By Mavis Fodness, reporter
September 06, 2023
The weather this past Labor Day weekend met (and even exceeded) the predicted hot and humid forecast.
To beat the heat, I spent a portion of Sunday at a water park with my oldest grandchildren.
We happily joined other adults and children who chose to don swimsuits and jump into the cooling water.
As I looked at the faces of the other adults, I noticed not many were old enough to be…
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
August 15, 2023
As I stood at the starting line of the Celebrity Donkey Races at the county fair, a feeling of doubt came over me.
Doubt that I could even get on this animal’s back.
Doubt that Ex-Lax (the donkey’s stage name) would even want me riding him around the course.
I was wrong to doubt.
When organizers announced that the women riding in Heat 3 were to go counter-clockwise around the course, I gained a…
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
July 18, 2023
For more than a decade I’ve been mad at God.
It seems funny to be mad at someone you’ve never met or really know if he’s even real.
My Christian upbringing, however, says he is there and, thus, he is the one I am directing my anger toward.
My sister died unexpectedly in 2011 and I’ve never forgiven God for taking her away from her family.
We all prayed for a miracle that she would recover and…
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
June 20, 2023
Half of 2023 is already behind us.
Almost six months ago, I “double dogged dared” readers to get off the couch and become more active and not to say “no” to a physical challenge.
Now it’s time to check in to see where everyone is. With six months left in 2023, there is still time to reach those goals set earlier this year.
I recently revisited my goals, and you know what? I’m doing pretty good.…
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
May 23, 2023
I have a good friend and co-worker who’s hurting.
You’d never know there’s something wrong or amiss about Lori as she continues to handle editor duties without missing an issue.
Except I see the occasional cracks in her strong facade and the forced smiles of someone who’s grieving.
It breaks my heart because I wish I could do more to ease her pain.
When Lori decided to take a little time off this…
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
May 02, 2023
Each day in May I’m walking at least 9,000 steps, and walking more than four miles a day allows for a lot of thinking.
A recent New York Times article with the headline, “Lean into negative emotions. It’s the healthy thing to do,” has me thinking differently.
It appears when we experience a bad feeling, we don’t have to love the feeling. We just have to try to feel neutral about it.
The study…
By Mavis Fodness, reporter
April 11, 2023
Are 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, reporter
March 21, 2023
As 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 Fodness
February 07, 2023
The 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, reporter
December 27, 2022
Why 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, reporter
December 05, 2022
While 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, reporter
November 15, 2022
Are 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, reporter
October 04, 2022
Debuting 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, reporter
September 13, 2022
Sunday 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, reporter
August 23, 2022
Riding 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, reporter
July 26, 2022
When 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, reporterSeptember 06, 2023The weather this past Labor Day weekend met (and even exceeded) the predicted hot and humid forecast. To beat the heat, I spent a portion of Sunday at a water park with my oldest grandchildren. We happily joined other adults and children who chose to don swimsuits and jump into the cooling water. As I looked at the faces of the other adults, I noticed not many were old enough to be…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 15, 2023As I stood at the starting line of the Celebrity Donkey Races at the county fair, a feeling of doubt came over me. Doubt that I could even get on this animal’s back. Doubt that Ex-Lax (the donkey’s stage name) would even want me riding him around the course. I was wrong to doubt. When organizers announced that the women riding in Heat 3 were to go counter-clockwise around the course, I gained a…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJuly 18, 2023For more than a decade I’ve been mad at God. It seems funny to be mad at someone you’ve never met or really know if he’s even real. My Christian upbringing, however, says he is there and, thus, he is the one I am directing my anger toward. My sister died unexpectedly in 2011 and I’ve never forgiven God for taking her away from her family. We all prayed for a miracle that she would recover and…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJune 20, 2023Half of 2023 is already behind us. Almost six months ago, I “double dogged dared” readers to get off the couch and become more active and not to say “no” to a physical challenge. Now it’s time to check in to see where everyone is. With six months left in 2023, there is still time to reach those goals set earlier this year. I recently revisited my goals, and you know what? I’m doing pretty good.…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 23, 2023I have a good friend and co-worker who’s hurting. You’d never know there’s something wrong or amiss about Lori as she continues to handle editor duties without missing an issue. Except I see the occasional cracks in her strong facade and the forced smiles of someone who’s grieving. It breaks my heart because I wish I could do more to ease her pain. When Lori decided to take a little time off this…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 02, 2023Each day in May I’m walking at least 9,000 steps, and walking more than four miles a day allows for a lot of thinking. A recent New York Times article with the headline, “Lean into negative emotions. It’s the healthy thing to do,” has me thinking differently. It appears when we experience a bad feeling, we don’t have to love the feeling. We just have to try to feel neutral about it. The study…
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…
