ruminations
By Mavis Fodness, reporterApril 11, 2023Are you a procrastinator? I know I am. Dozens of household and work-related tasks go uncompleted or finished at the very last minute. Procrastination drives me crazy, and it’s become a habit I am determined to break. To help me break the habit, my daughter sent me a podcast by Mel Robbins called “The Only Way to Stop Procrastinating (Based on Research).” It’s worth a listen. (Of course, the…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 21, 2023As the weekly blizzards keep bearing down on Rock County this winter, the library is providing me with some needed sunshine. Thank goodness for an electronic connection to the Plum Creek Library System. I haven’t needed to worry about not having a good book available, and with road closures being a weekly occurrence, there’s no stress of returning books on time. The easy access is much…
By Mavis FodnessFebruary 07, 2023The calendar’s turned to February, marking a month into 2023 and those New Year’s resolutions I wrote in pencil. Instead of erasing those words of what I intended to do this year, I’ve embraced those goals. I vowed to be more active and not to say “no” to a physical challenge. With the resolution in mind, I picked up a bowling ball Saturday for the first time in years and competed against my…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterDecember 27, 2022Why do we lose things? The question nagged me during the two days spent at home as a blizzard raged outside. It was especially brought to focus when my husband, Bryan, handed me a small pair of scissors he had used while in the horse barn and slid into his coat pocket. The scissors, instead of becoming lost, is now permanently kept in my home office. Engraved on several places around the blades…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterDecember 05, 2022While taking pictures at the Luverne Cardinals season-opening gymnastics match, I knelt down to get a better shot of the athletes. It’s not unusual for me for me to duck down, mainly so I don’t block any of the spectators’ views. What made last week notable is that I easily stood up without the usual grunts and side rolls to push myself off the floor. A month ago I joined an online fitness group…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 15, 2022Are we ever satisfied with the lives we’re living? Does there ever come a time when we don’t strive to earn more money, search for that perfect job, that perfect house and family and the perfect relationship? This striving often shows up in the social media posts we share with one another. Lately I find myself sharing less of myself on social media. Does this mean my striving in life has waned…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterOctober 04, 2022Debuting this week is the inaugural “Seen Through Horses,” a national awareness and fundraising campaign sponsored through Horses for Mental Health coalition. Fifty charity partners throughout the U.S. are the recipients of funds raised this week. Rock Ranch near Hills is one of them. Rock Ranch operates an equine-assisted counseling program along with its beginner horsemanship classes. It’s not…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterSeptember 13, 2022Sunday marked six weeks since Millie and I competed in a horse show. Rain postponed one show, and the other was canceled for lack of entries. The cancelations broke a pattern of preparation I followed every two to three weeks all summer. The pattern created my relaxed frame of mind by balancing practice with working a full-time job. A six-week layoff is a long time to practice, and negative…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 23, 2022Riding a donkey was not on my “bucket list.” But my recent experience of doing just that was a topic of conversation days after the Celebrity Donkey Races during Rock County Fair last month. I hope fair organizers bring the event back for 2023, for I have some unfinished business with a donkey named Amos. You see, the little gray-and-white donkey developed a special bond with me. Prior to the…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJuly 26, 2022When I was growing up and doing chores around the family farm, a radio would often be heard in the dairy barn. WNAX out of Yankton, South Dakota, frequently broadcast the play-by-play of the Minnesota Twins games. Through the mid- to late 1970s I heard the names of future Hall of Famers Tony Oliva, Rod Carew and Bert Blyleven as they came to the plate or played a great defense. Hearing those…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 24, 2022Keeping a car clean is an exhausting chore. I like to have the vehicle shine and its tire rims sparkling as I drive around. I also like the inside to be clean. Unfortunately, not everyone in my household thinks that vehicles you use and get dirty should be cleaned right after use. Over the weekend I received an email from StressFreeCarRental.com titled “Ten Ways to Keep Your Car Clean.” Here are…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 03, 2022Last year I set a goal to compete in the WSCA Champ Show on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. One part to achieving that goal was to be a more physically fit rider. For nine months I pushed myself to ride daily, and as a result, I achieved that goal and brought one of those big prize ribbons home. Goal accomplished. Now as the weather warms up, I’m finding I’m fitting a little tighter in the…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterApril 12, 2022Tiger Woods’ return to competitive golf at last weekend’s Masters tournament is both awe-inspiring and motivating. Tiger could have easily retired from golf after each of his injuries, but he’s returned after each one, more determined and more fit to possibly win yet another major tournament. I watched him walk the Augusta, Georgia, course and listened to him talk with his caddy about club choice…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 01, 2022I’ve had a comfortable seat for this winter sports season thanks to modern technology. Last week my stint as the sports reporter for the Luverne High School gymnastics team came to an end. Thanks to live broadcastings and online scoring, I was able to cover the team’s away meets with ease — much easier than my predecessor did. Coach Phoebe Flom introduced me to the world of live, online scoring.…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 08, 2022Trips to the grocery store were frequent during my days as a mother of four growing children. Now, as an empty nester, weeks go by before I need to refill the cupboards and freezer. I’ve noticed, however, the previous several-times-a-week stops at the grocery store are now replaced with several-times-a-week stops to the farm supply store. It turns out my other “kids,” the ones of the four-legged…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJanuary 18, 2022Monday marked Betty White’s 100th birthday and the world waited to celebrate. Unfortunately, Betty had other ideas. The actress, comedian and animal lover died Dec. 31 at the age of 99, 17 days short of the century mark. My sister, Avis, would have been 64 on Monday. I wish she could have made that century mark. Instead, Dec. 24, 2021, marked a decade since her early and unexpected death. I…
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