REDOUX HOME March / April 2011 by REDOUX (home•garden•living)

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DAY TRIPPING: MINNEAPOLIS’ NORTHEAST RIVERFRONT HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR DOG WALK LIKE A LANDSCAPER

REFRESH YOUR SPACE THE LOGICAL GARAGE cover photo by barbara o’brien

editor’s note I might as well have grown up in any small town. A city girl, the only area I knew well was my neighborhood and that of my school – about a twomile radius. But in early adulthood, visiting neighborhoods in the Twin Cities became an adventure. I learned that the Twin Cities is not a big city (or two); rather, it is a series of hamlets. Even as chain stores have entered many neighborhoods, uniqueness holds forth. In this issue we explore the Northeast Riverfront area of Minneapolis, with its eastern European roots tangled in flourishing creative influences. Its recent history is one of pruning and replanting. Northeast’s Riverfront is growing organically now. And that’s the way it will work. I certainly remember the short-lived allure of St. Anthony Main and then Riverplace for retailers and shoppers. It was after their rise and fall that my mother started taking art classes in the lower rent district directly across the river from downtown. She started

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introducing me to delightful, yet humble eateries that harbored new hope

read more at redouxhome.com

for the area. Northeast’s Riverfront was morphing again.

You can read the full story and see more photos on our newly expanded website.

While living and working downtown, I learned new reasons to cross the river. Surdyk’s was worth the trip for fine cheeses, pates and wine. I also learned Nye’s Polonaise was not just a place for old fogies to eat perogies. With Lou at the piano and the squeeze box pumping out polka music in the bar, it was the best. Today, Northeast rises again. Take a day trip and rediscover it. Elizabeth Child, Editor editor@redouxhome.com

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refresh! march / april 2011

editor’s note Make your ‘dropped ball’ list. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

portrait: barbara o’brien Get to know one of the area’s most extraordinary animal photographers. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

how to photograph your dog Five simple tips for capturing the perfect shot. BY BARBARA O’BRIEN

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MAR / APR 2011010

rethinking country living A 1950s rambler gets wings and soars. STORY BY JODI OHLSEN-READ PHOTOS BY NICHOLE DAY DIGGINS

day tripping: minneapolis’ northeast riverfront STORY BY ELIZABETH CHILD PHOTOS BY STEVEN ANTHONY

refresh your space Edit your way to your dream room. STORY & PHOTOS BY ALAN WILLIAM NUGENT

23 re•doux

home

walk like a landscaper When Glenn Switzer walks into a yard he’s about to redesign, he visualizes a flow of movement. STORY BY ELIZABETH CHILD

food Brunch for April showers. RECIPES BY JOURNEY INN & SMOKEY ROW CAFE PHOTOS BY ELIZA WREN VARIEN

the logical garage Organization systems are key to reducing garage clutter. STORY BY ELIZABETH CHILD PHOTOS COURTESY SLIDE-LOK MINNESOTA

your eco food calendar Eat eco-nomical, eco-friendly foods year ’round. BY THERESE WHITESONG

MAR / APR 2011

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PUBLISHER Nichole Day Diggins / Flying Pan Productions EDITOR Elizabeth Child COPY EDITORS Jodi Ohlsen Read Linda Day Dunlap CONTRIBUTORS Steven Anthony Elizabeth Child Nichole Day Diggins Journey Inn Alan William Nugent Barbara O’Brien Jodi Ohlsen Read Smokey Row Cafe ART DIRECTOR / DESIGN Nichole Day Diggins SALES Elizabeth Child Peter Diggins Linda Day Dunlap Sara French Chris Hermanstorfer Nathan Keech Kelly Ligday Crystal Strickland REDOUX HOME • PO BOX 148, Northfield, MN 55057 p: 507.301.9710 e: info@redouxhome.com

Open Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–9 p.m. & Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. 516 Water Street S, Northfield • 507-650-0106 • www.justfood.coop

redoux home is produced by Flying Pan Productions. All rights reserved. Copyright 2011. Copies of this publication or its contents may not be made for promotional purposes. For article reprints, contact REDOUX HOME at info@redouxhome.com. to advertise: 507.301.9710 • 612.812.9987 www.redouxhome.com

po r trait

MAR / APR 2011

barbara o'brien

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7 redouxhome.com MAR / APR 2011

PORTRAIT: BARBARA O’BRIEN Job:

Animal Trainer and Photographer

Family: Husband, Kevin, and four boys Home:

40-acre farm in Stockholm, Wisconsin with three dogs, 18 cats, 10 horses, two ponies, seven sheep, 30 some chickens, five ducks and three very naughty goats.

When did you add a career in photography to animal training? I have been an animal actor trainer for 25 years. I train for Target; I trained the Kemps cows; and I trained the Perkins roosters to look like they were talking into a microphone and ride elevators. Three or four years ago I had to take pictures of animal actors to show 3M and they wanted an image for stock. I had been photographing and auditioning animals for years to show that they can work on the set, and 3M saw one of a cat they wanted to buy for a product label. I thought, ‘Wow, I can make money on photography?’ You say you won’t do portraits. I will only do portraits for people who have a sense of humor. This spring I will photograph a woman in a 1960s bathing suit on a yacht in the middle of an alfalfa field. How did you become an animal trainer? I started when I was 22 because I couldn’t hold down a job. I learned on my own. Positive reinforcement is what works with animals. If you’re yelling at them, how are you going to get them to perform and look happy? Does your husband, Kevin, have the same love of animals? He’s been involved in this animal life as long as I have. He’s actually softer about the animals than I am. He talks to the animals even more than I do. Your blog says you had to elope to have a horse... Growing up, I loved animals but I wasn’t allowed to have pets in the house. Later I wanted to live on a farm and I didn’t want to do it alone. A farmer told me and my boyfriend, ‘You can have the apartment upstairs but I can’t have you playing house.’ So we eloped and got married. I was 19 and it’s still working out, 30 years later.

Favorite animal I don’t think I can manage without horses. The only time I suffered any serious depression was when I was horseless. Then God sent me a horse and I knew everything would work out. Describe your farm It’s like the Frank Capra movie, You Can’t Take it With You. There’s a lot of chaos and everyone’s welcome. You also describe your farm as healing This is a very healing farm. It heals people from addictions and problems. You can see people visibly exhale when they get here. On adopting rescue animals I took in a sensitive Morgan horse. It took about six months for her to bond with me. I’d scratch her neck every day. The breakthrough day was when I started to walk away and she nudged me and said, ‘I’d like some more, please.’ Now I ride her, even though I was told I’d never be able to. Learn more at barbaraobrienphoto.com

As a professional animal lifestyle photographer I get asked all the time by fellow dog owners what is the best way to get good photos of their dogs. I always reply that they should hire me. All kidding aside, you should be able to get fresh, fun photos of your dog by following these five simple tips.

Get Ready

Know your camera. Today’s camera manufacturers have made it wonderfully easy for anyone to take incredible images. Think of how much better your images would be if you took the time to learn about your camera’s capabilities. Even the simplest point and shoot cameras offer features unheard of before the advent of digital photography.

Get Help

Even I have trouble photographing a dog without a helper. Dogs naturally want to be with you and unless they are extremely well trained (mine are not), they will keep coming towards you. You are going to want a helper for the dog to focus on instead of you. Load your helper up with treats and make sure the dog knows your helper has them.

Get Lit

The best times of day to photograph your dog, or just about anything else for that matter, is early morning or later afternoon/evening. The sun is lower in the sky at these times and the effect of sunrise or sunset can make an ordinary image outstanding. Following Kipling’s old adage that only “mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun” try to avoid the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the harsh shadows caused by the sun’s rays are hard to avoid.

Get Low

My favorite images are taken at a low angle. I like to get right down on the ground and shoot up at the dog. This angle makes the dog look larger than life and even a bit heroic. Experiment with different angles. Sometimes I climb up high and shoot right down on a dog for a different feel.

Get Moving

Or I should say, get the dog moving. You can never go wrong with action shots. A dog running, playing and chasing is always more interesting to me than a dog sitting still. Have you helper throw a ball that the dog can chase or have your helper release the dog and then call it to you. Shoot quickly.

And finally, Get Going!

A 1950s rambler gets wings and soars.

When Bill and Janine Nelson decided to move from their 20-acre Lakeville horse farm, they had just a few requirements – smaller, simpler, in the country and closer to Northfield. They fell in love with a gorgeous barn built in 1913 that rests upon bucolic, gently rolling hills just minutes from the Northfield schools. The 1950s one-level rambler was indeed smaller than their current home. In fact, it was much too small for their family of five, plus two dogs and two cats. “The barn was perfect and you just can’t build a barn like that anymore,” says Janine Nelson. “The location was just what we wanted. So, we decided we could remodel the house.” The Nelsons hired Peter and Mary Schmelzer of Northfield’s Vivus Architecture to help create a contemporary country home incorporating the original rambler. Bill worked closely with the architects to achieve a look that belonged on a Minnesota farm, but with an updated feel and sustainable energy features.

MAR / APR 2011 redouxhome.com

Re t h in ki ng Country Li v i n g

STORY BY JODI OHLSEN READ • PHOTOS BY NICHOLE DAY DIGGINS

One of the distinctive features of the house is the way it is divided into two wings, joined by the garage on the outside and by an elegant entryway, curving hallway and generous mudroom. The right wing contains the family’s center, the great room. “This is where we spend almost all of our time,” says Janine, settling in the cozy lounging end of the room. Built-in desks along the wall hold computer and media workstations, and one side opens to an all-season porch. The expansive kitchen island at the other end of the room provides great space for socializing and prep work. Above it all is a unique arching, white wood ceiling designed to capture daylight. In the evening, a bank of ‘floating’ lights reflects off the ceiling, creating a day lit brightness even in winter. “Some people think it looks like the inside of a ship’s hull,” says Janine.

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MAR / APR 2011

Off the great room, a softly lit hallway curves to make room for a beautiful old oak tree that the Nelsons were bent on saving. It connects to the entry and mudroom, and then to the bedroom wing. Swirled caramel-colored cork flooring in the hallway is beautiful and ecological. Both the hall and wood-floored kitchen have in-floor heat. In line with the Nelson’s sustainability goals, solar panels were built into the roof and the home has a geothermal heating and cooling system. The mechanical details of the system are tucked away in the bonus room above the garage. “This room was another welcome surprise that grew out of the changes we made along the way,” says Janine. The original rambler is incorporated into the bedroom wing. A retro bathroom with a turquoise tub is the only obvious hint of the home’s origins. The Nelson’s home succeeds beautifully in blending old structure and traditional aesthetics in a contemporary classic. Jodi Ohlsen Read is an artisan cheesemaker and co-owner of Shepherd’s Way Farms. Nichole Day Diggins is Art Director and Publisher of Redoux Home.

“We were happily surprised as it took shape, and we love the way it turned out,” says Janine.

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Laurin Wolf is a Faribault native studying creative writing at Johns Hopkins University.

Day Tripping: Minneapolis’ Northeast Riverfront For decades, the Northeast Riverfront area of Minneapolis has been a destination for both Twin Cities residents and out-of-towners alike. Minneapolis actually got its start here, powered by St. Anthony Falls, the only major waterfall on the Mississippi River. Today the area celebrates its heritage along with a vibrant new energy. In this thriving community, outdoor recreation, shopping, dining and historical activities abound. REDOUX HOME visited the Northeast Riverfront for a refresher on the changeable neighborhood within walking distance of the St. Anthony Falls Ramp (University Avenue SE and Second Avenue). Story by Elizabeth Child. Photos by Steven M. Anthony.

redouxhome.com

MAR / APR 2011

Shops Baltic Imports 207 E. Hennepin Ave. / balticimports.com This little gem, which adjoins Kramarczuk’s deli and eatery, has been here since 1992. Folk arts including bold patterned china, museum quality Baltic amber, jewelry, knit mittens and dolls are imported from the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Astonia, along with Russia, Poland and other nearby Baltic countries. Stop for the treasures within, and if you’re interested in recent Eastern European history, ask owner Ingrida Kancans-McLaughlin to recount her rich personal experiences. Bone Adventure 312 E. Hennepin Ave. / boneadventure.com Local and organic aren’t just buzzwords for healthy humans. Bone Adventure is a pet boutique specializing in eco-friendly, local fare for dogs and cats. Natural doggie treats made by Northeast manufacturer Sojos are featured in chicken pot pie and peanut butter and jelly flavors. Grain-free foods are available for pets with allergies. And Bone Adventure proudly dispenses the BARF (Bones and Raw Food Diet) line of organic dog food.

T Lee 18 University Ave. N.E. • tleegold.com Dubbed “eco-chic” jewelry, all of designer T Lee’s pieces are hand-fabricated and constructed using reclaimed and re-refined gold, platinum and palladium. Fair trade gems adorn fine jewelry that is contemporary but not spare. Pacifier 310 E. Hennepin Ave. store.pacifieronline.com The ultimate store for baby gifts and furniture, Pacifier is witty and warm. Monogram necklaces, microwavable stuffed sheep, snuggies and sleep sacks are joined by hip clothing up to children’s size 12. Quirky and retro items such as the Souper Spoon – a spoon shaped like a super hero -- Curious George backpacks and sock monkeys make Pacifier a fun find.

Bella Lana 21 4th Street N.E. • store.beautifulyarn.com Knit yourself warm. Choose from more than two dozen yarns in luscious colors. Find patterns for cowls, ruffle scarves and fingerless gloves, accessories such as shawl clasps, and classes to help you put on the sheep, and dog the chill of spring winds.

Minneapolis’ Northeast Riverfront The Wilde Roast Café boasts an atmosphere that would suit the eccentric tastes of playwright Oscar Wilde.

Restaurants

The Aster Café’s picturesque location is one of its many charms.

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MAR / APR 2011

isit St. Anthony Main with a healthy appetite! Wilde Roast Café on the corner of Hennepin and Central Ave. is an updated Victorian café named for the flamboyant writer Oscar Wilde. From breakfast to late night, it offers individual sized pizzas, appetizers, lattes, wine, and other comfort foods including a wide array of desserts. Two Neopolitan pizzerias exist within a block of each other: Punch Neopolitan Pizza at 210 East Hennepin, and Pizza Nea, 306 East Hennepin. Both offer handmade Neopolitan pizzas cooked in wood-fired ovens with fresh, authentic ingredients. A favorite of the creative set, the Red Stag Supperclub, 509 First Ave. N.E., serves local and organic fare such as the celery root ravioli with oyster mushrooms, house-cured Reuben sandwich and roasted duck cassoulet. On a summer day, be sure to sit outside on the patio at Aster Café at 121 Main Street along the river. The classic American café gets kudos for value and atmosphere. Foodies will enjoy the Eastern European palate at Krumarczuk’s, 215 East Hennepin, where a cafeteria sits along side a deli. Try hearty and comforting varenyky (dumplings filled with meat, cheese or potatoes) holubets (cabbage rolls with rice and meat), goulash or Italian sausages. Nye’s Polonaise, 112 East Hennepin, has a national following for doing one thing extremely well: not bowing to trends. Lou at the piano, the World’s Most Dangerous Polka Band next door in the bar and Nye’s relish trays are timeless fixtures.

Punch Neapolitan Pizza utilizes the same centuries-old techniques that Neapolitan masters use to create a truly authentic pizza. Nye’s Polonaise was named the ‘Best Bar in America’ by Esquire magazine.

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Eisenhower Dance Ensemble J My Antonia M . 24, 2011

Tanner Taylor Trio O . 14, 2010 Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire Du Soldat” J

Chic Gamine M . 31, 2011 The Sweet Land Project A

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bookcase ‘before’

Bookcase on the left before editing, and after, on the right...

refresh your space “Edit” Your Way to Your Dream Room. BY ALAN WILLIAM NUGENT, ALLIED MEMBER, ASID

MAR / APR 2011

Simply put, it means taking the time to re-examine the items in a room, then refresh and re-use what has meaning and purpose, and release the things that don’t.

Many different design philosophies and ideals encourage thoughtful selection and placement of the items we choose. The Japanese ideal of wabi-sabi, the Chinese philosophy of feng-shui and the vision of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright all hold well-edited spaces as the ideal. Even the founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris, stated, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

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he spring equinox arrives in mid-March, and with it comes brighter days. Get on nature’s bandwagon and refresh your space. It doesn’t have to be difficult. One of the simplest and most effective “tricks” in the designer’s handbag to renew a space is “editing.” Whether you hire a professional or take on the challenge yourself, the rewards can be amazing.

So, what does that mean for you?

Simple, but not easy. We love our things. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you in the editing process: Does the room reaffirm who you are? If not, what items don’t reflect your personality? Does the room function the way you would like? If not, what can be released or re-purposed to achieve the function you envision?

Sideboard ‘before’

Look over the items in the room, and ask: • • • • •

Sideboard ‘‘after’

Does the item have a purpose? Does it add dramatically to your room? Does it have meaning? Are you emotionally or sentimentally attached to it? Is it placed in a way that allows you to enjoy it, or are things around it detracting from it?

Contemplating these questions is the basis for a successful foray into editing your space. Now, it’s decision time. With less clutter, you can accentuate the important things – those that mean the most to you or allow your space to function at its best. The hardest part of editing your space is letting go of the things you know don’t belong. But the result can be as refreshing as a new beginning, without starting from scratch. Alan William Nugent is the owner and principle at Abode Design and the Abode Gallery (abodegallery.com) in Stockholm, Wisconsin. He designs throughout Eastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin and can be reached at 715.442.2266.

Walk Like a Landscaper

redouxhome.com

MAR / APR 2011

STORY BY ELIZABETH CHILD

hen Glenn Switzer, owner of Switzer’s Nursery and Landscaping, walks into a yard he’s about to redesign, he visualizes a flow of movement. He sees thresholds inviting people into the space, semi-private areas where homeowners can wave to neighbors, vantage points with inspiring views, private areas for reading or napping, and play spaces for children. “If I want to look inward, I need a smaller space. If I want to be in awe, I go to Cathedral Hill in St. Paul. It’s no different in a yard,” Switzer says. “Human scale dictates how we transition from one zone to the next,” he says. The size of a path and a few visuals like boulders or split fencing tell us where we are. Brett and Michele Reese’s home, landscaped by Switzer at the corner of Washington Street and Second Avenue in Northfield, had a narrow front-step entrance from the street. Switzer created a 10-foot by 10-foot widening in the sidewalk to welcome people to the home. Squat pillars a few feet back mark the beginning of the semiprivate space. The width of the walkway narrows around the side of the house, where you have to move slowly in single file, brushing aside a few branches, to enter a quieter area. Mapping out the space is the first order of business for Switzer, who takes an architectural view of landscaping. He puts dense plantings, typically at the foundation of traditional homes, at the edges of the yard. Choosing specific plants comes last, as it has the least affect on the feel of the space. The spaces he creates are like rooms defined with plants, rocks, walls, fences and, Switzer’s current favorite, the pergola. At the Reese’s, the once-unused yard next to busy Washington Street is now lined by a peek-a-boo fence. A pergola extends the length of the back yard. It may be left open for sun or planted with vines for shade. For now, it’s a place for the imagination to roam. Michele Reese says, “I’d like to get a big table and invite my book club, and I could see sitting there with a glass of wine.” The joy of landscaping is letting the yard take shape over time. Switzer condones a long-term approach. You don’t need to redo your yard all at once, but you do need a plan so each investment in a bush, pond or path is a step toward your vision. Elizabeth Child is editor of Redoux Home and a marketing communications consultant.

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food

Smokey Row Café’s Tropical Couscous Makes about 4 cups Ingredients 1 cup orange juice 1 orange, zested and juiced Water 1 tsp. cumin 1 15 oz. box of couscous 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 ¼ tsp. grated fresh ginger 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 mango, peeled and chopped 1 orange peeled and chopped photo by eliza wren varien

redouxhome.com

MAR / APR 2011

Brunch for April Showers Serve a Hearty, All-Inclusive Meal

Wedding season is on the horizon, so get ready for April showers. The trend in showers is “men,” as in, inviting them. To please a diverse crowd, serve up these brunch dishes, add juice or mimosas and a fruit or lettuce salad. Then stir the pot with a memorable ice-breaker.

Ice-Breaker

In advance of the brunch, each person e-mails the host one thing they’ve done that might surprise others. Some of my favorites: My skinny friend who’d been 20 pounds overweight as a teen (I never knew!), and a demure woman who’d taught a bird to ride on a cat’s back. Each guest is handed the list and asks questions to figure out who did what without using words in the answer. The first person to guess who’s who wins. – Elizabeth Child

¼ cup finely chopped red onion ¼ cup finely chopped red pepper ¼ cup dried cranberries ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds ½ cup chopped cilantro Directions In a saucepan, combine the orange juice, the orange (zested and juiced) and enough water to make 2 cups of liquid. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Place couscous in a bowl, pour heated liquid over couscous, cover with plastic wrap or a tight fitting lid and let sit to absorb the liquid. Whisk lemon juice, ginger and olive oil. Stir into couscous. Stir in all other ingredients. Chill to let flavors meld (at least two hours). Tropical Couscous recipe from the Smokey Row Café and Jenny Lind Bakery (jennylindbakery. net), Red Wing, Minnesota.

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Journey Inn’s Brunch Frittata Serves 4 Ingredients 1 medium onion (sliced) 1 Tbsp. olive oil 2 cloves garlic (minced) 8 large eggs 6-8 leaves of kale or chard (chopped, including stems) 8 large eggs 1/2 – 1 cup of Asiago or Parmesan cheese (grated, preferably organic Eau Galle, Wisconsin cheese) Sea salt & fresh ground pepper Optional: mushrooms, 1 Tbsp. of red wine vinegar, herbs, other cheeses, bacon. Directions Heat a cast iron frying pan. Add olive oil and sauté onions on low heat until soft and caramelized. Add garlic, stems from greens and any optional ingredients (see above). Then add greens. Place lid on top and simmer. Stir occasionally, until greens wilt. Beat eggs, add salt & pepper and cheese. Add to veggies. Don’t stir. Cook on low. When eggs begin to set, run a spatula around the edges of the pan and make a cross in the center. Cook about 20 minutes. To finish, place under oven broiler for 2 minutes to cook top. Brunch Frittata recipe from the Journey Inn (journeyinn.net), Maiden Rock, Wisconsin.

The Guest House Pepin Farm Pottery Maiden Rock, Wisconsin

Peaceful. Quiet. Relaxing. www.pepinfarmpottery.com

photo by eliza wren varien

redouxhome.com MAR / APR 2011

food

Smokey Row Café’s Greek Feta Strata Serves 12 – 14 Ingredients 2 baguettes (about 1 ½ lbs), cut into ½ inch pieces 12 green onions, chopped 8 oz. mushrooms, sliced 1 red pepper, chopped Olive oil 12 oz. frozen spinach, thawed, water pressed out 1 ½ cups milk 1 ½ cups heavy cream 10 eggs ½ tsp. white pepper ½ tsp. dry mustard ¼ tsp. cayenne 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt 1 ½ tsp. dry oregano 1 ½ tsp. dry basil 5 oz. feta 8 oz. grated cheddar cheese 8 oz. chopped cooked Italian sausage, hamburger, or chicken (optional) Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees. Add olive oil to coat large sauté pan. Sauté green onions, mushrooms and red pepper until softened and mushroom liquid has evaporated. Add spinach and let cool. Pour milk and heavy cream over bread. Let soak for 15 minutes. Whisk together eggs and spices in a bowl. Add to bread mixture and stir. Add cheeses, cooled vegetables and meat, if using. Stir well. Pour into a foil lined 9- by 13-inch pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until middle is not soggy and top is golden brown along the edges.

Peter Diggins – 30+ years pro experience. 507.301.9710 • flyingpan@me.com

Greek Feta Strata recipe from the Smokey Row Café and Jenny Lind Bakery (jennylindbakery.net), Red Wing, Minnesota.

GUITAR

lessons studio live

26 MAR / APR 2011

Garage

Organization is key to reducing garage clutter

redouxhome.com

The Logical

Garage BY ELIZABETH CHILD My former neighbor hosed down the floor of his spotless garage every summer morning at 5 a.m.

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MAR / APR 2011

A friend tells me she entertains in her garage because it’s the only place her extended family fits. These images make me wonder, what happened to my garage? Homeowners like me, who are hard pressed to upsize in this market, are using their garages for overflow storage and space. They’re squeezing in bicycles, scooters, snowblowers, lawn mowers, chain saws, leaf blowers, lawn edgers and abandoned Total Gyms, while fantasizing about adding woodworking shops and gardening centers . . . if not entertaining. Enter Laurin Leih. “I arrive at every job with two phone numbers in hand: One for dumpster rental and one for rental of portable storage units,” says Leih, owner of Slide-Lok of Minnesota. He’s been organizing garages since 1984.

The garage is a things you don’t at the moment, into a breeding

handy place to put want to deal with which can turn it ground for chaos.

Sixty percent of Leih’s clients are the women of the house. And he likes it that way, saying women know what they want by the time they call him. His answer to his clients’ woes isn’t only clearing the clutter. His Slide-Lok systems, with patented interlocking racks, cabinets and lockers, help organize everything from soup to wing nuts. Easy pulley systems allow you to lift bikes overhead if your garage ceiling is at least 10 feet high. A 4-foot by 8-foot ceiling-mounted storage rack will keep 500 pounds of stuff off the floor and out of sight – perfect for seasonal items such as Halloween costumes, Christmas lights and coolers. Another major garage face lift happens underfoot. Leih says garage floors are susceptible to pitting from chemicals. He covers floors with a polyaspartic coating, a product that can be applied at any Minnesota temperature, and that he has enough confidence in to offer a 15-year warranty. Leih says he’s not really selling cabinets and floor coverings, however. He’s selling organization. And you can have it for as little as $1,500 or as much as $20,000. But that probably doesn’t include the automatic sprinkler system I would have needed to save face with the old neighbors.

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redouxhome.com

MAR / APR 2011

MAY - OCTOBER Purchase fresh foods from a local farmers’ market. Meet the farmers that raise your food. Ask them about their growing practices. Many of them offer options to purchase large quantities of produce at a discount, allowing you to can or freeze the surplus food for the winter months. Also, purchase a food share from a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm. When you purchase a CSA share, you are buying a portion of a local farmer’s food crops for the duration of the growing season. The benefits are the farmer does most or all the gardening labor and you get a share of the fresh farm produce every week. WINTER Eat the canned or frozen garden produce that you saved for winter meals. There’s nothing like a hot bowl of home-made tomato soup filled with locally-grown produce when it’s 20 degrees below zero and the wind is howling. Those chilly nights are the best time to begin planning for your next growing season, as well! Therese Whitesong is an agent with American Family Mutual Insurance Company in downtown Northfield. Raised on a family farm in northwest Iowa, she values locally-grown food, her grandma’s recipe for home-canned tomato soup and her locally-based insurance agency. Contact her at: (507) 645-5010, ThereseWhitesong.com or 510 Washington Street South in Northfield. American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries.  Home Office – Madison, WI 53783 003867446 2/11

Protection is a family tradition. Since 1927, families like yours have trusted our Family to protect them from unexpected losses. Call me today to discuss your needs.

002139 – 3/06

Therese S Whitesong Agency 510 Washington Street South Northfield, MN 55057 (507) 645-5010 www.theresewhitesong.com

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Carmichael Centre • 131 Carmichael Road • Suite 204 • Hudson WI 54016

per Unit

Let Your Every Day Inspire You

Yoga

Your Every Day June 16 – 19, 2011 Minneapolis, MN

Join American Viniyoga Institute Co-founder Mirka Kraftsow and discover how the practice of yoga – involving movement, breathing, sound, meditation, and more – can bring calm and peace to every minute of your life. Together we will observe and explore a center of great wisdom and joy that is already within each of us, simply waiting to be discovered every day.

For more information and to register, visit www.MatsOnAMission.com. Only $325 if registered by May 1, 2011 – save $50. All levels of experience welcome © Mats On A Mission 2011