Simply North - Winter 2017

The Journal Presents

Simply North Winter 2017

Live. Play. Enjoy.

Backyard skating Falls man’s spirit connection MONSTER SNACKS WHAT’S IN YOUR CLOSET? WE ARE NOT ALONE?

POSTAL CUSTOMER ECRWSS

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID INT’L FALLS MN PERMIT NO. 30

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Welcome to your state-of-the-art home for family medicine. A community-owned, community-directed destination that comes complete with our family practice providers: Jay Knaak, MD, Brad Reiners, PA-C, Amber Biondich, FNP-BC, Nicki Busch, FNP-BC, and Nancy Burmeister, FNP-BC. It’s a home that will help reduce the need for Borderland folks to leave the Borderland for care. It’s about care. About compassion. About community. Rainy Lake Medical Center is one more example of community working for you.

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Contents

Winter 2017

4

NOOKS ‘N BOOKS ‘Snackster Sam’s Big Adventure’

5, 6

FLIPPIN’ AND SIPPIN’ Monster snacks; Healthy school lunches

7

COMING TO THEATERS Movies coming in 2017

8

FEATURES

PETS & PASTURES Don’t poke the bear

12

15, 18

MCMURRAY The military medium

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS The closet project; Sprucing up your kitchen

20

16

STEP-BY-STEP PAINTING with Amanda Bower

BACKYARD SKATING RINK Transform backyard into a sheet of ice

Brought to you by the Publishers of

Journal nternational Falls

ifallsjournal.com

To contribute or advertise, please contact: Karley Mastin at karley@ifallsjournal.com or Laurel Beager at laurel@ifallsjournal.com COVER PHOTO

BY LAUREL BEAGER

218-285-7411 Simply North • Winter 2017 | 3

Nooks 'n Books

‘SNACKSTER SAM’S BIG ADVENTURE’ HITS BOOKSHELVES

By Whitney Jackson

F

or Danielle Schermerhorn, the madeup character of monster Snackster Sam is so much more than a book; it’s a mission to help children find the best snacks.

The idea for the character was sparked over a year ago when Schermerhorn set out on a mission to introduce a list of healthy and peanut-free snacks to the community through the lovable purple monster.

With help from Dr. Kathleen Hartford, the president and founder of Health Pyramid Longevity and Vitality Center in Pennsylvania, the monster was soon introduced at Stewart’s Super One. Soon though, more ideas were born in hopes of promoting Snackster Sam and all that he stood for.

“It all came to me that I could introduce Snackster Sam to more than just International Falls,” said Schermerhorn.

“After a brainstorming session with my sister, I had ideas for the book.”

Despite a clear vision for the book, the task was not easy for Schermerhorn, but retreating back to basics helped the words fall into place. Though she has always enjoyed writing, she felt she needed to write the book more effectively to share Snackster Sam’s mission. With a background in marketing and business, Schermerhorn expressed that writing the book did not come naturally.

“I looked at my children’s favorite books and pulled out common themes,” Schermerhorn said. “It needed to be colorful, fun and to rhyme.”

Schermerhorn noted the most difficult part of writing the book was making it all rhyme, in order to make the story flow and be a child favorite.

“Rhyming was a struggle for me,” admitted Schermerhorn. “In fact, in kindergarten 4 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Danielle Schermerhorn, author of “Snackster Sam’s Big Adventure.” (Contributed photo)

it was the subject I failed, but I was determined.”

Determined, she was.

“I set out to write a page a day, sometimes just a line every single day,” said Schermerhorn. “Within three weeks, the first draft of Snackster Sam’s Big Adventure was written.”

Shortly after, Schermerhorn was bringing on more assets to her Snackster Sam team.

Mason Wilson, a local artist and illustrator came on board and revamped the look of Snackster Sam into an even more lovable character than he already was.

Known as “The Canvas Butcher” around Borderland, Wilson was a strong asset to the Snackster Sam team.

“When I initially heard the idea of a character that was on an adventure, I immediately thought of the feeling I had creating comics of my own in elementary school,” said Wilson. “I wanted to capture the adventure aspect of it all and create unique characters that would represent Danielle’s

writing and the story of Snackster Sam.” Wilson not only created the main character Snackster Sam, he also created Monster Max, Green Queen, Jumping Jack and one of his favorites, Dinostar, for the book.

“I love the personalities they all have and a big part of that was how well the story was written and the direction of the adventure,” said Wilson. “The detail work increased in the backgrounds and environments, as well as the amount of expression the characters were capable of when interacting.”

Schermerhorn also brought on Alicia Vonderharr to edit the book and Melody Woods, a local graphic artist, to help with its publication.

“Alicia helped me nail down a few lines and make sure the storyline was perfection and Melody looked at each page critically to make sure the pages flowed and made sense,” said Schermerhorn. “I’m so happy I was able to find that help locally.”

As for the future of Snackster Sam, Schermerhorn hopes it’s a bright one.

“My hope is to have Snackster Sam in grocery stores across the nation,” said Schermerhorn. “It will put the power of eating into the children’s hands so I hope Snackster Sam becomes a household name.”

Although talks of a sequel to the book are not in discussion yet, it’s possible that it could be on the horizon.

“I would love to write a sequel someday, but I need a break first,” said Schermerhorn.

“Creating a children’s book is not a small task and there are many working parts and individuals involved.”

Before the sequel though, Schermerhorn has plans to write a cookbook that is focused on making healthy eating simple and affordable, which is being put together on her Snackster Sam blog.

For more information on Snackster Sam or to order the book, Snackster Sam’s Big Adventure, visit snackstersam.com.

Monster

SNACKS

Flippin' & Sippin'

A monster snack person stands tall, looking delicious and ready to eat.

By Snackster Sam

O

ne great way to get picky eaters to try new foods is to let them create works of edible art!

First, go to the grocery store with children in tow. Let them pick out some fruits and vegetables, and encourage them to try something new.

TIP: Find out about ugli fruits or pomegranates and try to choose fruits and vegetables that are in season. Usually what’s in season is also on sale.

INGREDIENTS:  Various fruits and/or vegetables (blueberries, cranberries, or any small fruit)  Raisins  Peanut butter or SunButter (if you have a peanut allergy)  Toothpicks  Googly eyes (can be found at a craft store) DIRECTIONS: Cut up the fruits and vegetables you are using, but keep some items large. Spread out the food on the table with the other ingredients and invite the children to the table and explain to them that they can actually PLAY with their food!

Using the toothpicks and adhesive (peanut butter or SunButter), create monsters, sculptures, and whatever else can be imagined with food. While they are working, talk about where and how each food grows. (This is especially fun if you purchased tropical fruits! Do you know how pineapples grow, for instance? Have Google nearby!)

Use the small fruit or googly eyes to make

A monster snack is created using fresh fruits and vegetables. (Contributed photos)

their creatures really come to life. When they are satisfied with their work of art, they can eat it.

Leftover creatures and structures can be

placed in an airtight container and enjoyed the next day.

Enjoy!

Snackster Sam Simply North • Winter 2017 | 5

Flippin' & Sippin'

The chef’s

kitchen: healthy school lunches

By Whitney Jackson

W

ith options limited in some school cafeterias and a lack of time or knowledge on what to pack for a student’s cold lunch, the below recipes are quick, simple and not to mention, super tasty.

If packing your child’s cold lunch, remember to pack it safely and to keep it health conscious. A few simple changes, listed below courtesy of The Food Network, will make a big difference in your kitchen but also in your child’s health.

Healthy Swaps: Instead of pudding cups, choose Greek yogurt with a swirl of honey. The swap has no preservatives, less sugar, and is packed with a calcium and protein boost.

Instead of fried chicken nuggets, choose baked chicken fingers, which have less fat and grease and are filled with more protein.

Try including: single-serve cans of tuna or salmon, whole fruit like apples, bananas, peaches or oranges, whole grain cereal, or include your children in making healthy muffins or your own trail mix.

6 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Fresh Mozzarella BLT with Pesto Total Time: 12 min Prep: 5 min Cook: 7 min INGREDIENTS: • 1 4-inch baguette • 2 slices low-sodium Applewoodsmoked bacon • 1 1/2 teaspoons store-bought pesto • 1 1/2 teaspoons low-fat mayonnaise • 1 spear romaine lettuce • 2 thick slices heirloom tomato • 1 thick slice fresh mozzarella • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper DIRECTIONS: Slice the baguette open, leaving one side attached to form a hinge. Cook the bacon in a skillet over low heat until crispy; drain on paper towels.

Combine the pesto with the mayonnaise and smear on the bottom part of the bread. Layer the romaine on the bread, then the tomato, bacon and mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper; close the sandwich and wrap in parchment paper.

Rainbows i b and Butterflies Pasta Salad Total Time: 20 min Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min INGREDIENTS: • 8 ounces bow tie pasta, preferably whole grain • 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extravirgin olive oil • 1 cup corn kernels, thawed if frozen • 1 cup shelled edamame, thawed if frozen • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced • 2 medium carrots, shredded • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese • Salt DIRECTIONS: Cook the pasta as the label directs.

Drain and toss with 1 teaspoon olive oil to prevent sticking; let cool.

In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with the corn, edamame, bell pepper and carrots. Drizzle with the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and toss to coat.

Add the parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss again and season to taste.

COMING TO THEATERS

IN 2017

By Whitney Jackson

W

ith the new year fully upon us, it’s officially time to get excited about what is coming to theaters

in 2017.

On the soon-to-premiere list comes a revamped “Jumanji,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the third installment of animated favorites, “Cars” and “Despicable Me,” the anticipated volume 2 of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “Life,” a film about a space crew that finds life on Mars.

With those come a few other expected favorites, listed and described below, so viewers can get ready to grab the popcorn and mark their calendars.

MARCH 3 Table 19 (PG-13) Starring: Anna Kendrick, Wyatt Russell, Lisa Kudrow Eloise, ex-maid of honor, has recently been relieved of her duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text. Despite the perceived tragedy, she decides to hold her head up high and attend her oldest friend’s wedding anyway.

Unfortunately, she finds herself seated at the ‘random’ table in the back of the ballroom with an odd group of strangers. In time, everyone’s secrets are revealed and Eloise learns a thing or two about what can happen under the most unlikely circumstances.

Before I Fall Starring: Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage, Jennifer Beals

Samantha Kingston had it all: the perfect friends, perfect guy, and perceivably a perfect future. After one fateful night, however, Samantha wakes up with no future at all and becomes trapped in reliving the same day over and over in attempt to fix whatever went wrong. Stuck in the limbo that soon becomes her new life, Samantha begins to question how perfect her life really was and begins to wonder about the people she hurt along the way. Based on the book by Lauren Oliver.

MARCH 17 Beauty and the Beast (PG) Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Ewan McGregor An adaptation of the animated Disney fairytale, which focuses on a prince who was turned into a beast by a mysterious enchantress. With the transformation came a curse, forcing the prince to remain as the beast until a young woman falls in love with him. When the beast captures a young woman’s father, she offers to take his place as the beast’s prisoner, striking up an unlikely friendship and later, romance.

MARCH 31 The Zookeeper’s Wife Starring: Jessica Chastain, Daniel Bruhl, Johan Heldenbergh Antonina and Jan Zabinski, keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, plot to help and save hundreds of people and animals during the Nazi invasion. The film, greatly inspired by the book which was published in 2007,

making it later to The New York Times nonfiction best seller list in 2008, was written

by Diane Ackerman and is considered to be an unpublished diary of Antonina and Jan. MAY 26 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom The famous Captain Jack Sparrow finds himself stuck in yet another life-threatening pickle. With Captain Salazar on Sparrow’s trail, his only hope of survival lies in seeking out the legendary Trident of Poseidon, a powerful artifact that bestows upon its possessor total control over the seas. Along the journey, Sparrow finds himself reuniting with old friends and foes, including Will Turner, Barbossa, and the lovable yet idiotic, Scrum and Gibbs.

DECEMBER 22 Pitch Perfect 3 Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp The girls are back as viewers follow the third installment of the lovable and entertaining Barden Bellas, an acapella group with a few feisty members. Though graduated, fan favorites Beca, Aubrey, Chloe and Fat Amy are all expected to lend their voices to perhaps a new acapella group, while legacy Emily runs the Barden Bellas.

While little has been disclosed of the film, fans of the first two films will surely not be disappointed.

Simply North • Winter 2017 | 7

Pets and Pastures

Don’t poke the bear

By Whitney Jackson

I

t’s no secret bears hibernate, but what about the rest of the animal kingdom?

Skunks, bees, snakes, groundhogs, bats, turtles, hummingbirds and even ladybugs turn the lights out come winter and sleep until it’s over.

Without hibernation or torpor, a decrease in physical and mental activity, a lot of animals would freeze to death due to the limit in food supplies. Animals that need to hibernate often hide out for months at a time as the word “hibernation” is derived from a Latin word meaning to “pass the winter.”

BEARS Bears, being the most common hibernating animals, often go into their comalike period in September or October, not emerging until nearly April. However, unlike other animals that hibernate, a bear’s metabolic rate is significantly less depressed and its body temperature is reduced only a little bit. For those reasons, 8 | Simply North • Winter 2017

some scientists believe bears are not true hibernators.

SKUNKS The striped skunk will often spend the fall season eating as much as possible so it can stay warm during the winter months.

The skunk’s binge eating creates thick layers of fat underneath the skin, creating a winter jacket. While the skunk stays dormant, it doesn’t reach a full state of hibernation, but rather a state of torpor – a sort of deep sleep from which they awake from time to time.

BATS Bats not only hide out during the wintertime, they are also nocturnal, meaning they are awake during the night and sleep during the day. Luckily, bats are able to make it through deep slumbers – which can last over six months – on only a few grams of stored fat. By the springtime, bats will have typically lost roughly half of their body weight. Bats of the tropical species likely do not need to hibernate as they are well fed year-round.

TURTLES Turtles and tortoises can hibernate up to a full eight months of the year, depending on location. A general rule-of-thumb is to assume the farther an animal is from the equator, the more likely it is to hibernate during the winter. However, turtles and tortoises may enter hibernation in not only the extreme cold but the extreme heat as well. In doing so, the animal will attempt to create a “microclimate” when it digs into the soil.

HUMMINGBIRDS Like skunks, hummingbirds also enter a hibernation-like slumber called torpor.

When the nights get chillier, their body temperature can drop significantly and thus slow down their heart and breathing rate, which causes them to burn much less energy overnight. As the day’s heat increases, so will the hummingbird’s body temperature. More often though, hummingbirds migrate south and will store up fats from the nectars and insects to prepare them for the long journey.

e h t Off

beaten path

January In lodges, the beaver are warm and snug. Under the ice, branches are the foodstuffs of their winter pantry.

Small partial rainbows flanking the sun on very cold days, sundogs or parhelia, are caused by sunlight passing through ice crystals and refracting in the upper atmosphere.

February Red squirrels are camped out at feeders with black oil sunflower seeds.

A few hardy ducks will remain during the winter in the north, if there is available open water.

Ruffed grouse are named for their neck feathers that can be erected into a kind of collar or “ruff.”

Eastern cottontails feed on shrub stems in the evenings.

One of North America’s rarest owl is the boreal owl. Hunting during daylight hours often means the boreal is starving.

Just a part of courtship is wrestling and chasing, as mating season has begun for red, gray and northern flying squirrels.

Hooting by the great horned owls signal arrival of another mating season.

The owls will often be on eggs by early March, as the owls are the first bird to nest in Minnesota.

Under the cover of darkness, the northern flying squirrel, big-eyed and very nocturnal, will glide into feeders.

The familiar odor of the striped skunk

returns to the Northland.

Dynamics of the timber wolf packs prove interesting. Howling increases, as February is mating season.

A prehistoric-looking, huge bird that dines on big black carpenter ants deep inside rotting trees, the pileated woodpecker uses jackhammer-like blows to access ants’ burrows, then flicks its long, barbed tongue down the hole to hook the ants.

March Out and about on a thawing day, one would be surprised at the number of insects and spiders.

Efficient predators of mice, frogs and small birds are northern shrikes.

Common ravens build new stick nests or add to last year’s nests.

Paired up and in mating mode are the red foxes.

March is Minnesota’s snowiest month.

R i ng - bi l l e d g u l l s re tu r n t o t h e Northland.

Pussy willow catkins will shed pollen in a few weeks.

Large numbers of bald eagles move north.

April After a long sleep, woodchucks begin stretching their legs.

Some black bears who are waking emerge in late March while others in cooler spots wait until mid-April.

The first migrant songbirds to return are the common grackles, mourning doves, redwinged blackbirds and Eastern bluebirds.

Eastern garter snakes begin to emerge from below ground on warm spring days.

Ice-out begins and a strong wind can clear a lake out in a few hours.

The common loon, Minnesota’s state bird, soon returns after the ice goes out.

Simply North • Winter 2017 | 9

Dear Shack Doctor,

winter, but I’m The icicles on my roof sure look beautiful in the any advice? offer you Can wondering if they might be harmful.

~ Ice Queen

Dear Ice Queen, You’re right, they can be harmful. Snow buildup on roofs can be a hazard during winter months because ice dams can form

and cause water to back up and leak into the home.

It comes second nature to remove snow from steps and sidewalks, but it is important to remember to clear snow off

rooftops, too.

Often times, snow buildup on roofs is overlooked, forgotten and not seen as a potential hazard during winter months.

However, ice dams can form which can

Caring for our

Community Family Medicine at International Falls Clinic 2501 Keenan Drive 218.283.9431 EssentiaHealth.org

10 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Same-day appointments available

See a Sanford specialist in

INTERNATIONAL FALLS pose a problem.

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from properly draining. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into a home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation and other areas.

In a perfect world, the snow would melt off the roof, flow down gutters and disappear with sunshine. However, this is northern Minnesota with snowy, bitter cold winters that cause gutters to get blocked by snow berms that build up on the roof and form layers — sometimes thick — of menacing ice.

Ice dams may seem harmless at first, but they are known to cause thousands of dollars in roof leaks, structural damages and repairs to homes. Homeowners should clear snow from the bottom six feet of the roof — it is not necessary to clear the entire roof — which will allow water from melting snow to reach gutters and drain to the ground. To avoid climbing on the roof, “roof rakes” and push brooms can be used to remove the snow.

Homeowners can conserve energy and reduce the potential for ice dams by making the ceiling air tight so no warm air can flow from the house into the attic space. Plugging leaks and adding insulation can reduce energy use in homes by 20 to 30 percent.

Long-term precautions are key to ice dam prevention. It is best to keep the building’s attic temperature as close as possible to the outside temperature by insulating the attic floor. This is as easy as laying additional batts across the existing ones, or having more insulation blown in. Adequate ventilation should also be installed. Peak or roof-mounted vents allow warm air to exit the attic; soffit vents allow cold air to enter the attic. Both types of vents are encouraged.

At Sanford Health, we believe quality care should be delivered close to home. Our team of specialists provides health and healing where it’s convenient to you. Where you feel at home.

Sanford Health specialists who provide outreach to Rainy Lake Clinic include: Medical Oncology Elie Chalhoub, MD

Nephrology Daniel Louvar, MD

To schedule an appointment, call (218) 333-5407.

To schedule an appointment, call (218) 333-5100.

Pediatrics William Bock, MD

Ophthalmology Mark Dwyer, MD

To schedule an appointment, call (218) 333-4710.

To schedule an appointment, call (218) 598-5665.

Optometry Ragna Godtland, OD To schedule an appointment, call (218) 598-5665.

Dr. Godtland sees patients in International Falls & Baudette

048006-00040 12/16

Simply North • Winter 2017 | 11

McMurray: The military medium 12 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Former Falls man takes spirit journey

By Laurel Beager

A

fter 24 years of active duty with the United States Army and the Army National Guard, Dean McMurray considered himself a typical guy.

“I like to think of myself as just a small town guy — down to earth, wearing flannel,” he said.

The 1989 Falls High School graduate’s military service includes a 2003 deployment to Afghanistan and a 2010 tour in Kosovo.

Upon returning home from that last tour, his grandmother visited while he was washing bottles for his newborn son, he said.

Problem was, his grandmother died in the 1980s when McMurray was just 10.

“I was freaked out and comforted at the same time,” he said. “I just knew it was my grandmother. I went to bed knowing this.”

But then his mind went to work. “My ego popped up and said ‘Dean, you’re hallucinating, you’re tired,’” he said.

“Then I asked her, ‘Why don’t you prove that you’re here?’”

In the snap of a finger, the room turned ice cold, he said. “It was the craziest thing. I thought, ‘Oh, crap, what did I do?’ This was something I could feel.”

He struggled to understand, feeling skeptical and comforted at the same time. He again asked his dead grandmother to prove her existence by touching him. He said he felt a gentle weight on the top of his head to the tips of his toes.

“An even pressure, if you will, and I started sinki n g i nt o t h e mattress like someone was pushing me...

(Contributed photos)

It was like I was heavier than the mattress,” he said.

He immediately acknowledged his grandmother’s presence and in another snap of a finger, everything returned to normal: he felt no more weight and the room returned to normal temperature.

“This was not something I could dispute,” he said. “I sat up, covered in sweat, and woke my wife Marilyn and told her somebody was here. She thought someone was in the house. I said, ‘No — here.’”

Before returning home from Kosovo, Marilyn had told him in an email that she was seeing a psychic in town. “Whatever floats your boat, keeps you happy,” he recalled telling her.

But his grandmother’s visit wasn’t his first paranormal event, he said. Before that, pictures and clocks fell off walls with no logical explanation. After the visit by grandma, he said he grew concerned.

“Why are we being haunted?” he wondered and sought out a local psychic in the Fargo, N.D., area, where the family resides.

The psychic told him he was a medium.

“I said, ‘No, I am a large,” he said joking and expressed skepticism.

His wife wondered if there was a class he could take a b o u t being a medium, and then Mc Mu r r ay started

reading. “A medium converses with the deceased, was the book answer, but what does that mean for me?” he wondered.

After attending a class in Fargo, he was told he was connecting to a spirit guide and later, his grandmother gave him a key, but he wasn’t sure what it would unlock.

She simply gave him a knowing smile.

He dove into books about mediums and also took a mediumship course from a well-known medium.

At that time, he was still a full-time member of the Army National Guard.

“During the day, I was Dean the soldier; I was Dean the medium at night,” he said.

In March 2012, he took a dowsing class, where he learned to cleanse homes of unwanted energies. “It’s also used for ghost-busting, for lack of a better word, if there are spirits, you can figure out why they are there and have them leave,” he said.

That next month was the first class of his mediumship course, and a number of “synchronicities” followed: seeing his grandmother in the basement of a house he and his wife considered purchasing.

McMurray stressed he does not automatically read people with whom he comes in contact. “I always trust that if an individual really needs a reading, a spirit will set up the arrangement to have a reading, or it will come up in conversation... I won’t just come up to random strangers.

This is sacred to me. I wouldn’t want someone to get into my stuff. ‘Did I give you permission to connect to my spirits?’”

McMurray’s work as a medium doing readings is very humbling, he said. “I am brought into their life and sometimes there’s such a heartbreaking story,” he said.

It reminds him often to appreciate life and even its difficult challenges, he said.

He relays another story of an ornament on their Christmas tree they had no recollection of having. He said he believed the spirit of a childhood f r iend of his w i f e’s , w h o had committe d suicide before she Simply North • Winter 2017 | 13

moved from her hometown, was present and pointed out the ornament — a crystal angel playing a harp — to him. McMurray said the spirit told him to send the ornament to friends, who had experienced a miscarriage years earlier. Each year, the couple attended a memorial service that was held for lost children and grieving parents.

McMurray forgot to mail the ornament and immediately brought it to a post office three or four days later. The couple told the McMurrays that they couldn’t attend the service that year, but the ornament arrived that evening giving them comfort. The couple had also been friends of the young man who guided Dean to the ornament.

In 2013, McMurray set up his business and retired from the Army National Guard. He’d earlier planned to work for

the Veterans Administration in retirement.

“I really feel that God had other plans for me,” he said.

McMurray said spiritual mediums believe in God, but he said the teachings of Taoism and Buddhism also resonate with him. He notes he grew up Protestant, was married in a Baptist church and now he and his wife are Lutheran.

“Am I any one thing? No. However, the biggest thing I really believe in, No. 1 is God, and also the teachings at the core of what all religions are based on — love and forgiveness,” he said.

He said he’s learned to protect himself from the darker side and works in depth with angels. He only works with “the dark” when he is banishing it. “I don’t dial up the devil and chit chat,” he said. “It’s very draining, a lot of work. That stuff is nasty, bad stuff.”

Most people contact McMurray because they want to connect with a particular person or people in spirit for guidance or information. He said he taps into energy and the spirits.

Spirits, he said, want what’s best for us. “That’s what they want to see — ultimately us happy and us succeed,” he said.

“They’re not telling us how; we need to figure that out for ourselves.”

McMurray’s future includes opening a healing center that would provide sanctuary for people grieving or experiencing post traumatic stress disorder. He also said he’s working on a book about his journey.

“Did I know I was a medium years ago? No, but looking back, in retrospect, I remember flashes. It never made sense when I was little but it makes a lot of sense now.”

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Simple Solutions

The closet project

By Whitney Jackson

W

ith the new year finally here, it’s time to clean out your closet and make room for what is to come in 2017. Although the task can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be. By using the four R’s of the recycling model, it can help to get rid of unknown unwanted items and make room for new exciting ones.

REDUCE When reducing clothes in your closet or drawers, stick to making a pile of everything you haven’t worn in the past six months to a year. If you still like it but haven’t worn it, still toss it aside as there is most likely a reason for that. With the new space you now have, reorganize everything by season, going from

winter to summer in a left to right fashion.

Before moving on to the next part of the “closet project,” go through your clothes one more time. There may be something you have missed that could use a new home with someone else.

REUSE Separate the pile you are planning to get rid of into categories for friends or family members. When separating, don’t be afraid to include cousins, younger siblings, faraway friends, and so on. Everyone can benefit from a new item in their wardrobe and they’ll be excited you thought of them.

RECYCLE The items not being sent or given to close friends or family can now go into a

large garbage bag and be prepared to be donated. Whether you plan on dropping off the donations personally or are planning on having them be picked up by a donation truck, make sure the bag has no holes or rips and that everything inside is neatly folded for easy unpacking.

If you’re unsure of where your local dropoff is, check out clothingdonations.org to find out more.

RECOVER Now that your closet is looking a little roomier, it’s time to fill some of the blank space with new items. To refrain from overstuffing your now cleaned closet, buy only what you need. To ensure your new closet stays that way, clean it out every three months and reorganize how you see fit.

Simply North • Winter 2017 | 15

Backyard skating rink Chad and Tricia Baldwin transform their backyard into a sheet of ice 16 | Simply North • Winter 2017

By Emily Gedde

B

anks and Mira Baldwin could hardly contain themselves on a chilly December day as they got ready to go outside.

The 4- and 2-year-old quickly dressed for the single-digit temperatures, and then slipped on their hockey skates.

“Hurry,” Mira yelled as her mother, Tricia Baldwin, zipped her coat up as far as it would go. Banks was already out the door.

The brother and sister didn’t have to haul their hockey sticks too far to spend some time on the ice. Instead, they had a skating rink waiting in their backyard.

“They love it,” said their father, Chad Baldwin. “They’re going to get a lot of ice time in this winter.”

Just a day after the Baldwins created the rink, Chad and Tricia said several hours were already committed to the ice. In fact, the couple’s oldest son, Brink, spent nearly seven hours on it once it was ready.

“He only came in a few times to warm up,” Tricia said with a laugh.

While they plan to continue using the community’s outdoor rinks this winter, the Baldwins were excited to offer their children one in the backyard. Chad, who is the assistant coach of the Bronco hockey team as well as coaches younger teams, said it’ll be nice for his wife when he is away.

“They can go right out the door,” he said.

“She won’t have to haul three kids to the ice.”

A little research and some donations from a family friend brought the rink to life.

“Everything really worked out great,” Chad said. “And the kids love it.”

When Chad went outside to help his youngest son, Tricia said with a laugh, “I think Chad enjoys it just as much.”

So exactly how did the Baldwins transform their 15th Street backyard into a clear sheet of ice?

Chad Shikowsky, a family friend, gave the couple enough 2x10 foot boards to create the perimeter of the 30x45-foot rink.

Wooden braces are set every few feet to offer support for the boards.

“They’re every 10 feet on the seams,” Chad said of brace placement.

The couple purchased a tarp that was draped up and over the boards to create a pool effect for when water is added. Several thousands of gallons of water was delivered

From the left, Banks, Mira and Brink Baldwin spend time on the skating rink in their backyard.

The Baldwins hung lights around their skating rink for nighttime use. (Contributed photos)

by a local water company to cut down on filling time and make the surface of the rink smoother. Both Chad and Tricia said a hose can be used, but it can take up to several days to get the desired amount of water, which in the Baldwin’s case ended up being 5,400 gallons.

“The ground isn’t level so one side needed more water than the other,” Tricia said. “What is nice about having the water delivered is it fills faster so the surface isn’t uneven when it starts to freeze.”

And the pair had to watch the forecast before getting things ready. It had to be cold enough to freeze, but not snowing.

“We just watched the forecast,” Chad said.

“Timing had to be right.”

What about ice maintenance?

The Baldwins have that covered, too.

They made what they call a “hombonie” using their hose, PVC pipe and a towel. The hose screws onto to the pipe which drags a towel with holes in it across the ice.

“It’s just like a Zambonie,” Tricia said, laughing.

For the next few months, the Baldwins have their outdoor recreation covered and for about $500.

“It’s well worth it,” Chad said. “We’re really happy with it ... and so are the kids.”

Simply North • Winter 2017 | 17

Simple Solutions

Sprucing up your kitchen this season

By Kris Jackson

A

dding a kitchen backsplash is my project for this winter. My project, of course, involves other people — someone to haul the tile from the store to the garage and someone to cut and glue the tile to the kitchen walls.

I had the joy of choosing the tile for my kitchen, once the flooring and countertop were installed. This was the first house of four we have lived in to have a backsplash installed in the kitchen, so very exciting indeed.

However, choosing the tile is not so easy. While it makes sense to invest in something you love to look at, it may not be logical, or practical. Who will be cleaning this tile? Easy maintenance is Kris Jackson is the former owner of Fusion what I am opting for now. The Interiors. (Contributed photo) mixed glazed and matte finish tiles are beautiful but take more work to keep clean.

Questions to ask yourself during this process include: Do you want a shiny or matte finish? Do you want a mix of color or a solid color? Should there be an accent tile placed randomly? Should the tile be placed on an angle or stacked like logs?

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18 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Look at as many options as you can in person, online and in home interior publications. How you decide to place the tiles will affect the install price as well, since more cutting requires more time.

The tile I chose for my house would not have been the tile I would have chosen for our prior house.

Besides our own tastes changing, the natural and artificial light has changed. Each house has different surfaces and while paint is the least costly thing to upgrade, tile is an investment, saving the walls from steam, grease and splashes.

The grout color is another factor when selecting tile. While your installer can give you the best advice as to the type of grout to purchase, the color may blend with or accent your backsplash. All grout should also be sealed to protect it from staining, which should be the last step in the installation process.

Once completed, I will enjoy seeing my kitchen backsplash. It is the finishing touch in my kitchen remodel and while some people long for fancy items to decorate their homes with, some clay on a wall makes me smile.

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Simply North • Winter 2017 | 19

Shorts and Fill-ins

STEPBYSTEP

PAINTING with Amanda Bower

By Amanda Bower

background. I began in the lower right corner with my large brush dipped in a mixture of blue and black paint, brushing upward across the canvas in a curve-like fashion.

Note: Always make sure the brush is at least a little damp. Not too wet, but just enough so the paint runs smoothly and evenly across the canvas.

O

nce upon a time, a mother and her daughter attended one of those fancy Paint Nite events. The daughter was a natural artist, the mother – not so much.

As they sipped on AMANDA their grown-up bevBOWER erages, they thought, “Hey, we should host something like this.” After much procrastination, they finally ordered some canvases, bought some cheap acrylic paints and paint brushes, called up some friends, and hosted their very own painting event.

Thus began my mother and I’s very quirky and laid back events we comically call Crap on a Canvas.

To give you an idea of what we do, I’m going to guide you through a simple wintry painting that I threw together with some inspiration from previous creations.

Pictured below is the final product which I titled as “Winter Birch Trees.”

Pretty awesome, right? Now I know what you’re thinking – “I could never paint that,” or “I have no artistic talent whatsoever, is this some kind of joke?” That’s the best part, folks. As long as you follow some very simple steps which I have conveniently listed below, you will do just fine. I promise, you are in good hands.

20 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Large, medium and small paint brushes you will be using. (Contributed photos)

SUPPLIES:  3 paint brushes (small, medium, and large.)  16x20 canvas (easel optional)  acrylic paint: cobalt blue, bright blue, black, and white (I buy the cheap stuff so don’t worry about purchasing anything fancy.)  water  paper towels Now that you’ve got all your handy dandy tools, let’s get started!

STEP 1: The most important fact you want to remember while painting is that you want to work from back to front. With that in mind, we are going to start by painting the

STEP 2: As you continue making full strokes across the canvas with your large brush, add in more of the plain blue paint to blend with the dark black/blue you’ve already concocted on your painting. Keep brushing in a curved manner, adding in a tinge of light blue paint as you near the middle of the canvas.

Note: Before changing to a new color, make sure to wash your brush in the water and damp off excess paint on your paper towel!

STEP 3: Now at this point, you want to make sure you have a white circle forming in the upper left corner of your canvas. Use a mixture of light blue and white to fade into the circle. You may also want to add a little blue paint in the upper left hand corner to better accent the white sun.

STEP 4: After you nod respectably at your super awesome background and have let it dry for a good five minutes, you’re going to add some birch trees. Using your medium brush,

dip it in white paint and create the bodies of two uneven birch trees. Don’t worry if the white blends in with the blue – you can always let it dry a little longer and add more layers of white.

STEP 5: It’s branch time! Wherever you see fit, add some eccentric and random branches to your birch trees using your small brush and white paint.

Note: In no way do your branches have to look like mine. Be creative!

STEP 6: Now this step everyone usually does a little differently. Using either your small or medium brush, you’re going to outline the trees in a dark grey paint. By mixing in a little white with your black, that color is attainable. You can get as creative with shadowing and details as you like.

STEP 7: Once you’ve outlined your fabulous birch trees, you’re going to add in those funky little black lines you often see on them. This will be done using your small brush and black paint. Go ahead, be spunky and add some radical lines to your trees!

STEP 8: As soon as you’re content with your trees, all you have left to do is add snowflakes.

Using your small brush and white paint, dab randomly around your canvas. Big dots, small dots, no dot must be left out! Cover the entire canvas (even the trees) in little snowflakes until you feel your painting is up to par.

Wa-la! That’s it, ladies and gentlemen.

The only thing you have left to do is to sign it. I typically initial mine in the lower right corner and call it a day.

Now that wasn’t too shabby, was it? I bet your painting looks absolutely stunning.

If you want more information about what Crap on a Canvas does, check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ craponacanvas/.

Bower went to Minnesota School of Business and graduated in the summer of 2015 with an associate’s degree in game design and application. She currently hosts laidback painting events with her mom and is a freelance writer for Victory Point, Gamer Professionals and Indie Game Reviewer.

NO MATTER YOUR DECORATING TASTE OR STYLE, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE YOUR HOME A PLACE OF HAPPINESS, CREATIVITY, AND TRADITION.

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283-3061 Simply North • Winter 2017 | 21

?

Who Knew ?

We are not alone

By Dana Hartje

W

ell, here we are in the middle of winter. Well maybe it’s really not the middle, as it seems our winters last far too long.

We’ve put the presents away, taken the tree down and stored the decorations for another year. Now, we find ourselves waiting: waiting for spring, waiting for rain instead of snow, waiting for a day without jackets and mitts. I think January is a tough month, the holiday spirit has left us and now all we have left is a long wait for spring. We know that the below zero temperatures are going to haunt us a few more times, only a few if we are lucky.

So what do we do with our mid-winter boredom? Borderland is filled with all kinds of adventurous folks: snowmobilers, snowshoe enthusiasts, ice-fishing fans and those of us who end up outside in the cold shoveling.

I like to take my grandkids outside on a winter day and have an outdoor scavenger hunt. Prior to leaving the warmth of the house, we prepare a list of things we are going to look for. Our last scavenger hunt list consisted of many things, pine cones, rocks, leaves, and even Grandpa.

But one of the best things to look for are animal tracks. Not only is it fun, it can be a learning experience, assuming the adult in charge knows what she’s looking at. That’s where I have a little trouble; my track identification skills are not great. Granted, you can tell little kids that track is one thing when it’s not, but I still like to be as accurate as possible. My husband is great at identifying tracks in our yard, he can tell me who has driven down our driveway, based on the tire prints. I have a friend whose husband does the same thing, we laugh often when we discuss their recent track sightings.

22 | Simply North • Winter 2017

Our yard has tracks just about everywhere. We have a lot of squirrels running around, deer tracks, fox, many a dog footprint, rabbits, a few different kinds of bird tracks and just recently an otter. Every new snowfall wipes clean the snowy slate and we can follow the activities of our outdoor friends again.

In December, just a few weeks before Christmas, we spotted a track that appeared to be made by a small bear. I know what you’re thinking: bears hibernate that time

of year. Well, apparently this particular bear did not get the memo. A small bear cub was seen running across the International Bridge about that time. He had been spotted a few times by a number of people.

Well, I like to think that little fella visited my yard, too. My husband first noticed the tracks, then of course I had to go see for myself. I followed his footprints through the woods and into the neighbor’s woods, then I lost his trail. My first concern is that there is a small bear running around that

should be hibernating with its mother. My next concern is that he has no place to go to rest for the winter. I am hoping he made a home in our large brush pile, it’s full of lots of nice pine branches, probably a great place to make a home. So everyday, I looked to see whose tracks were leading to that pile.

There were lots of footprints, but I never saw the bear prints near it.

I like to think he figured out what he was supposed to do and has taken cover and is hibernating somewhere now, waiting to awaken in the spring.

Rather than hibernate like the bears do we should be out enjoying our surroundings when we can.

Yes it’s cold, and there’s lots of snow, but hidden in that snow is an opportunity to see who or what has been our enduring the winter right along with us, walking through your yard. And yes, it’s OK if we occasionally hibernate and think of spring.

Who knew that there are a number of creatures out there, enduring the cold and snow and leaving their footprints to remind us that we too need to get out in that cold and experience winter, if anything, to help us look forward to spring?

he question isn’t where do you go. It’s where do you begin.

With so much to consider — cost, amenities, floor plans — moving to senior living can seem overwhelming.

We can help start you in the right direction.

To join us for a free lunch and learn about our caring community, call Deanna at (218) 283-1329.

All faiths or beliefs are welcome.

Simply North • Winter 2017 | 23

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