Help for “friends” surviving

 dangerously cold temps!

     

                                                             (Photo by Kari Moline)

Although she had loved blue birds since her first day in kindergarten when her teacher put pictures of birds on each locker… Kari Moline had never seen a real live one until she moved to Cannon Falls, Minnesota in 1986 as an adult! 

The house she and her husband bought came with an old birdhouse tacked onto the big oak tree in their front yard, Kari explained.  And it was quite a surprise the next spring when she spotted her first pair of bluebirds building a nest in it.  They’ve been there ever since.

Surprise!

But it was another surprise when her husband spotted a bluebird in their yard one cold January day.  Kari had thought they were supposed to migrate south in the fall.

The next year she noticed a few staying over winter again.

So Kari researched on the internet and found that “bluebirds will winter over in cold climates if there is enough food available. Also, approximately 12% of bluebirds do not have the genetic code to migrate south.”

Worms, worms and more worms! 

Finding that bluebirds like meal worms, Kari began feeding them that.  But after a few years - and many dollars - she began to raise her own.

Instructions

“After watching a few on-line videos”, Kari learned that “the worms eat wheat bran, which is relatively inexpensive to buy in bulk. I purchased some plastic bins about 5" tall and followed the instructions to fill the drawers with 2-3" inches of wheat bran, then add a few peeled carrots for a moisture source for the worms.  

“I found an on-line source and ordered 5,000  live meal worms, placed them in the bins and checked them about once weekly.  Then added more carrots or wheat bran if necessary and checked on their progress. I was now a meal worm farmer!” 

Meal Worm Farmer Extraordinaire!

“Meal worms start their life cycle as little beetles,” Kari explained. “The beetles mate and lay eggs which then grow into adult meal worms. From there, the adult worms changed into pupae, then into beetles.  

“Occasionally  a few beetles escape the plastic bins. I just gather them up and return them to the worm farm. The beetles are harmless and don't bite.”

.

 Is “Flipping Homes” for you?

“House flipping” is when a person buys a house and fixes them up a bit and sells them again.  But this can be a risky process!

  Two gals from Cannon Falls are doing this.  In their first year they flipped four homes: one in Burnsville and three in Rochester.

2FH,LLC

This is their business name.  Looks professional… and their legal adviser explained it would look better on documents than the words it stands for.

The two business women agreed.  

But they can’t help smiling because 

the 2FH stands for 

“Two Flipping Hotties”!

Teresa and Emily

Teresa Johnson recently moved to Cannon Falls.   For over 16 years she had been an active duty Army spouse, married to Lt. Col. Jesse Johnson and a  stay-at-home Mom to their four children.  This means she had moved to several different homes and found her love of interior design grow.  

Teresa explained, “Each new Army home brought on new challenges.  Challenges in which I loved to find a solution!” 

She met her business partner Emily Schoenfelder, also of Cannon Falls, three years ago through their children’s sports games.  Teresa continued:  “We bonded over kids, Plexus Health Supplements, clothes, purses and real estate!” 

Emily Schoenfelder is the CFO of Black Diamond Xtreme Engineering located in Cannon Falls.  She is a CPA who spent 10 years in tax and audit work before shifting gears to corporate accounting. 

Teresa explained how their talents complement each other. “Emily is the numbers brain and I am the design brain.”

Teresa also does private interior designing on new builds, existing homes and remodel work.

She continued,  “We work on a very strict budget, which gives me the ability to challenge myself and the supplies we use; while maintaining the quality of the work.”

Scariest part of flipping homes!

Teresa explained, “The scariest part about this business is buying homes often times without an inspection, since the flipping market is very competitive.  And knowing very well to ALWAYS expect the unexpected!  

“When looking for potential flip homes, we consider the profit margin, the amount of work needed, and use our natural ability to see value in homes that our competition may not.”  

Warning!

“I would suggest to people who may be thinking of entering the flipping world based on the fun shows they may watch on TV…  DON’T!"   

Teresa continued, “Yes, it is fun.  But, our definition of ‘fun’ might be a bit different than yours!  This is not a straight forward, reliable source of income.  

“It is a game which involves wins and losses.  No matter the amount of work you may put into one home, you are not guaranteed anything!” 

Not like on the TV shows…

“And, there is no network TV crew there to help us out of problems.”  (Yes, they are open to having their own reality house flipping show!)

Each home is a challenge Teresa explained.

“Every one of our flip homes has brought a unique challenge to our business.  Whether it be a success or a failure, each one of those challenges has turned into our greatest reward of learning.

“We decide what we can do ourselves based on how the budget is playing out.  I've done things I would have never seen myself do!   

“In the end, no one will work like Emily or myself will at our homes.”

And Teresa clarified one design mistake when she took something that was popular in one location of Minnesota and used it in another.  But it did not translate as well in the second location.  

She concluded: “We have both learned and laughed throughout the process of each home!” 

A hint when considering flipping a house:

When considering a house, Teresa concluded, we make sure we do not have to replace ALL of the kitchen and ALL of the bathrooms!  The exterior is also a huge undertaking. And there is always 10% of unforeseen costs that arise to keep us on our toes!   

Here is one example 

of their changes that proved popular.    

       Before  

 After

Kitchens are a huge factor whether the house will be a good flip! Teresa shared.  They always try to keep the cabinets instead of installing new ones. It cuts major costs. Shown here are upgraded appliances, painted cabinets, new countertops, new backsplash, knobs, lighting, and flooring.  

 

Is “Life" just another 

"Escape Room”?

Blind folded... because I was a dangerous outlaw you know - I was taken into an old cell from the 1800’s out in the "Wild West”.

Then I was shackled to the wall and told to sit on the bench below.  

The rest of my “gang” was brought it and shackled too.

Only then could we remove our blindfolds.  

“Escape Room”

And so I was introduced to the game of the “Escape Room”!  Wikipedia describes it as: a physical adventure game in which players solve a series of puzzles and riddles using clues, hints, and strategy to complete the objectives at hand. Players are given a set time limit to unveil the secret plot which is hidden within the rooms.

It’s an opportunity for “team building”, for example, to see how you can work together, listen, think creatively and keep trying other ideas if some don’t work.

Here’s the plan…

My college age grandchildren had chosen a scenario they thought I would like.  Rather than being locked in with zombies or pirates, etc. they decided we would perform a “Wild West” jail break - Time Period: 1800’s.    

Now keep in mind that when I come to visit them I like it really relaxed.  You see, I’ve got enough “adventures” in my regular life keeping up the farm.

   Just let me sit on their couch, with their little dog keeping me warm and a good book in my hand and I just watch them hurry along on all their busy activities.

On with the game… 

But the six of us, including their parents, settled down and scoped out the cell to make our escape.  I was the first one to get out of the shackles around my ankles.  I couldn’t figure out the code locking them that I was supposed to decipher… but I figured I could just slip out of my shoes and out of the shackles.  

I don’t know if that’s cheating but we were planning a “jail break” you know! 

Here’s the plan…

I climbed on the bench and found a loose bar in the cell’s “window”.  Then my son-in-law figured out how to get the key to the cell which was hanging across the room.   

But getting out of the cell was just a part of the scene and we still had to get the outer door opened.  

Actually, when the others got out of the cell into the open jail area ahead,  the “Jailer” stepped in with me for a moment. Now I was standing next to the cell door so I just slid out and snapped it shut so I could lock the jailer inside!   

I’m still smiling.

But the “jailer” had a “heart”…

I think the jailer felt sorry for us though as we heard little “hints” muttered by him when we were stymied.  (Thanks Jailer!). 

Many ideas were tried and failed and some succeeded.

If I had been alone - I think I would still be in the cell.

Even so… it took us almost the full hour time limit to get out.

And finally I could go back

     to the “Escape Room” 
of my regular life.

.

 What’s up with the 
"New Sheriff In Town"!

 Looked like the new sheriff in Goodhue county got in a fight… but it was with a large tree… and his weapon was a chain saw… and although the sheriff won… he’s got some “warrior wounds”.  

(I interviewed Marty Kelly and 
his wife Mary via email.)

                                              Photo by Jack Kelly

This is his story… and he’s sticking to it!

Our new sheriff, Marty Kelly’s version: “I was cleaning up the old Belvidere Trail on our property to open up trails for walking or snowmobiling this winter. I had a fire going and was enjoying the day off. 

“There was a dead tree leaning over the trail. The branches had blown off in a prior storm so I thought it was an easy cut. 

“Having cut thousands of trees in my life I notched it where I thought it would fall. When I got through the back side the tree spun around. I didn't know where it was going to fall. 

“I was on a bit of a hill so I jumped down and attempted to run out of its way. I ended up tripping on some branches and the tree landed on my back and left side. 

“I believe adrenaline and several guardian angels got me out from under the tree and to my ATV. I did not have cell reception where I was at so I knew I had to get myself out of the woods. 

“I drove myself back to my house which was about two miles. When I got home I called my Dad, who lives close by, and asked him to come and drive me to the hospital. 

“I then called my wife and informed her I was headed to the hospital and asked her to meet me there. I walked myself to my van and waited for my Dad to take me to the hospital. 

He feels the pain…

“As we drove to the hospital the adrenaline and shock must have wore off. When I arrived at the ER, Dr. Kays and his trauma team did a wonderful job getting me out of the van and assessing my injuries. 

“My injuries included; 5 fractured ribs, 4 fractured vertebrae, punctured lung, fractured right hand and damage to my left wrist. This injury required surgery to repair the damaged tendons, ligaments and cartilage. 

“I have five pins holding it all together.  Soft tissue damage to my right knee and left shoulder. 

“The doctors say my wrist will be the most difficult recovery but as of right now my ribs and back seem to hurt the most. 

Change in plans…

“Prior to this accident I was putting in about 20-25 hours a week preparing for my duties as Sheriff. This has been on hold but Jeremy Lerfald, Chief Deputy, has done a nice job stepping in with some interviews that have taken place for positions that will open up in January. 

“Current Sheriff, Kris Johnson, has also been incredibly helpful during this time as well. 

Cop jokes?

“I have not yet heard any jokes about the incident but I am sure they are coming. At this point it still hurts to laugh, so hopefully we hold off for a little while. 

Taking office…

“I will be sworn in December 28th and will start my position as Sheriff on January 9th. I will have some doctor appointments but should be ready to begin work on the 9th. I am excited to get started.” 

(My personal thought: I’m waiting for the “cop jokes” to start! 
Then you'll know you’re getting better!  
Uff-dah!)

Saving Private... who?

 Saving Private… who?

 

It was the ravaged aftermath of WWII in europe - with its bombed out buildings haunting its cities - that still captivates my memory.

I was a child when I saw them after the war was over.  I grew up in the U.S., but I was uncomfortable seeing movies that didn’t portray my understanding of the pain and anguish of war in its reality.

I was recently touched by a reference to Steven Spielberg’s movie, Saving Private Ryan, mentioned in the book, On Combat by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman.

He reports that Spielberg’s movie is “an incredibly realistic depiction of the violence and horror of combat.”  

But he makes an important point. 

The story has U.S. Army Rangers going behind enemy lines where each man dies trying to save one young paratrooper: Private Ryan.  

In Grossman’s mind: “that band of Rangers represents every American warrior who ever willingly gave his life to give us freedom, the lives and the liberty that we have today.”

Grossman explains: Those Rangers are the same as the soldiers who died in the Civil War… In the bloody tide at Normandy Beach and Iwo Jima.  They are the police officers and firefighters who rushed up the steps of the World Trade Center on 9-11.  “… and they represent the cop who died yesterday… alone and afraid … somewhere in America”.  

Dying words...

At the end of the movie, when the last ranger lays dying, he looks up at the Private they saved… and his dying words are: “Earn it”.  

“Earn it…”

And isn’t that what we all need to consider when we make decisions that protect these precious ideals they fought for us to have?

In seeing and hearing the accusations tossed around today I wonder:  Who is the enemy?  

They said that?

When researching public attitudes during the Revolutionary War, Civil War, etc. I find some very unpopular statements about those folks that today we think are heroes!

So consider this...

Are we the “Private Ryan’s” those Rangers struggled to save?

If so...What are we “protecting” for the future?

Just a thought… 

Picture yourself in the position of the surviving paratrooper as he listens to the dying soldier who saved his life… and his admonition to protect these ideals for the future.

Can we do this…

Saving Private ___________   (Put your name here).

Knock-Knock... ouch!

Is it just your problem?

      Knock-knock!

Who’s there?

(Remind you of a joke?)

But it was no joke to the speaker on the podium… or to the bird who was repeatedly flying into the long window behind him.  The speaker knew the bird’s attacks would be very distracting to the audience, so he called their attention to it.  

A red cardinal was apparently seeing his reflection in the window and deciding it was an adversary, he flew at the window to attack his replica. 

He did this on and off for about an hour.  (Yes, it was distracting but what could you do?)

Theoretically the bird could have decided not to attack the reflection.  Or after doing it a zillion times he could have decided he wasn’t making an impact on the problem.     

Teaching moment!

So it seems like there is a “teaching moment” in this cardinal/window episode.

Can it relate to our “life”?

Can we find ourselves attacking a reflection of what we think is an enemy?  Or a problem?

You focus on it… you attack it.

But the “enemy’s response”…

But “it” doesn’t attack back.

It just remains there.

It doesn’t go away… no matter how much effort you make attacking it.

And so…

So how much time do we spend in our lives just attacking a problem that is simply a reflection?

Maybe we should ask ourselves:  What does this “adversary” represent?

Is it just reflection of something we don’t like in our life?

  Are we the only one who sees it as an enemy? 

Maybe we should consider this…

  What are we accomplishing by attacking this “reflection”?

  Should we do something different?

Could it be that we might just be distracting others?   

  I probably missed a lot of what the speaker said that day because I was watching the cardinal “attack” its self-designated “problem”!  

But this is where friends can help.  Or strangers.  Someone else might see what we’re doing… and help us identify the situation… and find a better solution.  

And “Knock - Knock” can be a joke again!

:)

(This column was inspired after hearing the authors of the book: How to Stop Freaking the %#$@ Out! by Erin Pasch and Kyle Keller at the Cannon Falls Library.)

"Ghost dog"?

 "Ghost Dog"... 
Explaining the “unexplainable”? 

They act as “Go Betweens” - meaning between humans and the supernatural.

Several members of the Dakota County Paranormal Society (DCPS) explained their position at a presentation recently at the Cannon Falls Library. 

Their website explains, they gather the data that leads to a better understanding of ghosts, hauntings and the paranormal in general.

It explains they are not professionals.  They are a “group of men and women committed to the study, research, and investigation of the Paranormal.”

Juli Glazebrock, team leader, commented: they also want to help anyone having problems with or understanding these situations.

Or they will put them in contact with trained professionals who can assist them.  This could be others in their field or medical help professionals.  

They avoid situations where people have used Ouija boards because, Juli explained, that is like opening a door and other types of entities can come in.   

They do not charge for their services.

They operate in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northern Iowa.

Is something wrong with me?

Sometimes the person requesting help explains the weird situation they’ve experienced and asks: “I just want to know I’m not crazy.”  

The members of DCPS are very serious about investigations.  They use a variety of electromagnetic field equipment including voice recorders, a variety of cameras including a Polaroid, etc.

The hours of recordings are later reviewed as they compile their insights as to sounds and images.  Some of these they may not have noticed during their investigation.

Favorite haunting places…

One of their favorite places to investigate seems to be the previously known Mississippi Belle restaurant in Hastings.  A recent investigation was held at the Le Duc Mansion.

“Ghost dog?”

After returning home from the meeting of the “ghost hunters”, I settled down at my kitchen table to read awhile before calling it a day.  

It was quiet as I chose the book: Killing the SS.  It’s about the hunt for Nazi death camp officers over the many years since WWII.  

It’s a vivid tale of intrigue and suspense.

It’s also probably not the best choice of reading material after the meeting about spooky experiences. 

The light over my table highlighted the brutal events.  All of a sudden in the silence I heard the growl of a dog.

This was curious because I don’t have a dog.

It wasn’t a scary growl… kind of like a vibrating motor running.  Or like a “purr” from a cat.

So what?

I didn’t pay much attention - except noting it at the time and I kept reading the book.

About two minutes later I heard the “growl-purr” again and I actually looked under the table to see if some kind of wild critter had gotten into the house out here in the country.

Nothing there.

I thought it was curious but that was all.

A couple minutes later it happened again. 

Then a fourth time.

OK folks!  Now I'm paying attention!

German Shepherds

I thought of all the German Shepherd dogs we had over the years.

Was this a suggestion to get one?   

        Or is there a dog already here? 

*** Let’s get back to the book…

I went back to reading about the concentration camps but I freaked out with the next page explaining how women guards used vicious German Shepherd dogs to control their prisoners.

I decided to do some other chores that night.  

Explaining the Unexplainable…

I thought about the paranormal investigators and their deductions as to what the sounds and/or pictures they were studying really were. 

The audio they interpreted to be voices from the supernatural was not understandable to me.  But could it be that the difficulty in discerning this is that we are trying to explain the “unexplainable”? 

Many ancient belief systems seem to have tried to do this.

Are we all trying to interpret this “voyage” we are on in ways that make sense to ourselves?   Even though it doesn’t make sense to someone else?

But maybe that’s the challenge we are to take.

Is this where all the "lost" socks in 
wash machines have gone to?

Graphics from the CDPS website.