Minnesota Prairie Roots

Merchandise at the Rice County Steam and Gas Engines Show flea market awaits shoppers.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE THEM. Others hate them. But I am among those who enjoy shopping at garage, rummage and yard sales and the occasional flea market.

Actually, I’ve been shopping like this for nearly 25 years, out of necessity at first, to buy baby stuff and later clothes for my growing kids. Now I shop such sales for enjoyment and the thrill of the hunt.

It’s also currently vogue to recycle and reuse as part of the going green fad. And to think that I am actually, for once, part of a trend rather than lagging years behind is truly remarkable. Typically I could care less about the latest whatever.

That said, just look at the items I found (with my camera lens at least) at the Rice County Steam and Gas Engines, Inc. show near Dundas a few weeks ago.

Not real roses, but fake roses from China.

Some call it "junk." I prefer the word "treasures" for flea market finds.

Fitting with the day's theme, toy tractors were available for purchase. A perfect gift for a would-be farmer.

In hindsight, I should have purchased some of these beautiful old jars for my kitchen.

Even the tractor quilts featured recycled batting, according to the woman who sewed them.

For more information about Rice County Steam and Gas Engines, Inc., go to www.ricecountysteamandgas.com.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

UP UNTIL AUGUST, I had only ever seen loons in photos or as artistic renditions, like these on this wooden tray in the Itasca State Park gift shop.

Loons in art at Itasca.

The only loons I had ever heard were on television or in the replica sound emitted by LoonTune™, a folksy-style toy created right here in Minnesota. See www.loontune.com.

So when I actually heard not one common loon, but two, while vacationing in northern Minnesota this summer, I was beyond thrilled.

These are birds that send a chill up your spine with their haunting voice.

My daughter Miranda photographed this loon near the shore of Lake Itasca in mid-August.

And to think I nearly missed these loons at Itasca State Park. I was walking along the sandy shoreline at the public swimming beach when a three-year-old boy ran up to me, held out his tightly-clutched hand and opened it to reveal a shell. He was so excited. I mean, really, really, really thrilled about his discovery.

Soon he was plucking more shells from the edge of Lake Itasca to show me. Back and forth. Back and forth. He was so cute that I simply had to stay and play his little game.

And that’s when I saw my first loon, not far from shore, dipping and diving in and out of the lake waters. Later I would hear, but not see, a second loon after insisting we stop at Peace Pipe Vista, a scenic Itasca State Park overlook.

Itasca Park's scenic Peace Pipe Vista, where I heard my second loon.

The loon’s edgy, lonesome voice captivated my attention as did its sheer size. I never expected a loon to be so big. Adult common loons weigh 8 to 12 pounds. This is no small, duck-sized bird.

The waterfowl’s ability to stay under water for so long, up to five minutes, also impressed me.

And those red eyes, well they’re not to scare you. They actually serve a purpose—helping the loon see better while under the water.

I had, of course, learned all about common loons back in sixth grade, when I studied Minnesota history. But that was decades ago, in a southwestern Minnesota classroom, in an area of the state where there are no loons.

Finally, after all these years, I saw and heard a real loon and, like the preschooler with his shells, I was thrilled with my discovery.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Loon photo by Miranda Helbling

MY DAUGHTER MIRANDA, who is a Spanish major senior at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, claims that her campus is over-run by ardillas. They rummage through dumpsters, hog sidewalk space and basically make a nuisance of themselves.

That’s why I was surprised when Miranda photographed a squirrel this summer while working at the Concordia Spanish Language Village north of Bemidji.

I speculate that because she had been away from the squirrel-infested Wisconsin college campus for a few months, she had forgotten just how much she disliked the overgrown rodent with a bushy tail.

Or perhaps she simply could not resist this mischievous baby squirrel that tried to peek inside a cabin window.

Whatever the reasons, I am posting this blog now, because my daughter has been back at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse for several weeks.

Do you still think this ardilla is cute, Miranda?

Photo © Copyright 2009 Miranda Helbling

Embroidered dish towels were among silent auction offerings at the Cannon Valley High School event.

‘TIS THE SEASON of fund-raising auctions and church dinners and festivals in Minnesota, and I hit my first one this past weekend in Morristown.

My husband, Randy, and I attended Cannon Valley Lutheran High School’s annual auction. Even though we didn’t make any major purchases this year as we have in the past, we still enjoyed a fun Saturday evening of interesting conversation, auction entertainment and great food.

You can't beat the homemade food served at the auction.

Did I mention the great food? These Lutherans serve up some fantastic a la carte selections like the pork sandwich, potato salad and slice of homemade apple pie that filled my plate.

Fresh produce stocked the country store at the CVLHS event.

Jars of pickled beets on display.

And that’s not all. In the country store, volunteers sold homemade salsa, pickled beets, honey, pickle relish, bars, more pie and a whole lot of other homemade goodies in addition to garden-fresh produce.

Delbert's Genuine Rhubarb Wine fetched $45 at the live auction. His grape wine sold for $50 and his plum wine for $25. It's always a hit.

The silent and live auctions offered yet more tempting culinary delights like one-gallon bags of Bonnie Borchert’s “Best Ever Caramel Corn,” which sold for as much as $50; Delbert Velzke’s ever-popular homemade wines; and black walnuts from Elmer Fuchs’ trees.

Dave Becher's two lady bugs drew winning bids of $30 and $35.

But this event features much more than crowd-pleasing foods. It also highlights the artistic talents of those who support Cannon Valley Lutheran High School. Evelyn Meschke donated dainty crocheted doilies. Jamie Hays brought her colorful butterfly art. Dave Becher contributed his quirky garden art lady bugs made from recycled bowling balls.

This shows just a portion of The Lord's Prayer fretwork.

And then there was The Lord’s Prayer that Bob Kuschel crafted from white birch and Minnesota black walnut. He carefully sawed every word of the prayer, letter by letter, to make this fretwork piece. This was his 24^th creation of the “Our Father” prayer, following a pattern used by his father many years ago and only recently rediscovered, according to CVLHS art teacher Barb Bruns. The artwork made by the elderly Kuschel sold at Saturday’s live auction for $275. I was impressed by the skill and talent invested in creating this outstanding piece.

One dozen of Kathy Hallanger's fall-themed cookies sold for $40 during the CVLHS live auction.

From catered meals to a week at a cabin to 50 bushels of corn for a corn burner to a pickup load of firewood to a half a hog to bird baths and a digital TV, the auction lists were packed with a variety of merchandise.

While we bid on a few items, we didn’t end up with any winning bids. But that’s OK. We still enjoyed the evening of arts, entertainment and fine dining, Cannon Valley style.

For more information about Cannon Valley Lutheran High School, go to www.cvlhs.org.

A mystery box at the CVLHS silent auction attracted plenty of attention, including mine. I guessed a microwave. Anyone care to reveal the mystery?

Plan to attend a fundraising auction, dinner or festival in your area this fall. You never know what you’ll find while supporting a worthy cause.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

"I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see."-- Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

JUSTIN, 24, FORMER HEROIN ADDICT, took the microphone and shared his story of addiction. It was not unlike the previous stories told by recovering addicts who are part of Minnesota Teen Challenge & Adult Programs.

Their addictions had consumed and destroyed their lives, and those of their families.

Yet, it was Justin’s story that most touched me when I heard him and others speak during a Sunday morning worship service at Trinity Lutheran Church in Faribault.

Well-dressed in black dress pants, a white shirt and tie, with closely-cropped hair, he could be the boy next door.

You would never guess that for years, Justin pumped heroin into his veins. Until the day he flipped his car three times and lay in a hospital bed. It was the defining moment in this young man’s life. It was the moment he heard his mother, whom he describes as “a woman of God,” say: “I want my son back.”

And then Justin, who will graduate from the Minnesota Teen Challenge and Adult Programs in a month, sang Amazing Grace. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more heart-felt rendition of this song that speaks to God’s grace and forgiveness.

Tears rimmed my eyes as I thought of Justin’s mother, who wanted only to have her son back. More tears surfaced as 20 others joined Justin in singing “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free.” I could almost see the chains of addiction falling from around the wrists and ankles of these men—some of them in their 20s, some in their 50s and others in between—who had come to share their message at Trinity.

In their faces, in their smiles, in the tears some wiped from their eyes, I could sense the peace that now encompasses their lives. There’s no faking this stuff. These men—these former meth users, these prescription pain medication abusers, these alcoholics, these hurting men, some who attempted suicide, lost their families, lived on the streets, belonged to gangs—seemed deeply sincere.

These are men who, in a shared path to recovery, in a shared faith, now love, hug, pray and care for each other.

They have transitioned to this point by trusting in God, through counseling, attending chapel and classes together, and more at Minnesota Teen Challenge & Adult Programs, one of the largest recovery programs in the state. The faith-based organization has campuses in Minneapolis, Brainerd and Duluth and treats teens through adults, both men and women.

If you ever have the opportunity to hear these individuals speak, do. Their message is incredibly powerful. And if you’re a mom like me, you’ll be profoundly moved by stories like Justin’s that speak to the depth of a mother’s love and to a son’s reclamation of that love.

(For more information, log onto www.mntc.org. The Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir will present a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at Grace Church, 9301 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie.)

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Twiehoff Gardens along St. Paul Road in Faribault offers an abundance of fresh produce.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT BUYING directly from the grower that appeals to my rural roots. I relish the taste of vegetables grown in Minnesota soil.

And right here in Faribault, we’re blessed to have a terrific Farmers’ Market, apple orchards and Twiehoff Gardens. (See my previous post on Twiehoffs.)

No matter where you live, take time this fall to buy fresh, buy local. Savor the delectable tastes and the visual appeal of just-harvested fruits and vegetables.

And to tempt you, here are some of the offerings at Twiehoff Gardens.

Pumpkin season is just beginning at Twiehoffs. By late fall, wagons will brim with all sizes of pumpkins.

While sweet corn season is about over at Twiehoffs, corn is typically a hot summertime commodity.

Twiehoff Gardens sells spices and other products from Winona, Minnesota- based Watkins.

Fresh red potatoes are popular with shoppers.

Jalapenos, with an "h" or a "j," who cares, are available.

A white board lists produce in stock at Twiehoff Gardens in Faribault.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

SEVERAL YEARS AGO my friend Steve gave me some dahlia tubers.

I looked at the ugly, dried pieces of root and wondered if he was crazy. How could something so drab transform into a beautiful flower?

Steve assured me that would happen and even pointed to the tiniest of sprouts emerging from the tubers.

Well, he’s made a believer out of me.

Into my third year of growing dahlias, I am already passionate about this prolific plant that produces pedestrian-stopping blossoms. Seriously. Last year a guy paused to photograph a saucer plate-sized red dahlia with his cell phone. Granted, he was from China, so in reality he was a tourist, but still…

I’ve received numerous other comments about my beautiful flowers.

Like those many admirers, I am simply smitten by the showy dahlias. Not only do they fill my yard with color, but my house too. These make great, long-lasting cut flowers.

That’s why I need to tour my friend Steve’s dahlia patch soon. When I visited his spacious dahlia garden last autumn, he sent me home with armfuls of dahlias.

There’s something simply romantic and delightful and inspiring and wonderful about a house overflowing with dahlia bouquets.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

I NEVER EXPECTED this of Bemidji.

The northern Minnesota community that we southern Minnesotans peg as the place to have our photos taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox extends way beyond these legendary icons.

This town embraces the arts.

A simple walk through the historic downtown clearly shows just how much Bemidji loves the arts, both visual and performing. Join me on this brief tour into the heart of Paul Bunyan’s hometown and see what I saw.

Art. Everywhere. Just waiting to be discovered.

Minneapolis artist Nickolas Legeros created this bronze sculpture, “Sovereign Son,” now on display at the corner of Sixth St. N.W. and Minnesota Ave. N.W. and part of the 2008 Bemidji Sculpture Walk.

Mary T. Peterson and community painted “Garden of Harmony” on Harmony Foods along Third St. N.W., one of many murals in Bemidji.

The 1903 Beltrami County Courthouse is built in the Beaux arts style and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bemidji artist Al Belleveau created this whimsical and functional artwork/mailbox for The Headwaters School of Music & the Arts, a community school for the arts in downtown Bemidji.

The Paul Bunyan Playhouse, the nation’s longest continually-running summer theater group, performs in the historic Chief Theatre.

Paula Swenson’s mural on Wild Hare Bistro & Coffee House is titled “Circles Fall Together II.”

(Be sure to read my earlier post about the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.)

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

The "long green line" stretches across the field.

A restored 1921 Advance Rumely steam engine debuts at the show.

IF YOU KNOW John Deere tractors, then you know they are yellow and green and are part of “the long green line.” A leaping deer further distinguishes the company. And in earlier days, so did the distinct putt-putt of John Deere tractors.

Now imagine rows and rows of old John Deere tractors, a long green line per se. That would be the Rice County Steam & Gas Engines, Inc., annual show held recently near Dundas. Each year the group features a different brand and in 2009, it was John Deere.

That’s not to say that only Deere equipment was allowed on the grounds. Heavens, no. But the yellow and green machines dominated the Minneapolis Molines, Fords, Farmalls, Olivers and more.

An event like this, though, involves so much more than tractors. It is about “preserving a bit of yesterday for tomorrow,” according to the Rice County organization’s motto.

From the blacksmith pounding on red-hot metal to the old steam engine rumbling down the gravel road to the horses pulling a wagon, this show truly exemplifies many facets of rural history.

So, settle back and view this sampling of photos from my visit to the Rice County Steam & Gas Engines, Inc., show.

Be sure to check out my previous posts and watch for at least one more blog focusing on yet another facet of this event.

At work in the blacksmith shop, shaping metal.

John Deeres: old and older

A close-up image of the Cyclone name on a piece of equipment, a brand unknown to me until the show.

Two types of horse power.

An on-site windmill adds authenticity to the showgrounds.

An old John Deere combine. I remember these.

I learned to drive tractor on a B Farmall.

Corn bundles piled on a wagon.

Flags were a common sight on tractors at the show.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Look at this freebie pen I picked up at the Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic. I also got can coolers, a magnet, oval pill box, grip strengthener AND a free ice cream sandwich during the open houses in Faribault.

SOMETIMES I THINK people in my community take local health care for granted.

Don’t they understand, I often wonder, how fortunate we are to have such a wide range of outstanding medical care right here in our backyard?

Take it from someone who didn’t always have immediate health care available. I mean as in blocks, or a few miles, away. Even today the distance to a clinic and hospital from my hometown of Vesta in southwestern Minnesota spans about 20 miles.

Vesta once had a doctor. Old Doc Pete. Penicillin Pete, they called him. I remember him. He stitched up my head once, gave me some red stuff to swab on my ankle when I was stung by a zillion wasps, once plucked a pebble from my sister’s nostril.

But then Dr. Peterson (or was it Pederson) retired or died, I don’t remember which, and we had to travel to Redwood Falls to see the doctor.

Today I live in Faribault, where I can reach a clinic or hospital in mere minutes. For that I am thankful, extremely thankful.

Last night my husband and I checked out the latest in the Faribault medical scene—a new surgery center at District One Hospital and the new headquarters for Rehab One and The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic.

It was only 15 months ago that I underwent total right hip replacement surgery at District One. I’ve had several other surgeries there through the years. So I was interested in touring these facilities during their open houses. I was impressed.

At the ortho and rehab center, I most appreciated that everything is now on one main level. No elevators. No stairs. Easy access, plain and simple. That’s important when your mobility is limited. I know.

Down the road, the new surgery center now has its own entrance. No more walking through the hospital’s emergency entrance to get to the surgery wing. That’s a very good thing.

As I stood outside the former orthopaedic building housed in the historic Seabury Divinity School, I was thankful for one more change: No bats. That’s right. The driver who shuttled us on a golf cart during the open houses said he’d heard stories about bats inside the facility. Although I’d never seen one during my many appointments there, I welcomed the news.

Now, if I win the door prize drawing for a free surgery…

Just kidding.

© Copyright 2009 Audrey Kletscher Helbling