Zest for 50+ living July 2014 by Big Fish Works

Zest For 50+ living

Combining flowers family history

Donna Whitcomb incorporates items from her century-old family farm into her four flower gardens

Three Litchfield veterans take Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Explore Medicare before you turn 65

Hutchinson couple marks 70 years with 70 yard signs

JULY 2014

FREE!

Calendar of events Litchfield Watercade Litchfield will celebrate Watercade July 10-13. Activities include fireworks, golf tournament, parade, art in the park, medallion hunt, 4-mile run, fishing contest, Little Crow water ski show, and coronation.

RiverSong Music Festival RiverSong Music Festival is July 1819 and includes live American music along the Crow River in Masonic West River Park.

Cosmos Space Festival Cosmos’ annual Space Festival will be July 18-20, and includes the crowning of Little Miss Universe and Man in the Moon, fireworks and parade.

Lester Prairie’s Prairie Days Lester Prairie’s Prairie Days will be July 18-19. Activities include an allschool reunion, beanbag tournament, parade and fireworks.

‘Les Misérables’ Dassel-Cokato Community Theatre and Community Education will present six performances of “Les Misérables.” The musical is set in 19th-century France, where Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by a ruthless policeman after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker’s daughter. The decision changes their lives. Performances are 7 p.m. July 19 and July 24-26, and at 2 p.m. July 20 and 27 at Dassel-Cokato Performing Arts Center. Call D-C Community Education at 320-286-4120 for tickets.

‘Brigadoon’ Litchfield Community Theatre will present “Brigadoon.” The classic musical is about two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a Scottish village that appears for one day every 100 years. One of the tourists falls in love with a woman from Brigadoon, revealing a love that transcends time. Performances will be at 7 p.m. July 2426 and at 2 p.m. July 26-27 at Bernie Aaker Auditorium in Meeker County Family Service Center, Litchfield.

Meeker County Fair Meeker County Fair will take place

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FILE PHOTO

The Meeker County Fair will take place July 31-Aug. 3 at the Meeker County Fairgrounds in Litchfield.The McLeod County County Fair will be Aug. 13-17 at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. July 31-Aug. 3 at the Meeker County Fairgrounds in Litchfield. It features traditional activities, such as exhibits, livestock shows, a carnival, exhibitors, live music and demolition derbies, as well as senior day and kids’ day.

Silver Lake’s Pola-Czesky Days Silver Lake’s Pola-Czesky Days are Aug. 1-3 and feature live music, a flea market, parade, food and fireworks.

Watkins’ Kraut and Wurst Day Watkins Kraut and Wurst Day will be Aug. 1-2, when area residents celebrate their German heritage with a parade, cow drop raffle and, of course, a feast of sauerkraut and bratwurst.

Winsted Summer Festival Winsted’s Summer Festival will be Aug. 8-10 with events that include a street dance, fireworks and parade.

Heatwole Threshing Show Take in threshing demonstrations and see more than 150 tractors on display during the Heatwole Threshing Show Aug. 8-9. Crafts and flea market vendors, blacksmith shop, engines and equipment displays, and other demonstrations on Walden Avenue, six miles southwest of Hutchinson.

Darwin Twine Ball Celebration Darwin celebrates its twine ball Aug. 9. Dubbed the World’s Largest Twine Ball Collected by One Person, the spherical collection is celebrated with parade, mini-rod races, craft fair and pork chop dinner.

Antique Car Run The New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run with vehicles from 1908 and earlier covers 120 miles on Aug. 9. Stops in the past have included Grove City, Litchfield and Kingston.

Minnesota Garlic Festival The premier event for lovers of garlic will be Aug. 9 at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. This festival features food, celebrity chefs, music, area artisans, games and lots of garlic — all in support of sustainable farms and rural communities in Minnesota.

Cokato Corn Carnival Cokato’s Corn Carnival, where residents serve up free corn on the cob will be Aug. 11-13. There also will be other activities, including a parade and live music.

McLeod County Fair McLeod County celebrates tradition and agriculture with its annual County Fair Aug. 13-17 at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. It features traditional fair activities, such as exhibits and showing livestock, carnival rides, exhibitors, live music, AutoCross and demolition derbies.

Email calendar information to Juliana Thill at thill@independentreview.net or call her at 320-593-4808 or 320-234-4172.

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CONTENTS In the news: The

For 50+ living

Weseloh kids plant 70 hearts in their parents’ yard to mark their 70th wedding anniversary L

JULY 2014 Vol. 5 No. 5

PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 921, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266 Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000

EDITOR Juliana Thill thill@independentreview.net 320-593-4808 Litchfield office 320-234-4172 Hutchinson office

Donna Whitcomb’s century farm

6 Senior spotlight:

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jenny Berg, Kaylee Kruschke

Three Litchfield veterans take one-day Honor Flight to see memorials in Washington, D.C.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin True true@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4141 SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Penny Stuber 320-234-4142 stuber@hutchinsonleader.com PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road NW Hutchinson, MN 55350 Zest is published monthly by the Litchfield Independent Review and Hutchinson Leader newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

story: Family history 10 Cover and flower beds intertwine on L

PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4143

Health: Healthy foods to eat to help lose weight

Money matters: Understand Medicare before turning 65

Social Security: A change in your living arrangements could require a call to Social Security to update their records

14 Recipes: Strawberry Muffins, Hot Cinnamon Fireworks Cake JULY 2014 | ZEST

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ne of the talents or skills I lack is gardening. My mom has a wonderful green thumb, and my grandmother had beautiful flower gardens years ago. But I, regretfully, never learned much about gardening from them. So, I’m impressed by those who have lush gardens and also a bit envious of their knowledge and time they have to spend outdoors waterJuliana Thill ing, weeding, planting, and nurturEditor ing. This month, we feature Donna Whitcomb who has four beautiful flower gardens in addition to her vegetable garden on her Grove City century-old farm. Her family history is rooted deep in her thought process as she incorporates items such as a cream separator, antique chair and a wooden wagon wheel into her gardens for added appeal. Read about her gardens, maternal green thumb, and the interesting landmark that draws history buffs to her farm. On the facing page is a story about a loving tribute three grown children made to their parents who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Datlaf and Phyllis Weseloh of Hutchinson woke up to quite a sight in their front lawn. For some people, seven years of marriage can seem like a long time. Seventy years is remarkable. Our Money Matters columnist offers some helpful advice for Baby Boomers. When you turn 65 you become eligible for Medicare. But you have to enroll in it. If you miss the initial window to sign up for certain parts of Medicare and later decide to enroll, you could pay significantly higher premiums for the rest of your life. Read Jason Alderman’s column to understand your options. We also have a story about three World War II veterans of Litchfield who visited Washington, D.C., with the Honor Flight Network to tour monuments all in one whirlwind day. It was a wonderful way to honor and thank the men who served our country. This July 4, we celebrate our independence and are grateful for all who served.

HEALTH

Eat high-fiber foods to lose weight Want to lose weight? Eat more fiber. High-fiber foods generally take longer to chew. This gives your body time to register when you’re no longer hungry, so you’re less likely to overeat. And high-fiber foods tend to make you feel full longer, so you won’t be as ravenous later. Finally, high-fiber foods tend to have fewer calories for the same volume of food. Choose whole grains and whole-grain products, fruits and vegetables, beans, and peas and other legumes. — Mayo Clinic staff

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IN THE NEWS

Children decorate parents’ yard to celebrate 70th anniversary By Kaylee Kruschke

Datlaf and Phyllis Weseloh’s three children — Kimberly, Reed and Chip — surprised their parents on their 70th wedding anniversary by having 70 red hearts placed in their yard.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

t’s not every day you wake up to 70 bright, red hearts in your front lawn, but that’s what greeted Datlaf and Phyllis Weseloh on a recent June morning. The couple, who celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary June 10, said they were shocked to see the surprise that was waiting for them in their front yard. “I looked out this window and said something’s wrong in the yard,” Datlaf said. He noticed the 70 red hearts in their yard at 2:30 a.m., but waited until 7 a.m. to wake Phyllis and show her what their children had done to wish them a happy 70th anniversary. “They are probably one of the closest couples I know,” Lois Weseloh, daughter-in-law, said. “They’re still very much in love with each other. We feel

PHOTO BY KAYLEE KRUSCHKE

so blessed to have them around.” The couple met in 1938 at a local roller rink. Now, 76 years later, Datlaf and Phyllis are still together. They were married June 10, 1944, at Cokato Evangelical Lutheran Church. Their union was blessed with three children, Kimberly, Reed and Chip. In 1957, they built their home,

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which they still live in, along the Crow River in Hutchinson. The couple now has 11 grandsons, six great-granddaughters and two great-grandsons. “I don’t know if there’s a secret (to marriage),” Datlaf said. “We’ve been very active.” “We’ve had a very happy life,” Phyllis said.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Litchfield veterans take Honor Flight Litchfield residents Wayne Bonkrude, Bruce Cottington, and Harry Lindbloom — all World War II veterans — board an airplane April 22 bound for Washington, D.C.The trip, part of the Honor Flight program, was free to the veterans.

Cottington, Lindbloom, Bonkrude visit memorials, other sites in Washington, D.C., during single-day trip By Jenny Berg CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ruce Cottington was only 16 years old when he was sworn into the Navy in 1943 — the same year Harry Lindbloom was drafted into the Army. Two years later, Wayne Bonkrude entered the Navy. The three men, all Litchfield residents, are members of the “nation’s greatest generation” who selflessly served their country during World War II. And on April 22, the three men visited Washington, D.C., with the Honor Flight Network to tour the monuments built in their honor. Forty World War II veterans and 60 Korean War veterans traveled from St. Cloud, Minn., to the nation’s capital on the Honor Flight, which was funded by donations. The veterans visited multiple memorials, including the World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Lincoln, Air Force, Iwo Jima, Navy and Women in Military Service memorials. The group also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and attended The Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Cottington, 87, said he enjoyed visiting the Navy Memorial because he is a “plank owner,” or original member, of the committee formed to create the memorial, he said. “Well, of course visiting the Navy Memorial was important to me, because I helped promote it,” he said, adding, “I think all of them meant a lot to me, because everyone has a separate story.” Lindbloom, 91, last visited Washington, D.C., about 40 years ago. Much has changed since then, he said, including the addition of new memorials such as the World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Air Force memorials. Lindbloom said he remembers Arlington National Cemetery, but the cemetery’s size is “mind boggling.” “As I remembered it from before, it

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SUBMITTED PHOTOS

wasn’t this large,” Lindbloom said of the cemetery. “But it’s expansive, huge now. You drive through and you go around a corner and there’s another hill. It’s mind boggling how big it is.” Bonkrude, 87, said his favorite part of the trip was the surprise mail call on the airplane, which was reminiscent of the mail calls during his service years. Once in flight, “Mail Call” was yelled and cards and letters from friends and relatives were handed out to the veterans. “I thought the mail call was a very emotional thing,” Bonkrude said, noting he received letters from his children and grandchildren. “I didn’t expect it.” Reading letters from loved ones even spurred Bonkrude to get in touch with his grandson, who is in the service. “I sat down and wrote a letter to him. He said it’s the first letter he got,” Bonkrude said. “It brought a smile to his face.” Gaylen Heacock Jr. of Litchfield, commander of Minnesota VFW District 6, attended the Honor Flight as the guardian, or escort, to Cottington and Bonkrude. “It was very emotional,” Heacock said of the mail call. “There were not many dry eyes.” When the veterans returned to the St. Cloud Airport after the single-day trip, about 200 people gathered to welcome them home with cheers and

Gaylen Heacock Jr., commander of Minnesota VFW District 6, stands by World War II veterans Bruce Cottington, center, and Wayne Bonkrude in Washington, D.C. hand shakes. “This is how people welcome home veterans nowadays,” Heacock said. Jenny Berg is a reporter with the Litchfield Independent Review.

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Medicare might pay for walkers, other medical equipment used at home Dear Marci, My doctor told me that he would write me a prescription for a walker that I need. I need this walker to get around inside of my home. I have a Medicare Advantage plan. Will Medicare help pay for my walker? — Glen Dear Glen, Medicare can help pay for walkers and other types of medical equipment you use at home if they are considered to be Durable Medical Equipment. According to Medicare rules, an item is considered to be DME if it: N Serves a medical purpose; N Can be used in the home; “Dear Marci” N Can be used over and over is a service of the again; Medicare Rights N Is likely to last for three Center, the largest years or more; and independent N Is prescribed by your doctor source of Medicare or other health care professional. information and Other examples of DME assistance in the include wheelchairs, power scootUnited States. For ers, oxygen tanks, and diabetic more information, testing supplies. go online to www. Since you get your Medicare medicarerights.org. benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan, also known as a Medicare private health plan, you should contact your plan directly to learn about your plan’s rules for covering DME. Your plan most likely will require you to get your walker from an in-network supplier, a supplier that is contracted by the plan to provide DME to plan members. Also, check to see whether you need to get prior approval from your plan, before getting your walker. Some plans may require you to get prior approval from them first, before they will help pay for the DME you need. Rules are slightly different for those who get their Medicare benefits through Original Medicare, the traditional Medicare program administered directly through the federal government. In general, most people with Original Medicare are affected by the DME Competitive Bidding Program, a program that lowers the costs of many types of DME for certain people with Original Medicare. Those affected by the Competitive Bidding Program need to get specific types of DME from Medicare contract suppliers, which are qualified, accredited suppliers that have been selected by Medicare to provide DME at lower costs. Those who have Original Medicare and are not affected by the Competitive Bidding Program can generally get DME at the lowest cost, if they use Medicare-certified suppliers that take assignment, meaning they accept the Medicareapproved amount for DME as full payment. — Marci

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MONEY MATTERS

Explore Medicare before turning 65 Understand, choose right options for your situation

ach day, approximately 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 – and thereby become eligible for Medicare. But becoming eligible for and actually enrolling in Medicare are two different things. In fact, if you miss the initial window to sign up for certain parts of Medicare and later decide to enroll, you could wind up paying significantly higher premiums for the rest of your life. If you’re approaching 65, get familiar with these Medicare basics now: Medicare provides benefits to people age 65 and older (and those under 65 with certain disabilities or endstage renal disease). For most people, the initial enrollment period is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month they turn 65. If you miss that window, you can enroll between Jan.1 and March 31 each year, although your coverage won’t begin until July 1. Medicare offers several plans and coverage options, including: N Medicare Part A helps cover inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility and hospice services, as well as home health care. Most people pay no monthly premium for Part A, provided they or their spouse have paid FICA taxes for at least 40 calendar quarters. N Medicare Part B helps cover medically necessary doctor’s services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment and many preventive services. It’s optional and has a monthly premium. For most people there’s a $147 yearly deductible; after that’s met, you’ll be responsible for 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount of the service, provided the doctor or other provider accepts Medicare. N Medicare Part C (Advantage) plans are offered by Medicareapproved private insurers as alternatives to Original Medicare Parts A and B. Most cover prescription drugs and some include additional benefits

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such as dental and vision coverage for an extra cost. You’re usually required to use the plan’s doctor, hospital and pharmacy provider network, which may be more restrictive than providers you can access through Parts A and B. Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. It’s optional and carries a monthly premium. These privately run plans vary widely in terms of cost, copayments and deductibles and medications covered. If you’re enrolled in a Part C plan that includes drug coverage, you don’t need Part D. Many people purchase additional Medigap (or Medicare Supplemental) insurance, which is offered by private insurers and helps pay for many items not covered by Medicare. Medigap plans can vary widely in terms of cost, covered benefits and states participating so compare your options carefully. Keep in mind: N For all Medicare plans, deductibles, copayments and

Medicare provides benefits to people age 65 and older (and those under 65 with certain disabilities). For most people, the initial enrollment period is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month they turn 65. If you miss that window, you can enroll between Jan. 1 and March 31 each year.

coinsurance may apply, depending on the service provided. N With Parts B and D, you’ll often face sizeable penalties if you don’t enroll when first becoming eligible – Part B premiums could increase 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t sign up (the Part D penalty is more complicated); however, if you’re currently covered by an employer’s plan you can enroll later without penalty. N Terms of Advantage and Part D plans such as premiums, co-payments and covered medications can change from year to year, so carefully review enrollment materials from your current plans to make sure they still match your needs. Understanding and choosing the right Medicare options for your individual situation can be a complicated and time-consuming process. For assistance, call 800-633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov, where you’ll find “Medicare & You 2014,” a detailed guide that explains Medicare in easyto-understand language, and tools to compare prescription plans, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and Medigap plans in your area.

A change in living arrangements must be reported to Social Security

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I applied for Disability benefits, but was denied. I’d like to appeal. Can I do it online?

Yes. In fact, the best way to file a Social Security appeal is online. Our online appeal process is convenient and secure. Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/appeal to appeal the decision. For people who don’t have access to the Internet, you can call us at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778) to schedule an appointment to visit your local Social Security office to file your appeal.

Q: A:

My dad receives Supplemental Security Income benefits. He soon will be coming to live with me. Does he have to report the move to Social Security?

Q: A:

I run a small business and I am hiring a few employees. How can I recognize a valid Social Security card?

Yes. He should report any change in his living arrangements within 10 days. The change may affect his benefit amount. Also, we need his correct address so we can send correspondence when needed, even if he receives his payments electronically. He can report the change by mail or in person at a Social Security office. Or, have him call Social Security at 800-772-1213 (TTY 800-325-0778). Changes must be reported promptly or a penalty might be charged and held from future benefits. For more information about the kinds of changes that need to be reported, read the publication What You Need To Know When You Get SSI at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

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There are more than 50 different versions of the Social Security card, all of which are valid. Although there are several versions of the card in circulation, all prior versions of the card are valid. The number is what is most important. The best way for you and other employers to verify a name and Social Security number is to use the free Social Security Number Verification Service. Once you register for Business Services Online at www.socialsecurity.gov/bso, you can start using SSNVS. SSNVS allows you to quickly verify whether a person’s name and number match Social Security’s records. By Jon Noyes, district manager at the Social Security Administration office in St. Cloud, Minn. Contact him at 3800 Veterans Drive, Suite 100, St. Cloud; 877-405-1446.

JULY 2014 | ZEST

PHOTO BY JULIANA THILL

Donna Whitcomb’s gardens are a mix of old and new. She stands next to an iron kettle — holding red, white and purple petunias but hidden by greenery — that has remained in the same spot for more than 80 years, when her grandmother started a garden on the farm.Whitcomb has added to the garden for years, and it now features a three-level goldfish pond, another fountain near the top, and a weather vane from their barn. Behind the tree stands the Acton Monument, a Minnesota historical marker for the first bloodshed in the Dakota Conflict of 1862.

Family history flowers take root in gardens

Donna and Scott Whitcomb of Grove City incorporate treasures from their century-old farm into their gardens for added appeal 10

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By Juliana Thill EDITOR

ust as many of the decorations in Donna Whitcomb’s gardens have been handed down through generations, a love of gardening is deeply rooted in her

family. “My dad’s mother, Frances, she gardened, and my mother (Stella) gardened. I guess I inherited the trait,” she said. “My mom always let me plant a row or so that was mine (in the vegetable garden). And I’d have a few flowers in the flower beds, too. That was part of what you did on the farm.” Whitcomb grew up on a farm south of Grove City that had been in her mother’s family for years. She remembers visiting her paternal grandparents’ house just down the road, which is where she and her husband, Scott, now live.

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COVER STORY

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A photo taken in July 1962 shows Donna Whitcomb as a child sitting next to her grandmother’s iron kettle planted with flowers. At left, the seat of an antique chair serves as a perfect resting spot for a flower pot in one of Donna and Scott Whitcombs’ gardens on their Grove City farm. PHOTO BY JULIANA THILL

The farm has been in her father’s family for 129 years. Her great-grandfather, George Paulson Sr., bought the farm Aug. 28, 1885, and passed it down to her grandfather, George Paulson Jr., who handed down the farm to her father, Boyd Paulson. Whitcomb and her husband, Scott, were married in 1980 and moved onto her grandparents’ farm in 1982. The maternal green thumb Whitcomb inherited is evident as she tends to five gardens — three with annual and perennial flowers, one with vegetables, and another with hostas. “My Grandma Paulson’s vegetable garden has always been in this area. I remember we would actually sit under the windmill and we’d shuck peas and snap green beans. So it’s kind of cool,” she said, to grow vegetables in the same soil her grandmother worked. This year, Whitcomb is growing “the usual,” she said, meaning tomatoes, two kinds of peppers, kohlrabi, radishes, beans, peas, potatoes and beets. “Just some stuff to have fresh. We grow it to eat it fresh, and I can some of the tomatoes,” she said.

Next to her vegetable garden stands the metal-frame windmill and a weathered, red barn. In the square plot of land under the windmill, she created a second garden where she grows all perennials — peonies, day lilies, tiger lilies, irises and flox. “It’s kind of the old fashioned garden. They (the perennials) were all my grandmother’s flowers,” Whitcomb said. Amid the perennials that were started years ago are other remnants of Whitcomb’s family history. “This garden has a barnyard theme. We decided to take some stuff out of the barn and move it into the garden,” she said. A cream separator stands in the center of the garden with a brightly painted flower pot sitting on top filled with flowers. She repainted a chicken feeder and tubs in bright hues — pink, blue, green and purple — that she will plant with flowers this summer and incorporate into the garden. Her third garden is on the side of the house and helps disguise a slab of cement and dresses up a utility pole.

In the middle are two Adirondack chairs where she and Scott sometimes relax. Additional colorfully painted pots with annuals sit amid irises, lily of the valley, asters, hydrangeas and rose bushes. “We spend some time sitting out here,” she said. The garden includes an antique chair dressed up with flowers, a couple of cupid figurines made by her mother’s cousin that stand amid yellow irises, a sundial and an armillary sphere. Leaning against the utility pole is an old wagon wheel. “That’s always been a yard ornament,” Whitcomb said, later displaying a photo in which her grandmother used the wheel as a decoration in the yard. “I’m sure it was off their wagons. I grew up with that hanging around. That’ll date me, won’t it?” In their backyard, is the Whitcombs’ fourth and largest garden. And it all started with her grandmother’s iron kettle. “The iron kettle has sat in this spot since I was born. My grandmother had

JULY 2014 | ZEST

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COVER STORY

SUBMITTED PHOTO

A wagon wheel that belonged to her grandparents and possibly great-grandparents rests against a tree in the summer of 1983. At left, Donna Whitcomb saved the wagon wheel and incorporated it into one of the gardens on the side of her house. PHOTO BY JULIANA THILL

that, and that’s where that pot always sat in this yard. That was her garden. She didn’t have a lot of flowers. This is where they’d entertain and have the picnic table. So, we always say, that’s kind of the landmark here,” she said. “I have pictures of what we started with; it was just that pot. We added a round pond. The next year we added the next ring, and then when we put up our new house and took down the old farm house. ... Then we added on two more ponds and more flowers. Four years ago we added the big pond and the big rock. We just keep adding.” She and Scott did build up the height of the garden, rather than digging into the ground. “We moved sand in and built it up because this ground is how it was in 1862 when the Dakota Conflict occurred, and we tried to keep it (as it was). We didn’t dig in, we just added up. So, if you wanted to, you could take

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all the rocks out, clean the sand up and everything would be just the way it was.” In addition to the iron kettle, Whitcomb has other special items placed in and around the garden. She took the weather vane that was on the barn and placed it in her garden. On one side is a hydrangea tree given to her and Scott after her dad died. She placed a little memorial rock at the base of the tree. “We just keep adding every year. I’m sure there will be more eventually. This is what I do. This is what keeps me relaxed. It’s just fun. And Scott enjoys it, too. We spend a lot of time out here in the summer,” she said. Goldfish swim amid water lilies in the three-level ponds on one side of the garden. The outside of the garden is rimmed with rocks and many annuals. The inside is filled with perennials, including lilies, irises, bee balm, but-

tercups, hostas and popcorn cassia. The latter one Whitcomb likes because, “if you rub the leaves it actually smells like buttered popcorn. I didn’t know that until they sold it to me. I thought, ‘oh, that’s cool. I better have one of those.’” At its peak, the garden is lush and colorful, fragrant and peaceful, with the water flowing and birds chirping in the trees. On the far side of her house is her fifth garden, which she dubs her hosta haven, because it features 10 varieties of the leafy green plant. Her gardens will be on display for the public to see July 8 as part of the Meeker County Master Gardeners’ Garden Tour in Grove City. While she has not participated in the garden tour before, she is used to having visitors to her backyard, which is located in Acton Township. Just off the gravel road that runs past the

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COVER STORY

“

... I’m slightly obsessed with flowers. I’ll buy them until they quit selling them. If there’s an empty pot or spot to put it, I’ll buy it. DONNA WHITCOMB

Whitcombs’ house stands the Acton Monument, a Minnesota historical marker for the first bloodshed in the Dakota Conflict of 1862. At this site is where a group of Native Americans killed five Meeker County residents on Howard Baker’s farm. The incident became the flashpoint for a conflict that had been brewing for years between Native Americans and white settlers, or more specifically, the U.S. government, which had failed to fulfill its treaty obligations. “People come there all the time, and you’ll find them wandering around (our yard),” she said. Whitcomb respects visitors’ interest in history, and they have been respectful that the monument is in her yard. However, they often are curious to see her large garden and take pictures. The Baker house stood where the monument is today. The house was torn down decades ago. The Whitcombs also tore down the 125year-old farm house her grandparents’ owned and built a new house in 1994. They plan to tear down the 104-yearold barn that her great-grandfather built and construct a new one in its place that looks like the existing one. “I can’t lose the barn. It kind of makes the place,” she said. The Whitcombs’ oldest son, Nathan, his wife, Veronica, and their two children, Brock and Ava, live on the farm where Donna grew up. The Whitcombs’ other son, Brandon, is moving into a house nearby, as well, with his daughter, Leah, and his girlfriend Kari Wroble. “I’m really connected to home. My roots are here, so that’s where I’m

PHOTOS BY JULIANA THILL

A cupid figurine made by a relative stands amid yellow irises. At top right, a peony begins to open in one of the Whitcombs’ gardens.

going to stay,” she said. Whitcomb, 52, works full time as director for Ecumen’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program in Litchfield and as coordinator for the Meeker Council on Aging. She also works on-call five to seven days a month as a death investigator for Meeker County. She graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration management, so she hasn’t spent as much time as she would like in her gardens the past few years. She’s looking forward to having more time to garden this year. She spends a couple of hours a day, when it doesn’t rain, watering, weeding and tending to her gardens. “It takes a long time to water. But it’s relaxing just to hang out there. Once it’s in and it’s mulched, it’s not hard to weed. Getting it planted, it takes a few weeks because you have to do little bits at a time, and I’m slightly obsessed with flowers. I’ll buy them until they quit selling them,” she said laughing. “If there’s an empty pot or spot to put it, I’ll buy it.” Every year, the Whitcombs try to add something new, even if it’s small, to the gardens. “Maybe some year I’ll get too old to do it, but not yet. We just like to have the flowers to enjoy,” she said. I

Meeker County Master Gardeners’ Garden Tour What: A public tour of gardens at six area residences. When: 5 to 9 p.m. July 8 Where: All gardens are in the Grove City area this year.Tourists can start at any of the gardens. Cost: $5 per person. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Schmidty’s in Grove City; Peaceful Thymes in Atwater; Meeker County Extension office, Emmaus Gift Shop, Stockmen’s Nursery, and KLFD-AM in Litchfield.Tickets also will be available at each garden site throughout the tour. Proceeds will go toward the local Relay For Life team “Toucan Do Better,” and the Flowers of Mercy program at Ecumen of Litchfield. For more information, call Meeker County Extension Service at 320-693-5275. Gardens on display: N Larry and Donna Johnson, 19177 540th Ave., Grove City. N Scott and Donna Whitcomb, 53322 248th St., Grove City. N Richard and Lorna Thorp, 51998 260th St., Grove City. N Tim Bergstrom, 201 Fourth St. S., Grove City. N Arlyn and Bernie Hedtke, 52772 295th St., Grove City. N Paul and Nancy Goeddertz, 35279 Minnesota Highway 4, Grove City.

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FOOD & FUN

With strawberries in season, stop at a local farm and buy some or pick your own. Then, enjoy them in a warm muffin. Also this month, celebrate your independence July 4 with a Hot Cinnamon Fireworks

Strawberry Muffins 1 1/2 cups strawberries, chopped 3/4 cup sugar 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, unsifted 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 eggs, beaten 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Combine strawberries and 1/2 cup sugar in small bowl. Set aside for one

hour. Drain and reserve liquid and strawberries separately. Preheat oven to 425. Combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg and salt. Set aside. Mix eggs, butter, vanilla extract, remaining sugar and liquid from strawberries in medium bowl. Add flour mixture. Stir until combined. Fold in reserved strawberries. Spoon into 12 greased muffin cups. Bake for approximately 20 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 12 muffins.

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/ FLORIDA BERRIES

Crossword puzzle Across 1. Converts scrambled message 8. Corpse 15. Complacently foolish 16.Ape 17. Runs aground 18. Replaces shoe bottom 19. Circle 20. Bolted 22. 100% 23. Dam 24. King Julien in “Madagascar” movies 25.“___ Ng” (They Might Be Giants song) 26. Masefield play “The Tragedy of ___” 27. Derelict 28.And others, for short 29.“Hurry up!” (3 wds) 31.Asian weight units 32. Reduced instruction set computer (acronym) 33.“___ next?” (contraction) 35. Gibberish 38. Breaks into pieces 42.The “O” in S.R.O. 43. Enumerate 45. Chop (off) 46.“Seinfeld” uncle 47. Carry away, in a way 48. Obi, e.g. 49. Flightless flock

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Crossword puzzle answer on Page 15 51. Blood’s partner 52.“Socrate” composer 53. Rose plant fruit 55. Coal miner 57. Erstwhile 58. Fatty 59. Cracker and bun seeds 60. Scholastics

Down 1. Refuses to acknowledge

2. Beseech 3. Light automatic rifle 4. Broadcasting (2 wds) 5. Mar, in a way 6.Antiquity, in antiquity 7.Affecting the entire body 8.Thin, wispy cloud 9. Foreign heads of state 10. Criticize, slangily 11.Above 12.Appraise

13.Without beginning or end 14. Closes securely again 21. Bypass 24. Contact, e.g. 27.Aggravate 28.“___ of Eden” 30. Hunted 31. ___ bag 33.Wave with a crest of foam 34.“Unimaginable as ___ in Heav’n”: Milton 35. Spanish waist-length jackets 36. Buttercup family member 37.Women’s shirt-like garments 38. Cicatrix 39. Jubilance 40. Most flushed 41. Globes 43.Time in power 44. Runs off (with) 48. Minute marine animal with a transparent body 50.“La Scala di ___” (Rossini opera) 52.Tried to get home, maybe 54.“Get ___!” 56.“___ to Billie Joe”

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FOOD & FUN Hot Cinnamon Fireworks Cake

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 cups (4 sticks) butter, softened 2 cups granulated sugar 6 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 bottle (6 ounces) Cinnamon Drops, crushed 1 box (1.5 ounces) Blue Colorburst Batter Bits 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar 3 to 4 tablespoons milk Red, white and Royal Blue Candy Melts candy, melted Red, white and blue colored sugars Preheat oven to 350. Spray Dimensions Cascade Pan or Bundt cake pan with vegetable pan spray. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. In second large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, scraping bottom SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/WILTON and sides of bowl often. Add vanilla; beat until well combined. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed until just combined. Fold in Cinnamon Drops and blue Batter Bits. Pour into prepared pan; smooth out top. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on cooling grid. Remove from pan and cool completely. In large bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar and milk. Drizzle melted candy onto cake to look like fireworks. Sprinkle sugars onto melted candy. Serves 12.

(62+/ Disabled)

Rustad Tours

2014 Tour Schedule Canadian Rockies................................................. July 7 – 15 Alaska Fly-back .................................................. July 10 – 26 Nova Scotia............................................... July 17 – August 2 Alaska Direct.............................................. July 27 – August 3 Baseball Tour ..................................................... August 1 – 6 Folklorama ......................................................... August 3 – 6

Answer to Crossword Puzzle published on Page 14

Mississippi River Cruise ................................... August 12 – 15 Mackinac Island ............................................. August 17 – 21 Yellowstone National Park Tour. ....................... August 20 – 25 Pacific Northwest... ......................................September 6 – 22 National Park Tour.......................................September 6 – 18 New England States...................... September 28 – October 11 208 N 12th St. Box 346 Kerkhoven MN 56252 320-264-2987 1-800-525-0730 www.rustadtours.com info@rustadtours.com

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Now Open

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