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Last issue we talked about “Changes are in the air.” Mostly those changes dealt with a change in publishing and design formats for Live it! Magazine. Who knew what was really ahead? World-wide changes over the past two months have us doing nearly everything in a new way. Staying home, working from home, shopping from home – whether for pickup or delivery – and cooking and eating more at home. (Check out our simple “Grill it!” ideas.) People are uneasy about all these changes. We are doing what we can – and the best we can – to deal with situations we have never experienced before. What hasn’t changed is the importance of home and family. In this issue, Carolyn shares with us ideas on getting the most from our own backyard this summer – during a time when we crave being outside and being active. We also have a new feature profiling a local artist. This is a feature we hope to continue, at least periodically. Let us know what you think. All this and more inside this issue of Live it! Magazine! If you have a topic you’d like to see in Live it!, send your story ideas to liveit@wctrib. com. We love to hear from our readers. You can also “like” us on Facebook and leave comments there. Life in west central Minnesota … it really is a beautiful thing …
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4 YOUR BACKYARD INTO AN OASIS 14 NEW GARDEN SEEDING IDEAS DEPARTMENTS
IT! 11 STYLE SUMMER SUN PROTECTION MATTERS 12 MONEY MARKET UPS AND DOWNS 13 DIY STAMPING FUN & FITNESS 16 HEALTH IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH HAPPENS 17 LIFE FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL ARTIST PROFILE 18 ART IS A PROCESS IT! 20 GRILL KEEPING IT SIMPLE 22 SPIRITS FINDING THE GOOD
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By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com
S
ometimes it doesn’t take much to have fun, even in your own backyard. A couple of battle-ready squirt guns, a bottle of bubbles and a wand, a picnic table with a big watermelon sliced up, a hammock and a book, or bean bags ready to be tossed on the board can be the perfect combination for the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. That’s especially true when going to the backyard may be the vacation destination for many families this year. And it doesn’t matter if you have a spacious farm yard with room enough for a baseball game or a postage stamp-sized yard with room for a couple of cartwheels – a backyard can be a place for families to play, eat, laugh and relax together.
“By going outdoors, it can help get your mind off things that are happening. An enjoyable backyard becomes another room of your house.” – Christa Larkin Live it! | Summer 2020 5
Consider your backyard a place where nature begins, said Kris Kiser, president of the TurfMutt Foundation, an organization that encourages outdoor learning experiences, stewardship of green spaces and care for living landscapes. “Get outside, mow your lawn, trim bushes, plant a butterfly bush. By becoming a steward of your yard, you are helping the planet,” Kris said in a statement this spring, prior to the 50th celebration of Earth Day. “At the same time, you’re supporting your health and well-being, which is increasingly important as families spend more time at home.”
Landscape improvements
It’s usually never hard to find backyard DIY projects. If you’re looking for ways to improve the atmosphere, Christa Larkin from Larkin Tree Care & Landscaping of Renville, said some basic design elements to turn an ordinary backyard into an oasis includes water features, fire pits, lighting, outdoor furniture, plantings, privacy and outdoor music. None of these elements has to be expensive, she said.
“Create a place where a family can gather in privacy by using plants,” she said. Small fountains with the sound of moving water and a fire pit rimmed with mulch, rock, grass or pavers can be an inexpensive way to create a place to relax. When selecting plants for yards, Christa reminds people to check the climate zone. West central Minnesota is in Zone 4, she said. It’s also beneficial to check the mature size of the plant, light requirements, bloom time and soil requirements. “It is very helpful to have a design of the plants you will use, so you don’t end up buying too many, not enough, or simply not the right plant for the spot,” said Christa. A backyard is more than an empty space, she said. “By going outdoors, it can help get your mind off things that are happening,” she said. “An enjoyable backyard becomes another room of your house.”
Furnishing an outdoor room Lawn chairs aren’t what they used to be. Who remembers the vintage wood and canvas chairs that looked like an X? No arms, no back, just a little seat to perch on.
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The CDC recommends masks be worn. Our local institutions are in need of homemade masks. If you're able to sew, please sign up to indicate how many you can contribute.
“A water feature can be a focal point that creates a calming, tranquil feeling in your backyard. There is nothing like the sound of moving water to evoke a sense of comfort and relaxation.” – Katie Morgan
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Who remembers falling off those little chairs? Fortunately, there are now a variety of comfortable and functional seating arrangements that can help create a relaxing backyard atmosphere, said Katie Morgan, owner of Interior Design Studio & Gallery in Willmar. Katie recommends furniture made of cast aluminum, recycled poly or synthetic wicker, which can stand up to Minnesota’s elements. She suggests pairing a seating arrangement with landscaping, outdoor rugs made from synthetic fibers such as polypropylene Sunbrella outdoor fabrics and adding a focal point – like a real-wood fire pit, gas fire table or a water feature. “A water feature can be a focal point that creates a calming, tranquil feeling in your backyard,” said Katie. “There is nothing like the sound of moving water to evoke a sense of comfort and relaxation.” Adding “layers of lighting” can also enhance an outdoor space. “Different types of lighting can be used to identify key areas or features, as well as be functional, such as pathway lights,” said Katie. “Subtle accents such as lanterns and string lights can make your space feel 8
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more inviting and welcoming,” and are a “great way to extend and expand your existing living space,” she said. Overhead porch fans are also a “nice addition to provide relief from heat and bugs,” said Katie.
Game time
Playing catch was what many “boomers” grew up doing when they were kids. It’s still a good gig. Whether it’s playing hoops, kicking a soccer ball or being creative with sidewalk chalk, taking time to be active outside is a great way for families to stay fit and stay connected. An outdoor swimming pool, whether it’s a fancy in-ground model or a blow-up kiddie pool, can be a great distraction during hot summer days when beaches may not be in the cards. Outdoor games like bocce ball, croquet and badminton are popular options for teams of two or more. One Willmar family likes to make their own games for neighborhood get-togethers. Nate Schueler used a regular step ladder and taped signs with numbers (in increments of 10) on the rungs. Bean bags are tossed and the according points are garnered for each bag that lands on a rung.
Nate has also spray-painted a Twister board on the grass to replace the slippery vinyl mat that comes with the purchased game. He uses the spinner from the boxed game to call out the directions that tie participants up in knots. Wait until the dew is off the grass before applying the paint and allow a couple hours for the paint to dry before playing, said Nate. The design will gradually disappear each time you mow the lawn. The family takes advantage of their above-ground pool for water volleyball and they use an inflatable bull to create a rodeo where a “rider” attempts to stay on while others in the pool create a bucking bronco. Being creative and putting a new twist on outdoor games “allows you to have a good time instead of feeling like you have nothing to do,” said Nate.
It’s in the bag
Bean bag boards, called “cornhole” boards in some states – probably the same ones that call pop “soda” – are wildly popular in this neck of the woods, with communities and churches holding summer leagues and tournaments.
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For the past two decades Mike Miller has organized a bean bag tournament for family and friends that’s held every Labor Day weekend at Sibley State Park near New London. They even have a traveling trophy for the two annual winners who emerge from a field of about 50 competitors. Mike provided Live It! with the details on how to keep a bean bag tournament legal and fun. Equipment: A regulation-sized board is 2 feet wide and 4 feet long with a round, 10-inch diameter hole cut near the top. There are eight bags in a set – four for each side, made from different colored fabric. Each bag is a 6-inch square and weighs 16 ounces. Mike advises against filling bags with corn or soybeans, which can sprout or get moldy if they get wet, and can attract rodents. He purchases bags filled with synthetic beads. How to: The boards are placed 30 feet apart – measured “from hole to hole,” said Mike. In this tournament, one player throws all four of their bags and then the other player throws theirs onto the same board.
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(More commonly, players alternate throwing.) Players cannot step in front of the board while throwing. He recommends throwing underhanded to give the bags a nice “loft.” Scoring: Three points are given for getting a bag in the hole and there’s one point for getting a bag on the board. No point is given if the bag touches the ground before bouncing onto the board or if it falls off the board. Scoring can include bags “canceling” points, said Mike. For example, if player A gets a bag in a hole (3 points) and player B gets two bags on the board (2 points), player A gets one point. The first to 21 wins.
To play in the tournament names are put in a hat (there are separate buckets for names of men and women) and pulled out randomly to form teams that can range in age from 10 to 80. Each team is co-ed. They typically have 20 to 25 teams for the double-elimination tournament, which can take four to five hours. Yes, there is a potluck involved. The results are tracked on brackets in a picnic shelter and each member of the winning team gets the honor of hanging onto the traveling trophy for a year. The names of the winners are engraved on the trophies to document the history of the event, said Mike. “We know who’s won every year for the last 20 years,” he said. “They get to come back the next year to defend their title.”
Carolyn Lange is a features writer for Live it! Magazine, and a reporter with the West Central Tribune in Willmar.
Style it!
Soaking in the sun without feeling the burn How to protect yourself from the sweet summer rays By Erica Dischino
edischino@wctrib.com
Getting outside and enjoying the warm sunshine is arguably the best part about summer. But with all that time outside, sunburn and squinty eyes can definitely become an issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. When hopping inside to protect yourself from the sun’s rays isn’t an option, dress for the occasion. The first line of defense is your clothing and accessories. There are many ways you can protect yourself while looking cute and keeping cool. Here’s how to soak in the sweet summer sun without feeling the burn.
Shake up your shades
Sunglasses are crucial to protecting your eyes from the sun and they are super cute too. There are so many shapes, sizes, styles and colors that will be a nice addition to any outfit. Make sure your shades have UV protection and you should be good to go.
Cover up
Clothing protects your skin from the harsh rays of the sun. Choose long pants and sleeves when doing outdoor activities or cover up as much as possible. Instead of wearing that strappy bikini, look for one-piece and tankini options and thicker straps on swimwear. Fabrics such as linen are great for keeping cool and putting on after a swim in the lake too.
Grab some SPF and UPF
Don’t forget your SPF and your UPF. There are various clothing companies that sell retail with levels of ultraviolet protection factor, also known as UPF, that is made with fabric that helps to block UV rays. Ranging from rash guards, to jumpsuits to dresses and shirts, there are so many options that can be found at your local outdoor retailer.
Protect your neck
A neck gaiter, lightweight scarf, bandana or even popping a collar on a button down shirt can make sure your neck is protected in the hot sun.
Look for fun patterns and bright colors to add a vibrant accessory to your outfit.
Bring your bag
To make sure you don’t get burned, be prepared. Put all your sun lotion and sun proactive gear in a bag, backpack or purse that you love to carry. That way you’ll be excited to bring your SPF, so you can put it in your favorite purse. Make sure the fabric can be washed or aired out in case some lotion spills.
Helping hats
Hats are always a go-to for keeping the sun off your face. For an athletic look, go for a baseball cap. For something more glamorous, try out a floppy straw hat that will be perfect for the lake.
Erica Dischino is the photographer for Live It! Magazine and the West Central Tribune.
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MONEY MATTERS
Surviving market declines
By Craig Popp CFA
How does one survive a market decline? Just relax. Calm down. Don’t panic. Much like in relationships, these innocuous phrases are among the things you don’t want to hear. At a point in history, someone took the liberty to arbitrarily define downward market movements. Volatility is the price of admission for investors. As such, you have to navigate pullbacks, corrections and bear markets. Yet, you might not be aware of how often each occurs.
While bear markets don’t happen often, they can have a detrimental impact on your investment behavior. Why? Losses loom larger than gains. This concept is called loss aversion and is supported by the research of Danial Kahneman and Amos Tversky. Their studies suggest that psychologically losses are twice as powerful as gains. Taking action amid market volatility isn’t difficult — but it is often dangerous. Humans have a bias toward action. We dislike uncertainty and lack of control so much that it can derive comfort even from inevitable disaster — as long as it’s certain. If uncertainty forces you to take action, what we want to make is the 12
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right action. Essential steps you can take during market declines are:
Review your financial plan
Keeping you on track is a crucial function of your financial plan. The assessment of risk tolerance and portfolio allocations is a staple during market volatility. Savers for retirement should continue with those contributions — buying low when prices are depressed. Retirees who are withdrawing from their account should have stress-tested their portfolio for market declines. Assets held in a short-term bucket are designed to fund cash needs.
If you don’t need to withdraw money for immediate expenses, then the losses are only virtual — until you panic and make them real. Historically, volatility clusters. Said otherwise, significant moves upward tend to follow large movements
downward — both from a daily and weekly perspective.
Rebalance your portfolio
Nobel Prize laureate Harry Markowitz is famous for saying diversification is the only free lunch in investing. Assets such as fixed income have historically held their value when the market declines. Rebalancing (selling bonds and buying stocks) is the ultimate concept of buying low and selling high. I suggest designing a disciplined rebalancing approach (included in your financial plan) to prohibit your emotions from overriding investment decisions. An example is to rebalance whenever your asset allocation moves five percent beyond the target allocation. A proper decision-making structure is imperative in volatile markets. These actions can help you survive. Don’t say, “don’t panic” – it helps no one. If you’re already panicking, it won’t help, and if you’re not, you may wonder if you should be.
Craig Popp, CFA, is a financial advisor at the locally-owned, independent office of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC at 115 East Litchfield Ave
SE in Willmar. He also authors The Cognitive Bias — a blog covering the topics of personal finance, wealth management, and investing. Any opinions are those of Craig Popp and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. The performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted.
Do-it! Doit!-yourself -yourself Working with what you have By Lu Fransen I, like most others, have been at home during this pandemic as much as possible. I’m very fortunate that staying home is something I’m most comfortable with. However I did find myself feeling anxiety much more than usual, so I knew that I needed to keep busier than usual. Fortunately I have a plethora of craft supplies, some of which I haven’t used in years such as: card stock, background papers and rubber stamps. What I didn’t have was ink pads; almost all of mine were dried out. What I do have is about 30 bottles of craft paints. So I decided to try painting the surface of the rubber stamps instead of inking them. Note: if you are very particular about keeping your rubber stamps absolutely clean after using them then this is not for you. There will always be some paint left on the stamp, but not on the top of the design. I soon learned that a very little amount of paint goes a long way. I used scrap paper as my pallet. I poured a small amount of paint on it and then spread it out with a brush so it wasn’t in a deep puddle. Next, I ran a flexible (not stiff) paint brush through the paint and then lightly ran it over the top of the rubber stamp. You want to paint just the top of the stamp as much as possible and not down into the grooves and onto the wood base.
One of the tools I liked the best was a make-up brush from a blush compact. Just try whatever you have on hand. I tried it on scrap paper first to see if I had too little or too much paint. Then I applied the stamp to the card. So fun. This allowed me to use so many different colors. Now, you do have to clean your brush in water before moving on to the next color. I learned to plan out what I was going to do on each of the cards so that I could try to use the same color all at one time, and then clean the brush before moving on to the next color. You must clean the stamp as soon as you are done using it so the paint doesn’t dry on the stamp. I had a small bowl of water and I just dipped the top of the stamp in the water and then wiped it off with a rag. Do not wet the entire stamp as that may cause the rubber to detach from the wood base. I even did a little embellishing with a small paintbrush, adding color to some of the images. This is a project in which you can be as free and creative as you want. And isn’t that what crafting is all about? Lu follows in her mother’s footsteps of unwinding and relaxing by crafting and creating. Creativity is like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it becomes!
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Photo by Erica Dischino Etta Johnson prepares to plant seeds from the Seed Exchange at the Willmar Public Library at her home in Willmar.
! t i w o r G
Garden seeds can be ‘borrowed’ from the library
By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com
Etta Johnson is growing several different types of herbs this year to add some flavorful spice to her meals. It’s part of her strategy for cutting back on salt, said Etta, who was inspired to grow something new this spring while on one of her many trips to the Pioneerland Public Library in Willmar. She’s an avid reader, belongs to a book club and admits she sometimes wanders around the library to “see what’s going on.” That’s when she noticed the sign promoting the “seed library” amongst the shelves of books and rows of computers at the Willmar library. Inside a file cabinet drawer there were packets of seeds she could 14
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“borrow” and grow with the promise she’d harvest and return seeds at the end of the season for others to use next year. It’s part of a program that started in 2017 at the library, designed to encourage people to garden, said Syrena Maranell, adult librarian at the library in Willmar, who coordinates the program. People who sign up for the program get a membership number and can take up to five packets of seeds each week. They simply record what they took in the logbook on top of the seed drawer. It’s an anonymous program that requires a membership number, not their name, be written in the log book, said Syrena. Last year about 450 packets of seeds were “lent” out from the seed library.
The packets of seeds are – of course – in alphabetical order in the drawer. Ideally, Syrena said, people who use the seeds to grow flowers or vegetables this year will become “seed savers” to help gardeners next year. Seeds from string beans, tomatoes and some flowers that are relatively easy to harvest can be dried, put in an envelope, labeled and returned to the library this fall.
But don’t fret, said Syrena, if you eat your last tomato without remembering to save seeds, participants can purchase seed packets to donate to the library “to replenish and help it keep going.” Etta planted lemon basil, rosemary and dill seeds she got from the library that she hopes will thrive in pots on her patio in Willmar. “Gardening is the one time I don’t mind getting dirty,” she said. “It’s very
therapeutic to get in with nature and dig in the dirt.” She doesn’t claim to be an expert gardener and knows where she can find some answers if she has questions about growing the herbs. “The library has so many resources. If you don’t know how to grow something, there’s books there,” she said. “There’s nothing like a good book to lead you in the right direction.”
Syrena Maranell
Make your own seed tape By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com
Whether it’s chubby little fingers that haven’t mastered the ability to pinch and hold tiny objects or older, arthritic hands that cause their owners pain, planting tiny seeds in soil can be a challenge. Small seeds, like carrots, can be especially difficult to plant without globs of seeds ending up in one spot, resulting in over-crowded baby carrots that need to be thinned. But who wants to kill cute little baby carrots? One option for improving plant growth is using seed tapes that have seeds – properly spaced – glued in a straight line and sandwiched between two strips of biodegradable paper. There are commercial seed tapes available, which can be helpful for beginning gardeners. But a simple DIY version is far cheaper, allows greater flexibility in the variety of seeds you can plant and can create opportunities for family time activities. There are numerous examples of online videos and written directions on how to assemble homemade seed tapes. Instructions that involved rulers, scissors, ink dots, calculators, abacuses and special waist-high work tables were immediately discarded from my how-to rolodex. I’m more of an eye-ball-it and that-looksgood-enough-for-me type of a person.
• • •
However, using rulers and ink dots to teach math and measurement skills and scissors to improve dexterity could be a great exercise for little ones. Here’s how I made my seed tape with scarlet nantes coreless carrot seeds. I used seeds leftover from 2019. The seeds were kept cold and dry over the winter and should grow just fine this year.
What you need: • • • •
Toilet paper (cheap, single-ply. Yes, I have that type of TP in my house, much to my family’s dismay.) Glue (I made a paste with flour and water but school glue works too) Seeds Toothpick, artists paintbrush or Q-tip
What to do: •
Tear off a section(s) of TP the length of your garden space. A
•
•
•
yard-long section keeps it manageable. You can make multiple sections to fill your garden row. Fold the TP lengthwise, crease it, and unfold Read the seed packet to determine how far apart seeds should be. Put dots of glue at the appropriate spaces – typically 1 to 3 inches apart – all along one of the narrow sides of the TP. Place 1 or 2 seeds on each dot of glue. For carrot seeds, put two seeds to ensure germination. For larger seeds, like beets or radishes, one seed is enough. Re-fold the TP lengthwise to cover the seeds, patting it down to secure the seeds inside. It’s kind of like making ravioli. Write the name of the seeds on the paper, gently roll up (using an empty TP core works great) and store in a dry container until ready to plant.
Planting
To plant your seed tape, you can either dig a shallow trench and cover the paper with dirt, or lay the tape on top of the soil and sprinkle dirt on top. Give the dirt a drink of water and pat the soil down well to prevent the seed tape from blowing away in the wind.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
The Bounce Back Project designed to improve mental health By Amber Silva Mental health can be an uncomfortable topic for some people, due to the stigma sometimes attached to the phrase. Yet, good mental health is vital for everyone to live a healthy and full life. The Bounce Back Project is a project geared toward improving mental health — without using those specific words. The Bounce Back Project began in the Monticello and Buffalo areas in 2014 after a string of suicides in their communities. Allina Health, CentraCare and Stellis Health came together to create Bounce Back, a project that focuses on promoting health through happiness. Bounce Back focuses on three main resiliency tools: • 3 Good Things • Random Acts of Kindness • Gratitude All three of these tools are backed by scientific research which shows benefits an individual can receive by participating. The Bounce Back Project was developed to be replicated and introduced in more communities. Kandiyohi County has a core group of volunteers working to bring Bounce Back into our local communities. The Bounce Back Project of Kandiyohi County has members from Carris Health, Kandiyohi County, Vision 2040, Willmar Public Schools, Willmar Community Education, BCBS – Healthy Together Willmar, SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Project), Woodland Centers, Project Turnabout and Your Wings of Hope. The goal of the Bounce Back Project of Kandiyohi County is not to overshadow any current work that is being done to help boost mental well-being. The vision is that Bounce Back will 16
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compliment any resources already available. We have great projects already happening in our community such as: • The Kindness Project out of Teresa Holwerda’s office • The Orange Frog through the Willmar Public School District • The Kindness Rock project Resiliency is important because this is what helps us bounce back from stressors that can occur in life. The better we can bounce back from stress the better mental well-being we have, which leads to better overall health and wellness. The Bounce Back project introduces tools that can assist us in recovering from disruptive change or misfortune without being overwhelmed or acting in dysfunctional ways.
3 Good Things
This tool allows us the opportunity to focus on the positives in our lives versus the negatives. The 3 Good Things practice lasts two weeks (14 days). For two weeks, preferably right before bed, you will write down 3 Good Things that happened in your day. If you do this for two weeks the benefits you will receive can be improved sleep quality, a more positive mindset and more positive relationships. Benefits from this exercise can last up to six months.
Random Acts of Kindness
This tool allows you to make someone’s day special while also giving you a benefit in return. Random Acts of Kindness can be inexpensive things such as smiling at someone or giving a compliment. They can also be monetary such as buying the person’s meal behind you in the drive-thru lane. Research shows that those receiving a Random Act of Kindness can have
positive benefits for up to 24 hours following and the person that performed the Random Act of Kindness can have positive benefits for up to two weeks.
Gratitude
This tool focuses on sharing appreciation which spreads happiness. To complete this tool, you’ll choose someone you would like to show appreciation to by writing them a letter, being specific as to what you appreciate about them. To get the greatest benefit from this tool, you should deliver and read the letter to the person. In research studies, those who received the letter had higher happiness scores and lower depression scores. The positive benefits can last up to one month. Those who wrote the letter presented with better sleep, better psychological well-being, better immune system function and better relationships. You’ll begin to see information on the Bounce Back Project at community events and during community presentations. Watch for upcoming community events put on by Bounce Back and participate in the fun. Remember, a smile is simple, but can change a person’s entire day. If you are interested in being part of the Bounce Back Project please contact Amber Silva at amber.silva@carrishealth.com. Amber Silva is the ReYou Wellness Program coordinator and Wellness Care Guide at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
LIFE HAPPENS
Challenge the ‘what ifs’ with logic
By Claudette Larson LICSW
As I sit down to write this column, we are experiencing a radically changed world due to the Coronavirus. How significant the changes are largely depends on your individual circumstances – what you do for a living, if you have children, where you live in the country and so on. Like other Minnesotans, my family had to figure out the requirements of social distancing versus the reality of cabin fever. All the while, I have been forever mindful that my home state of New York was virtually sinking under the weight of a virus gone rogue and a healthcare system that could barely keep its head above water. There is so much we cannot control. For some, just being able to continue to make a living is/was at stake. For others, less critical but still very difficult, it’s not being able to see extended family, go out to eat or send the children off to school.
We feel powerless. So how do we keep ourselves from dwelling on what we can’t control? The answer is to focus on what you can control. There will always be things you won’t be able to control in times of crisis, particularly when it comes to health and finances. Conjuring up catastrophic possibilities can get out of hand. That’s when you need to challenge the what if’s with logic and probability more than ever. While there is always a chance that worst-case scenarios can happen, chances that they do are usually low. Upsetting yourself with unlikely outcomes leaves you less likely to be able to keep your wits about you when you need them most – during optimum problem-solving time. The effects of COVID-19 will be felt for quite some time. There is no play book on how to best prepare for the stress this kind of experience can have on us emotionally and physically.
Truthfully, my best advice is to do the best you can and treat yourself with kindness and grace. Remember there are coping skills that can be harmful over time. Drinking too much, mindless comfort food eating and complaining too much to other people will create secondary problems that just complicate whatever you are already going through. Regular physical exercise, safe outdoor activities and relaxation, such as yoga or meditation offer healthier coping skills without the negative drawbacks. It’s summer and you deserve some sunshine. I’d say we all do. Take care. Claudette Larson, LICSW, RPT is owner of Willow Creek Counseling in New London and has enjoyed working with children, teens and adults for the past 17 years.
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ARTIST PROFILE
Art is a language
New London artist Lisa Bergh creates large paper sculptures displayed throughout the Midwest By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com
In her studio in downtown New London, professional artist Lisa Bergh uses the pull-and-tug of emotional and physical tension to transform large hand-painted paper that she cuts, twists and layers and eventually hangs from the walls and ceilings in art galleries. A professional artist for the last 2½ decades, she is currently working on pieces for exhibits that are scheduled for this year in galleries in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Lisa says she didn’t intend to be an artist. While in college seeking a degree in cultural anthropology, she was required to take a class in basic design, which led to photography classes where her “visual language” was nurtured. “I loved the process of making and 18
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thinking about ways to articulate the principles of design for the class assignments – learning a new language,” she said. And just like that, she had a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking and photography from the University of Arizona and a Master of Fine Arts in spatial arts from San Jose State University in California. Lisa talked to Live It! about her art and the dance of being an artist, an executive director of an art center, a wife and mother. LI: How did your education and career in art evolve? Lisa: I have been a working artist for 25 years. In this time I have explored many ideas and materials. As a young art student, when I was still learning to develop and define my visual language, I was focused on creating portraits/
narrative-based photographs and mixed media prints. As I transitioned into graduate school my studio explorations led me toward deconstructing the ideas of drawing. I was creating large drawings utilizing the language of abstraction to examine landscape and place.
LI: How do you describe the work you’re currently doing? Lisa: My art practice examines the boundaries of two dimensions and pushes works on paper to sculptural proportions. I explore paper as both an object and a substrate. The ideas of gesture and tension (both formal and conceptual) are recurring themes in my work. My current research examines the cerebral and aesthetic weight of our emotional worlds. The art pieces serve as metographical markers of emotional places. The output of this research is the creation of large-scale site-specific installations, sculptures and wall mounted three-dimensional pieces all made of paper. LI: Where do you get your inspiration? Lisa: The current project often leads to the next project. I am a firm believer that inspiration finds you working. My creative path is paved by diligent and intentional attention to my studio practice. LI: In what ways do you connect art to the community? Lisa: My husband, Andrew Nordin, and I moved to New London from Milwaukee in 2005. At that time we chose to be proactive in building a network of artist peers and to serve as rural arts advocates before it was really on trend. We did this first with our project, ARThouse, in which for five years – several times a year – we would invite a Minnesota artist to create a one-night pop-up exhibition in our home.
and how to better understand it: “Stop thinking about artworks as objects and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences.”
After that we developed the Traveling Museum, a mobile art lab for contemporary art and ideas. The TM allowed us to move and advocate for the arts in a larger geographic area. The Traveling Museum is in the form of a fish house with a pinch of Bauhaus design. It has been to events across Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa – with its contents always changing. In my day job I serve as the executive director for the Hutchinson Center for the Arts – which has a full slate of programming including education, community outreach and a visual exhibition series.
LI: Your husband is also an artist and art instructor at Ridgewater College. What are the challenges and the benefits of having a dual-artist home that also includes two children? Lisa: I am thankful my husband is an artist. The process and workflow of creating work for exhibitions is demanding and challenging. I appreciate my partner understands the commitment and time it takes. We have both been very committed to creating opportunities for other artists, connecting with other artists and serving as mentors, educators and advocates for the arts. It is a full plate. It requires flexibility and adaptability. It seems like I am doing a lot and I am, but not every day. Somedays I am a wonderful artist and a not-so-attentive mother. Other days I am a highly effective art administrator and then sometimes my focus is all about being a wife and mother. It is a dance for sure, and not always very graceful.
LI: What is the biggest misconception about contemporary art you’d like to dispel? Lisa: Art is a language. Artists are simply communicating. The power and wonderful nature of the visual arts is in the language each artist develops to explore and express what drives their own curiosities. Art is something that happens, it is a process. Brian Eno said it best and taps into my attitude on art
LI: Where do you see yourself, and your art, in 10 years? Lisa: I will continually grow and expand my skills as an artist and arts advocate. I am always looking for exhibition opportunities to challenge me as a maker and thinker. As an arts administrator, I hope there will be a platform for me to positively impact the lives of artists and communities in continually bigger, bolder ways.
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! t i l l i Gr Good things come in small (aluminum foil) package
Foil packet meals
Like a smorgasbord wrapped up in a shiny package, foil packet dinners are the bomb for a backyard meal. Start with a protein – hamburger patty, shrimp, kielbasa, small cubes of steak, bite-sized chunks of chicken breast or an impossible burger are popular options. Add any kind of raw vegetable you happen to have on hand – potatoes, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, zucchini, peppers, celery – and sprinkle on some spices, fresh herbs and a drizzle of oil, wrap it up in a sheet of aluminum foil and plop it on the grill. Assembling the dinners can be good entertainment for young kids who feel like they are “cooking” – and adults who want to experiment with different flavor combinations and show off their artistic flair when designing their dish. Because individual foil packets can be tailored to everyone’s tastes, there are no complaints at the picnic table. I started making foil packets decades ago over campfires. We called them hobos. It was always tricky finding a log that was flat enough to serve as a grilling spot and oftentimes the foil was pierced by a twig, causing the juices to spill out. Sometimes the potatoes on one end of the packet were burned and underdone on the other. It didn’t matter. It was still wonderful. 20
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I have to admit, it’s much easier to cook the packets on the grill or even in the 350-degree oven. There’s really no wrong way to assemble the packets, but there are some basic tips to make the process easy and results tasty. • Use heavy-duty aluminum foil, or two sheets of the wimpy foil. You’ll need a sheet about 12 to 14 inches long • Drizzle foil with oil or spread with butter • Raw meat should be thawed • Ground meat cooks fairly quickly; chunks of meat should be cut in small pieces • Slice or chunk raw vegetables; carrots should be cut into smaller pieces but mushrooms could be left whole • Top with pat of butter or oil • Fold the foil like a tent in the middle and then fold the ends to create a tight pouch • Cook about 10 to 15 minutes on each side, flipping occasionally. Cooking time varies. Note: If you’re concerned about having food in direct contact with aluminum foil, you can line the packet with parchment paper before cooking. - Carolyn Lange
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Banana Boat
Asparagus on the grill
As a side dish, made similar to the foil packs, our family enjoys fresh asparagus – ’tis the season – on the grill. Either open-faced or closed packets, as detailed above, asparagus is a perfect side to a nicely grilled steak or chicken breast. I lightly spray the bottom foil with a cooking spray, and place the asparagus spears directly on the foil, after washing and breaking off any woody ends. You can either grill it “as is,” which is mouth-watering by itself, or add a variety of toppings to enhance the flavor. We have sprinkled it with a bit of salt and pepper, a splash of lemon juice, a bit of fresh minced garlic – or any combination of – and topped with a few fine bread crumbs, and feta or freshly grated parmesan cheese. Dot the top with thin slabs of butter. The parmesan cheese we often add toward the end of grilling. Grill about 20 minutes or so, to desired tenderness, on the top rack or off to the side, depending on the grilling temp you are cooking your meat at. Again, the packet can be opened or closed, for grilling, depending on preference and what else may be on the grill. If grilling open-faced, I turn up the edges of the foil packet to hold in the juices. A packet of sliced potatoes and onions, with or without mushrooms and cheese, is another good side dish option. Don’t be afraid to experiment. - Sharon Bomstad
A kid-friendly dessert that can be made over a campfire – or on the grill – is a Girl Scout favorite called Banana Boat. It’s like a banana split without the ice cream but lots of wonderful toppings. The basic formula includes bananas, something sweet, something gooey and something crunchy. How to: Slit a banana lengthwise, on the curve, cutting through the top peel and through the banana. Do not cut through the other side of the peel. While keeping it in the peel, squeeze the banana apart a bit and stuff with a variety of toppings. The traditional recipe includes mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. Wrap the banana in aluminum foil and heat until the ooey goodness is melted and warm. Top with crushed graham crackers, nuts or trail mix. Eat with a spoon from the banana peel. Other topping options include Nutella, caramel ice cream topping, fresh strawberries, butterscotch chips, dulce de leche sauce, peanut butter, candied ginger, chopped nuts or coconut. Some find it easier to not only slice the banana lengthwise but also horizontally to create bite-size chunks, which also creates more crevices for toppings. - Carolyn Lange
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SPIRitS
Seeding goodness By Ron Skjong How are things growing around you? It’s been a challenging time and, with all the negativism, I wonder where we can find goodness. After a bit of thinking, allow me to reflect on possible areas of positivity in our lives. I truly believe we reap what we sow and our seeding of life’s influences reflect who we are. In the same way a vineyard reflects its environment, we mirror what’s affecting us. Therefore, let’s draw a couple of parallels. I recently had a phone call with one of my sisters and we discussed who brought what influences into our lives. Our parents were at the top of the list – they quietly planted many seeds of respect for people and the environment in us. We were taught by example how to love, how to stand up for what’s right and how to pass on these positive traits. Don’t get me wrong – they were stinkers sometimes, too. Ask any teenage girl or boy if their parents weren’t a pain in their derrière at times. Yet they seeded us with many good virtues and we live by them today. Additionally, we have all attempted to pass on those virtues to our children and grandchildren. That is called legacy seeding. Maybe it boils down to this: who or what seeded your passions, how did you nurture those passions and what has been the fruit of your passions? 22
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Sounds a bit like a vineyard. With all this philosophizing, I’m thirsty and I would appreciate a nice Pinot Grigio. It just so happens a bottle of Cavazza is right here beside me and I’ll enjoy its crisp semi-dry melon-like taste. To continue our parallel – a wine is the product of a vineyard. The produced grapes developed because someone planted (seeded) a vine stock, nurtured that stock to produce grape bunches and, finally, that fruit was used to make a wine. There was passion involved, interest and love. So, how about you? When you begin to think about planting flowers, what seeds fuel your passion for color, how will you nurture those planted seeds and what will be the fruits of your endeavors? Obviously, we have our perennials that give us our first blast of summer blessing – those plants that were placed in the past are still bearing our legacy of faith, hope and love today. How much of that legacy have you passed on to your family? If you’re anything like me, I also have pots and open areas for the annuals. It’s satisfying to shop for new flowers, plant the seeds and wait with baited breath for the new shapes and colors to arrive. We seed, nourish and enjoy the finished product. Whew! It’s time for another sip of wine. When the opportunity arrives, grab a bottle of Glacial Ridge Winery’s great tasting white Riesling with the
enticing name of Lake Whisper. With all its pleasant semi-dry fruitiness, it’s the perfect companion as you sit and listen to the whisper of the lake and the wind. As you sip that wine, think about how things are growing around you because of the “seeds” you’ve planted. What kind of seeds were they? Gentleness? Kindness? A smile? Goodness? How did you nourish those planted seeds? With humility? Love? A hug? Your presence? Finally, what fruits have you seen from your seeding? A legacy? A brighter future? A kind word? I know many people made me who I am, including all my good, bad and ugly – ask them if you don’t believe me. However, I am who I am. So, I try to sip a new wine every week and improve who I am. I expect you to do the same thing. Yes, I am who my parents were and just like them, at times, I’m a pain in someone’s derrière. As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon! Cheers!
Ron Skjong enjoys bringing together the stories of wine and people. After many years of research, he truly believes ‘In Vino Veritas’ — in wine one finds truth.
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