Minnesota Prairie Roots

Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Travel stories from Argentina November 10, 2010

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Castle at Estancia La Candelaria in Argentina.

 

AS DIFFERENT AS my second-born and I are—she’s a fearless traveler, I’m not—we share a common passion and talent. We are both writers.

I never purposely led Miranda on this path, although I suspect that my endless reading aloud of books to her as a child instilled a basic love of language.

She chose to pursue writing on her own with me offering encouragement from the sidelines. In high school, she served as co-editor of the student newspaper, never backing down even when challenged by the principal. At the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse, she also wrote, and edited, for the student newspaper.

Last week Miranda began freelancing for examiner.com, St. Paul. She’s a travel writer with the online entity, and a darned good one. She focuses on Argentina, her adopted country, and the place where she’s studied, done mission work and interned. She just returned from Buenos Aires three weeks ago after a 4 ½-month stint there, her second time in that South American capital city.

Since her return to Minnesota, Miranda has been searching for a job that will utilize her Spanish-speaking skills. She has a Spanish degree and wants to work as an interpreter or translator. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that she opted for minors in international studies and communications studies.

While she searches for employment, Miranda is volunteering with a local charitable service center, helping with Spanish interpreting.

She is also staying connected to the Latin America culture via those examiner.com, St. Paul, articles. She’s penned some interesting features about gauchos, a Buenos Aires cemetery, a favorite pancake restaurant and Mafalda, Argentina’s most popular comic strip. But don’t take my word for it. Read for yourself by checking out the travel section of examiner.com, St. Paul.

 

 

An Argentine gaucho

 

 

Statue at Chacarita Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

PHOTOS BY MIRANDA HELBLING

© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

My unforgettable “road” poem publishes in The Talking Stick, Forgotten Roads September 15, 2010

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TYPICALLY WHEN I write poetry, I turn to my past, to childhood memories.

That’s evident by my poems published in three volumes of Poetic Strokes, A Regional Anthology of Poetry from Southeastern Minnesota:  “Abandoned Farmhouse,” “Prairie Sisters,” “Walking Beans,” “Saturday night baths,” and “A school without a library.”

Occasionally I deviate from that trip down memory lane. “Lord, My Rock” published in the fall 2004 issue of The Lutheran Digest and “Tribute to a Korean War Veteran” published in the May/June 2009 issue of Minnesota Moments magazine.

My latest in-print-poem also detours from my typical subject of childhood days, although it stays on the road of memories, albeit this one a heart-wrenching, emotional recent memory.

“Hit-and-Run” has just published in The Talking Stick, Forgotten Roads, Volume Nineteen, debuting this Saturday at a Book Release Party in the Northwoods Bank Community Room in Park Rapids.

The poem looks back to May 12, 2006, the day my then 12-year-old son was struck by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the street just a short distance from our home. Thankfully, my boy was not seriously injured. But the driver was never found and the memories of that horrible incident still linger. Now I’m sharing, in poetic verse, how that morning unfolded emotionally for me. Certainly, I have not forgotten this road.

Apparently my words resonated with the editors who reviewed the 200-plus poems submitted in this literary competition. “Hit-and-Run” was among the top seven poems selected by the editorial board for prize consideration by noted Minnesota poet Heid Erdrich. My poem earned an honorable mention.

“A terrifying imagery/memory,” Erdrich partially wrote in her evaluation.

Indeed.

If you would like to read my poem, the other winning poems and the fiction and creative non-fiction published in this latest collection by writers with a connection to Minnesota, check out the online purchasing options at The Jackpine Writers’ Bloc. The Park Rapids/Menahga-based group annually publishes The Talking Stick, which is sold by the Writers’ Bloc and several northern Minnesota bookstores.

I’ve read two of the past anthologies and I promise that you will enjoy some top-notch writing by emerging and established Minnesota writers. The Talking Stick has an excellent, long-standing reputation and I’m proud to be published in it.

If you’re a writer, consider entering the 2011 The Talking Stick competition. Submissions call for the 20th volume goes out in December with a March 1, 2011, submission deadline.

Finally, if you’re in the Park Rapids area this weekend, consider attending the book release party, which begins at 1 p.m. Writers published in The Talking Stick, Forgotten Roads, will read their works beginning at 2 p.m. No, I won’t be there as I have another commitment. But you’ll meet plenty of other Minnesota writers anxious to sell their books or compare notes on this journey we call writing.

© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Country churches & more in fall issue of Minnesota Moments September 1, 2010

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THE FALL ISSUE of Minnesota Moments magazine has just published and I’m especially pleased with this issue.

Inside you’ll find an eight-page photo essay I’ve done on old country churches. Within the past year, I’ve been photographing rural churches in southeastern Minnesota, drawn by their history and beauty and by the peace I feel in their often bucolic settings.

Simply put, I can’t get enough of old country churches. Sometimes I’ve even been tempted to break a lock to get inside a sanctuary. But I haven’t and I won’t. That would be a sin, and against the law.

The September/October edition also includes a trio of stories from Austin, Minnesota, where I traveled in March. Downtown I discovered a kitschy little barbecue joint, Piggy Blue’s Bar-B-Que that’s a must-eat-at spot. To see the other sites I visited, you’ll need to read the magazine.

I have additional stories in this issue, plus my regular reviews of three Minnesota-authored books. As always, designer Amy Stirnkorb has worked her magic by transforming my submitted stories and photos into eye-pleasing page lay-outs.

Also, check out my Minnesota Prairie Roots promo on page 55 of the magazine. I designed it and I’m pretty proud of my work. I don’t claim to be a graphic designer. However, I had an idea, went with it and I think the promo truly projects my down-to-earth nature and style. See what you think and give me your feedback.

Of course, I’m not the only writer/photographer for Minnesota Moments. You’ll find an interesting feature about three friends who make wine, a nostalgic garage story, some entertaining essays, squash-growing tips and recipes and lots more.

Be sure to check out the ads too. Without advertising support, the magazine couldn’t exist.

Minnesota Moments should arrive in mailboxes and land on newsstands any day now, so watch for it, or look for it if you’ve never seen the publication.

© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

And the winner is… July 9, 2010

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DEAR READER,

Please allow me to humbly boast today. (Can I be humble and boast?)

On Wednesday I won the equivalent of the Oscar or the Emmy in blogging. Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but…WordPress.com featured my blog post, “In praise of preserving country churches,” on its homepage, in Freshly Pressed.

Big deal, you say. Yes, it’s a very big deal. You see, among the hundreds of thousands of WordPress blog posts out there in the world—and we’re talking like 330,000 or so published on Wednesday—mine was selected as among “the best.” Only 11, that’s as in 10 + 1, were picked for Freshly Pressed.

I shot this picture of Freshly Pressed on my computer Thursday morning. The numbers change often, reflecting changes in post counts. Go to WordPress.com and click on "Earlier" at the left bottom of the screen to find my post.

So now you can understand why I’m giddy, thrilled, happy, elated, and whatever other adjective you may select to describe a blogger who’s overwhelmed with this sudden rise to notoriety in the WordPress blogosphere.

And here’s the interesting aspect of this whole event. I had no clue, absolutely no clue, that I was in contention for this prize. Until Wednesday, I had never heard of Freshly Pressed. Sorry, WordPress.com. But I expose this ignorance to clarify that I don’t write for the fame.

My first hint that something big was brewing for me came in a reader comment. Jason wrote, in part: “I was glad to see this on the freshly posted category on WordPress!”

Huh? So I googled and discovered that WordPress.com daily chooses about 10 posts that “represent how WordPress.com can be used to entertain, enlighten or inspire.” Five guidelines are listed for writing posts that increase your odds of making Freshly Pressed:

  • Write unique content that’s free of bad stuff.
  • Include images or other visuals.
  • Add tags.
  • Cap off your post with a compelling headline.
  • Aim for typo-free content.

Apparently “In praise of preserving country churches” met those criteria.

The homepage of WordPress.com, as photographed Thursday morning. My "In praise of preserving country churches" blog post is on the lower right and was categorized under "art."

And then I got to the warm and fuzzy part: “Why do we do all this? It’s our way of saying we like you. We really like you.”

Well, Freshly Pressed, I really like you, too. As promised, traffic to my blog has soared. Typically I get about 150 views daily. On Wednesday that skyrocketed to 1,052. The following day my numbers still remained high.

Likewise, more readers than ever are commenting, which is good, but also sucks up a lot of time screening and posting. But, hey, I’m not complaining. I value reader interaction.

This “award” from WordPress.com validates that I can blog, and blog well. Considering that I launched Minnesota Prairie Roots only a year ago, I am truly amazed that I have achieved Freshly Pressed status.

My work also has been noticed here in Minnesota as my posts have been featured on Minnesota Public Radio’s Minnesota Today “Blog Box.” and in MinnPost’s “Minnesota Blog Cabin.”

Yet, I don’t blog for the glory, at least not my glory. I blog because I am passionate about writing. I have to write. I love to write. And if in the process my writing is recognized, then that is just reassurance that I am using my God-given talents as I should be.

Audrey

© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Inspired by Dr. Seuss: My sister’s fat cat July 8, 2010

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That fat cat sat,

sat in a chair.

Without a care

sat that fat cat

with his kingly air.

© Copyright 2010 by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Where will you find a log cabin library in Minnesota? July 6, 2010

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The 2009 Rice County Free Fair.

MINNESOTA MOMENTS’ July/August issue has just published.

And it’s jam-packed with stories from through-out the state, reaching north to Ely and dipping south to Winona.

The cover story focuses on Ely, selected as the magazine’s “Best hometown” for 2010. Now, I’ve never been to this nearly-into-Canada town. But after reading the package of stories, I think this would be worth the long trip north.

As for Winona, my oldest daughter attended college there, so I am familiar with this beautiful Mississippi River town, the setting for Kent O. Stever’s Fourth of July essay.

The other feature story in this issue isn’t really a story, but a photo essay. The eight-page spread highlights images I shot last summer at The Rice County Free Fair in Faribault. As an added bonus, we’ve included a “fair” poem by Frances Ann Crowley. As a published poet, I’m thrilled that we’re occasionally incorporating poetry into Minnesota Moments.

But mostly, I’m pleased to take readers on a journey with me to some interesting places I’ve discovered in Minnesota: Treasure City in Royalton, Franke’s Bakery in Montgomery, the Hackensack Lending Library in Hackensack, Roberds Lake Resort & Campground near Faribault and the Stars & Stripes Garage in Heidelberg.

Treasure City, a kitschy store in Royalton, Minnesota.

A lake-side view of the Hackensack Lending Library. Who is that to the left of the building? Find out when you read my Minnesota Moments story.

This donut sign is posted outside one of the places I write about in the July/August issue. And it's not Franke's Bakery in Montgomery.

I meet the most intriguing people and explore the most interesting places, mostly off the beaten path.

Also, as I do in every issue of Minnesota Moments, I review three books written by Minnesotans. And one is a book of poetry.

Finally, consider entering the Gingerbread Cookie Murder Recipe Contest sponsored by Kensington Publishing Corporation, publisher of New York Times bestselling author and Swanville, Minnesota native Joanne Fluke’s books. She has teamed up with two other writers to pen Gingerbread Cookie Murder, which releases in October. Contest rules and an official entry form can be found on the Minnesota Moments Web site at http://minnesotamoments.com/current/index.html.

© Copyright 2010 Audrey Kletscher Helbling