The Journal Presents
Simply North Summer 2018
Live. Play. Enjoy.
The Fab Five Retired educators keep friendships alive
STAYING FIT IN BORDERLAND IF PLANTS COULD TALK ON TREND: JUMPIN’ FOR JOY
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A2 | Simply North • Summer 2018
Contents
Summer 2018
4, 5
FLIPPIN’ AND SIPPIN’ Summer sippers
6
NORTHERN GARDENER The great mix
10, 11
SHORTS AND FILL-INS Don’t cry wolf Summer allergy fixes
12, 13
PLANNING TO CAMP? Bring your dog along
14, 15
SIMPLY SOLUTIONS If plants could talk: ‘Contain me’
16, 17
STAYING FIT IN BORDERLAND
18, 19
ON TREND Jumpin’ for joy
FEATURES
8, 9
THE FAB FIVE
20, 21
SURVIVAL IN THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS The saga continues: Part III and IV
22, 23
BARELY SEEN, NOT FORGOTTEN Request for Basshenge info strong as ever
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Flippin’ and Sippin’
(Contributed photo)
Summer sippers BY CATHY BLANKMAN
P
op quiz: Name four different white wine grapes. Are you stumped after two, or maybe three? If you’re not reading up on wine regularly like I am, you may look at a wine list or the shelves at the wine shop and zero in on chardonnay. Every. Single. Time. Familiarity is our comfort zone. Am I right? When all else fails, order the chardonnay. Now don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with chardonnay, the chameleon of white wine grapes. Fun fact: Chardonnay is a versatile white wine grape that will take on different nuances depending on the wine-making process. One A4 | Simply North • Summer 2018
that is aged in oak barrels will often undergo a chemical reaction called malolactic fermentation. This is a process in which malic acid is changed into lactic acid. Look at the nutritional information on a bag of cheese puffs, or white cheddar popcorn. They both list lactic acid as an ingredient because it is what gives that smooth buttery flavor without actual dripping butter. The lactic acid in a chardonnay gives it a wonderfully full and smooth finish, reminiscent of butter. Chardonnay can also be made in an unoaked style that will leave more of the taste of the naked grape intact. In the Chablis region of France, for example, you will get steely, mineral-y notes and the flavors of apple and pear will have a chance to burst through.
Riesling is a white grape widely grown in Germany and Austria to make fruity wines ranging from sweet to dry. The sweetness level is determined by how long it is allowed to ferment. If all of the sugars are used up during fermentation, the resulting wine will be dry. If the fermentation is halted, some sugars will remain and leave the wine slightly sweet to very sweet. Because of this, almost everyone can find a riesling that they like. In addition to Germany and Austria, Washington State makes lovely rieslings as well. Chateau Ste. Michelle and Hogue are both Washington labels that you will find for a reasonable price at your local liquor store. I would categorize their sweetness level as “off dry” which is slightly sweet. Give them a try.
Sauvignon blanc is a white grape that originated in France and is used in their lovely Sancerre and White Bordeaux wines. Bursting with citrus flavors, this light dry wine can be very refreshing and pairs nicely with food. New Zealand has also made a name for itself in the sauvignon blanc trade. The wines from there can have herbal and grass-like aromas. The French versions can be pricey and hard to find in a small town, but worth a try when you get the chance. I would opt for an example from New Zealand or California for an affordable introduction to this summer sipper. Pinot grigio is a white grape used to make dry citrus-y wines in Italy, but is also widely used in the U.S. and Australia where it can exhibit other fruity flavors. It is an easy wine to like because its profile is not extreme in any sense. It has medium body, medium acidity, and medium alcohol. Being “average” in this case is not a bad thing. You will likely pick up a glass of pinot grigio and be very content without saying “Wow!” There will be no slap-across-the-face acidity, nor sugary sweetness, nor funky aromas. Pinot grigio is also known as pinot gris in France and will go by either name in the U.S. or Australia. Many Washington and Oregon wineries produce good pinot grigio, and because it thrives in warmer climates, California also produces a fair amount. A favorite of ours that we can find locally is Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio from Italy. As the temperatures rise and your taste buds crave a cool sip on the deck, it may be time to expand your white wine horizons for the pure enjoyment of it. Whether you are a fan of a buttery chardonnay or one with notes of green apple and minerality, it is time to expand your white wine palette. Pick up a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio or riesling for your next fish fry. Find a new favorite to pair with your shore lunch. By next year you may be delving deeper into the world of white wine with the endless possibilities like Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, or Albariño. Cheers to trying something new! Blankman has earned her WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) level 2 award through the Napa Valley Wine Academy. Her passion for wine is always evolving as she learns and pursues further wine education. If you would like to learn more and see what she is tasting, follow her on Instagram @cathylouwho.
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BY KRIS JACKSON The world of compost is a fascinating one, and can be as complicated as you would like to make it. I like to keep it e a s y - b r e e z y, b y dumping vegetable and fruit peels in our compost, occasionalKRIS ly adding some peat JACKSON or bits of non-printed paper and yard waste, such as grass clippings and leaves. Crushing egg shells helps the decomposition process and provides much needed calcium. Even popping some eggshell pieces into holes when planting tomatoes will give them a lift. Coffee grounds add nitrogen to the compost and some gardeners even make a diluted coffee-water mix to add to their flower beds. If everything is cooking properly in the compost, there should be little smell to it and many bugs working through it. While one barrel is enough for me to maintain, my Canadian friend, Trisch, has two giant wooden structures for her loaded gardens. Composting has been a gardener’s trick for several decades, and you may have
A6 | Simply North • Summer 2018
Don’t forget about your egg shel
ls — they can be composted, too.
memories of your grandparents saving kitchen waste in a coffee can under the sink, just like Trisch and I do. Whether you mix the compost in with your spring soil, or let it settle over the winter while planting mums in the fall, the added nutrients you are giving your plants are similar to gold. If you want to read more on the vast
(Contributed photo)
subject of composting, two websites chock full of suggestions are “The Spruce” and “Gardenista.” My favorite book on all things gardening was a gift from my parents — “Rodale’s All New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.” Jackson is a former Chisago County Master Gardener.
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Simply North • Summer 2018 | A7
The Fab 5 are from the left, Trudy Lepper, Gail Rasmussen, Beth Anderson, Alyce Mannausau and Nancy Johnson. (Photo by Emily Gedde)
The Fab Five BY EMILY GEDDE
A
s soon as Gail Rasmussen announced a memory, Trudy Lepper, the subject of the memory, hung her head and instantly started laughing. With little details given beforehand, she just knew which story it was going to be. Several years ago, Rasmussen recalls watching a blue van push a sawhorse out of a local grocery store parking lot and down Highway 71. In the driver’s seat was Lepper. “I remember thinking, ‘What the heck is she doing?,’” Rasmussen said. On the other side of the story is Lepper, who pushed the object used as an ineffective barricade down the highway unknowingly. “I thought I had a flat tire,” she admitted. Thinking she didn’t have far to go, Lepper said she decided to make it home, but won-
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dered why she was getting so many stares as she traveled down the highway. “I thought I must really be riding on the rim,” she said. Then, to her amusement, the sawhorse slipped away on the ice and Lepper realized what caused the commotion. All she could do is laugh. “We love that she can laugh at herself,” Rasmussen said. Luckily, the incident occurred before social media would have been able to broadcast the humorous mistake to the world, but the women and their close friends haven’t forgotten it. The memory was brought up at a recent gathering of longtime friends at the Coffee Landing Cafe. Lepper and Rasmussen were joined by Nancy Johnson, Alyce Mannausau and Beth Anderson. The group is very unique in that at one time, all four except Anderson
were first grade teachers for Independent School District No. 361. And while Anderson may not have taught alongside the group, her involvement was still strong: She served as their principal. “I call us the Fab 5,” Lepper said. The group share more than four decades of a friendship that has been held tight through celebrations and tragedies, making their bond strong, genuine and one to be admired by those who know them. “We have always supported each other and had each other’s back,” Lepper said. “There’s no jealousy in this group. We’re all always here for each other.” HOLLER CONNECTION The friendship came easily over the shared interest in teaching children. As their careers kicked off, they taught all over the state, country and world. But their connection
truly formed down the hallway at Holler Elementary. “We worked so well together because we shared ideas,” Lepper said. “We cared about not only our individual classes, but also about all of the first graders. Working together for the benefit of all our kids brought us closer together. This is what we wanted the kids to do, too.” Several years after retirement, with the exception of Rasmussen who still frequently serves as a substitute teacher, the women still vividly remember their students and cross paths with some often. Just recently, a former student of Johnson’s served as her doctor in Duluth. Johnson even recalled a detailed assignment she gave the student, but admitted that specific memory didn’t come up during the appointment. “We had so many other things we talked about,” she said. “It was lovely to reconnect.” The other women, too, took the opportunity to travel down memory lane, discussing students who they knew would succeed just from watching them in first grade, to others who needed more of a nudge. “We helped each other out with our students,” Rasmussen said. “Each one of us had advice for the others. We created wonderful memories together.” When asked what memories stand out above others, Mannausau replied, “bunny tracks.” “Oh my gosh,” Rasmussen said laughing. “Alyce, you talked me into that.” During one of their first years of teaching – Mannausau admitted they weren’t too wise yet – she suggested they create the appearance of Easter bunny tracks coming
through the door of Holler School and into the classrooms. “We painted them on the floor with brown tempera,” Mannausau recalled. The kids loved it, the custodian did not. “Lester Gooler was not happy,” Rasmussen said. “He told us we were going to be the ones to clean it up.” One woman held the pail of water while the other worked the mop and the mess was cleaned up after students left the building for the day. “It was a lot of work, but the kids had Easter bunny tracks,” Rasmussen said. “And they loved it.”
family, friends, and whatever was going on at home. Most lasting friendships endure some kind of crisis on one end or another, but for this group, each woman has taken her unfortunate turn in need of consoling. From divorce, to the death of a child, to severe health issues, the person in need knew there were always four sets of shoulders for her to lean on. “It affects all of us,” Johnson said. And the mixture of personalities fits nicely together in their friendship puzzle. “We are all so different,” Rasmussen said. “I think that is what makes us work.”
BONDS FORM The recollection of those kinds of memories made it easy to understand how the friendships with one another came easily to the group. “We were together whether we wanted to be or not,” Rasmussen said with a laugh. “But we loved each other.” Anderson said she was the late comer to the group of first grade teacher friends, but the women said she was a natural fit to their circle. “We always felt Beth’s support at Holler,” Rasmussen said. “Even if sometimes, she didn’t agree with us...we always knew she had our back. She still does.” Johnson said it was their ability to always laugh together that strengthened the bond. “No matter how rotten the day, we could always meet in the hallway after school and laugh,” she said. Mannausau added those talks of the school day would mesh into discussion of
RETIREMENT AND FUTURE Rasmussen and Mannausau retired before the rest of the women and those left still teaching every day said it was difficult to see the two move on to the next phase of their lives. “It was hard to see them go,” Anderson said. “These gals were master teachers and it was huge gap that was left. I remember thinking nobody would be able to fill their shoes.” Now that they’re all retired, the group has made a point to meet at least once a month. It gets challenging in the winter as some of the women travel to warmer climates, but they always stay connected as much as they can. “We’re part of each other’s lives,” Anderson said. “I can’t imagine not keeping up with these gals.” The others nodded in agreement. “We are fortunate to have each other,” Mannausau said. “I don’t know what I’d do without them...No matter what happens, we’ll always have each other in our lives.”
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Don’t Cry Wolf! BY ALAN BURCHELL A story from a big man Who had also been sent “Campaigned” Against Phillipine insurgents. Maybe story’s there to hear and tell? But on Wolf we will Dwell. His friend talking about wolves, mad, So he says, listen, what you say is sad. Overall Wolves are not all bad. As he just had a long winter walk In the Park Figured easily get to and from Before dark. Snowshoeing about three miles Worked checking trail, but all smiles Very cold I was told. Started back Following same track. Slippery rock In the wrong spot Down big man went
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Bad knee twisted and d spent. spent Exteme pain Which hit again No body around to hear a shout Passed out What is this Something nosing, clawing and pushing chest Thick venison breath? Eyes open, big furry eyes in close view What to do? Now Excited and raising too. Female wolf watches, gives ground Turns around With pack Leaving on big man’s track After 30 yards away Looks back Seeing if Big Man is OK.
Simple Solutions
GO NATURAL THIS ALLERGY SEASON The summer months can bring on a plethora of allergy symptoms for many people — these folks can be identified by the watery, red eyes and clutched tissues. Many people choose to suffer with their symptoms rather than submit to the many side effects over-the-counter allergy medicines can bring. Try these natural remedies for seasonal allergies: Start with a non-allergenic diet. Allergens are external, but its the body’s response to them that causes the allergic reactions or symptoms. If a body is loaded with food allergy triggers, the immune system is already compromised and will react to external allergens. Try eliminating wheat, dairy and excess sugar — the most common allergens. Just a spoonful of honey...Consuming local honey produced by bees that live in your area can serve as an immunotherapy
in the same way a doctor may introduce tiny doses of an allergen to reduce sensitivity. As bees collect nectar, they also pick up pollen grains, which gets into the honey creating a homoeopathic immunotherapy. Try a daily dose. Try vitamin C and quercetin. Histamine is released in the body when mast cells, tiny cells in the mucous membranes, are exposed to an allergen. Vitamin C is a mast cell stabilizer and makes these cells less reactive to allergens, reducing the symptoms such as eye irritation, sneezing and a runny nose. Quercetin is a flavonoid that enhances the effects of vitamin C. Try 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C with 500 mgs of quercetin at the first signs of allergies and repeat every four to six hours as needed. Drink stinging nettle leaf tea. Coming into contact with this perennial can give you
a sting, but drinking it is safe. Steep tea for 10-15 minutes to obtain the full benefits of the leaf ’s oils. Give a neti-pot a try. Pollen can become stuck in the nasal passages triggering the inflammatory process that are the symptoms of allergies. Neti-pots wash the allergens out of the nasal passages with salt water. With a little practice, most allergy sufferers can get relief and often make use of a neti-pot part of their daily hygiene routine. At the first sign of an allergy attack, put one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in your neti-pot solution for a natural “sinus flush.” In addition, getting into a habit of drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of ACV and some fresh lemon juice each morning may benefit your daily health in the long run.
we are stronger nger than cancer cancer. y husband was with me every step of the way, helping to
,,
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CAMPING I WITH FIDO?
t’s that time of year, when many of us will sit around a campfire in the evening and then sleep under the stars, with just a tent between us and the great outdoors. Camping can be a great experience for all members of the family, even the four-legged furry ones. Many people plan trips with their canine companions. Here a few things you should know before you go.
What you should know before you go
VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK Where can I take my pet? Pets are allowed at the frontcountry campsites only. Pets are not allowed at the backcountry sites located within the Kabetogama Peninsula. Pets are allowed only on the 1.7-mile Recreation Trail which follows County Road 96 from Highway 11 to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Pets are allowed in the immediate visitor center areas and parking lots. Owner responsibility Pets must be on a six-foot leash, under control and attended to at all times. All pet excrement must be collected and disposed of properly in a trash receptacle. All pets must be vaccinated and possess a valid vaccination tag as required by Koochiching and St. Louis counties.
When camping, keep your dog’s rabies certificate on its collar to help in identifying your pet in the event you become separated. (Photos by Laurel Beager)
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MINNESOTA Pets are welcome in Minnesota’s state parks, as long as they are kept on a leash six feet or shorter and are personally attended to at all times. Only service animals are allowed d in state park buildings, lodging, cabins,, camper cabins, on tours, or in beach areas. Horses: Except on state forest roads orr forest road right-of-ways, anyone riding a horse on land managed by the Departmentt of Natural Resources, including state parks, s, state recreation areas, state trails, and statee forests, must have a valid horse pass in their possession. CANADA Can I bring my pet with me? For U.S. visitors, all pets must be accompanied by their owners when enteringg Canada. Owners of cats and dogs must bringg a certificate issued by a licensed American orr Canadian veterinarian clearly identifying thee pet and certifying that it has been vaccinated d
against rabies sometime during the previous 36 months, said the Sunset Country website. The website goes on to say that travelers may bring into Canada a personal import of pet food (limit of 20 kg), if the import meets all of the following requirements: The pet food or product must be of United States origin and be commercially packaged. The pet food or product must be in the possession of the traveler at the time of entry from the U.S. The animal that will eat the imported product must accompany the traveler at the time of entry. The imported product is fed only to the animal that accompanied the traveler into Canada. Ontario Parks While all Ontario Parks are petfriendly, some offer more than others when it comes to camping with a canine traveling companion. Twelve Ontario Parks offer designated pet exercise areas and beaches. Seventeen more have one or the other.
Know the rules about where your dog may or may not be allowed on a camping trip.
Northwest Region AaronBlue Lake – Exercise only Pakwash – Beach only Quetico – Dawson Trail campground Sandbar Lake – Beach only Lake Superior, Agawa Bay – Exercise only White Lake – Exercise and beach
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Simple Solutions
If plants could talk: ‘CONTAIN ME’
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(Contributed photos)
BY HEIDI JESPERSEN
T
he great thing about using a container for plants is that it doesn’t matter what size of yard you have. While some people prefer a single pot of cheerful flowers near an entry door, others scatter them throughout decks, patios, and steps. Wherever you enjoy seeing them, just make sure adequate sunlight or shade is taken into account. There are a few other things to ensure plants are able to thrive also: SOIL Using proper soil is a must as garden soil is too heavy. Make sure the plants are getting the right amount of water, drainage, and fertilizer. WATERING My father-in-law always said it’s best to water early in the morning. This allows the roots to absorb it without evaporation. You might have to drill holes in your container for drainage if the pot is on the smaller side.
If you have a larger pot, layer in empty water or pop bottles before adding soil. As a bonus, this will create a much lighter container if it needs moving. FERTILIZER There are many fertilizers available but going organic makes more sense when you have what you need already. Cool the water from vegetables you have cooked for dinner and pour it on your plants for a boost of nutrients. However, because this won’t go very far, I have included a few recipes to try (below). Remember... The sky is the limit on types of containers to use. You might like the more traditional urns, terra cotta pots, or cement containers. Inexpensive plastic pots are everywhere with fun colors or earthy tones depending on preference. I enjoy rummaging for old galvanized tubs, buckets, and enamelware — they don’t need to be in perfect shape to look good. A simple piece of hollowed driftwood supporting succulents or an old rotting log are
organic element choices just laying around waiting to be used. Some of you will prefer vegetables to harvest over flowers in your containers — it’s great to have both. Cherry tomatoes are not only good fillers but nice to pop in your mouth while out watering, as well. Whatever you decide, as always, have fun with it. GRASS TEA Fill a 5 gallon bucket about 2/3 full of grass clippings. Top off with water about one inch from the lip. Let steep 72 hours, but stir once a day. Strain the grass clippings, then dilute one part tea to one part water. Your plants will love the nitrogen. EPSOM SALT FERTILIZER Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salts with one gallon of water. Use once a month. This is high in both magnesium and sulfur. Before applying, make sure plants are watered well. Drought stress can draw up too much salt from the fertilizer. Simply North • Summer 2018 | A15
T I F G N I STAY IN BORDERLAND BY ASHLEY HALL
Co-owner, Evolve U Fitness & Wellness
I
was born and raised in southeastern North Carolina where we surfed, skated, windsurfed, swam, kayaked,
A16 | Simply North • Summer 2018
canoed, snorkeled, wake-boarded, sailed, walked, ran, biked, played every sport outdoors, roller-bladed, fished and lived with sand between our toes. We lived in bathing suits and rainbows (flip-flops), swore saltwater could fix anything and
momma had to make us come inside at night or we just camped out. Our diet was veggies from the garden, watermelon, fresh seafood and lots of vitamin D. We didn’t think about health and fitness because we were so active,
About the author Ashley Hall has been in the fitness industry since 2004 and has had the opportunity to work for some of the industry’s most recognized names. As a co-owner of Evolve U Fitness & Wellness in International Falls, she has taught a variety of classes and designed numerous weight loss challenges, boot camps and personalized programs.
ways to stay fit in Koochiching County. We have lots of beautiful hiking and biking trails, there is a 5-mile loop in town, you can swim at City Beach (or any part of the lake that is accessible to you) and in Ranier there is actually fitness equipment at the park. While your kids play, you are able to jump on an outdoor elliptical or do some strength training. If you are willing to make an initial investment, I recommend kayaking or canoeing. Not only are they the perfect way to explore Rainy Lake, but they are amazing workouts as well. Want to challenge yourself even more? Grab a paddleboard! More and more outdoor fitness classes are popping up in our area, we have a variety of 5-kilometer races throughout the season and if you have a boat, give skiing and/or wakeboarding a try. Some people are lucky enough to have a cabin; would I ever recommend coming in from the lake and exercising? Um, no! There are plenty of exercises that you can do right at your cabin. Grab a yoga mat
JEANNE CORRIN
- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
we didn’t worry about the fact that our seafood was fried because we were 16 — who worries about what they eat when they’re 16? Well, as you have figured out, times have changed; I’ve gotten a little bit older, I now live up here in the breathtaking Borderland and I co-own a fitness facility (where I typically encourage indoor fitness). While my surroundings have changed from saltwater to freshwater; I have actually figured out there are many similarities between North Carolina and Minnesota. Many of the same activities I grew up doing can be done right here in the Icebox of the Nation. We have the same opportunity to be outside that anyone else does, we have the same opportunity to get fit that everyone else does and we have no reason not to live healthy. We have a plethora of fruits and veggies at our local markets, on almost every corner someone has a garden or is selling fresh produce and we can go catch some of the best fish I’ve ever tasted in one of the most gorgeous national parks I’ve been to. While eating is typically the hardest part for most people, up here staying active during the summer proves to be the bigger challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of opportunities to tie fitness into your daily routine. Simply walking or biking to work is the easiest way to get in extra activity. Try it, you might surprise yourself and like it. Once you create the routine of walking to work, there won’t be any other option. Aside from adding fitness to your daily commute, there are endless free
or towel and get going. These exercises can be done in any order. For a different workout, try doing a different number of repetitions or do the exercises for time. You can even add dumbbells to some of the following to challenge yourself even more: Push-ups Reverse crunches Squats Burpees Walking lunges Bear crawl Crunches Wall-sit Tricep dips Sprints Jumping jacks High knees Mountain climbers Butt kicks Planks Bicycle crunches The list truly goes on and on. I encourage you to take your fitness routine outside and enjoy the weather, or if you haven’t started exercising, now is the time. Just start simple by walking or biking. If you want to make a change in your life, don’t wait for tomorrow, don’t wait for the right time, no need to wait on another person to start. Start making small changes today. Do something you’ve never done and watch things happen that you have never experienced. Only you can make a positive change in your life. Stay tuned for how to stay fit in the fall and winter here in the Borderland from this North Carolina beach gal.
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Simply North • Summer 2018 | A17
On trend
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Jumpin´ for joy BY KELLY FRANZ AND KATRINA HEIBEL Co-owners, Eleven Seventy-One Boutique
T
he 1970s called and they want their jumpsuits back. Jokes on them, because they are here to stay. These all-in-one outfits are everywhere this summer and come in a wide range of styles, colors, and patterns. The head-to-toe garments are a statement piece that create a striking look that moves beyond a dress, or top and bottom combination, and heads into more fashionable territories. It may take some searching, but we truly think there is a jumpsuit out there for everyone. Selecting a jumpsuit is just like choosing any other article of clothing. A fit that flatters your body shape is key. Slim fitting jumpsuits with straight legs are ideal for a more petite and slender figure. This style is great for shorter girls because it can give the illusion of length. Curvier body types should look for a jumpsuit with a cinched waist. This cut creates a nice silhouette that shows off beautiful curves and hides the areas you want hidden. For taller girls, a wide-leg jumpsuit that finishes just above the ground will be a showstopper.
(Contributed (Contrib ted photos)
Simply North • Summer 2018 | A19
SURVIVAL IN THE NORTHERN WILDERNESS THE SAGA CONTINUES: PART III AND IV BY MIKE HANSON
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ditor’s note: The following are the third and fourth chapters about the woman who became Mrs. Violet M. Kielczewsi, who was born in 1911, and her life in early Borderland. Parts I and II were published in the spring 2018 edition of “Simply North.” We left Violet after she had married Orrah, gave birth to two sons, and moved to Kettle Falls. PART III Orrah Jr. was so diminutive at birth that he fit in the palm of his father’s hand; his hands so tiny they were translucent. Orrah and Violet moved to Kettle Falls, Minn., to be closer to medical assistance for their baby and, in fact, when he was seven months old he had diarrhea so bad they brought him to the Fort Frances medical facility. Orrah sold his old Eldow outboard motor to buy medicine for Jr. Upon returning to Kettle Falls Violet, outside of seeing her mother-inlaw once in a while, never saw another white woman for five years. The only women she saw were Indian and they would stop by for a visit on their way to the blueberry picking grounds. Violet found the characters who resided in that neck of the woods quite amusing including “Wakemup” who got that name because he would cry so loudly in the middle of the night the entire family would be roused. Old “Katermeran’s” real name was Burt Upton — the Kat wore long straggly hair, a beard and went barefoot all winter. Violet described him as a 19th century hippie. One day Burt died on the trail when he was walking back to his cabin. When they found him, they just dug a hole and buried him right there. “Mushroom Frank” lived in a root cellar hence his moniker. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ward were in the area. Frank loved nature and ate all things wild. Mrs. Ward A20 | Simply North • Summer 2018
About The Author Mike Hanson, a f o r m e r Koochiching County commissioner, notes he has a keen interest in people who settled here, what challenges they encountered, and espeMIKE cially what they HANSON took for granted. He finds it interesting to see how the foundation of what they did back then affects people today.
loved the city, she even wore a pair of spiked heels out in the bush. Violet’s cabin floor had been built using what boards and planks they salvaged off the beaches, and they were uneven, one day Mrs. Ward knocked the cleat off her heel and, according to Violet, “she got madder than a wet setting hen.” Mrs. Ward complained so much about her quality of life that they packed up and moved to Minneapolis where Frank was later killed in an automobile accident. And then there was son Wesley, when Orrah and Violet went to Fort Frances to get medicine for Orrah Jr. they had a doctor examine Wesley because he couldn’t talk — the doctor snipped a bit of the tissue under his tongue but it didn’t do much good. Later his dad slit the tissue under his tongue again but according to Violet it didn’t make much difference either, then Orrah Jr. got old enough to start jabbering and Wesley started saying words and forming sentences. Times were tough. According to Violet, Orrah wasn’t making enough money to buy “a canary bird a pair of leggings,” he couldn’t buy clothes for his family. Violet took white
flour sacks and made baby clothes and shirts for Orrah. She took gunnysacks and washed them until they became soft and made bath and hand towels from them. Orrah was still wearing the same wool underwear that he purchased long before they were married — she darned, mended and patched the holes until it looked like he was wearing a patchwork quilt, his overalls the same. Her children many years later laughed at the picture of Wesley and the first pair of pants she made him, they said he looked like a beaver. Violet learned to make moccasins, mitts, shirts, parkas, and even pants from buckskin, sans a sewing machine, all by hand. Violet didn’t have much for herself, no long underwear or warm stockings, so she wrapped old rags around her knees and legs to keep them from freezing. One year, stingy dry-ice winter greeted them with obstructive challenges. Orrah had too many dogs and they soon ran out of food; starvation eyed them. Orrah took to skinning out the feet of moose and Violet boiled the bones until they fell apart at the joints and the gristle became soft so they could gnaw at them and break them open to eat the marrow. Soon the moose feet became scarce. Try as he might there were no moose or deer to be found; they talked about shaving the hair off the moose hides and boil them for food. One day Violet had a premonition telling Orrah to go hunting. He came back with a moose heart and liver hanging from his belt. That night they had fried moose liver for supper and even Wesley took pieces from Orrah’s hand and chomped it down. According to Violet, the reason for Wesley’s shyness was that his dad never paid any attention to him. Violet trusted “Bernarr MacFadden’s Encyclopedias on Health and Natural Methods.” Violet was 21 years old in 1932 and was expecting her third child when both she and Wesley came down with typhoid fever. Now what?
Bernarr McFadden, author of the book that Violet used to get her through illness and injury in the wild.
PART IV Violet and son Wesley came down with typhoid fever; 21-year-old Violet was pregnant with her third child. Violet didn’t know what it was that made her so sick so she consulted “Bernarr MacFadden’s Encyclopedia on Health and Natural Methods.” She found out what to do but grew sicker and weaker so all she could do was just lay; you have to fast as many as 10 days drinking only water. Both Violet and Wesley were terribly sick and near death. Everyday Orrah would row across the lake to get culled fish to feed the dogs, leaving the family alone. Violet was too sick to even care for her babies. According to Violet, at one point she was so delirious and so oblivious of what she was doing she jumped off of a cliff into deep water, but she couldn’t swim. She never did remember the ordeal but Orrah jumped in, and with his teeth, took her by her long hair and swam ashore with her. Orrah’s behavior became stout and she believes that he never left her side after that episode. One day she woke up to see Orrah down on his knees by her bed, he was blowing his nose and had tears running down his cheeks and she just knew that he had also been praying for her. After 10 days of fasting, Violet’s fever subsided, she started to feel better and both her and Wesley broke their fast by drinking broth and milk and gradually started eating solid foods. She quickly regained her strength. According to Violet, Orrah was a stubborn and cruel man; he cursed and swore a lot but
Violet as a young woman. (Photos from the Koochiching County Historical Society)
Did you know? The Koochiching Museum galleries feature 10,000 years of Borderland history. Exhibits document the northern Minnesota region including Native history and culture, European settlement, and the exploitation of natural resources through the fur trade to modern forestry. The Bronko Nagurski Museum is a lasting tribute to this 1930’s sports legend. This is this only museum in America dedicated to this All American Minnesota Gopher and NFL Hall of Famer Chicago Bear. As any sportsperson knows, Bronko Nagurski may have been the greatest football player of all time. Contact (218)283-4316 (218)283-4316 (Fax) 214 6th Avenue International Falls, MN 56649 US https://www.koochichingmuseums.org/ koochmuseums@gmail.com
she knew that deep down inside of him he had a heart of gold and that, through much prayer and sacrifice on her part, it could be brought to the surface. Violet reported that years later, through a miracle, it did happen. Violet heeded the advice in her health encyclopedia, and one day one of her children started choking and she turned him on his
stomach over her knee and gave him a firm slap across the shoulders and the upper part of the back which sent the object flying across the floor. A neighbor marveled at how she handled her children during emergencies; he told her that he and his wife not knowing what to do had just watched their children choke to death. One day Orrah left Violet without firewood so she took an ax and Swede saw and cut enough wood to do her for a couple of days. “That did it!” Orrah never cut any more wood for her so she got that job, too, and he began to heap more and more work on her. She not only cut the wood but she carried all of her wash water from the lake to cook with, bathe and wash clothes. In Violet’s words “there was never ever any end to the work and Orrah began to treat her like an Indian squaw, no that wasn’t right, the Indian men treated their wives better than Orrah treated her.” The Indian children had shoes; hers had to walk over the hot rocks on their bare feet. The roof began to leak, and Orrah wouldn’t fix it, so she beach-combed what boards she could find and fixed the roof, however Orrah did look after the kids and cook the meals while she did the repair. Violet made frames of poplar poles to stretch deer hides; after they were dry she started the task of shaving the hair off the hides with a training knife that Orrah had made from an old file on a forge. Violet wasted nothing, she kept the deer hair to make mattresses and saved all the partridge, goose and duck feathers to make robes, pillows and comforters. Orrah was away and Violet’s third baby was coming. On the way home to help with her delivery he shot a moose and because it was near their home he loaded the moose on his toboggan and hauled it home before dressing it out. Violet held the kerosene lantern when he dressed out the moose. Floyd Everett was born an hour later. Orrah always told him that he ate his first piece of moose liver that night because he licked the olive oil from Orrah’s hands while he was bathing him with it. Delivering the babies made Orrah start to realize that parents have to bond and comfort their children; he never did this with Wesley, his first born, and years later he wished he would have been different. Next up: the kids grow, mushrooms can be poisonous, Orrah cuts timber, blueberries were a cash crop, and they fix up an old abandoned log house. Simply North • Summer 2018 | A21
Above - Basshenge, an unmarked sculpture grouping 21 steel monoliths built by Joseph Guastafeste, still sits in a field just off Highway 11 along Rainy River near Birchdale. (Photo by Emily Gedde) Right - This photo from 2011 shows Joseph Guastafeste as he poses next to Basshenge, which sits in a field off Highway 11 near Birchdale. The steel sculptures have rusted and naturally weathered, just the way Guastafeste hoped they would. (File photo)
Barely seen, not forgotten REQUEST FOR BASSHENGE INFO STRONG AS EVER BY EMILY GEDDE
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everal years after a “Simply North” story told the history of a northern Minnesota monument, the request for copies still frequently surfaces. In 2011, former Journal reporter Liala Helal made the about 40-mile drive to Birchdale to capture the story of Basshenge and interview A22 | Simply North • Summer 2018
the artist, Joseph Guastafeste, responsible for the structure. “That was so long ago,” Helal said this week when asked about her experience writing the story. “That was one of my favorite stories to write.” Basshenge is an unmarked sculpture grouping 21 steel monoliths, which sits on
property Guastafeste and his wife donated to the project. Shaped of the string bass and arranged in the configuration of a bass clef, it was built to model Stonehenge, but not to necessarily be noticed. Helal remember spending a considerable amount of time with Guastafeste as he told the story of how Basshenge came to be, before accompanying the reporter to the field where
it sits. Helal recalls watching the artist as he talked about his work. “He was glowing with pride,” she said. “I remember there were so many intriguing aspects of his artwork, it was hard to make my story concise.” The Journal staff felt because inquiries are still frequent about the history behind Basshenge, that in light of its nearly-17th anniversary of completion on July 4, it was time to re-share the story of the sculpture and how it came to sit in a field just off Highway 11 along Rainy River near Birchdale. WHAT IS BASSHENGE? Basshenge consists of nine groups of two instruments, standing six feet high, linked by musical staffs and circled around three larger sculptures of bass instruments, which stand 10 feet high. On the staffs hang musical notations and images recalling the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Cardinal and Theological Virtues. On purpose, Guastafeste never displayed a sign to explain any of it. “The purpose was just to build what I imagined to be something cool,” he said i 2011. “I don’t want to make a public thing out of it. I want it to naturally be here, and if people see it, they can stop and take a look.” The vision first surfaced when Guastafeste and his wife, Bronte Jornod — both artists — were living in Chicago and watched a video on Stonehenge. It was Jornod who nudged her husband and suggested Basshenge. With the thought etched in his mind, Guastafeste said he knew he had to make the idea a reality. BRINGING BASSHENGE TO LIFE The journey to create the 93-foot spiral with 21 columns supporting steel sculptures shaped like basses was a fun one, Guastafeste said during the 2011 interview with Helal. At first, he wanted World War II metal basses, used as sturdy and portable instruments on boats during wartime for the project. After placing ads in several magazines, someone called with one for $2,000. The price tag was too high and Guastafeste contacted the Interlochen Academy, a music camp in Michigan, and got a metal bass that wasn’t being used. The search for more metal pieces continued. At the time, Guastafeste was directing and playing in a concert and was in search of a violin. Richard Hunt, a well known artist,
agreed to sculpt one at the last minute. The finish product amazed Guastafeste. That was the starting point of the Basshenge sculptures. Another artist, Matthew Owens, joined Guastafeste and Hunt in creating the three larger bass instruments. They’re arranged in place of the geographical direction of the home state of each artist. LOCAL IMPACT Using photos as a guide, Leland Nelson, a welder from Birchdale, cut the instruments from steel. He warned Guastafeste he works with regular steel — not stainless — and feared it would rust. “I thought, ‘That’s perfect,’” he said. “I want it to rust and look natural.” Other local experts were also used in the project. Eugene Mollberg, a Baudette-based cement contractor, created the concrete footings for the monoliths, which required digging holes nine feet deep, below the freeze line. “We dug holes in the middle of spring and it was the wettest spring we had in years,” Guastafeste recalled of the weather 17 years ago. “The field was flooded and bogged down in water.” The cement truck couldn’t make it into the lot without getting stuck, so workers hired by Guastafeste pushed wheelbarrows of cement and poured it into the holes. “They did an enormous amount of work,” Guastafeste said. “I was very happy with the way it turned out. This would never have been successful if it wasn’t somewhere like this. New York or Chicago – this would never happen.” OFFICIAL COMPLETION Basshenge was officially completed July 4, 2001, earning it a spot in Birchdale’s Fourth of July festivities that summer. Everyone involved helped complete the project, costing about $25,000, in less than a year. Some told Guastafeste, now 88, he was crazy to spend so much money and do so much work for something people might see, but he sees it differently. “I couldn’t have spent the money any better,” he said. “I love sculpture.” And while some suggested he make it more visible as grass continued to grow around the sculptures, Guastafeste said it is taking shape just how he originally pictured it — rust and all. “It will be here long after my child and grandchildren are underground,” he said.
There is no sign explaining what Basshenge is or who built it — on purpose. (Photo by Emily Gedde)
More information For anyone still left wondering why Basshenge is not more visible or why there isn’t at least a sign with the name of the art, Guastafeste created a Basshenge brochure called “Basshenge: The Delight of Perpetual Discovery.” The brochure contains a statement that Guastafeste read in the summer of 2001, “Complete Illuminated Books of William Blake,” that might explain why the sculptures are meant to retain a little mystery and somewhat tease those who see it: “The motive is to lead the reader into a process of perpetual discovery, without the closure give to simple understanding. It is for the reader to tease out meanings, make connections, get to know the pieces — and the process — to move further into the work.” The brochure ends with, “The creators of Basshenge wish that same delight in perpetual discovery for its viewers.”
“Nothing will wreck this — I made sure of it.” This story includes contributions from the story written by Liala Helal and published in the Fall 2011 edition of “Simply North.” Simply North • Summer 2018 | A23
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