These past two weeks have produced a flood of green on the landscape. On one run through Hartley and Bagley I marveled at every weed, fiddleheads in various stages of development, brand new leaves on trees, marsh marigolds, tiny wildflowers, and even insects, as if I was a Martian only now discovering life on this … More Real Benefits to Reel Mowing
Some things are best taught by coming alongside and sharing an experience. A solid work ethic is one of them. It is a constant battle to raise kids in our affluent culture without promoting a sense of entitlement. Unlike prior generations, most children never really know what it means to go without. We have plenty … More Kids Can and Should Work Hard
When the phone rang today my son picked it up in bewilderment as if it was some futuristic communications device from Star Trek, listened intently for a second, and said, “Huh?” This is in contrast to our neighbor’s children, who answer the phone crisply and flawlessly, as if they were auditioning for a part as … More Spring Ahead Through Simplicity
Today all traces of snow and ice melted from every nook and cranny of the Little Library in front of my home. This is the first time it has been so completely visible since the end of November. With fewer pedestrians to be concerned with, the books have been somewhat neglected over the winter. The … More Slow and Steady Wins the Race
I I am not against a little bribery once in a while. Today it was just what the doctor ordered. T’was a lazy day, and all of else felt like laying around. I didn’t have the energy to pour into a go big or go home event for our family adventure this week (minimum of … More Bribery. Not Just for Warlords Anymore
We’ve rounded the bend and are into the second half of winter. Temperatures are moderating. Daily highs in the teens and twenties will become more common. We are also seeing more of our old pal the sun, which is well into its march toward the spring equinox. Unfortunately, many among us have allowed persistent wind … More A Prescription for Winter Malaise
The jaws of hunger threatened to tear apart our household as my wife opened the office door and said, “Honey, we have nothing for breakfast unless there’s an egg in the chicken coop. We only need one egg.” Having just been outside an hour earlier, I knew our young hens hadn’t bequeathed a single egg … More A Snow Surplus Can Pay Big Dividends
Just as adversity and conflict help make a good story, the two seem to accompany our family on our adventures, and ultimately serve to spice up the experience. It’s just after eight o’clock on a Saturday morning, and our twin children have begun to fight incessantly following two hours of relatively calm play in the … More Cooke’n Memories at the Local State Park
Many people fantasize about quitting their day job in order to pursue a dream, start their own business, or simply live independently from “The Man.” When Jason Amundsen lost yet another day job, rather than pound the pavement for employment, he identified a niche to fill himself. In a recent conversation at his poultry operation … More A Locally Hatched Business
Here’s my column that ran in the paper this week… Hope, as much as air or water, is crucial for life. One’s heart and lungs may continue to function mechanically without it, but the resulting withering is undeniable. I often wonder in this column if I’m conveying fictitious images of our family as a Duluth … More Hope. Not Just a Four Letter Word.
Ed's Big Adventure 