers a 60% discount for in-person class tuition on a space-available standby basis to residents living within 50 miles of Vesterheim!

Other scholarships available.

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What did the seed say to the flower? OK, Bloomer!

Photographer Brian Gibbs writes: “Conditions looked favorable for a rainbow, so I went cruising through the countryside, hopeful for that ‘pot of gold’ shot. When it appeared, I zoomed upriver from the Motor Mill, grabbed my camera, left the car, and went full on into the Turkey River. Water rushed up to my shins, and the setting sun cast a tangerine light on everything. And then a double rainbow formed! These days, it’s not uncommon for my son to ask me if I saw a rainbow after the rain.” See more of Brian’s photography at timberdoodlephotography.com, or save the date to check out his work in person at Elkader’s Art in the Park August 17-18, 2024.

MAKE IT:

Giant STRAWBERRY!

These giant stawberry boxes would be perfect as May Day Baskets (just add string for a handle), Party Favor Boxes, or just because you’re feeling crafty.

Happy Spring!

Idon’t know how many times over the last 16-and-ahalf years (that’s how long we’ve been making Inspire(d) Magazine)

INTRO & INFOGRAPHIC BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS

PATIENCE bloom IN

I’ve thought, “How am I not further ahead right now?” It’s a question I can put to my day, my magazine production schedule, and my life in general. It’s always so easy to envision the finished product/goal/dream, etc…if I could JUST snap my fingers, it would be perfect! Ugh. Not being a magic genie is rough.

In the era of social media and the Internet, where likes, loves, and information are instantaneous, it feels hard to wait.

But when I really look back on those 16+ years, I don’t think I would do it any differently.This work has offered a flexibility that almost always allows me to be available for our daughter or other loved ones at the drop of a hat. Sometimes it means I have to stay up until 3 am working (I try not to do that much anymore), or that I’m strapped to my desk on a 60-degree sunny Sunday, but if I’m needed somewhere else by someone important in my life, I am there.

This slow-and-steady pace has also allowed for adjustments as I learn new things about myself. What 26-year-old Aryn created in 2007 has been refined and redesigned by 43-year-old Aryn in 2024. Our lives and plans and dreams sometimes change, and that’s okay. I’ve gotta be patient.

So, then I find some peace. I accept that it’s okay that I don’t currently have a positive news media empire, with Inspire(d) Magazines franchised in every region of the country. That is still the dream, to watch the positive news ripple out across the US, making community-level change that has national impact. But we’ll keep at it. It’s been a pretty amazing journey so far, and we’re setting some really deep roots here, with the knowledge that we’ll continue blooming in our own time.

I hope this issue of Inspire(d) gives you a sense of peace as well. Life is a series of constant cycles. There will be good and bad, progression and regression, but if you keep moving forward, you’re gonna bloom so bright and bold in your very own way, I just know it. And I am here for it!

Thanks for reading, friends. Happy Spring!

XOXO, Aryn

Hone in on what IS in your control

DON’T GIVE UP!

Accept what’s out of your control

If you get tired or fed up:

• Try a meditative breath –four counts in, hold four, four counts out, hold four.

• Reach out to someone you know is good at pep talks.

• Go easy on yourself. You’ve got time.

Practice

Mindfulness Techniques

• Do a body scan, assessing & relaxing each part of your body

• Take a mindful walk. Focus on the different sounds, smells, feels of a spring day.

IN PATIENCEbloom

“ Took me AGES to look like this! ”

Take care of yourself There’s no way you’ll bloom if you don’t fulfill your basic needs.

Let go of comparisions

Waiting helps you see a new perspective. What is this meant to be teaching you? What have you missed in your impatience?

Recognize impatience

It doesn’t matter how long things have been one way, each day is a new opportunity.

Say no to negative self-talk.

What’simportantinthelong run? How doesit affect what’s importanttoday?

Look at the big picture and reorganize your priorities.

Slow & Steady

Start small and stay committed. Don’t worry about the whole marathon. All you need to do is take the first step. And then the next step. And then the next.

This can be towaya reframe your inthoughtspositivea way.

ShowGratitude

Bloom IN

YOUR OWN TIME

BY OLIVIA LYNN SCHNUR

Nature and community come alive in the spring.

There is so much beauty in bloom, the palpable buzz of growth can create an infectious energy of abundance.

Yet, just like no two flowers bloom the same, your growth will not look like that of another. Comparison will only stall your progress. It’s important to remain centered.

To do this, we need to settle into a place of self-awareness, identifying the unique sources of nourishment that allow us to feel most radiant. Then, we can develop a life aligned with those sources. Let this season of your life become less about blooming and more about growing.

THE DANGER OF COMPARISON AND COMPETITION

Life doesn’t come with a roadmap, and it’s easy to get lost on the ever-changing path to what we call “success.” Finances, relationships, work, responsibilities – it can feel impossible to manage it all.

From this perspective, it’s easy to feel like a failure. We look around and think everyone else has figured it out, and falsely believe they’re managing it all with ease. This is the danger of competition and comparison.

Comparison requires that we are better or worse off than someone else. When we view others from this vantage point a natural competition emerges. We need the best job, salary, family, car, house. . . whatever it is, we need it to win. And in highlighting

only our successes, we struggle to express our vulnerabilities. This mentality harms everyone involved and prevents us from truly knowing and being known by others. Zoom out for a moment. Tap into the humanity of it all. Look at the role every person plays. In this way, we can start to see the importance of each individual in the collective. We can view our own success within the context of our community, state, nation, and even world. Each of our contributions matter. We all make an impact, period. We are a piece of the larger whole.

AIM FOR CONTENTMENT

Discontentment thrives off the process of comparison and competition. It’s driven by a feeling of never being good enough. It tells us that to be happy we need to achieve, a belief that only leads to deeper discontent.

Contentment does not come from success. It stems from a practice of gratitude and a feeling of having enough. When all our basic needs are met, we can find contentment in the present moment.

It is easy to find contentment when we are living in alignment with our purpose. We do this when we strike that delicate balance between living in the present while holding a vision of our future. Our enjoyment comes from the process, not the outcome.

VISIONING A PURPOSE

To escape the trap of comparison and competition we need to get clear on our purpose.

Your purpose will call to you like a beacon. Each time you get close you will feel it – in the joy it brings, the warmth it spreads, the impact it makes, or the passion it inspires within you. No one else gets to decide what that is. It might not even be the thing you are best at.

Perhaps, it is something you’ve felt a yearning to cultivate. Maybe it’s something you have not even discovered yet. No matter what it is, it is impossible to miss.

To start aligning with your purpose (even if you’re still finding exactly what that means to you) you need two things: vision and values.

Your vision is an image of your life that inspires you. What lifestyle would allow you to feel the most secure, free, happy, or alive? It’s greater than a goal or acquisitions, and can be both aspirational and realistic, including things you have experienced and things you are working toward. Turn to this vision when you feel hopeless or uninspired.

Your values will guide you like a compass. When you are feeling lost in life, they will provide direction. Just like your purpose, only you can decide what matters most. It could be family, love, responsibility, freedom, leadership, security, or something entirely different. You decide.

Your values can act as an antidote to comparison and competition. When people unintentionally (or intentionally) push their values on you or you find yourself feeling the itch of competition, re-center by reminding yourself what is most important to you. Move forward, holding steady to your own values and vision of success.

HONE IN ON YOUR HABITS

When we start to get clear on what truly matters most to us in life, we need to allow other things to fall away. We all accumulate mindsets, responsibilities, and habits that distract us from our true purpose. These things can stick with us unconsciously, and if we want to make room for things that are more aligned, we need to learn to clear them away.

Of course, we all have some responsibilities we do not enjoy. But not everything we do should feel like a chore. Find a way to derive pleasure and meaning from your responsibilities whenever possible. See the worksheet following this article for ways to align your life with your visions, values, and purpose. And remember, change takes time. Little by little we can realign mindsets, habits, and responsibilities.

BLOOM IN YOUR OWN TIME

Contentment requires an acceptance that we will not always be at our peak. Instead, we might think of life like a cycle. Consider the flower. It begins buried as it germinates. This is when we start to develop our vision. Then, the seed begins to sprout. Yet, that growth remains hidden beneath the surface. Consider that much of your growth in life will remain hidden at first. However, if we are patient some (but not all) of that growth begins to surface.

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As our growth becomes visible, our roots grow stronger. You might think of your values, vision, and purpose like those strong roots.

Just like the flower, we will bloom. We will have periods of outward growth that others will marvel at. It’s important to appreciate moments of being in full bloom while remaining connected to our deep roots (values, vision, and purpose).

Then, there is a natural cycle of death and rebirth. We will accomplish some goals, revisit others, and cut some out completely. This is part of the process. It allows us to reflect, redirect, and begin again. Your growth is perennial.

ACCEPT WHERE YOU ARE

You are exactly who and where you are meant to be. You don’t need to be moving at any other pace. Your timing is exactly right.

Believing in some pre-destined goal or milestone is just another comparison trap. No matter where you are, you have achieved many goals and learned valuable life lessons. You get to take those things with you, and they will propel you on your journey. Those things you are less proud of? You can choose to leave them in the past, but honor that they made you into the person you are today.

We all make mistakes but that does not mean we need to live with regret. Every day is an opportunity for greater growth. Selfacceptance allows you to take what you’ve gained and leave the rest.

If you struggle to practice self-acceptance a therapist can help. They can also help to identify unconscious mindsets, habits, or patterns that hold you back in life, and help as you explore your values, vision, and purpose.

No matter who you are or what you have done, your time to bloom will come. There is always greater growth than what appears on the surface. Perhaps your roots are just buried deep. Nourish them.

Olivia Lynn Schnur is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She is also a certified yoga teacher and reiki master. Olivia’s writing is infused with her mental health and yoga training with the goal to inspire, educate, and uplift others. To learn more, or to book a yoga or reiki session, visit oliviaschnur.com.

Use these writing prompts to help align with your vision, values, and purpose

Start by noticing your thoughts. What mindsets have you adopted from others that do not align with our values? Do you hold beliefs about milestones you need to accomplish by a certain age or timeframe?

Write these down.

Then, cross them out. Next, write down new beliefs more aligned with your values.

Think of a time your purpose, vision, and values felt most aligned. When do you feel most at ease or connected to yourself? What activities energize and inspire you? Which of your accomplishments make you feel most proud?

How can you re-create this alignment moving forward?

What patterns of behavior are keeping you stuck in a rut (watching too much television, mindlessly scrolling social media, comparing yourself to others, etc.)? What behaviors are more aligned with your vision? What actions can you take each day to help you manifest that vision?

Think about the ideal version of your life. What matters most to you? How do you view success? When you feel stuck or lost what or whom do you turn toward? These answers will help you get clear on your values. Get specific. Start to envision the life you most crave.

Check out this fun spring thing: A Picnic at Hidden Springs Peony Farm!

Saturday, June 1, 4 – 7 pm.

Sunday, June 9, 11 am – 2 pm

“Come when you can, stay as you like and leave when you must.” Charcuterie boxes from Hunt + Gather Grazing (no outside food permitted). You may choose one non-alcoholic drink option. If you choose, you may (responsibly) bring your own alcoholic beverage of choice.

Picnic blankets supplied or bring your own.

Closed-toed shoes are recommended.

Service animals are welcome but please leave pets at home. Buy tickets at hiddenspringspeonyfarm.com/upcoming-events

INTO SPRING Fling

Photo courtesy Hidden Springs Peony Farm

BY SARA WALTERS ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALLISON THOMLEY

As we wrap up winter, let’s embrace the new season upon us with a refreshed weekend itinerary. Join the area’s artists, farmers, and fest-goers for fun-filled events, both indoors and out. From its beautifully blooming flora to its lively city streets, the Driftless is ready for exploration! Here are eight cool activities to fling yourself into this spring.

1. PICK PRETTY FLOWERS

Spring means flowers and the Hidden Springs Peony Farm in Spring Grove, Minnesota has flowers aplenty! Pick your own peonies for a bouquet or plan a picnic among them (see left). Peonies aren’t the only plants on the farm, you can also make your own succulent planters, an activity that’s available yearround. hiddenspringspeonyfarm.com

2. SAMPLE MAPLE SYRUP

Spring also means that maple syrup season is upon us. Head to B&E’s Trees, a farm in Cashton, Wisconsin where Embark Maple Syrup is made. An extra cool way to experience the farm is via the Ramp Romp (held this year on Apr 27), a biking adventure through the property. You’ll get to forage, eat, and even camp, if you’d like. bandestrees.com | embarkmaple.com/ farm-events

Green’s Sugar Bush in Castalia, Iowa, is also in the business of maple syrup. Every spring they host a pancake breakfast where you can sample the delicious syrup they’ve been perfecting since 1851. 2024 Maple Festival dates are Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, April 7 – check Greens’ Sugar Bush Facebook for details, and read more about the Greens’ long history of syrup-making in this issue’s Sum of Your Business interview on page 56.

3. EXPLORE A STATE PARK

For example, Wyalusing State Park near Bagley, Wisconsin, is a great spot to get out into the fresh spring air. One of Wisconsin’s oldest and most well-loved state parks, you’ll find no

shortage of fun, including two mountain bike trails, a six-mile canoe trail through the Mississippi River backwaters, a fishing pier, and 14 miles of hiking trails featuring caves, waterfalls, and amazing bluff views.

Come back in late spring or early summer for an astronomy program at the Huser Astronomy Center, which features several high-powered telescopes in an ideal location for observing the night sky. Check your state’s DNR website for listings of State Parks near you.

4. SHOP THE FARMERS MARKETS

Even before the snow melts, you can get your farmers market fix at the Justin Trails Makers Market in Sparta, Wisconsin. This indoor market takes place on Saturdays through March. Sample homemade goods, buy cool decor, and even enjoy breakfast on site at The Lodge. justintrails. com

And in communities across the Driftless, early May marks the month when you can grab your reusable bags and make your way to your local farmers market, where you’ll find an abundance of agricultural goodies grown and produced by your neighbors and friends. Check with your local chamber for farmers market dates and details.

5. CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY

On Sunday, March 17, put on your green attire and head to Waukon, Iowa, for one of the liveliest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Driftless. Go for the parade at 1 pm, and then stick around for the live music and dinner specials at local hangouts. allamakeecounty.com

6. LISTEN TO LOCAL ARTISTS

Experience the eclectic sounds of the area by checking out Midwest Music Fest in Winona, Minnesota May 10-11. Artists like Charlie Parr and The People Brothers Band play different locations around town for two whole days, giving attendees the opportunity to hop around and find their favorite vibes and venues. midwestmusicfest.org

7. STROLL THROUGH THE SHRINE

There’s no better time than spring to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. Nestled in the bluffs, the beautifully landscaped grounds are a great place for a stroll. Admire the flowers, sculptures, and buildings that adorn this world-renowned location. guadalupeshrine.org

8. GET FESTIVE WITH SYTTENDE MAI

The Driftless has a rich Norwegian heritage that’s celebrated each spring in the form of Syttende Mai. This festival takes place on or around May 17th in honor of the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814.

If you’re interested in some delicious Norwegian foods, crafts, and a hunt for trolls, head to Westby, Wisconsin May 18-19 to immerse yourself in the culture. syttendemaiwestby.com

Or join the proud folks of Spring Grove, Minnesota May 1519 for similar festivities, including a 5K adorably dubbed “Running with my Gnomies.”

sgsyttendemai.com

In Decorah, Iowa, the Vesterheim NorwegianAmerican museum celebrates the holiday on May 17 with free admission all day, a Children’s Parade throughout Vesterheim Heritage Park, a performance by Decorah’s Nordic Dancers, hands-on crafts, and more. vesterheim.org/program/syttende-mai-2024

Sara is a mom and writer living in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She has been an Inspire(d) contributor since 2018. Allison Thomley is a junior at Luther College studying Visual Communications and Art. Originally from Madison, WI, she loves listening to music and playing Mario Kart in her free time.

Dani Lind was the owner of Rooted Spoon Culinary/Kitchen Table, a farm-to-table catering business and bar, restaurant, and event space in Viroqua, WI. She lives on an organic pastured beef farm and has extensive gardening, foraging, and food preservation experience. Dani crafts meals from healthy, nourishing whole foods so guests will leave Red Clover feeling better than when they arrived.

In 2009, Annie Coleman bought the 79-acre Soldiers Grove, WI, property that has now become home to Red Clover Ranch, a retreat center and event space in the heart of the Driftless. Annie is the founder of Living Room Realty, a boutique real estate brokerage in Chicago. She is also a musician and a ceramic artist. For the past 16 years, she’s headed a 7-piece honky tonk ensemble, the Golden Horse Ranch Band.

Annie Coleman –Owner/Head Wrangler

Dani Lind – Head Chef/Kitchen Queen

The Red Clover Ranch property has some spectacular sunset and sunrise views. Left, Chef Dani Lind creates dishes almost too beautiful to eat. / Photos courtesy Red Clover Ranch

Photo by Jim Klousia

RED CLOVER RANCH

Nurturing Community, Creativity, & Connection in the Driftless

BY LYNSEY D. MORITZ

Annie Coleman never forgot the summers she spent growing up at her grandparents’ Golden Horse Ranch resort in Westfield, Wisconsin.

Situated about 60 miles north of Madison, the ranch hosted guests for a full week. Days were filled with horseback riding, archery, and boat races, with evenings saved for square dancing and campfire songs. “It was a very community- and family-oriented experience. There were fourth and fifth generation families that had been coming since the late 1940s and early 50s,” says Annie, who currently splits her time between Chicago and the Driftless. “It was a really special place.”

The closure of Golden Horse Ranch in the 90s was heartbreaking for the guests, Annie, and her family. “I always had in the back of my mind that it was something I wanted to recreate. At first, I wanted to rebuild the exact same place. But, as time goes on and you live your life, you become more developed as an adult and human… the idea shifted and changed.”

The first step in turning her dream into a reality was finding the perfect location. After years of searching Annie finally found it: 79 acres of land near Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.

The Golden Horse Ranch, based in Westfield, WI, was Annie’s grandparents’ resort, where she spent her summers as a kid. It closed in the 90s, but was the inspiration for Annie’s retreat center in Soldiers Grove, WI: Red Clover Ranch. / Photos courtesy Red Clover Ranch

“I was living in New York City and I drove up to upstate New York. I thought, ‘If this was just in the Midwest this would be a dream!’ When I moved back to Chicago, I started searching – I would look in Michigan and Indiana. But I wasn’t looking in Wisconsin because I thought I knew Wisconsin,” Annie says. “I remembered my grandmother saying that the artists lived over in the west part of the state. So, I went over to visit western Wisconsin which, of course, is a part of the Driftless area. I immediately fell in love!”

Annie purchased the property in 2009, but it would be years before Red Clover Ranch would open for guests as a retreat center and event space. They officially started construction in 2020 and hosted their first season in 2023.

“It still took me quite a while to figure out what it was exactly I wanted to do, position myself to be able to do it, and finally, to face the fear of taking on the task,” Annie says. “I always felt compelled to create some sort of retreat center – sharing our space with other people and showing them how beautiful it is to be close to nature. That was one of the experiences that my family’s ranch provided. It’s really powerful.”

Inspiration for the name was rooted in Annie’s memories of the Golden Horse Ranch, where her grandparents, who were both blind, bonded over their creative outof-the box thinking and the joyful freedom of horseback-riding. The beloved horses at the ranch grazed in red clover pastures and her grandparents’ initials are both RC: Robert and Ruth Coleman.

RE-HABBED VINTAGE FURNITURE, HANDMADE HOME DÉCOR, MIDWEST-INSPIRED CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

The cabins and bunkhouse provide lodging for up to 19 guests. The Japanese- and Scandinavian-inspired shared bathhouse features an outdoor shower and sauna. / Photos by Marta Sasinowska

“It was a seed that was planted so long ago. When the ranch closed, I took a bunch of pictures of the red clover as a reminder,” Annie says. “I also discovered red clover is such a wonderful medicinal herb. Now that the name has been out there, people are like, ‘do you know red clover is really good for hormones? Red clover is really good for this! Red clover is really good for that!’”

BUILDING RED CLOVER RANCH

Of course, building this creative space in the Driftless would take more than just a little bit of magic. Annie laughs as she reflects on the sheer number of obstacles she encountered along the way.

“I think a lot of people have dreams of doing something like this. And any dream that you have is challenging – especially when you’re creating something new,” Annie says. “Financing was challenging. Construction was challenging. Making all the decisions was challenging. Keeping my enthusiasm up and figuring out how to make it all happen while also working a full-time job was challenging. But, you know, things that are worth doing are really challenging!”

Her goal was to create a place that honors and protects the land, fostering a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. During construction, they had to clear some planted pine trees. A neighbor milled the trees so Red Clover could repurpose them for siding on cabins and the bathhouse that were built in that same area. And the old barn on the property was lovingly restored to become a spacious yet intimate event space for up to 75 guests, with a full-commercial kitchen, a brick oven, a bar, a screened-in porch, and two spaces for gathering.

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The Japanese- and Scandinavian-inspired shared bathhouse features an outdoor shower and sauna, as well as a screened-in porch with a summer kitchen and lounge area – the perfect place to sip a coffee or watch a sunset.

“The Driftless Region is endlessly unique, making our valley and ridge tops one-of-a-kind. We created our buildings to be in harmony with the land, with a balanced mix of rustic and modern amenities,” Annie says. Red Clover Ranch runs operations on 97 percent electric, using very little gas, with the hope to move away from dependence on fossil fuels and convert to solar-powered energy in the future.

THE RED CLOVER RANCH EXPERIENCE

Folks can come to Red Clover Ranch for a variety of holistic health, creative, and nature based Driftless experiences, like yoga retreats,

Chef Dani Lind at work, making meals like this amazing spread above./ Photos by Meagan Shuptar

biking, business, art, or writing workshops, and more. They also offer collaborative dinners with guest chefs, dance parties with live bands, company offsite events, and a few weddings, too!

In addition to all of this, people can simply come for the “Weekend at the Ranch” cabin package, inspired by Annie’s grandparents’ week-long stay at Golden Horse Ranch. The Red Clover Ranch team provides meals and some onsite activities, a list of fun things to do in the area, or guests can simply spend their day hanging on the screened-in porch, playing games, taking naps, picnicking in the high pasture, sitting in the sauna, making a campfire, or hiking on trails.

One of the main goals of any Red Clover Ranch events is to highlight the many talented farmers, makers, and artists in the area.

The kitchen and food program at The Ranch is run by local chef Dani Lind of Rooted Spoon Kitchen and Table. Dani is an expert in local and seasonal farm-to-table cuisine – committed to sourcing at least 75 percent of her ingredients from nearby farmers and producers.

“Dani has formed really great relationships with these farmers. It is incredible to have this connection and network, because it is so inspiring for guests when we can say, ‘almost everything on this table is local!’” Annie says. They also strive to use Wisconsin-made beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. “The fact that we have access to that level of expertise and industry in this area – it blows peoples’ minds!”

“And Dani’s food is just so memorable,” Annie continues. “She is such a treasure to the Driftless Region and to Red Clover Ranch.”

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The screened-in porch has a summer kitchen and lounge area – the perfect place to sip a coffee or watch a sunset.

/ Photo courtesy Red Clover Ranch

Helm Helm

FIRST YEAR REFLECTIONS AND FAITH IN THE FUTURE

After a year of welcoming guests to Red Clover Ranch to form unique and lasting relationships with not only one another, but also with the environment around them, Annie expresses gratitude for all the help she got along the way. And she realizes sometimes you just have to jump in and have faith.

“Faith in yourself. Faith in your belief system. Faith in making it all happen and getting to the end. It truly takes an act of faith to believe in your idea and build on it… You really have to stoke that faith – it is powerful,” says Annie. “You don’t know if anyone is going to believe in it or show up and then you have all these wonderful people not only show up, but also bring their talents, their kindness, and their support. I would not have gotten this done alone. I really would have run out of steam if I didn’t have all of these amazing friends from Wisconsin and Chicago pushing me forward – they knew how exhausted I was. I have a really deep sense of gratitude for them.”

As they move into their second season, Annie reflects on one of her favorite experiences of their first year – a memorable night featuring one of her favorite bands: “There was this moment as the music started fading out, you could hear the frogs, an owl hooted, and we started hearing the nature surrounding us. I get shivers just thinking about it again,” Annie says. “Community, creativity, and nature. I think those three things together create a certain kind of magic.”

Lynsey D. Moritz is a Decorah, Iowa native who has planted roots in rural Southwest Wisconsin. She is a graphic designer, freelance writer, and budding herbalist. Lynsey enjoys learning traditional skills, adventuring with her husband, and being a part of this inspiring Driftless community! lindenfern.com - Instagram: @LindenFern

Red Clover Ranch offers a variety of fun and creative retreats. / Photo by Meagan Shuptar / Right: The old barn on the property was restored to become an event space for up to 75 guests./ Photo by Marta Sasinowska

The Greens have a good crew of family members and friends who help with sap and syrup season each spring at Greens’ Sugarbush in Castalia, Iowa.

/ Photo courtesy Greens’ Sugarbush

For many families in the area, it’s not spring without a trip to the annual Maple Festival at Greens’ Sugarbush in rural Northeast Iowa.

Gideon Green was the first generation to arrive in Iowa in 1850, settling his family by the Yellow River in the Bloomfield Township of Winneshiek County, near present-day Castalia.

Many years and five generations later, Dale Green and his wife Karen maintained the land and home as they built up Spring Valley Farms, running a bull breeding operation and beef cattle farm. And across the gravel road sits a vast grove of maple trees that the Greens tap for sap every spring, carrying on a tradition that began in 1851 – just one year after Gideon Green decided to call Northeast Iowa home –making it the oldest continually operational business in Iowa.

Starting each February, the family rallies together to pull sap from roughly 1,100 maple trees, collecting it in underground cisterns to await the cookhouse. When things are in full production mode, the evaporator is running every day, boiling sap into syrup, sugar, or candy.

And then, ever since 1991, Greens’ Sugarbush hosts the Maple Festival, inviting folks out to welcome in the new season and fresh syrup. It is an outdoor event, rain or shine (or snow – eek), always held the last Sunday in March and the first Sunday in April (unless Easter falls on one of those Sundays, like it does this year). 2024 Maple Festival dates are Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, April 7.

They’ve learned a lot since then, fine-tuning table placement and the number of grills needed for the roughly 2000 people (give or take, weather-depending) who come out over the course of those two days to enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, applesauce, and drinks. And of course, real maple syrup. (Hot tip: You can bring your own container to buy bulk syrup for home, although they have pre-packaged options available as well).

From the start, Dale and Karen taught their five daughters – Jody, Lori, Stacy, Jeni, and Wendy – the business of tapping and processing maple syrup. And in 2021, Jeni (daughter number four) took over as leader of the Greens’ Sugarbush sap operation, along with her husband, Tom Melcher, and son, John.

The Melcher family has a dairy farm just south of the Sugarbush. It’s situated on land where Jeni’s great, great, great grandfather, Steven Allen, homesteaded and is across the road from the farm where Jeni grew up and her parents still live. Jeni and Tom do most of the Spring Valley Farms field work and help care for the small herd of beef cows still on site as Dale and Karen ease into retirement,

“When we first started the pancake breakfast, we put up a big tent on the hillside above the evaporator building and used only one grill to make the pancakes,” says Jeni (Green) Melcher. “The picnic tables did not set level, so it was advantageous to sit on the uphill side just in case something got spilled.”

www.davekelly.com

It’s a retirement well-earned. In addition to regular farm work, Dale and Karen have worked hard to create a legacy for generations to come in the form of conservation efforts on their land. In 2003 Dale Green received the National Cattlemen’s Association’s Region III Environmental Stewardship award, and in 2016 the State of Iowa Conservation Farmer of the year for his efforts to prevent run-off from the livestock operation reaching the Yellow River. They planted nearly 9,000 trees along the river, fenced off the waterway to keep his cattle away from it, and installed roughly a mile of stream bank stabilization.

Thinking about the future of the land and how it will suit the next generation is how legacies like the Greens’ are built.

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The Greens have been making pancakes for the Maple Festival since they started the event in 1991. / Photo courtesy Greens’ Sugarbush

Name: Jeni and Tom Melcher, John (14-year-old)

Age: 48

Business: Greens Sugarbush

Year Business Established: 1851

Business address: 1411 111th Ave, Castalia, IA 52133

Website: Facebook page Greens’ Sugar Bush

1. Tell us about the “leap” moment. When did you decide to take the reins on the family business?

My family has been making maple syrup in Iowa since 1851; I am the sixth generation to do so. After 173 years you hate to be the one that says, “Maybe not this year.” My parents were getting older, and it just seemed like the time to take over. This business is truly a family tradition. I have four sisters that all help, I am just the one that is in charge.

2. What’s the best thing about being your own boss?

The best part is getting to carry on the tradition.

3. How about the worst?

The worst part is knowing that you are responsible for everything, there are days that you doubt the decisions that are made and wonder if after all these years you will be the one that does not succeed.

Jeni, Tom, & John Melcher / Photo courtesy Greens’ Sugarbush

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When things are in full production mode, the evaporator at Greens’ Sugarbush is running every day, boiling sap into syrup, sugar, or candy. / Photo courtesy Greens’ Sugarbush

4. How do you manage your life/ work balance?

The making of the maple syrup only last about two months. We sell syrup the rest of the year. The hardest part is that we are dependent on the weather. The season normally starts in early March and lasts until Mid-April. There will be times that we are working at the sugarbush every day and then there will be a cold or warm snap and we won’t have anything to do for a whole week. We are dairy farmers in real life so there are always chores to be done no matter what. We rely on family members to help out so that everything gets done.

5. What’s something you look forward to each year when it’s time to harvest syrup?

The best part of the season is the “smell”. When we are making maple sugar candy the syrup gets to boil in a pot for about an hour. Just sitting watching the syrup boil and smelling it is the best. Second best is eating the warm maple sugar. I also love telling people our story. Every family

has a unique history, ours just maybe a little sweeter than some. Just like I am the sixth generation to make the syrup, there are generations of people that have been coming to buy the syrup and that is a very special thing.

6. Is there something you don’t look forward to as well?

We have a saying about the syrup season – “We dread it coming, the middle of the season is kind of fun, then you can’t wait for it to be done.” When the temperatures start to warm in the spring we know that the syrup season and all the work that goes into it is almost here, then once the trees are tapped, help has been found and everything is up and going it is fun.

As I said before, we are dairy farmers. Those chores still need to be done every day, as the spring moves along there is field work that needs to be done, about that time the syrup season gets wrapped up, so we move on to the next thing. There is no way we could carry on the tradition without our family members and some good friends.

Syrup boils in a pot for about an hour to become maple sugar candy.

/ Photo courtesy Greens’ Sugarbush

7. Do you see the Greens’ family tradition of syrup-making continuing into the future?

The world around us is continuously changing, but some things still stay the same. This year is shaping up to be a challenge. The February weather says it is time to make syrup, but the calendar says to wait a couple more weeks. But my husband and I will go out and tap the trees, signaling the start of yet another season. I am confident that we will gather sap at least once and boil it down to syrup and the tradition that my family started so many years ago will have continued. Will it be a great year, nobody knows, but that almost does not matter. Carrying on the tradition is more important. The older trees in the timber have literally been tapped by generations of my family, but there are getting to be fewer and fewer of them. Just like the next generation of Greens is learning how to make syrup, the next generation of trees is slowly growing along with them to hopefully be ready to take the older generations place when the time comes, but nothing in the world is guaranteed.

The fire needs to be stoked constantly in peak syrup season. Below, maple sugar candy ready to be tasted.

/ Photos courtesy Greens’ Sugarbush

GET OUT IN IT THIS SPRING! SUPPORT OUR REGIONAL ADVERTISERS & THESE FANTASTIC EVENTS:

March 7: Luther Center Stage Series - Ten Thing Brass Ensemble

March 8-9: Luther Theatre & Dance - “Cabaret”

March 15: La Crosse Community Theatre opens “The Odd Couple”

March 17: Waukon St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Celebration

March 30: Cresco Opera House

– Tribute to Johnny Cash & June Carter

April 5-6: Decorah Women’s Weekend Out April 5-6

April 6: Commonweal Theatre opens “Ugly Lies The Bone”

April 11-13: Luther Theatre & Dance - Stupid F*ing Bird

April 14: Cresco Opera House - Root River Jam

April 19: La Crosse Community Theatre opens “A Doll’s House, Pt. 2”

April 23: Luther Center Stage Series - Small Island, Big Song

April 25-28: Bluff Country Studio Art Tour

May 2-4: Luther Theatre & Dance - Soul of Soil

May 3: La Crosse Community Theatre opens “Bright Star”

May 4: Farmers Markets open across the region!

May 4: Cresco Opera House - Joseph Hall Elvis Tribute

May 10-11: Midwest Music Fest - Winona, MN

May 17: Syttende Mai!

May 18: MN Marine Art Museum

– “Fluid: What is Marine Art, and What Can it be?”

May 18: Commonweal Theatre opens “The Outsider”

May 16-19: Bluff Country Gathering - Lanesboro

May 24-25: La Crosse Community Theatre

– “The Enduring Families Project”

SPIDERS: A WEB OF INTRIGUE

BY CRAIG THOMPSON • ARTWORK BY MARY THOMPSON

“There came a big spider And sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away...”

English nursery rhyme, ca. 1805

The announcement was ignored by mainstream media. In December 2023, a tiny spider, lost to the world for almost 100 years and feared extinct, had been found. Acting on historical records, a team of spider experts assembled in northern Portugal and scoured the floor of a forest that had been protected from clear cutting and forest fires for hundreds of years. Their holy grail was Fagilde’s Trapdoor Spider, an unassuming, earth-toned spider that lives underground and tap dances to attract mates. Its rediscovery thrust the sleepy village of Fagilde, population 397, into the conservation limelight. Suddenly, an oft maligned species sparked small-town pride, shining the spotlight on efforts to protect nature.

Usually cast as villains by Hollywood – think Tarantula! and Arachnophobia – spiders have had a bad rap throughout history. Perhaps it’s the fangs, or the four sets of eyes. All those spindly legs don’t help. And who hasn’t popped their cork after finding a spider crawling slowly up their arm? Our web weaving friends have been the fodder of nightmares since the dawn of man. Despite sinister appearances, the stigma is undeserved. They are, in fact, amazing.

Fifty-one thousand species of spiders have been identified. Found on every continent except Antarctica, they come in an endless variety of wild shapes and designer colors. The tiniest, known only by its scientific moniker, Patu digua, is smaller than the head of a pin and dwells in the rain-drenched forests of central Colombia.

Decorah

The largest, the Goliath birdeater, would send Little Miss Muffet to the emergency room. It weighs as much as a cup of chocolate chips and prowls the forests of northern South America on eight hairy legs that can straddle a dinner plate. Jumping spiders take the prize for best in show. Australia’s gaudy peacock spider, named for a rainbow of eye dazzling iridescence, could give Elton John a run for the title of “Most Flamboyant.”

Indeed, misconceptions abound. Spiders are not insects. They are arachnids, a group of invertebrates that also includes scorpions, ticks, and mites. Anatomical differences are easily remembered as a function of numbers. Insects have three body segments, spiders have two. Insects have six legs, spiders have eight. And the clincher – insects have two antennae. Spiders live an antennae free existence.

Pound for pound, spider silk is stronger than steel. Used by spiders to ensnare prey, inventive scientists have created numerous products from spider silk, including medical bandages, violin strings, and bullet proof clothing.

Their ability to spin silk is signature. Produced by abominable glands, spider silk is a marvel of nature. Webs are architectural wonders. The Darwin’s bark spider, discovered in a Madagascan national park in 2009, builds webs over rivers. One particularly industrious individual spun a masterpiece spanning more than 80 feet, the largest on record. Time to put away the kayak.

As predators, spiders are essential for healthy ecosystems. They eat a staggering number of insects annually, many considered pests. By doing so, they help keep things in balance. You can’t have a better helper in your garden.

Across the Atlantic, Fagilde residents are celebrating the rediscovery. Children previously frightened by spiders are now reporting new sightings. A local bakery created Fagilde Trapdoor Spider Cupcakes to honor their smallest, most famous resident. And the entire community, inspired by a humble spider, has rekindled a reverence for nature.

Mary and Craig Thompson live in the bluffs north of La Crosse, WI. Mary is a certified spider whisperer. Craig cannot muster the fortitude to touch a spider. However, he does not charge them rent for living in the basement.

ARTWORK BY MARY THOMPSON

Anni Weilgart, 100, grew up in Berlin, Germany, experiencing WWII as a teenager. She lived in Decorah from 1963 to 2010 and taught German at Luther College. My father, W. John Weilgart, was a professor of psychology there. My mother now lives with my sister and brother-in-law, who look after her wonderfully in Washington State. I have always admired my mom for her socialness, adaptability, ability to get along with everyone, practicality (where my dad, the typical brilliant, but absent-minded, chaotic professor, was useless in that regard), her frugality, her physical activity, her respect for education, but above all, for her generosity of spirit and willingness to always be there for her family. She adored us children. I can speak to her for hours on end over Skype, as she is a wonderful listener, always interested and supportive. She is also a phenomenal role model, still walking one mile every day on the treadmill at a fast pace (25 mins.), despite breaking her hip two years ago. Although blind, she has fewer ailments and healthier blood values than all of us. I can’t even contemplate the idea that she won’t always be with us.

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Love is something you can never give away. The more you give it away, the more it comes back to you. One saying we had: If you want to be happy in life, contribute to the happiness of others because the happiness you give will come back into your own heart. I found that to be true. If you give friendliness and help to your friends and neighbors, you’ll get the same back. I think I never had a bad experience that way.

How about the worst? My mother used to drill into me: children have to be obedient. But she never told me when I was finally allowed to make my own decisions, how old you had to be when you finally get to think for yourself and can decide to obey or not.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I did not have a clear goal. The circumstances of the time maneuvered me into the teaching profession. It was the best decision I ever made. It was a necessity of the time during WWII. Everyone had to do some kind of service to the country before you went into higher education. But teachers were urgently needed so the qualifications were waived. That was appealing to me, so I didn’t have to work on a farm, milk cows, etc. You could start right away.

I got into a smaller village that had only two classrooms: Grades 1-4 & 5-8. I was assigned Grades 1-4 in one classroom. I had different assignments for each grade, always switching between them. I had to plan it so they all had time with me, written assignments, etc. I had a certain knack for talking to children, so they listened and trusted me. I had a good relationship with them. The kids were friendly and eager to learn.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?

Books, writing material, companion.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence. I am interested in many things, have travelled widely, mainly through my kids, and am able to adapt well to many situations.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Soup and fried potatoes and egg with onions.

Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this page? Let us know!

aryn@iloveinspired.com

Name one thing you could not live without. My children and contact with them.

Tell us more about your first job. I was worried about my first job because I was assigned to teach at a small, isolated country school in an area in Bavaria that was totally Catholic. Since I wasn’t Catholic, I was worried I wouldn’t be accepted. I also came from Berlin, and in southern Germany, they didn’t like Berliners and northern Germans, because they gave them unasked for advice and talked a lot. My fears turned out to be unfounded because very soon, they were very kind to me and respectful. They gave me a lot of credit and thought I was capable, even though I wasn’t really. They thought as someone from the nation’s capital, I must know a lot. One mother asked for piano lessons for her kids. I didn’t really play but it was assumed I knew everything, so I had to give lessons on the few things I knew. The teenagers or young adults in their early twenties also asked for dance lessons, so I taught them. This was after the war when everything was chaotic. Finally, the minister of education decided that Catholic teachers should teach Catholic kids, and Lutheran teachers should teach Lutheran kids, so I was transferred to another small farming village in Bavaria. It was where I met my husband who, as a psychologist, was studying school children.

Top: Anni on her 90th birthday.

Bottom: Anni’s confirmation in 1939.