Minnesota – Valerie's Voice

4th of July in North Morristown

As the country celebrated its 250^th year on Independence Day, North Morristown celebrated its 133^rd celebration of July 4^th. It claims to be the longest running 4^th of July celebration in Minnesota.

I call it a sweet fair…quaint might be a better word. It’s definitely small-town Americana. It’s in the corner of a cornfield. It’s a fundraiser for the only building around, which is Trinity Lutheran Church and school.

There is no charge to get in…one just needs to pay for the food you want to eat, with a variety of hamburgers, BBQ sandwiches, Roast Beef sandwiches, fries and onion rings etc…to chose from. And then, it’s off to the pie tent to choose from the variety of homemade pies, or ice cream or mini-donuts. We have been going to this celebration for many years.

We arrived early enough to set out our lawn chairs in some shade, went to buy lunch, and then pie, to eat while we waited for the band Monroe Crossing to start. Monroe Crossing is a Minnesota-based bluegrass band that has been together 25 years. I’m not sure of their connection to North Morristown 4th of July celebration, but they have been performing there for as many years as we have attended. They are a major reason why we go to this event…that and the pie!

Fish Pond – throw a line over the half wall and catch a prize.

There are kids’ activities including a train ride, Fish Pond (I used to like this when I was little), pick a duck from the pond to win a prize, a miniature merry-go-round, and more. There’s bingo for the older crowd, a corn toss competition and a “beer tent and dance floor” not fenced off, but one can tell the obvious boundaries.

The mood is festive and celebratory with people decked out in all kinds of red white and blue attire. Large extended families gather for picnics, friends gather to enjoy each other, and a whole lot of volunteers are there to help keep it all running smoothly.

We have had a hot, humid and rainy streak in Minnesota, but this day the rain held off. The sky was blue, the temp was a bit lower and there was a nice breeze. We left the fair mid-afternoon. There were a lot more planned activities, culminating with fireworks in the evening…however the predicted rain did come, so I’m not sure they were able to shoot off any fireworks.

Happy 250^th birthday America.

A Backyard Visitor

The other night, about 9 pm, I looked out the window to see if there were any fireflies and saw a different visitor. A beautiful sight. A deer was eating brush behind our house at the edge of our yard, as the sun was setting, which made for great lighting for a photo.

The deer stayed for a while… such a joy to watch…then walked off through our neighbors, into the sunset.

Sweet dreams Bambi.

A Belated Summer Solstice Bonfire

How does one celebrate a summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the beginning of summer? Well, first don’t forget to plan ahead. I missed it. Second, you need to have the perfect evening…and we did…when we celebrated the longest day of the year a week later.

When I went to bed on June 20^th I realized I had let the summer solstice come and go without fanfare. So, I decided to plan a belated celebration. We invited some friends to join us at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park for a picnic. The afternoon was a lovely Minnesota summer day with “just-right” temperatures and low humidity. Which, in turn, made for a beautiful summer evening.

We did a variety of things. First, we went on a nice hike, through the woods and around the campground. Next we built a bon fire (and I burned some old journals – I still have a few more to burn). We grilled brats over the fire and ate typical picnic fare. Yum.

Sitting around the campfire…always a fun activity.

While eating dessert we each read out loud a few poems we had found about the summer solstice. We enjoyed each one.

There happened to be a Naturalist program in the park that evening, All about Owls. The timing fit into our schedule so we went. Andy, the naturalist at Nerstrand, does a great job and we learned several nuggets about owls. The park has started offering more naturalist programs and we’ve attended a few, and alway enjoy gleaning information from Andy.

This was at the beginning of the program…more people came to fill in the benches at the amphitheater.

After the program we rekindled our campfire and made s’mores. I brought an opened bag of marshmallows that were kind of stuck together. We managed to roast a few for our s’mores, and then threw the other big blob of marshmallows into the fire.

A nicely roasted golden-brown marshmallow made for a s’more.

I bought some sparklers to help us celebrate. Lo and behold, they were duds…we all remembered that term in relation to fireworks from when we were kids. We threw the duds into the fire pit and there they lit up and made beautiful sparkles amongst the flames. But fireflies made an appearance too, and let their light shine around us. They were better than sparklers.

Last but not least, as we were getting ready to leave we noticed the big, beautiful moon shining bright through the trees, almost full (2 days to go). That was an unexpected treat as it had clouded over and we didn’t expect to see it.

The most remarkable thing of all? We were out in this state park from 3:30 – 9:30 pm and did not have one mosquito bother us. We didn’t slap any, see any, or hear any…it was amazing, and certainly added to the enjoyment of the Minnesota outdoors. We had a great time celebrating summer.

And now… the days are getting shorter…

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Last summer when we were enjoying a street fair in downtown Owatonna, I entered my name into a raffle for tickets to the “Little Theatre of Owatonna”. I have always liked going to plays (and have been to a good many), but I never knew Owatonna had a “little theatre”. I was surprised to learn The Little Theatre of Owatonna (LTO) was founded in April 1966 and have been putting on plays for 60 years! How did I not heard about this theatre in Owatonna, just 30 miles from our town of Northfield?

The Little Theatre of Owatonna is housed at the Sharon Stark Auditorium within the West Hills complex in Owatonna. There is a lot of history surrounding this property, including the original orphanage that operated from 1886 to 1945, then a state school from 1945-1970, and then the city acquisition in 1974. (There is an orphanage museum on the property, which we have been to and is very interesting.)

The auditorium is located in the historic Merrill Hall, which originally served as the main campus for the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children.

A few days after I put my name in the jar, I got a call telling me I won two free tickets to any performance at LTO. They said they would keep my name in the box office for when I was ready to attend a show. I perused the brochure detailing the upcoming plays, but the timing didn’t work until this month when The Wizard of Oz was playing. I was interested, but I also wondered how it could work on a small stage? I called the box office to see if my name was still on the list, and it was! I learned play was over three hours long…3 hours and 15 minutes, with one 20-minute intermission.

I found my way to the theatre and enjoyed The Wizard of Oz immensely. It was fantastic! It ranks in the top tier of the best plays I’ve seen…Dorothy (a rising senior from Faribault) was amazing…as were all the cast members…scarecrow, tinman, and the lion. Everyone in the cast could sing like pros, and dance, and act…such talent!

The creativity for this small stage was very imaginative and resourceful. The corn in the field were actors back-facing, dressed in green and holding up ears of corn…the apple trees were three actors in elegant golden-brown dresses, draped with green capes and hanging red apples…bubbles came down from the ceiling for a dreamy scene…and fire shots blasted up off the floor next to the wizard when he spoke. The wicked witch melted to the floor (a trap door mechanism let her down), and a computer made the magic mirror feasible in the castle scene with Dorothy. It was all so wonderful!

The only signage for the theatre is posted on the front door.

It was great to hear all the nostalgic songs and fun to remember the scenes from the 1939 movie with Judy Garland. I can’t remember the last time I saw the movie, but it was many, many years ago.

I wish I could suggest seeing this play…but this was its last performance at LTO. I feel so fortunate to have seen it. I certainly will check for upcoming plays at this Little Theatre in Owatonna that is BIG on producing wonderful plays.

The End of the Rainbow…

…was in our backyard.

Maybe I need to walk through the cornfield in search of the pot of gold. However, seeing the colors of the rainbow so vibrant was a gift in itself.

It was amazing to see this vibrant rainbow in the sky during a rainstorm the other night. It hung around for a while.

All photos were taken from our back patio during the rainstorm Tuesday evening.


"I (God) have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth"
Genesis 9:13

It’s Only Paper

It is said, trying new things actively rewires your brain cells. It is healthy for us. I decided to try something I haven’t done before. When I arrived at the art class the first thing I read in the info pack was, “you don’t have to be the best (or even good) to enjoy doing something”. So, I was hopeful I would enjoy my new adventure, along with rewiring some brain cells!

I took a beginner’s watercolor class. We have bought several watercolor paintings from a local artist in town and when she offered a beginner’s watercolor class I thought “why not?” Actually, she started classes a few years ago, but the dates never worked out for me until this year, so I was excited to finally get to try this new endeavor.

A few things stood out from the instructions, for instance: relax and let it flow (water is boss anyways), don’t compare your work with others, and it’s only paper. That became my mantra because I felt I could try this technique and if it doesn’t work out it’s not a huge investment…it’s only paper…I can try to correct a mistake or throw the whole thing out and start over because it’s only paper, and I can experiment a lot since it’s only paper.

Different cards to make…examples made by the instructor/artist, Kathy Miller.

I didn’t know what to expect from this class. It was very interesting and I feel I learned a lot (one thing I learned is I have to practice! ha). Kathy told us a student from a previous beginner’s class had expectations of taking home a piece for above her mantle. I didn’t have that kind of expectation; I didn’t even bring home a completed greeting card.

The hours flew by. There were six of us in the class. I learned where to begin with watercolors and that is enough. I now need to practice…which is always the tricky part (out of sight, out of mind) …but I have had one practice session and I plan to practice more. My goal is to make some greeting cards that look nice enough to send out.

The instructor held up her good ol’ color wheel (in this case triangle).

I hope my brain cooperated and rewired some cells because of this new adventure. I can say, I did enjoy myself very much, even though I’m not very good at it.

WINGS

WINGS (Women in Northfield Giving Support) held its 2026 annual grants celebration this week. Twenty-one grant recipients set up displays to show off their organizations, and members of WINGS and the community came to look and see, and to celebrate them. We heard from two of the grantees during the short program.

WINGS is an organization that offers grants to non-profit organizations that aims specifically to improve lives of women and youth in the Northfield area. It also “champions the growth of women in philanthropy, strengthens community bonds through collective investments, and profoundly improves the lives of women and youth in the Northfield area through strategic, focused grants funding basic needs including programs which support housing and food stability, physical and mental health and education.”

Last year WINGS celebrated its 25th anniversary. In the beginning (in 2000), a small group of women pooled their money together thinking they could make more of an impact together. This proved to be successful and WINGS began… and continues to grow and grow. This year $111,000 was given out in grants, giving support to organizations that help support women and youth. A total of $1,756,087 has been awarded to date!

More history off the WINGS website: “The enthusiasm we generated in the first year really sparked the success of WINGS. Having both an annual fund and an endowment fund made a huge impact because we gave grants the first year and we became a major player in town quickly. The goal was to collaborate, not compete, with existing nonprofits, and members were encouraged to expand, not divert, their giving. WINGS funds are invested with the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, which shares expertise and operational efficiency…”

A proverb: “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because its trust is not in the branch, but in its own wings.” The above quote, author unknown, was on display at each table.

I became a member of WINGS last year and am now serving on the board. I am excited to be a part of this worthy, nonprofit organization.

Interested in becoming a member? Click here.

The Lock and The Key

Before we went to Greece, I was involved in gathering donations to help furnish a flex room for a new addition to The Key.

The Key, in Northfield, is a youth-run drop-in center, run by the Northfield Union of Youth. According to their website (click here) it was founded in 1993 by a Youth Board and a Board of Directors. “Its first major goal was to open a substance-free youth center as a safe place for all youth to feel welcome and encouraged.” We moved to Northfield in 1994 and I do remember hearing about it.

The Key is the nation’s longest-running youth-led center, providing a safe and judgment-free space for ages 12–20. The newest executive director is Kelli Podracky (for 3+ years) has contributed a lot in growing the center. And part of that growth was buying the building right next door to where The Key is housed, allowing the organization to expand services for young people.

The old pharmacy building, now houses The Lock.

The building, formerly Northfield Pharmacy, was a small but successful pharmacy in Northfield. Many of us were sad the day our beloved pharmacist, Rob Anderson, retired a few years ago. The building had been vacant and then used for other businesses, until The Key bought the building this year, to expand its operations. It’s perfect…located right next door to The Key. What a great use of this building.

And it’s been named The Lock. A fun play on words…The Lock and The Key. And The Lock is an acronym: Life skills, Opportunities, Counseling, and Knowledge. It’s a wonderful resource center with counseling and learning labs.

I was out of the country when the remodel of The Lock was completed, and I missed helping on move-in day with multiple volunteers to furnish the inside: foyer, two offices, learning lab, flex room, kitchenette and bath/shower. I was not there for the ribbon cutting ceremony, but many were. But I did go take a look when I returned and it was fun to see this vision come together. It’s an inviting space with a lot to offer.

Another view of the flex room in The Lock.

It is a great place to be celebrated. May it serve the Northfield youth for years to come.

The Necklace

As an outreach to the community our church puts on annual Bike Rally. This is the fourth year. We have bicycle technicians to help make small repairs to bikes, a bicycle washing station, free food, an obstacle course for kids, and more. It’s a big draw to the Hispanic community that lives near by the church, but it’s open to anyone in the community, and word is getting out. It’s always a great event and Gary and I planned to help again this year.

I usually like to be at the food table…grillers are grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, and I, along with others, are helping keep the buns and condiments, chips and cookies, lemonade and water all refreshed. (I was busy so very few photos..)

This year a women donated a huge double layer cake that we needed to help serve. While doing this I noticed a woman in line with a beautiful necklace and I complimented her on it. She spoke some English. I learned she is from Mexico and is visitng family here. She comes to Northfield a few times a year. Almost immediately, after I told her I liked her necklace, she took it off and gave it to me. She wanted me to have the necklace since I liked it. She said, “that is what we do.”

We continued our conversation for another 30-40 minutes, exchanging emails at the end. Our pastor’s wife speaks fluent Spanish and was standing nearby so I asked her to do a little interpreting to make sure I understood this woman wanted to gift me her necklace. All was good…that was her intent, and she wants to continue to communicate via email.

What a fun serendipity.

What a kind gesture.

What a good lesson.

What a delightful new friend.

Brand Farms Tulip Festival

On a beautiful spring day in Minnesota I ventured out to the Brand Farms in Farmington, Minnesota for its tulip festival debut. Having planted over 160,000 Dutch tulip bulbs last fall, the Brands opened up their tulip field this spring for the public to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

According to their website “Brand Farms is a family dairy farm originally purchased in 1957 by German immigrants, Anton and Marie Brand, and has been passed down through four generations. Aaron Brand is the fourth generation who farms with his father, John. His grandfather, Richard, was born in 1932 and still has a daily presence on the farm.”

As I drove down the dusty dirt road I approached the farm an hour after it opened and was surprised – the parking lot was overflowing and cars were parked everywhere.

Word is out, and the tulips are up, and the festival is in full swing (it opened May 2 and runs through May 24).

I waited in line to board the tractor-pulled wagon that takes you out to the tulip field. It’s the only way you can get there (and there is a charge).

As we approached the field, there was a pop of exquisite colors and it reminded me of the aerial photos you see of the Netherland’s tulip fields (well… on a significantly smaller scale!)

On this day, many of the tulips were in full bloom. There were a few that have not opened yet, but I got an excellent first impression. A few interesting oddities were placed among the tulips for photo ops.

My favorite was a grand piano amongst the tulips. There were a couple of clawfoot bathtubs too. There was a variety of activities to keep the visiting kiddos engaged. One food truck was open this day, but I believe more food trucks are there on the weekends.

As I was taking photos of the many striking colors of tulips I was reminded of a time when a friend called me and told me she was standing in the flower shop wanting to buy me a bouquet of tulips.

She decided to call and ask me what color I wanted…and I said white. She was surprised, and said she was glad she called to ask because she would never have chosen white.

I have always liked white flowers. There were rows of spectacular white tulips at the tulip festival.

But while I stood looking at the tulips, I wondered…if I could pick a bouquet from this field which color would I choose? I decided I wanted one of every color…they were all so glorious.

It was a lovely morning at the first annual tulip festival at the Brand Farms. I’m glad annual is in the name. I’d bet they will add more tulips each year.

It continues to amaze me how there are so many variety of flowers…and then with each variety such an array of colors.