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LIFESTYLE LETTER
JANUARY 2021 PUBLISHER
John Lee | john.lee@lifestylepubs.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
... and a Happy New Year! HELLO EDEN PRAIRIE LIFESTYLE READERS,
David Scheller | david.scheller@lifestylepubs.com AD DESIGNER
Whitney Lockhart L AYO UT DESIGNER
Dani Moore
Now that the presents have all been opened and the Champagne corks have all been popped, it is easy to settle into a post-holiday funk. That’s why I hope this
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Bill Scheller
edition of Eden Prairie Lifestyle will put a smile back on your face! In this issue we are honored to feature Quasi the Great. We could not get an interview with Quasi because he is a dog and does not speak English, but his keeper and the good people of Secondhand Hounds of Minnetonka have graciously bridged the language gap. What could serve a Minnesotan mired in January better than a comfy quilt? Mary Alsop of Prairie Quilting is inclined to agree, and she’s standing by right here in Eden Prairie. So long as you’re buried beneath that quilt, you might as well read Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow, a collection of sci-fi and fantasy short stories by local author Kevin Kuhn. And if you’re feeling sentimental, our magazine’s own Bill Scheller has a lovely little reminiscence about his childhood in New Jersey for you. If you need any more cheering up after that, you don’t even have to be able to read
CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore
to enjoy our feature on Lori Dozier. The brilliant local photographer specializes in
ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor
newborns – undoubtedly the best photography subjects in the world!
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson
As always, I would like to thank all of Eden Prairie Lifestyle’s sponsors, without
REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams
AD MANAGER Chad Jensen
whose generous support we could not mail our magazine directly to our readers’
WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell
homes. I always welcome any feedback or interest you may have in appearing on our magazine’s pages! Best regards, 514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO
John Lee, Publisher
ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | CONNECTICUT | FLORIDA | GEORGIA IDAHO | ILLINOIS | KANSAS | MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | MICHIGAN MINNESOTA | MISSOURI | MONTANA | NEW JERSEY | NORTH CAROLINA OHIO | OKLAHOMA | OREGON | PENNSYLVANIA | SOUTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON
ON THE COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS STRAND, THOMAS STRAND STUDIO 4
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
Proverbs 3:5-6 Eden Prairie Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Eden Prairie area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Eden Prairie Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.
WWW.TAVERN4AND5.COM
INSIDE THE ISSUE JANUARY 2021
FEATURES 10 Prairie Quilting Offering Access to the Art of Quilting to Anyone Who Can Sew!
12 Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow Mysterious New Stories from the Mind of Kevin A. Kuhn
18 Newborn Photography With Lori Dozier An Expert’s Advice on Capturing Life’s Most Precious Moments
30 12
30 Quasi the Great Minnesota’s Most Famous Rescue
10
18 DEPARTMENTS 4
Lifestyle Letter
8
Good Times
10
Locally Owned
12
Page Turners
18
Artist’s Palette
24 Times Past 30 Animal Kingdom
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7
GOOD TIMES
The Ice Harvest Festival at Richardson Nature Center On January 23rd the Richardson Nature Center is holding their annual Ice Harvest Festival in Bloomington! Learn how Minnesotans got along without refrigerators as you cut blocks of ice out of a pond with an old-fashioned ice saw, pull an antique ice plow, weigh blocks of ice, and try other ice-harvesting tools. Go have an ice time! threeriversparks.org
O r d e r O n l i n e @ S av o y P i z z a . c o m e d e n p rai r i e: 9 52 - 944 -3020 THANK YOU
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Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
PROMO CODE: 5OFF30 ONLINE ONLY • ONLY VALID ON FIRST ORDER
GRANDMASTER STEVE LEE SWIFT IP MAN lineage as seen in the movies
The World’s Fastest, Most Practical Self Defense System 6566 EdenVale Blvd. Eden Prairie, MN 55346 952-405-8842 (office) » GrandMasterSwingChun.com 813-928-5386 (cell) » Steveleeswift@verizon.net
The Mustard Seed Family Fall Festival The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Center hosted their Fall Family Festival on October 17th to bring the community together in a COVID-19 safe environment. Wholesome entertainment included pumpkin painting, candy corn ringtoss, and the Hasse Family Mobile Petting Zoo. Good eats were provided by Pigs Unlimited, Lady A's Cupcakes, and Akerberg Acres. Goats + donuts = good times! themustardseedinc.com
Real Estate Advice Back to Basics: Are you considering a sale next Spring? Pilar Fairchild- Realtor, MEd pilarfairchild@edinarealty.com 952-207-1406 Ken Robinson- Realtor, PSA kenrobinson@edinarealty.com 952-207-1406
Seek the advice of your trusted Real Estate experts before embarking upon expensive upgrades. Don't "over-personalize" improvements when preparing for the market. Focus on the future, pack away the past, and do a deep cleaning while you're at it!
Call Ken and Pilar! CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
9
LOCALLY OWNED
PRAIRIE QUILTING
OFFERING ACCESS TO THE ART OF QUILTING TO ANYONE WHO CAN SEW!
IMAGINE THE DIN AND THE CHAOS WHICH MUST GO
“I was once told by a friend that I would have to enter my
HAND IN HAND WITH RAISING FOUR YOUNG BOYS.
work in quilting competitions if I ever wanted to succeed in
Mary Alsop of Eden Prairie doesn’t have to. That is why 30
business. The Minnesota Quilt Show and the state fair have
years ago the young mother sprang at the opportunity to join
the largest local competitions, and I’ve participated in both
her church’s quilting group – it came with free childcare. Mary
since 2014. I was on pins and needles the very first time, and
admits the group could have been devoted to anything so
a little intimidated to walk around and see what all the other
long as it offered a moment’s peace.
competitors had entered. But I also felt pride to get recognized
As her sons colored in drawings of Daniel in the lion’s den
by the judges. It helped me appreciate that I can offer people
and David preparing to battle Goliath, Mary fell in love with
something valuable, and that I deserve their trust when they
quilting. She cut her teeth by strip piecing quilts to give to the
ask me to quilt their quilts.”
less fortunate, and thus hooked began quilting back at home
Mary founded Prairie Quilting in 2013. With her decades of
as well. Her very first creations were nothing special. One little
experience and industrial longarm sewing machine she now
quilt she made for her newborn nephew, she admits, is the
brings her clients’ sewing projects to life as beautiful quilts.
ugliest thing she has ever created. Yet her newfound passion for quilting drove Mary onward.
“People come to me from all over the state of Minnesota for help creating quilts to give as gifts or to mark important occasions.
“It’s a very creative outlet,” said Mary. “It’s almost like
My clients provide the quilt tops that they have sewn together
drawing with thread. Quilting allows you to bring any idea
themselves, and I add the quilting that complements their piecing.
you might have to life. It can be something in nature, in
“T-shirt quilts are especially popular presents for high
architecture, even a simple shape which you can build on.
school seniors getting ready to go off to college. For one of
A great quilt stirs a response in the viewer, leading their eye
those the grad’s mother or grandmother cuts up their old
from one point to the next.
shirts into squares, sews them together, and gives the top to
“Quilts also mean a lot to the people who receive them as gifts. Each one is a unique piece of art, but it also provides
me to turn into a very personalized quilt. I’ve quilted similar quilts made with late family members’ old shirts as well.
comfort. The club I now belong to makes quilts to give to
“I offer quilters edge-to-edge and custom quilting for their
women in battered shelters, and to police so they can drape
pieced or appliqued quilt tops. I work closely with my clients to
them over children on their worst days.
choose quilting designs that will compliment their finished project.” Prairie Quilting offers access to the art of quilting to anyone who can put together a quilt top. If you would like to engage Eden Prairie’s resident quilting expert for help finishing a comfort quilt, heirloom quilt, or show quilt, then you need only visit
ARTICLE DAVID SCHELLER
10
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
prairie-quiltingmn.com.
Mary Alsop
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
11
ARTICLE DAVID SCHELLER
PAGE TURNERS
T E N TA L E S OF A DA R K T O M OR ROW 12
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
MYSTERIOUS NEW STORIES FROM THE MIND OF KEVIN A. KUHN
GREAT FICTION DOES NOT DEMAND FANTASTICAL ELEMENTS. In some cases they would only detract from it. Had the Joad family encountered a horde of chupacabras, or Captain Ahab obsessed over harpooning Cthulhu, or Bertie and Jeeves accidentally entered a time vortex en route to Blandings Castle, then the reader might rightly scratch their head and think “huh.” Yet great fiction and fantasy are not mutually exclusive. Certain adventures can only take place on Vonnegut’s hocus-pocus Tralfamadore or in Tolkien’s shadowy Mordor, and the world would be a far poorer place without some record of mankind’s reactions to the impossible. Kevin A. Kuhn of Eden Prairie has made a fine contribution to that record with Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow, his second published book. His style of writing is frank yet vivid. He practices a certain delicacy as he coaxes his reader toward often unsettling conclusions – like a kind stranger you might meet in the woods, who lures you closer with honey sweet words despite very obviously hiding one hand behind his back.
CONTINUED >
Kevin Kuhn CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
13
PAGE TURNERS (CONTINUED)
“Science fiction is the literature of ideas,” said Kevin. “It allows us to explore themes which are inaccessible without moving past our present reality – however dystopian our present reality might be. I’m perfectly happy to be called a sci-fi writer, and I’m thrilled to have been accepted into their ranks, but I’d better describe what I write as speculative fiction. “Some of my stories aren’t sci-fi at all. A story in which boys discover riding their bikes makes time stand still, or an heirloom causes a woman to gain her grandmother’s memories, is better classified as magical realism. As an author I’m interested in any theme which can’t exist without something supernatural happening. “As a technologist I’m amazed by how quickly the world is progressing. We went from the first powered flight to the moon landing in less than 70 years, and we’re still showing no signs of slowing down. Fusion power is coming closer to fruition every day, and our understanding of quantum mechanics is advancing so rapidly it’s almost frightening. I set out to explore the implications of technology before we experience them firsthand. “I’m not a ‘hard’ science fiction writer by any means. I do try to be as accurate as I can, but I’m ultimately more interested in the soul than I am in predicting the future. “I first became interested in my genre the same way I imagine a lot of other people have – by watching The Twilight Zone. I still get chills whenever I hear that eerie theme song. When I was younger I also read a lot of Heinlein, Asimov and Bradbury, none of whom I would ever disservice by comparing myself to. I’m also a great fan of Stephen King. People tend to think of him more as a horror author, which he certainly is, although he has a keen ability to make the paranormal seem believable.
14
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
“It seems I’m not the only one who embraced sci-fi. It was always kind of a niche genre while I
intelligence when you appreciate how far computers have come – and how quickly.”
was growing up, but it’s only becoming more main-
It is very possible that computers will one day enslave
stream these days. I am happy to see more and
us all. Maybe it will play out like in The Matrix, where
more people falling in love with the literature of
robots farm human bodies for electricity so they can
ideas, but we’re so awash in content right now that
make toaster waffles. Maybe it will be even worse, like
it’s hard to keep up! And I suppose I’m contributing
Ellison’s I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream in which a
to it, in my own small way...
computer torments the world’s few remaining humans
“Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow is an anthology
out of sheer spite. Or maybe, heaven forbid, computers
of short stories. Some of them came to me in my
will begin to offer so mind-numbing a torrent of distrac-
dreams. I had to race to my desk as soon as I woke
tions that we all turn into amorphous boors.
up to write down as much as I could, and I filled
You may as well take advantage of your computer
in the blanks later. Others began with sparks of
before the roles are reversed. Use it to order your
ideas that I had while teaching information tech-
own copy of the award-winning Ten Tales of a Dark
nology. It’s hard not to imagine a runaway artificial
Tomorrow on Amazon and support a great local author. CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
15
Opening Late 2021
FLAGSTONE
Artist’s Rendering
Eden Prairie’s newest senior living community will offer features designed for your maintenance-free, urban lifestyle. With contemporary interiors, a variety of campus amenities, plus easy access to shopping and outdoor activities, Flagstone has everything you’ll need. Call Shelsie today to learn more!
Information Office: (Next to Punch Pizza) 8353 Crystal View Road Suite 203 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-942-2155
All faiths welcome. Equal housing opportunity. © 2020 Presbyterian Homes & Services.
Senior Apartments • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Care Center FlagstonePHS.org | 952-942-2155
We will be closed for our winter break January 1 st thru January 17 th
n January 18 WE WILl REOPEN o
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Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
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17
ARTIST’S PALETTE
NEWBORN p h o t o g r a p hy
WITH
lori dozier
AN EXPERT’S ADVICE ON CAPTURING LIFE’S MOST PRECIOUS MOMENTS
ARTICLE DAVID SCHELLER PHOTOGRAPHY LORI DOZIER
18
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
19
ARTIST’S PALETTE (CONTINUED)
newborn
Lori Dozier and Family Photo Credit: Erin Blair Photography
THE AVERAGE PERSON WILL USE THEIR CAMERA
“Moving to Minnesota reawakened my love for pho-
PHONE TO IMMORTALIZE MUNDANE THINGS:
tography for two reasons. I hope no one back in Texas
SUNSETS, NIGHTS OUT WITH FRIENDS, AN ESPE-
will take offense when I say the landscape here is so
CIALLY CHUBBY SQUIRREL SPOTTED IN THE
much prettier. Big ugly pines just don’t compare to
PARK. Many people post photos of everything they eat
Minnesota’s fall foliage, and the lakes and water are
to Instagram. It is very selfless of them to do so – there
gorgeous. But Minnesota was also where I had my first
would be chaos if we had no way of knowing who ate a
baby Anabel in 2010, and then Eleanor in 2011.
fruit and yogurt parfait for lunch.
“Having recently resigned from my job as a speech
The purpose of photography changes drastically for
therapist to stay home with my daughters, I was looking
anyone who has had a child. You would ideally take so
for something creative to do between diaper changes. I
many photos of your baby that you could stack them
started taking photos of friends’ newborns, which led to
like a flipbook to watch the tot advance through their
referrals to other families. That’s what turned me from a
first few months in real time.
hobbyist into a professional.
Photography, as it turns out, is an art form. Even a
“I most enjoy capturing the connections between
technological masterpiece of a camera can’t compen-
newborns and their families. Babies grow up quickly,
sate for bad technique. (Or worse: a fussy subject.) If
and too many mothers find themselves behind the
you want to take the best photos of your newborn you
camera when those rare, magic moments are actually
must do whatever Lori Dozier tells you. The Chaska-
happening. It wasn’t until I had been a mother for two
based professional specializes in photographing fami-
years that I realized I wasn’t actually in any of the
lies, weddings, and temperamental little bundles of joy.
photos of my babies.
“My dad was a shutterbug,” said Lori. “He spent his
“My first and biggest tip for taking photos of your
young adult years traveling the world with the Navy and
baby: make sure you’re in some of them. And I know,
working in construction alongside his father in Europe.
a lot of ladies would rather get a root canal than have
He never advanced past a tourist’s skill in photography,
their picture taken, but you have to remember that baby
but he knew enough to get me interested in the hobby.
photos are just as much for your baby as they are for
“I learned how to shoot on film and develop it in a
you. Don’t deprive them of that memory one day just
darkroom back in middle school. I enjoyed that whole
because you’re camera-shy.
process, but I’ll never miss the smell of acetic acid.
“I’m a lifestyle photographer, not a posed photogra-
My friends growing up always joked that while they
pher. I find it much more valuable, and often easier to
were getting smaller and smaller cameras, mine were
photograph a newborn during life’s intimate moments
getting bigger and bigger.
than expect them to sit and smile for the camera. CONTINUED >
20
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
21
ARTIST’S PALETTE (CONTINUED)
A newborn is more content when they’re being cradled by their mother. That’s real life, which is so much more beautiful. “Make sure to change up the distance you take photos from. Too many people fall into the habit of photographing from a single angle. They’ll miss out on close-ups of little feet, little fingers, and nothing cap-
fa m i ly
tures the feeling of intimacy quite like a wide shot of a parent holding their baby. “Also make sure you have ample light wherever you shoot, but avoid getting too much. Very harsh lighting can create shadows and create too much contrast. I try to shoot during a time of day when sunlight isn’t coming directly through the windows. If that can’t be avoided, a simple white sheet covering the windows will help to filter and soften the light. “Wardrobe is crucial. You want your baby comfortable during a photo session. You may have a very nice outfit for them in mind, but if it makes them uncomfortable it’s going to make things way more complicated than they need to be. I also advise my clients to avoid bright and bold colors. They not only reflect back onto the skin, which is called ‘color casting,’ but may also clash with your home decor if you intend to frame and hang the photos. “I can’t overemphasize how important it is to keep a newborn comfortable during a shoot. Not every baby likes to be swaddled, but if yours happens to, use that to your advantage. Keep the room nice and warm, and feed your baby before you start taking pictures. If you’re ready for it, you’ll be able to capture the instant before a newborn falls asleep. That’s when they reflexively smile, which can be an elusive expression when a baby is too young to care very much about their surroundings. “More than anything else, be flexible. Babies and especially toddlers always run a photo shoot. Instead of insisting they pose a certain way, let them do what they like and then catch them in the act of being cute. Those are the moments you’ll want to remember years from now anyway!” Lori Dozier serves Eden Prairie, Chaska, Waconia, Chanhassen, Minnetonka and surrounding areas. You may engage her services at loridozierphotography.com.
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Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
23
TIMES PAST
B ICLE ILL S
A
24
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
LLE R
A REMINISCENCE
HE
SATURDAY NIGHT LAUNDRY
C
RT
laundry and return it, folded and ironed, a few days later. It was no big deal for her; merely something else to ward off the problem of having a spare minute in her day. Work was her medium. She spent her days running a ribbon loom in a silk mill, and took the bus to the diner in time for the dinner rush. My grandmother had a clothesline in her backyard, one end attached to a pulley on the back porch, and the other strung likewise from a tilting pole at the far end of the yard. The pole was maybe twenty feet tall, and made of some indestructible wood – probably cedar, as it never rotted and the bugs never got it – that had iron spikes driven into it to use as a ladder in case anyone ever had to scale it to unfoul the pulley. No one ever did, which was good because WE DIDN’T HAVE A WASHING MACHINE. My mother did the laundry in the bathtub, using a washboard, and
it looked like a child’s weight (mine, likely) would have brought it to the ground. It’s a wonder the wet clothes never did.
she hung the clothes on a line. We lived in an attic apartment, the top
The laundry came back on Saturday night. My grandfather would
floor of a Queen Anne in what once had been the most fashionable
pull up in his ’53 Chevy and blow the horn. My memory of the event
quarter of Paterson, New Jersey, and which was still one of the nicer
is always of summer, always of hot nights when we’d hear the horn
parts of town. The houses were mostly single-family, middle class,
over the big fan in a dormer window, the way you’d hear the bell
though the dentist on the corner had live-in help and a grand piano,
on the Good Humor truck. My mother and sister and I would go
and a man on the next block had a butler. The old couple who rented
down the back stairs and past the yard to where my grandfather
us our place owned a lot of houses, and my father’s father, a plumber,
had nosed the Chevy to the curb. I’d take the basket out of the back
had worked in them. When he told the landlord that his son was
seat, where it sat next to whatever provisions my grandmother was
getting married and needed an apartment, the landlord said that he
transferring from the diner to her kitchen, an arrangement that
had one on the top floor of his own house. It was a perfect starter
probably wouldn’t pass muster with the IRS. (Once, she had a lid-
place. My parents lived there for thirty years.
less stockpot full of chicken soup on the floor, and a case of Pepsi
There were a lot of reasons we never moved. The attic was ridic-
on the seat; when she was heating the soup for a Sunday family
ulously cheap – fifty dollars a month, including, as my father liked
dinner, she found an empty Pepsi bottle in the pot, then dredged
to point out, “gas, electric, and heat.” It had a big yard, a driveway,
out the cap. The soup was served, nobody noticed the caramel
and a room in the basement where my father could putter. He had
tinge, and my mother was sworn to secrecy but promptly circulated
moved around a lot as a kid, during the Depression, going from one
the story. It was too good to hold in.)
CONTINUED >
cold-water flat to another, and that attic must have seemed as stable and permanent a home as any split-level in the suburbs. Anyway, he didn’t have the homeowning gene. If my mother did, she never let on. I don’t remember her ever starting a “how come all my friends have houses” quarrel, and she never complained about sitting on a bench scrubbing clothes in the bathtub, or lugging them downstairs to the line. She might have, eventually, but that primitive laundry ritual didn’t last. There was a brief period when we went to a laundromat, when one opened a few blocks away, but the big change came when my grandmother got a washing machine. My grandmother and grandfather, my mother’s parents, lived in the house where she had grown up, on the other side of town, and owned a diner on a highway two towns east. They kept the place open twenty-four hours, turning it over to the night man (a crook, it turned out, who pocketed half the wee hours’ proceeds) at eight each evening. Their ride home took them through our neighborhood, so when my grandmother got the washer, she offered to pick up our
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
25
TIMES PAST (CONTINUED)
When we sold our house, I left the clothes pole fragment behind. I’ve thought about the new owner finding it, grabbing it by the spike, and tossing it into the fireplace one cold night. The hard
the country.” On those hot nights, when he’d show up around nine, just after the laundry, he’d bring home corn, big Jersey tomatoes, and maybe a small basket of peaches. My mother would make a late dinner, usually burgers to go
old wood goes to ashes, the spike
with the tomatoes and corn. He’d have
glows red as memory, and cools
Yankee game. My mother and I would
to gray as the cinders die.
a beer, talk about what farms he’d been to, then tuck in to watch the end of the stay up and listen to Jean Shepherd’s live radio show from Greenwich Village. After my grandparents died, my mother and father moved into their house. By that time, my grandmother had bought a dryer, so the clothesline
Standing with my mother on the curb, my grandparents in the car,
came down and, later, the tottering old wooden pole. My father
both doors hanging open, the big quiet houses all around and the
cut it up with a chainsaw. There was still a piece, with one of the
first fireflies in the gathering dusk – that’s my most vivid memory of a
spikes sticking out, lying in a corner of the garage when it came
hot summer night in Paterson. We’d talk, and then the Chevy would
time for me to sell the house when my parents, too, had gone. I
wallow off, my grandfather handling the wheel like the wheel of the
brought it back to Vermont, an odd family heirloom, and tucked it
bus he drove before buying the diner. I carried the laundry upstairs.
away in my own garage.
Soon my father would be home.
When we sold our house, I left the clothes pole fragment behind.
My father, who worked in the propellor division of an aircraft com-
I’ve thought about the new owner finding it, grabbing it by the
pany, spent Saturdays from June through September in the part of
spike, and tossing it into the fireplace one cold night. The hard old
north Jersey he always called “the country.” He knew every dairy
wood goes to ashes, the spike glows red as memory, and cools to
farmer, and they were happy to see him show up to help keep their
gray as the cinders die.
nuisance populations of woodchucks in check. Chucks are a tricky target – a ten- or twelve-pound critter poking out of a hole in a new-mown field hundreds of yards away. The weapon of choice is a heavy-barreled small-bore rifle with a powerful scope — that, plus good eyes and a steady hand. I have his notes of woodchuck kills at four hundred yards and more. He never talked about it, but I suspect it was a skill he was called to use on both sides of the Rhine. That was his summer Saturday. And it set us up for our summer Saturday evenings, since dairies weren’t the only farms “up
26
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
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CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
29
ANIMAL KINGDOM
I Q UA S T H E
G R E AT
Photo Credit: Thomas Strand, Thomas Strand Studio
“A DOG HAS ONE AIM IN LIFE ... TO BESTOW HIS HEART.” – J. R. ACKERLEY ARTICLE DAVID SCHELLER
30
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
W
HEN HE FACES YOU DIRECTLY, QUASIMODO LOOKS
AS PRINCELY AS ANY OTHER GERMAN SHEPHERD. His masked, mahogany eyes betray fierce perception. Two aerials for ears stand forever at attention. He lolls his pink tongue like it’s a proud length of baloney. Quasi is quite another story when viewed from the side. The Creator gave Quasi neither neck nor tail, as well as too few vertebrae in between. To put it bluntly, he looks like a cartoon character who has been tricked into running headlong into a wall that had been painted to look like a tunnel. Quasi’s condition is called “short spine syndrome,” and his perpetually hunched posture leaves little question as to how he got his name.
“He was believed at first to be a feral dog, but his sweet disposition proved he had already cozied up to at least one other person in his past.”
Photo Credit: Amy Duffing, 3 Peas Photography
Quasi’s original name is a mystery. He was discovered in the woods of rural Kentucky. He was believed at first to be a feral dog, but his sweet disposition proved he had already
Q UA S I THE GRE AT
cozied up to at least one other person in his past. It would have been rather easy for Quasi’s former master to pick their sweet, condensed dog out of a lineup, but they never stepped forward. The Kentuckian animal rescue had a connection to Secondhand Hounds of Minnetonka, so Quasi was whisked away to the caring embrace of Mother Minnesota. “Quasi had quite a few medical conditions when we first took him in,” said Teri Woolard, neonatal program coordinator for Secondhand Hounds and Quasi’s keeper. “His neck was bothering him a lot, and he had some arthritis that we’re now treating with fish oil and other supplements. He also had a very serious problem in a … body part I’m not sure you want to print in your magazine. Let’s just say his neck is too short for him to reach certain vital areas which need regular grooming or else they might get infected.” Fortunately Quasi’s masculinity was preserved in full. But how do you know when a dog with no tail is happy?
CONTINUED >
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
31
ANIMAL KINGDOM (CONTINUED)
“Quasi loves to headbutt,” Teri continued. “When he wants attention, he’ll walk up to you and almost knock you over with a well placed headbutt. I care for Secondhand Hounds’ puppies, and he headbutts them as well. He seems to have a special fondness for English Bulldog puppies. Maybe he feels some affinity for them because of his shape? “He behaves just like any other German Shepherd I’ve ever known. He’s a natural guard dog and sleeps at the door to protect us. You’ve never seen an animal more content than Quasi when he’s plunked down in front of the fireplace. He looks forward to going to doggie daycare every Wednesday. If we leave even a few minutes late he begins pacing at the door and barking. (How does he even know when it’s Wednesday?) And he adores going to the dog park to play chase – even if he can’t catch any of the other dogs, he still thinks it’s the greatest game ever. “Quasi doesn’t know it, but he has brought a lot of inspiration to people. Parents of children with special needs watch Quasi running around having a great time, or happily taking care of puppies, and they see that having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t thrive.
Photo Credit: Amy Duffing, 3 Peas Photography
32
Eden Prairie Lifestyle | January 2021
“He behaves just like any other German Shepherd I’ve ever known. He’s a natural guard dog and sleeps at the door to protect us.”
“He has also become a wonderful
We take in animals from all over the world,
ambassador to Secondhand Hounds. His
even as far away as China. Since starting
‘Quasi The Great’ Facebook page has over
out Secondhand Hounds has found forever
350 thousand likes, which has brought a
homes for more than 20 thousand animals.
lot of welcome attention and donations to our animal rescue. “Secondhand Hounds was founded by
“But none of them are quite so special as Quasi. Maybe I am a little bit biased. I’m the one getting headbutted, after all!”
Rachel Mairose in her basement. In only 11
To see countless photos of Quasi in
years we’ve grown from her home in Eden
all his compact splendor, you need only
Prairie to have our own veterinary clinic, a
visit facebook.com/QuasiTheGreat. To
huge network of foster homes throughout
learn more about Secondhand Hounds
Minnesota, and thousands of volunteers
and support their fine mission, please visit
standing by to help dogs and cats in need.
secondhandhounds.org.
“Quasi doesn’t know it, but he has brought a lot of inspiration to people.”
Photo Credit: Amy Duffing, 3 Peas Photography
CityLifestyle.com/EdenPrairie
33
The Sign of Success.
Lyndon Moquist Managing Broker
EDEN PRAIRIE OFFICE 952-944-7107 | www.edenprairie.edinarealty.com
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Russ & Dawn Henriksen 612-670-2613 • RussHenriksen@edinarealty.com 612-812-2121 • DawnHenriksen@edinarealty.com
6419 Mere Drive $529,900 Welcome home to this well-maintained spacious home with plenty of updates. The main level has an updated kitchen, family room & great room with an open plan design. The main level deck is nestled in a private backyard with views of gardens & wildlife. Separate dining room & living room on the main level make this an ideal house to spread out in multi-purpose areas. There are four-bedrooms upstairs on one level including a large Master Suite with walk-in closet & updated bathroom with two sinks, separate tub & shower & heated floors! The lower level has a large rec room, plenty of storage and a couple flex areas.
John Sligh • 612-327-3123 • JohnSligh@edinarealty.com
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Relax on the deck overlooking the shimmering waters of Bay Lake, just a 2-hour drive from the Twin Cities. This impeccably maintained property has been completely remodeled and updated by Nor-Son in 2009 & the love of lake living shows through in every room. There is plenty of room for large gatherings with a living room on the main level opening on to a lakeside deck and a family room in the walkout lower level so everyone can have their space to enjoy life at the lake. In addition to the 3 bedrooms in the main home, there are guest quarters in the detached garage with space for kids and guests while also serving as an office with UBER-SPEED internet capability for those work from the cabin times.
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25909 Heron Drive $725,000
Krissie Craig • 218-251-4923 • KrissieCraig@edinarealty.com
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Eden Prairie Woods is a recently finished-out subdivision of 52 houses, developed by a nationally acclaimed luxury home builder. The home shares a short cul-de-sac with 4 other homes and is across the street from the association playground and swimming pool. The rooms are extraordinarily spacious with a welcoming grand foyer featuring a turned staircase, a gourmet kitchen with a Palladian window combined with a 2-story Great Room. The backyard is an entertainment oasis. Heidi & Brian Weissner 952-200-2229 • HeidiandBrianWeissner@edinarealty.com
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Custom Charles Cudd built home situated on a premier lot with spacious yard backing up to Riley Creek & forest of trees. Quality exudes throughout from the magnificent curb appeal to the stunning details of every room. Grand entry leads to sun filled main office, large formal dining room, & family room with fireplace & quality built-ins. The gourmet center-island kitchen features spacious dinette area with adjacent sun room porch. Huge Master Bedroom suite, Jack & Jill Bath, large kids Bedrooms plus Bonus room tucked behind luxurious built-in bookcase. Open spacious lower level with cozy Family room, beautiful stone fireplace, custom cherry built-ins plus billiard area, Fifth Bedroom & large storage area with newer mechanicals. Amazing backyard with elegant stone patio & extensive landscaping. Enjoy neighborhood pool, playground & sport court in highly-rated Eden Prairie Schools.
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Impeccably kept home that shows like new construction! Upon entering you will immediately notice the incredible attention to detail throughout this custom built home. Walls of windows on the main level allow for sun drenched rooms! Wide open living spaces allow for endless gathering space! The over-sized three car heated & finished garage is a rarity in Edina & a fabulous feature of this home! The upper level is laid out perfectly with a large master suite, two bedrooms connected by a Jack & Jill full bath & an additional suite with a dedicated 3/4 bath. The lower level is perfect for entertaining or relaxing with a large family/game room, wet bar, additional bed/ bath and plenty of storage room! This home is situated on a large flat lot in a wonderful neighborhood located in award winning Edina school district & just minutes from parks/trails, schools, shopping & dining! This home is true perfection! Why build new???
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18184 Overland Trail $900,000
The Barkley’s • 612-991-0977 • JackBarkley@edinarealty.com
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The Barkley’s • 612-991-0977 • JackBarkley@edinarealty.com
5113 Grove Street $1,179,000
Cristy Willis • 952-356-7585 • CristyWillis@edinarealty.com
Spectacular custom estate property built on a 1.2 acre setting with one of a kind views of the Minnesota River Valley. This one-owner custom-built home by Wooddale Builders boasts over 7000 finished sq. ft with architectural detail & high-level finishes. This home features an outdoor pergola complete with ceiling fan fireplace & heaters. The gourmet kitchen will please any chef. The walkout LL includes a walk behind bar, custom built wine cellar & entertainment area that will accommodate large groups. Show this home to your buyer who demands the highest level of finishes & a private sitting on the River Bluff in Eden Prairie.
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The Barkley’s • 612-991-0977 • JackBarkley@edinarealty.com
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4.5 meticulously maintained acres. Mature trees, pond and creek. Very private setting. Unfinished bonus room over the garage. Recently finished lower level. Recent updates include carpet, paint and baths. Perfect patio and screened porch for entertaining. Room for an outbuilding. Still close to everything 5 minutes to 169, shopping, schools and golf.
Many updates since the home was built. Large kitchen with center island and upgraded appliances. Walkthrough master closet and laundry room up. 3 other bedrooms up. Main floor office. Unfinished lower level. Completely finished garage. Stamped concrete driveway. Prior Lake schools.
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10659 Sonoma Ridge $1,300,000
251 128th Street W. $725,000
14950 Virginia Ave. S. $525,000
16314 Kruger Lane $825,000
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#1 IN MN SALES FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS!
90 Salem Church Road $1,735,000
Your private English-style Estate awaits. Elegant finishes and sophisticated layout offers ideal spaces for entertaining and everyday family life. Unparalleled main level Owner’s Suite with amazing closet and opulent en Suite. Walkout lower level boasts a sauna, steam shower, three bedroom suites and recreation spaces. New Cedar-shake roof (2017) and new HVAC.
Randy Kellogg • 612-240-2924 • RandyKellogg@edinarealty.com
For career opportunities Call Lyndon at 952-944-7107 or www.LyndonMoquist.com
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