10 passionate bloggers, plus one
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Writing about life in Minnesota |
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They are your next-door neighbor, the guy in the office, the young mother down the street, the 20-something…just regular folks who write online. They are bloggers. We set out to find 10 Minnesotans who blog with a passion about their lives and/or the people, places and events of Minnesota. We weren’t looking for writers with an agenda. We wanted down-to-earth, everyday Minnesotan. Even though several of our bloggers weren’t born here, they have lived here long enough to pass as natives. Our featured bloggers write well, regularly and with a signature style that sets them apart from other writers. Photos were a must on their blogs. Each writer brings a unique perspective, style and content to blogging. You’ll discover that in their profiles published here. You’ll learn why these Minnesotans blog. And you’ll learn a bit about them personally. We invite you to go online and connect with these, your Minnesota neighbors, who write with humor and honesty and more, often in a way that’s as comfortable as sharing conversation over a cup of coffee. |
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Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ mn Prairie Rootshttp://mnprairieroots.wordpress.com/ Writer Audrey Kletscher Helbling, 55, grew up in a “Little House on the Prairie.” Really. Her cozy childhood home outside of Vesta on the southwestern Minnesota prairie didn’t have a bathroom or, for a long time, a telephone. Raised on a crop and dairy farm, Audrey knows all about walking beans, picking rock and doing chores. For the past 30 years, she’s lived in Faribault in southeastern Minnesota, where she and her husband have raised three children. She’s a writer by profession and passion, with her work published in everything from literary journals to greeting cards to billboards. She’s also won several awards for her photography. Q. When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I started blogging for Minnesota Moments in 2008 and then launched my own blog in July 2009. My blog name, Minnesota Prairie Roots, honors my southwestern Minnesota prairie roots. This place of big skies, wide open spaces and unceasing wind shaped the person I became and the writer who evolved. Q. Why do you blog? A: My passion is writing, therefore I blog. This style of writing allows me to be more creative and personal and to share whatever I like, whenever I wish. Blogging also gives me the opportunity to showcase my photography, another passion. Q. How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: The approach I take to blogging is more journalistic because of my education and work experience. I write mostly about places I visit, people I meet, things I do, and everyday life in Minnesota. I’ll tell you about hanging laundry outside or small-town Main Street or an interesting character, all shared in a down-to-earth, unpretentious writing style. Via my words and images, I showcase the ordinary aspects and details of life that are often overlooked. Q. Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: I’m particularly proud of a series I wrote following the September 2010 flash flood in southeastern Minnesota. My husband and I were on a day trip to view fall colors when we drove into flood-ravaged Zumbro Falls and stopped. I pulled out my camera and notebook and started taking photos and interviewing folks. From there we went onto Hammond. The result was a series of heart-rending photos and stories that left a lasting impression on me and many readers. |
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Beth Johanneck @ Minnesota Country Mousehttp://countrymouse.blogharbor.com/blog
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I began blogging in 2007 because I had gotten a new camera and didn’t know what in the world I would do with all of the photos I was taking. Having spent four years working for the Redwood Regional Tourism office in southwestern Minnesota, I knew I could add some value to the photos by also promoting the people and places my wanderlust afflicted friend, Melanie Dunlap, and I visited on our weekend day trips. I call it Minnesota Country Mouse to remember who I am. I live in the Twin Cities, but let’s face it, I’m still a Minnesota farmer’s daughter. Q: Why do you blog? A: I blog because I get excited about the places I visit in Minnesota and I want to share that with others. I also blog because I have big opinions that are hard to keep to myself. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: The content on my blog leans toward being somewhat silly, yet it sometimes carries a historical component with which to lend context to the places I’ve visited in the state. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: One of my favorite posts is “Keep Your Britches on Little Claire. A Bridal Shower in Montevideo, Minnesota.” It took me back to the days of being one of the youngest girl cousins whose job it usually was to carry the gifts from one table to another for my older, sophisticated girl cousins’ bridal showers. It also features little Claire who did a very surprising thing which completely delighted me. |
Nina Hedin @ ArtsyNinahttp://www.artsynina.blogspot.com/
Q. When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I started blogging in 2006 and was instantly hooked. I loved the feedback and interaction with friends (my first readers) and random strangers. ArtsyNina was born after accusations of being “artsy” too many times; I’m always creating something. Q. Why do you blog? A: I blog to write. I blog to record events. But mostly, I blog to share — a funny story, a recipe, a picture, a message. Q. How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: My writing style is very stream-of-consciousness. I write the same way I speak. I often wonder if it’s hard to follow, but either way it seems to entertain people. My blog content is mainly personal — stories about our fixer-upper, raising our boy, kitchen adventures, vintage finds, crafty happenings and anything I have an opinion about. Most of my writing is laced with humor and a big smile. Q. Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: My most memorable post was about our bathroom remodel. It’s titled “Don’t Do It.” It was the first post I’d written that was viewed hundreds of times. I was thrilled that it was so popular, and found it funny that people were interested in my remodeling horror story. I intend to write “Don’t Do It Part II”... when the bathroom is done. Someday. |
Gary Sankary @ Old and in the Way
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I wrote my first blog entry, which was on this site, in 2005ish. Blogging was sort of new back then; Google had launched Blogspot which made it very easy to start a little site and get down to business. I’ve always loved writing. I enjoy turning a good phrase or plagiarizing a tasty quote. It was a natural for me and based on the 1,700 or so posts I’ve written now, it’s something I’ve stuck with to a much greater degree than just about anything else I’ve ever started. My blog’s name, Old and in the Way, is a nod to one of my music heroes, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. It was the name of his bluegrass band, of which I was a big fan, both the genre and the band. It’s also a statement that talks to my world view. I’m sort of an old soul. I complain a lot and often feel like I’m in the way. Folks who know me well tend to think it’s spot on. Q: Why do you blog? A: Only real reason: I love writing. Doesn’t have to be good writing. I’ve got 1,759 crappy posts and three good ones. Just like observing the mundane and telling other people about it in an entertaining way. Q.How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: Essentially it’s my personal observations about “stuff,” family life, some politics, Jewish issues. I’d like to write more from a Jewish perspective as it’s easy for me and I enjoy the challenge. My style tends to be sort of stream-ofconsciousness. I’d like to think that I’m some sort of Hunter S. Thompson, but every half-assed writer says that. I write as if you were sitting across the table from me listening to a conversation, but couldn’t get a word in. A common occurrence BTW. Q. Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: I wrote a series of posts about my adoption experience and finding my birth mother. It’s one of the most personal things I’ve written and I find myself occasionally re-reading that post. My readers seem to like my humorous posts, especially the ones that pit the middle-aged dad against the upstart youths. They get re-tweeted and commented on most often. It’s sort of fun to really lay down something hilarious and hit that post button knowing that you’re onto something good. |
Aaron J. Brown @ Minnesota Brown
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: My blog officially began the day after the 2006 election. The name predates the blog. MinnesotaBrown.com was the domain I used to post baby pictures and newspaper columns. My name as a domain was already owned in all its forms, so I went with my beloved home state and my last name. I like to think it represents a literary-quality name now, hearkening Minnesota Fats in “The Hustler” and the common local usage of the word “brown” and “brownfield” to reflect “well used earth.” Q: Why do you blog? A: I have an insatiable desire to understand and be understood. Part of it is the narcissism of our times, but in truth I find that blogging allows me to work in multiple subject areas and fields all at the same time. It’s a way to expand the audience for my more traditional work, such as my teaching, book(s) and essays. I feel that I am documenting important information about a particular place and time, work that I hope outlives me someday. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: The quick way to describe it is news and commentary about northern Minnesota’s Iron Range region. But I write in a humorous, creative nonfiction style with a wider perspective that I hope appeals to a larger audience. Most of my readers come from other places, most notably the Twin Cities. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: “Go to Hell, KSTP” in 2008 was the first really popular post I ever wrote, something that went around the state quite a bit. I was denouncing a piece of attack journalism on an Iron Range culture and history museum. But I would consider it a memorable, not a favorite, post. I learned how much the blogging world rewards vitriol and either/or arguments. I don’t tell anyone in my actual life to “go to hell.” I don’t believe I’ve ever said that to anyone seriously. But when I got mad and said it on my blog, a lot of people responded favorably or replied in kind. Hits galore. It’s a constant struggle to maintain a voice that is strong and resolute without becoming smarmy and vile. I’ve certainly had slips. Every blogger who writes about politics or controversy faces these choices, and the hit counter doesn’t necessarily reward well-crafted arguments or professional behavior. |
Laura Karsjens @ These Are a Few of My favorite Thingshttp://merrydays.wordpress.com/
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I started blogging when I taught in Japan for a summer and then stopped upon my return. After hearing that my grandma kept checking to see if I’d started writing again, I decided to give it another whirl. My current blog was born in January of 2010. My blog name, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things, is inspired (only in name) by The Sound of Music. It has been a favorite movie of mine since I was a little girl. I wanted a blog name that would allow my content to change and grow as I change and grow as a person. And, yes, I do write about a few of my favorite things in life. Q: Why do you blog? A: I love stories. I love hearing stories and I love telling stories. Blogging allows me an avenue to share my stories with the world. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: I blog about the things that bring me joy in everyday life. That list often includes (but is not limited to) baking, photography, traveling, the Minnesota Twins, teaching, and random adventures in life. I would describe my style as storytelling with a splash of humor, wit, hyperbole and whimsy. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: One of my favorite posts is entitled “Godspeed: Tips for Travel.” While including valid travel advice, it is also a great recap of many ridiculous travel-related adventures. The post highlights riding trolleys, climbing volcanoes, sailing on pirate ships, reading (or not reading) maps, snorkeling, befriending locals, and marriage proposals. What is not to love? |
Emily Zweber @ Zweber Family Farm Newshttp://zweberfarms.wordpress.com/
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I started blogging in 2009 and we simply named our blog Zweber Family Farm News. The title is appropriate because our farm is truly a family effort. Q: Why do you blog? A: I started blogging to share recipes with our customers. Since then, it has grown into a farm diary where we not only share recipes, but also stories about our lives as farmers. I love to share how we are raising our three children and the adventures we have on the farm. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: My writing style is very informal. When I sit down to draft my posts, I try to envision myself talking to a person visiting our farm with little or no farm experience. Since I did not grow up on a dairy farm, each day is also a learning experience for me. I find the simple and little things fascinating and share that with our readers. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: One of my toughest posts to write was when the USDA deregulated Round-Up Ready Alfalfa. I spoke honestly how this decision would affect our organic farm. I didn’t want to use emotion to scare or exaggerate the truth. The response to this post was overwhelming both in the positive and the negative. |
Ada Igoe @ Of Woods and Wordshttp://www.ofwoodsandwords.com/
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I kept a blog during my London trip as a way to keep in touch with friends and family. After returning home in April 2008, I shut down the blog, figuring my life wouldn’t be producing terribly interesting reading material anymore. However I missed both the regular writing and the opportunity to reflect on my experiences that blogging offered. Ultimately I decided if I could think of a good name for a blog, I’d start up a new one. In October 2009, I moved up the Gunflint Trail and began focusing more on my writing. That same month, I launched Of Woods and Words. The name reflects the two fundamental elements of my everyday life. Q: Why do you blog? A: I find I’m compelled to process my experiences through writing. Of Woods and Words provides me with an outlet for that processing. I love the freedom blogging gives me to explore any topic that interests me and as someone who lives at the end of a sometimes lonely stretch of road, I also deeply appreciate that blogging keeps me connected with others. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: I’ve heard my writing style described as “homey” and “calm.” I’m not sure those are the adjectives I’d use to describe my writing, but I do like to think my blog’s an honest look at life in the Northwoods with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. I use my blog to share freelance writing successes and frustrations and there are plenty of other posts on baking, gardening, books, knitting, travel, and Northwoods living. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: I spent most of last winter (2010-11) snapping adorable pictures of a pine marten that frequented our bird feeders. Although pine martens can be downright nasty at times, it was difficult to find anything to dislike about this fluffy little creature who liked nothing better than to plunk down a tray of sunflower seeds. But when we put the bird feeders away at the end of the winter, the pine marten became a nuisance, getting into our compost and slipping into our then unfinished shed to ransack our garbage and recycling. My post “Friendship Terminated!” shares the horror I felt when I inadvertently shoved my hand into a pile of the pine marten’s poo while sorting the recycling. The experience snapped me out of my anthropomorphism ways fast. (At least for a little while.) Turns out that pine marten? Not so fluffy and adorable after all. |
Michael Wojahn @ Minnesota Farmerhttp://minnesotafarm.wordpress.com/
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I started blogging in October 2009. When the question of naming my blog came up, there could only be one choice for me. It had to be Minnesota Farmer. My great-grandfather, Iver Iverson, was known as “the Minnesota Farmer” when he corresponded with Nordlands Avis, a newspaper published in Hemnes, Norway, from 1914 – 1920. I thought it fitting that his great-grandson should also be known as “the Minnesota Farmer” in this new world of blogs. Q: Why do you blog? A: There are so many people out there telling the wrong story of what happens on the farm. We were challenged at a state Farm Bureau meeting to tell our story or someone else would, and we may not like what they write. Indeed, I have found a whole lot of people out there telling stories of how things are on the farm who are just parroting some sensational thing they have read that has very little basis in truth. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: Most of my content is farm-related. What happened today. What we are doing on the farm. I will also comment on some events that I hear or read about that I have an opinion of. I try to keep them farm-related, but sometimes I stray. I also write about trips I take, and sometimes my family. Writing style? I try to keep it readable and not make too many grammar mistakes. I am a farm boy who has always had trouble with spelling and grammar, but spell check helps. I will include a few pictures of what is happening to add interest when I have them. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: I’m a bit of a history buff. Once I blogged “Where have all the farmers gone?” (http://minnesotafarm.wordpress. com/2010/08/11/where-have-all-the-farmers-gone/). I examined the history of farming since WWII and why young men and women left the farm for city jobs. It helps to tell the story of how farms have gotten to be as they are today. |
Gretchen O’Donnell @ A Fine Day For an Epiphanyhttp://afinedayforanepiphany.wordpress.com/
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: I started blogging in May 2011 and, after much deliberation, I choose A Fine Day For an Epiphany as my blog’s name because I love that moment when you suddenly know a thing that you did not know a moment before and your life is better for the knowing. Perhaps true epiphanies don’t come very often, but small realizations come all the time. Any day has the potential to be a fine day — and every day gives me ideas to write about. Q: Why do you blog? A: I began to blog because I wanted to get my name “out there” and see if anyone was listening, if anyone besides my friends enjoyed what I had to say and how I say it. I resisted pressure to start a blog for a long time and I’m sorry that I waited because I’m loving the writing. It’s a thrill to take a small snippet of life and put it into words. I consider each post to be a postcard — a written snapshot that depicts one idea, one epiphany to focus on. I am not good with a paintbrush, and my camera is far too sophisticated for me, so I write my pictures instead. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: After much thought, I settled on writing about my epiphanies — some of which have to do with writing and the process of being published — but many of which have to do with living in southwestern Minnesota, with my childhood on Orcas Island, and with little odds-n-ends of life as I see them. I have written about the Rain Gauge Olympics, about my dubious role in a local community theater production, and about why I love crop dusters, just to name a few of my topics. I write the way I talk: as if the reader is joining an ongoing conversation and, truly, that is what I hope my blog will be — a chance for people to discuss their lives together—and that those conversations will enrich their days. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: In September of 2011 I wrote a post titled “Canning My Own Tomatoes” in which I prove, unequivocally, that I am neither a gardener nor a diligent music student, and only a some-time poet. I also obliquely emphasize the point that, should I be snowed-in along with my family here on the prairie of Minnesota (and our survival depends on my ability to can my own food), we will all be very hungry and pray without ceasing for the blessed snowplow man to arrive. It turns out that the only things I am good at preserving are words. And that process, I must say, I enjoy a great deal. |
Brenda Score @ a farmgirl’s dabbleshttp://www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com/
Q: When did you start blogging and what’s the story behind your blog name? A: My first post for a farmgirl’s dabbles was published in April 2010, on our youngest daughter’s birthday. She’s very much a girly-girl, and I featured some pink strawberry butterfly cupcakes to celebrate her big day. My blog’s name evolved from a desire to honor my farm roots, to have a “catch-all” spot for favorite family recipes, photos and stories. But I’m also not one to be cornered in. I like to keep up with current food trends, plus I like to tinker around with crafts, gardening and almost anything else considered creative. Thus, the “dabbles” portion of my blog name. I hope that a farmgirl’s dabbles will be much like a family cookbook/scrapbook for our girls someday. Q: Why do you blog? A: You know that saying, “Do what you’re passionate about?” Well, that’s how this got started. I needed something positive to focus on — something that would feed off my creativity, love for sharing recipes and desire to preserve family traditions and stories. Q: How would you describe your blog content and writing style? A: The recipes I feature run the gamut, from super simple and delicious brownies I grew up eating as a kid, to a more involved layer cake for a special birthday celebration. You’ll find that I love my sweets, but there are also plenty of healthy meal choices, too. My husband is great at the grill, and I love to show off his handiwork. I hope that my writing style puts people at ease. I’ve had close friends and family members tell me that when they read my posts, they feel like they’re sitting at my kitchen table listening to me. Q: Tell me about one of your most memorable/favorite posts. A: One post that gives a good peek into the life I speak of involves corn harvest this past fall. It’s about family, life as I’ve always known it and sharing it all with our daughters (www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com/2011/10/21/apple-almondgalette- with-toffee-almond-drizzle-sd-corn-harvest/). |
THEY WRITE FROM EVERY section of the state — from the southwestern Minnesota prairie
to up north on the Gunflint Trail and the Iron Range to the heart of the Twin Cities metro
area and places in between.
A native of southwestern Minnesota, where she was raised on a farm with one sister and seven brothers (including her twin, six minutes older than her), Beth Johanneck today lives in the Twin Cities. She has a business degree and works in Patient Financial Services at a metro hospital. Beth has written two books, Hidden History of the Minnesota River Valley and Twin Cities Prohibition — Minnesota’s Blind Pigs & Bootleggers, which spun off from her blog and were published by The History Press. She is also the mother of two grown children and two young grandsons, whom she says, “seem to understand the meaning of life much more clearly than I do.” 
Nina Hedin, 33, grew up in Bloomington with hopes of becoming an artist, architect or archaeologist. Instead she was swept into the automotive world and spent a dozen years working for General Motors dealerships. After the birth of her son, she and her husband bought an old house in Glencoe, leaving the suburbs for the slower pace of a small town. Nina currently spends her days chasing her toddler, muddling through home repairs, blogging and combing thrift stores for vintage goods. 
He’s not a native Minnesotan. But Gary Sankary, 48, has lived here long enough to feel like one.
Not that the transition was ever difficult. “I grew up in Stockton, California, which is in the Central
Valley a bit south of Sacramento,” Gary says. “The Valley isn’t what most people think of when they
picture California; it’s more like Iowa than Napa or the coast. I think that’s why I fit in so well when we
relocated to the Midwest 17 years ago. It was more like a move across town than across the country.”
Today Gary and his wife live in a Twin Cities suburb and have three teenagers whose antics are, he
says, “a source of great entertainment for me.”
Aaron J. Brown, a communications instructor at Hibbing Community College and a writer who works in radio, newspaper and internet media, makes his home in rural Itasca County near the Mesabi Iron Range’s western ore body. However, he grew up in St. Louis County on the other side of the Iron Range. His family ran a junkyard in Zim and lived in a trailer house at the junkyard, down what is now called Bobby Aro Memorial Highway in honor of the late Finnish polka star. Aaron is married to Christina Brown, the author of NorthernCheapskate.com — a fairly successful frugal-living blog. They have three young sons. 
She spent her childhood playing outdoors, camping with family, reading books and going to Minnesota Twins games while growing up in Plymouth. Today blogger Laura Karsjens, 28, still plays outside (she’s a kindergarten teacher from the Twin Cities), reads and roots for the Twins. “I love exploring the fun (and free) things to do in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area with my friends,” says Laura. “It brings me great joy to be outside in the sunshine, read, bake, take pictures, travel and laugh.”
She’s a wife, mother of three young children, a writer and a farmer. Emily Zweber, 29, of Elko farms with her husband and his parents on their century-old organic dairy farm. She’s responsible for calf care, some evening milkings and the farm’s social media presence. 
Ada Igoe, 26, a museum manager and freelance writer, lives along the Gunflint Trail, north of Grand Marais, with her partner Andy. They are both hometown kids and even attended elementary school together. “While I love traveling and actually spent a winter after college working in London, England, northern Minnesota will always be home,” Ada says. 
When Michael Wojahn, 58, of Windom, isn’t farming, you might find him driving a school bus, fixing things, building cabinets, engaged as a developer or reading. (He has a small private library of about 1,000 books.) Or you might find him singing with the Windom Chordhustlers Barbershop Chorus or volunteering with his church, with the Windom Chamber Ag Committee or as Cottonwood County Farm Bureau chairman. This father of three and grandfather of two, who lives only 2 1/2 miles from his childhood home and just a half-mile from where his father grew up, has traveled extensively. He’s been to all but three states, to Europe three times and to Israel, South Africa, Canada and Mexico.
“I’m going to Iowa, Mom,” Gretchen O’Donnell’s older kids will say. Then they’ll cross the eastwest “stateline road” from the O’Donnells’ rural Minnesota home to the family’s mailbox. “It’s just a brisk 15-second walk from our front door into Iowa to get our mail,” says Gretchen, 42, who lives in rural Bigelow in southwestern Minnesota with her husband and three children, ages 12, 9 and 4. She hasn’t always lived in Minnesota. Gretchen grew up on Orcas, Island, WA, though she graduated from high school in West Berlin, Germany. Minnesota became her home shortly after college. “I attempt to fit in by saying things like, ‘Oh, for pretty,’ and ‘uff-da,’” says Gretchen. “I am not a fan of lutefisk, although lefse and I get along quite well.” Today she works at home where she is writing a book and claims, “…sometimes I remember to vacuum but I never forget to cook.” 
Brenda Score, 40, hails from a farm in northeastern South Dakota. But today she lives in Lake Elmo with her husband and two young daughters and works part-time in the human relations department for a residential architect. “Life is very good in Minnesota,” Brenda says, “but there really is no place like the farm.”