Minot Monday | A Guide to Winter in Minot
Happy Minot Monday, everyone! Today–in honor of our first big cold snap , I’ll be chatting about what a winter in Practically Canada is really like.
We moved from Minot to Rapid City (SD) in 2016. As we settled into town and told folks where we were moving from I heard a lot of responses like this.
“Yuck, it’s too cold up there. Bet you’re glad to be out of there.”
“Ugh. The winters are awful up there and there’s nothing to do. Bet you’re glad you live here now.”
“North Dakota? Ugh. It’s cold there.”
“The winters are too cold. I could never live there.”
Etc, etc, etc. You get the picture.
I actually refused to work with a couple realtors who thought they were making cute small talk by dishing negative comments about a town I happen to love. I mean, it’s fine if they want to harbor negative thoughts, but please don’t try to entrap me in negative camaraderie. It’s not going to work.
I get a similar vibe from people who find out they are moving here for military orders (“Minot is the worst assignment…” “You’ll be miserable because it’s so cold…” “I’ll hate it there…”)
And don’t forget about the snarky comments when we revealed that we were moving back:
Them: I’m so sorry you got stationed there again. That’s awful. It’s so cold and isolated.
Us: We actually requested to go back, if possible.
Them: …..
What is winter in Minot really like?
So today I’m going to clear some things up. If you found out you’ve got orders to Minot, or you’ll be moving here for work, or this is your first winter, or last winter was miserable–I’m here to tell you what winter is really like in Practically Canada and give you tips on surviving–attitude intact.
First of all, winter is no one’s favorite feature of Minot.
Winter is harsh. The windchill can be brutal. You won’t find anyone in town who says they love January weather.
But you know what else is brutal? July in Florida and Louisiana. Hurricane season in the Panhandle. Tornado season in Oklahoma. Everywhere has something that isn’t ideal.
I actually find the dark harder than the cold. After Daylight Savings Time, it gets dark pretty early. Like early enough that it will disorient you for a while. On the flip side, the loooong summer days are also a little confusing at first.
Yes, winter here is cold. It’s a fact. Accept it, don’t dwell too much on it, and move on. I promise you–the long, perfect summer days will make up for a lot of the pain of winter.
When does winter start? End?
I start to expect winter to come calling around Halloween. Around this time temperatures will become consistently colder with a few warmer days sprinkled in.
Winter is safely over by June. (I’m kind of kidding.) By April we’ll see warmer days, melting snow and even a little green grass. However, there are usually still some snowy days in April. May is more sure to be spring-like. June is perfect and summery. So I guess what I’m saying is, spring is very iffy around here.
How cold is winter in Minot?
We just got back from a week in Rapid City. While we were there, I had several people ask me, “Is winter really that much different in Minot than Rapid?”
The answer is YES. Winter here is different than any other place I’ve lived.
While some places get cold for a while, then warm up for a few days, then get cold again, Minot will get cold and stay cold. In Rapid City, and my home state, Indiana, snow will fall, sit on the ground for a bit, then melt a little (or completely) before more snow falls. In Minot, snow that falls late in November will likely not melt completely until April. (But sometimes a random 30-40˚ day does give us a pleasant surprise.)
Once temperatures fall for good there will be days when the high doesn’t get above zero (yes, I’m talking Fahrenheit.) Lows will definitely be in the negatives. Sometimes they high will be below zero for days.
If you want to sound like a true North Dakotan, you can say something like, “It’s really not that bad today. It’s just the wind that makes it cold.” (Even if you don’t care about sounding like a local, you’ll probably find yourself saying it anyway.)
This sentiment is 100% true. A 2˚ day with no wind will feel like summer vacation compared to a 2˚ day with a windchill of -20˚. The last time we lived here I remember marveling at the fact that the interior of my house was a full 100˚ warmer than the windchill outside.
But it’s a dry cold, right?
Yes! And that really helps. Because the humidity is so low it’s not damp, chill-you-to-the-bone cold. I’ve “felt” like the cold here is comparable to the cold in Indiana or Michigan where the humidity is high even in winter.
The dry cold also means that the snow that falls isn’t always the best for making snowballs and snowmen. Even the snow is pretty dry. It’s light and blows around pretty easily. (Which creates drifts and can be hazardous for driving, but we’ll chat about that in a bit.)
What about school?
School just keeps happening. Schools are rarely cancelled for cold temperatures and snow. (If school did cancel for cold temps, kids would be making up days past the 4th of July.)
Recess happens outside as long as the actual temperature is above -5˚ or the windchill is above -15˚. What can I say, people are hardy here.
Is the cold dangerous?
It can be.
Believe me, you won’t want to spend loads of time outside on the super cold days. So when you go out, be prepared. Dress for the weather. Plan extra time into your outings so you have time to start your car and take extra caution on slippery roads.
Once, on an icy morning I struck up a conversation with an older man at a gas station. We talked about the brutal wind and he told me a story I’ll never forget.
He was a retired pastor and he told me about a cold winter when the boiler went out at the church. He and another church member went to the church–to try to prevent the pipes from freezing. When he reached to unlock the front door his jacket slipped up his arm exposing a bit of skin between his glove and sleeve. On that arm, he showed me a scar like a rope burn–where the wind had burned his skin.
Then he told me he felt a sharp pain like a bee sting on his other wrist. Even though it was covered, his watch had frozen to his skin! (Read the full story here.)
Then he pushed his sleeve up and showed me the scar. He laughed and told me that was the coldest day he could remember, but he still wears the watch.
Dress for the weather.
The other big danger comes with driving. Blowing snow can be very disorienting and wind speeds can be high. If you aren’t confident driving in snow, heed warnings to stay off the roads. Avoid driving in storms (duh).
So, what do you do all winter in Minot?
I’m so glad you asked.
I cannot stress this enough–the Minot community tries really hard to make this an enjoyable place to live year-round. Each week there are tons of events going on. VisitMinot has an awesome calendar (it’s super comprehensive). So if you are looking for something special to do, start there.
Winter is the perfect time to try something new. And since Minot is a small community, you can try lots of different things!
There are events that happen regularly–like story times, trivia nights, open gym, open hockey and the Fun Zone (a free play space for kids with games, bounce houses, coloring and other activities.) Again–check VisitMinot for a full list of what’s going on. But here are my personal favorite activities.
- Curling–we learned to curl last time we lived in Minot and loved it! The curling club has leagues on three days each week. It gave us something specific to do each week and a reason to leave the house and socialize.
- Ice Skating–I love skating at the Maysa Arena. It’s affordable, indoor and my personal favorite way to exercise or socialize. I like to go during the day, it’s super quiet.
- Square Dancing–Another quirky hobby we took up last time we lived here. It’s not as dorky as it sounds (or maybe it is, but I don’t care). Square dances happen about once a month and is a nice way to get out of the house, interact with other adults, and do something active.
- Walking at the dome–the MSU dome is open and free to the public for walking/running.
- Being at home–Winter has consistently been the time that my Minot friendships take great leaps forward. It’s a great time to invite friends in, share meals, offer play dates and have marathon board game nights.
- Special events–Like plays, concerts, the symphony and ballet.
- Classes–Minot has started to boom with classes. There are cooking, craft, painting, glass, and sewing classes happening all the time.
I have never, ever been bored in the winter. Ever.
How do I survive?
First of all, make your house and car winter ready. For your house, stop up drafts, service your furnace, be sure your fireplace is safe. For the car, put together a winter-emergency kit, put a shovel in your trunk, get things serviced.
Then think about picking up a few things that will make your winter a little more comfortable. Here are some of my favorite winter-items.
A down comforter–I hate being cold at night. I got a down comforter as a gift and it is by far the item that keeps me most comfortable.
A sleep sack for your little–I bought a Gunapod for Gideon. It is SO soft and keeps him so warm. He loves it and sleeps so well in it. I highly recommend getting one if you’ve got a little that is too little to know how to sleep under a blanket.
A great jacket–Not just something that looks pretty, but something rated for very cold temps.
Boots–Again, don’t just get something that looks cute. Spend a little money to spring for something that will last more than one year and actually keep your feet warm and dry.
Two pairs of gloves–This is Derek’s big trick. Wear a thin pair of gloves under a big thick pair. You can take the big gloves off for dexterity–and still have your fingers covered.
A back-saver shovel–even if you have a snow-blower, you’ll still need to shovel every once in a while. This really does help.
What are your winter tips? I’d love to hear them!
Minot Monday | Free Classical Concerts
Happy Minot Monday, everyone! Today’s Minot Monday post is a tribute to one of my favorite free community offerings. I’m going to tell you all about the Brass Band of Minot and why you should skidaddle over to their next concert (Sunday Nov 10, 4pm).
I grew up in northern Indiana, near South Bend (and Notre Dame.) It’s a great area with TONS going on all the time. While growing up, my parents regularly bought tickets (sometimes season tickets) for our family to attend the orchestra or symphony. I remember getting dressed up and going to the shows. Listening to music in historic and elegant halls was such a treat. I’m not sure if my parents really know how much I enjoyed it. (To be honest, my favorite part was always taking in the historic architecture–I’ve always been an old-place junkie.)
As an adult, I realize how special and important attending those concerts really was. I learned proper concert etiquette (ie the end of a movement isn’t time to clap). I learned to appreciate talent, live performance and the teamwork involved in making cohesive sounds. The music exposed me to new sounds and a type of music we didn’t listen to on the radio in the car.
As a mom, I realize how much intentionality must have gone in to getting our family to these events. First of all, there’s the parental challenge of taking two young girls out in public to a classy affair. I can imagine now my parents wondering if it would be worth the hassle–if the evening would be fun or just a giant strain. Second, there’s the cost. With my adult eyes I can see that taking the family to the symphony was a pricy endeavor.
I am so glad my parents were intentional about exposing us to the arts and budgeting wisely to make it happen for our middle class family. Now I see that spending the money on tickets was incredibly brave. What if we didn’t behave? What if the show was too long? How would they handle potty breaks? What if my sister and I bickered the whole time and it was no fun at all?
See, what I mean? Very. Brave.
As a parent, I’m already starting to think about how we will expose Gideon to art and music. Derek and I love attending live performances, and it’s something we are eager to share as a family.
Right now Gideon is just a toddler. But we would like him to grow up in an environment where music, performance and community events is a norm. Not to mention we like the proven benefits of exposing children to live music (increased attention span, the ability to sit and listen, focus, etc).
All this leads me (finally) back to the Brass Band of Minot.
The Brass Band of Minot is one of several community music organization which performs regularly through the fall, winter and spring. They are so good, so talented and (best part) their concerts are FREE!! (Donations are welcome.)
I didn’t discover the Brass Band of Minot until just before we moved out of Minot in 2016. I got to attend one concert before packing up and moving out of state. That was a huge bummer! I couldn’t believe I’d lived in Minot for years and become a (self titled) Minot-guru and didn’t even know this existed.
Now that I’m back in Minot for round 2 of Practically Canadian living, the Brass Band of Minot was on my radar and I’ve already hit up one of their concerts.
So don’t be like me last time I lived in Minot. Start taking advantage of the Brass Band now. The next concert is coming up in less than a week! They’ll perform Sunday November 10 at 4pm, at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall on the MSU campus.
Annnnnddddd–this is their HOLIDAY CONCERT! I’m usually a fan of waiting until after Thanksgiving to bust out seasonal music, but I simply cannot resist holiday classics on brass instruments!
Just in case you need a few more reasons why I love the Brass Band of Minot, here are a couple more.
It’s FREE
The Band performs at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at MSU. Concerts are free (with donations welcome). If you hate it, you aren’t out anything–you can even sneak out early. (But I don’t think that will be the case.)
Family Friendly
In my opinion, this is the perfect way to introduce littles to concerts. Since there is no monetary cost involved it’s very low risk. Concert length is fairly short (45 minutes-1 hour), so it’s just the right amount of exposure.
The hall is large, so grab a seat in back or up in the balcony (where there is space to pace behind the back row.) If your littles get restless or noisy just sneak out. When I took Gideon to his first concert last month I was shocked at how engaged he was. He got antsy after about 30 minutes, so we went out to the lobby to walk around (I could still hear the music) and returned after a bit to watch the rest of the performance.
Concert Times
Concerts take place in the afternoon. No need to find an evening babysitter or stay out past bedtime. Concerts don’t interfere with evening plans. It’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The Music is Really Good
Who cares how convenient the concerts are if the sound is crummy, right? The Brass Band of Minot is made up of local musicians that range from students and parents to business owners, farmers and doctors. The music selections are interesting and well executed. It’s a good show and a good listening experience.
Don’t forget, their next concert is Sunday Nov 10, 4pm at Ann Nicole. Follow them on Facebook to see upcoming shows, or check in at the Visit Minot events page.
Here are some of my other favorite classical performing groups in town.
- Minot Chamber Chorale (regular season concerts are free, they are also SO good!)
- Minot Symphony (tickets aren’t free, but worth every penny–this is a perfect date night)
- Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance & Ballet Theater (offer several performances through the year and they are a joy to watch, again, a perfect date night or girls’ night out.)
Minot Monday | A Guide to The Thrift Scene
Happy Minot Monday! Today we are going to talk about Minot’s thriving thrift scene. Grab your coffee and bookmark this page for future reference. I’ve created this Guide to Minot Thrift Stores just for you. I’ll be giving you all my opinions on the best places to score unique pieces, thrifted style and second-hand deals.
“Eclectically lived in” is how I describe my personal style. I like things that look like they’ve got history. I like my home to look like someone has been here a while, and guests to feel like they can come in and sit without needing to clean up first. Pretty much every house I’ve ever had (even my dorm room in college) has had this vibe.
Sure, people have asked if my house “came furnished” because it can look like an elderly woman simply walked away and left all her decor behind–but that’s okay. There’s a fine line between over-the-top-old-person and shabby chic. Do I walk it well? The jury is still out. But honestly I don’t care.
I like my stuff and I like finding new, fun pieces. Most of all I like getting a deal, knowing that a few scratches “add character,” and the freedom to not be upset if something gets broken or damaged. (I’m looking at you, movers.)
Jokes aside, I am asked frequently where I get my furnishings and how I find unique things. The answer is thrifting. Minot has an amazing thrift scene. Let’s take a look at the places in town that offer second-hand scores.
Classic Thrift Stores
Boys and Girls Ranch Thrift Store
Hands down my favorite thrift store in town. The store is clean, the staff is nice, the selection is great. What really sets them apart is that they receive overstock from Target. Yes, that’s right. There are brand new items (household and clothing) on the shelves from Target. Anything with an orange tag is new from Target.
Best for new or like-new items. Keep your eye peeled for sales. About twice per year the mark all their “orange tag” (Target) items down to $0.99!
ReStore Thrift Store
Don’t be fooled by the name. This isn’t affiliated with Habitat for Humanity ReStores. ReStore is big and well organized. All kinds of items come through.
Best for second-hand items and furniture, toys and sporting goods. They seem to get a great selection of ice-skates each winter. This is also my go-to stop for hangers. Because if you are paying retail price for plain, white hangers–you’re doing it wrong.
Goodwill Retailers
Most people know what to expect going into a Goodwill store. This one is big, well lit, clean and organized.
Best for clothing, kids items and dishes.
Salvation Army Thrift Store
I’ll be honest, this store is kind of weird. It’s not the best thrift store experience of my life, but it can still hold hidden treasures. The store is usually very quiet and has multiple rooms.
Best for furniture and unique items. If you are looking for a piece to refurbish, this just might have the gem you are dreaming of.
Consignment
Grow With Me
Grow With Me is a kids’ consignment shop downtown. I can’t say enough good things. The store is cute, the prices are good. The owner is very nice and loves her shop.
Best for kids stuff of all kinds. She’s got a great selection of clothing, toys, winter gear and mom gear.
Closet Connection
If I’m in the market for second hand clothes I go to Closet Connection. (I’m a sucker for quirky sweaters, the thicker the better.) I’ve taken clothing here to consign and had great luck and I shop here too. The store is clean, well organized and the selection is great. It’s also the perfect place to pick up an authentic “tacky holiday sweater.” (I’m very much against sweaters that are intentionally manufactured for “Ugly Sweater Parties.” Isn’t it more fun to find the real article?)
Best for like-new clothing and consigning your own clothes.
Antiques and Home Goods
Central Avenue Variety
I’m a frequent flyer at Central Avenue Variety. The store is a bit like the Room of Requirement from the Harry Potter series. (Which, in my opinion makes it all the more desirable.)
The owner is personable and always happy to see Giddy and me. He can help if you are looking for something particular and travels regularly to find inventory. Variety has a bit of everything vintage and antique. If you need something quirky, you can likely find it here.
Best for large furniture pieces, architectural salvage and military surplus.
Vintage City
Vintage City is an antique store that just keeps going and going and going. It’s large and chock full of items of all styles and eras. This is my favorite place to find housewares and ephemera for wall art. (A lot of the pieces I hung for Katie and Sam came from here!) The prices are great and with a little imagination you’ll find exactly the unique thing you need.
Best for deals, smaller pieces and vintage vibes. Be sure to check their hours, they are only open on specific weekends.
Downtown Antique Mall
Just like the name implies, this store is right downtown. Go in and down a staircase to find a well-curated collection of goods. There’s a little bit of everything, but don’t expect rock-bottom deals. It’s also on the crowded side with lots of breakables at toddler eye-level, so I suggest this as a grownups only stop.
Best for glassware, collectibles and some furniture. The owner travels to collect inventory from Christmas through April, so the store is closed several months out of the year.
Other Sources
There are a couple other sources I should mention as well. Bisman Online is like a regional Craigslist. It’s a good resource and includes a building supply category (handy for me right now.) Finally, the Flea Market happens doesn’t happen every weekend but can be a great source for antiques and quirky finds.
Remember, I’m only one person and this isn’t a definitive list! If you live in Minot I’d love to hear what your favorite second-hand haunt it!
Have a great week!
Acorn House | The Before Tour
Well everybody. Today is the day. I’m bringing you a “Before Tour” of Acorn house. Yes, you read it right. I’ve named my house. Henceforth we’ll be calling it Acorn House. I thought it needed a name and the squirrel seems to be this house’s guardian. And nemesis. Rolled into one.
Not to mention, acorns rain down in the yard. I hauled off literally more than 400 lbs of acorns from the driveway and yard shortly after moving in. (No, that’s not an exaggeration.)
To be totally transparent, I have been wanting to get this posted for a while. I took these great, wide angle photographs of the house before we had closed. Then last week when I sat down to start sorting them into a tour for you, my external hard drive became inaccessible on my computer. The drive is now at the doctor (AKA data recovery place). Calling to check its progress really scares me. Imagining that all my photos are gone turns my blood to ice.
However, to get my mind off of the fact that all my gorgeous images from years past (that I never took the time to print or organize into books) may be gone–I took new photos. And organized them to share with you here.
Without further rambling, let’s just get to it. I didn’t number photos in collages, but any comments will be from top to bottom, left to right. Oh–and if you have Instagram, you should totally follow me there. I share stories from the house, things I find, and there is a video house tour saved to highlights. Let’s be friends!
The First Floor
Living Room
The 2011 flood damaged the first floor. After the flood, the owner’s (an elderly woman) family was anxious to get her back into her house as quickly as possible. Repairs were made in haste–and in some cases were not made well. Everything here is builder-grade and inexpensive. That’s okay, though! I’d rather rework something that wasn’t done well, than overhaul good work done in poor taste.
Our goal is to reimagine the historic elements that probably once graced this house and make better use of its square footage. It’s an elegant house, but right now looks very dull.
One of my favorite things about Acorn House is the HIGH ceilings. I have never lived in a house with such beautiful, tall rooms. The entryway is small, but lofty just like the rest of the rooms, and it features vintage privacy glass and original brickwork.
Inside the front entryway is a long, narrow living room. This is presenting some interesting challenges. The fireplace has been rebricked and currently houses an electric fireplace. Jury is out on whether the chimney is safe to use this winter. Oh, and did I mention I didn’t stage these photos. You’ll have to excuse the toys, and random bits. We live here.
Dining Room and Kitchen
Beyond the living room, an arched wall opens to the dining area. From there a relativly small door opening goes into a very boxed-off kitchen. Another door leads back to the bathroom and first floor bedrooms.
The kitchen is a decent size, but the space is poorly used. Not to mention anyone in the kitchen is completely excluded from all the fun happening elsewhere on the first floor. We plan to make use of the high ceilings by adding floor to ceiling cabinets. And I have dreams (maybe I should use the word “schemes”) in my head for making the kitchen more inclusive and less trap-like.
Bathroom and Hall
Currently we only have one functioning bathroom. This gem on the first floor. It was retiled after the flood. However, a lot of settling has happened and most of the floor tile is loose. A plumbing issue left the vanity moldy and warped. Needless to say that will be going away soon. I should also note that the vanity is unusually low. Like, so low my mom commented on it, and she is 5’1″.
Back by the bathroom there’s an awkward, wide hallway, and a linen closet (not pictured.) I’m still brainstorming how to give this an increase in functionality.
Bedrooms
The main floor has two bedrooms. Someday I’ll get blackout curtains, but until that day arrives, we’ve got these comforters (left behind in the house) hanging from nails (already there) over the windows. It was meant to be.
The current master bedroom doubles as a laundry room. At first I thought I’d hate this, but there are some perks. First, no need for a hamper because I just deposit dirty clothes right into the washer. Second, it smells really nice. Third, no trips up and down stairs with hampers.
On the not so nice side of things, these rooms are very drafty. And I do mean very. I spent a week and multiple cans of crack filler and caulk staunching the flow of icy air into our rooms. But I’ll have to tell you about that another time. Long story short, they’re getting better. Our next cold snap will be the real test!
The Second Floor
Stairs and Bedroom
The second floor of the house was converted into an apartment in the 50’s or 60’s. Lots of the original character is intact, and will serve as a starting point for restoring the first floor.
I love the light that comes in upstairs. It’s pretty any time of day. The wide hallway is unusual in an old house, and a great feature. We’ll be returning this to a single family home and have plans to create a master bedroom and very nice bathroom up here.
Future Master Bedroom
This room will likely become the master bedroom. It will require reworking to make a better closet and access to the bathroom.
Bedroom and Bathroom
The third bedroom upstairs has an adorable built in wardrobe, which we will keep. The wallpaper, which is stapled up, will go.
The bathroom upstairs is completely defunct. The water is completely off because the toilet is held together with tape and the sink is falling off the wall. The inside of the shower surround has been textured with drywall compound (don’t ask me why), and the tub is uniquely petite. This will all go.
The bathroom also houses one of the most greatest curiosities of Acorn House: a door mural. Many have come to marvel at the very odd, yet detailed scene on one panel of the door. Lots of people (who do not live here) are petitioning me to keep it. I smile and nod, but I’m making no promises.
Kitchen
Lastly, we’ve got the second kitchen. If you follow on Instagram you know we wrangled the vintage appliances out of here in preparation for the second floor remodel. I’ve since started dismantling other items as well–in an effort to salvage any vintage hardware worth keeping and reusing.
Our plan is to live on the first floor, even though it isn’t particularly pretty, while we renovate the second floor. Then we’ll switch places.
I cannot wait to roll out some after photos, but we are still a long way off. First we need to address the less beautiful things. Things like the roof (don’t even get me started), the garage, drafts, cracks, and a vast array of exterior tidbits that need to be winterized.
I wish you could all come over for coffee and project time–but for now we’ll just have to settle for sharing photos and virtual lattes. Thanks for stopping by–more to come.
27+ things going on in Minot this week | Minot Mondays
Here we are. Knee deep in a Practically Canadian fall. Leaves are falling faster than a broken thermostat in January…and I’m just looking around wondering how the heck this happened. Anyone else?
With our move back to Minot I’ve gained some clarity about some things I’d like to do while we are here. First of all, I’d like to further pursue the gifts God has given me in regard to teaching and speaking on Biblical topics. Second, I’d like to create a beautiful house from something pretty shabby. And third, I’d like to share my life here in Minot in hopes that I can shift the negative perception of what living in Practically Canada looks like…into something positive. Maybe even desirable.
So I guess, this space as well as my social channels will be a North Dakota lifestyle blog.
Yes, I know. This isn’t where you’d expect to find a lifestyle blogger. And the North Dakota lifestyle might not be as hotly sought after as…let’s say…an east coast lifestyle or swoon-worthy southern design. This, however, is the life I’m living. North Dakota is a quirky, weird, great place. It’s a place where the strangest things happen. It’s a place whose story isn’t being told. So I’m going to start telling that story.
At least as I see it.
I’ve put off starting to write this series for quite some time because I don’t want anything that I find silly to offend the dear locals that I love so much. So please know that everything hence forth written about North Dakota comes from a place of love. A special place in my heart reserved for the quirkiest, kindest, most bizarre place I’ve ever called “home.”
So I decided to start doing a thing. I’m calling it Minot Mondays because I like alliteration.
On Mondays I’ll be posting about life in Minot. Things to do. An anecdote. A gallery of photos. I don’t really know what all will crop up, but I’m reserving one day each week to pursue my goal of shifting the general perspective on what life here really looks like. So that when someone gets relocated here for whatever reason…their blood won’t turn to ice as they start thinking that life as they know it is over.
This is where I need your help. If you know someone new to the Practically Canadian region (AKA Minot), or someone about to move in, or someone who has lived here a while but still hasn’t found their groove–send them my way. Invite them to follow along with the blog, on Facebook or Instagram. I’m eager to grow a community of friends who want to thrive in the North Dakota lifestyle.
To kick off our first ever Minot Monday, I’ve compiled a few lists that will start to put the myth to rest that there is “nothing to do” in Minot. There’s tons to do. And since it only takes about 15 minutes to get anywhere in town…it’s all accessible (and because us Practically Canadians are thrifty, it’s usually surprisingly affordable!)
These lists are not exhaustive. Just some highlights that piqued my interest. Fo a full list of things going on, go the the Visit Minot website. Also…I’ll note that this list doesn’t include recurring events that happen all the time. We’ll talk about things like story times (there are story times and activities for littles happening nearly every week day!), trivia nights and sports some other time.
Special Stuff Going on For Kids This Week:
- 10/22 High Air Ground Tie Dye— $15 gets you jump time, a shirt, tie dye supplies and a drink (spots are limited)
- 10/25 YMCA Halloween Family Fun Night–$3/child or $15/family. Obstacle course, treats, games, haunted house and Dizzy the Clown. (PS, Dizzy the Clown is a pillar of the community. If you don’t know of Dizzy the Clown, people around here will know you’re new in town.)
- 10/25 High Air Ground Halloween Party (kids age 8-15)–$30 Jump in costume, games, and treats.
- 10/25 Spider Cake Decorating at Gourmet Chef–($30 ages 8-12) Kids cooking class
- 10/26 Minot Public Library Puppet Show–Free puppet show and story time for all ages
- 10/26 Harleyween Biker Trail of Treats–Trick or treat trail and pet costume contest at Harley Davidson (free, come in costume!)
- 10/26 Boo at the Zoo–-($3) Trick or treating at the zoo
- 10/26 Halloween Treat Class at Gourmet Chef –($25 age 5-9) Kids cooking class making a variety of Halloween snacks
- 10/27 Gymagic Skeleton Hunt Open Gym –($15 age 4-14) Skeleton hunt followed by open gym. (PS, look into their regularly scheduled open gym times. It’s only $5 for all ages and I’ve heard it is awesome!)
Skill Classes Happening This Week
In addition to the special stuff happening for kids, there is also a plethora of fall skill classes happening for grown ups. Craft classes are happening at The Spot, Minot Public Library, Margie’s, Market on 4th, The Foundry and The Fiber Basket. Painting Classes are going on at Souris River Brewery, The Taube and Nature’s Nook. And don’t forget about cooking classes at Gourmet Chef.
Halloween Events for Grown Ups (well…teens and grown ups)
There’s a lot going on since Halloween is on the horizon. If I hear anyone complain that there was nothing to do for Halloween, I’m going to be ticked.
Haunted houses are happening at Dakota Square Mall, the Haunted Forest, and the Library. There are creepy Escape rooms happening at Minot High. Halloween parties are happening at East End, the Moose, and the Little Chicago Pub District. For a costume event that isn’t Halloween related, hit the Hangar Dance. It’s golden era themed and looks super fun. Oh–and there’s a movie in the park. It’s Hocus Pocus, one of my nostalgic faves ever since I watched it with my favorite babysitter waaaay back in 1993. (Don’t judge me.)
Happy Minot Monday. I’ll see you next week!
Why I’m Ok Living Out of a Suitcase | God Led Intentionality
Last night Derek and I were talking on the phone. Because that’s what we do now. That, and FaceTime. But usually our FaceTime calls are a little distracting because someone (with adorable, chubby fingers) thinks he needs to hold the phone the whole time…then it turns into a balancing act of actually seeing each other and keeping a technology tantrum at bay.
As usual, I’m getting off track.
Anyway, we were on the phone discussing one of the most pressing matters with our transition. What to do with the Canyon Lake Cottage. We have a great peace about keeping it (not selling.) Now we need renters. We’ve gone back and forth about keeping it as a short term/vacation rental and looking for a long term renter.
There are pros and cons to both sides. A long term renter would take care of the utilities and bills. However, a long term renter can be really hard on a property and we’ve heard some scary stories.
A short term rental set up means less wear on the property, but more management. More logistics. And maybe craziest of all…it means we need to have a “furnished” house in Rapid City and Minot.
At the beginning of this whole process I thought for sure I’d be going mad without all my “things” by this point. A couple years ago (even one year ago) that probably would have been the case. But I’ve seen God changing me in ways that I never thought possible. Attachments, burdens and struggles that I thought would forever be a thorn in my flesh have slowly and gently been extracted.
I can’t peg what exactly is responsible for this shift, but I think a big part of it stems from a word that God planted in my heart several years ago. Intentionality. Again, I’m not sure what exactly brought it on, but in the fall of 2016 the word “intentionality” kept coming to mind. Since then it’s become a bit of an anthem for me.
Most of you know I have struggled to overcome and manage crippling anxiety and depression. The greatest strides for me came when I became intentional about my mental health. Intentionality when it came to what I said “yes” to and what I said “no” to. This helped guard me from being spread too thin (something that easily triggers a bit of panic for me.) Intentionality in seeking care and asking for help. Intentionality in the way I think.
That intentionality spread to other aspects of my life. I could feel the Holy Spirit encouraging me to be intentional in the Word and prayer. To be intentional in my marriage, and intentional in the ways I wield my giftings.
Intentional about who I am trying to impress.
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
This has not been a perfect practice. There are lots of days that I don’t get it right at all. There have been many times I’ve wished I could be more intentional about more things. But I’ve never once felt the sting of reprimand from the Lord. He sees the heart, He knows I’m trying. Like I said, this really started to resonate in 2016. I’m finally truly starting to see the fruit of this slow, slow change.
So back to our move. When the jumble of information and logistics started to rain down in the spring my natural reaction was fear. Followed by flitting thoughts about how we could make things quick and seamless. I wanted to find a way to keep things as “normal” and “the same” for our family as possible.
Quickly, it became obvious this transition would be different. Again I heard the Spirit whisper, “intentionality” in my ear. With His urging and leading I began to reframe my thoughts.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2
Fear of leaving and being without all the comforts of my home became something new and redeemed.:
“In the past, I have been closest to God and gotten to know Him most through times of hard transition.”
“Before when things have been hard and unstable, I find it easiest to lean on the Rock of my Salvation.”
“Even though having very little, and living out of a suitcase for a very long time will be hard (and quite honestly will be very crummy at times) hopefully this season will break some of my long-held attachment to things that God never intended to capture my heart.”
In the narrative of our lives, God is never the villain. He is the redeemer. He is the creative author who can take any plot and twist it into something surprisingly lovely for the characters. Can can redeem our circumstances, and even more miraculous, he can redeem our thinking.
Let me get back to where I started. Last night Derek and I were discussing our options.
“Well, if we find a long term renter we’ll need everything moved out of the Rapid house by the end of September.”
“But our house in Minot will be under construction. Where will we put it all?”
“Probably the basement.”
“What if we left furniture in Rapid City and kept running it as a vacation house?”
“I don’t know. I’m thinking about the holidays. How long do we really want to live like gypsies?”
“I don’t know what the best solution is. Maybe leave it as a short term rental until after Christmas? That will give us time to get some renovation started and by then we’ll all be living in the same place, in a house of our own.”
“How do you feel about not having our things for that long?”
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
And that’s when it hit me that God has been up to something. I was honestly okay with it. Now, I’m not saying that’s our final solution. I have no idea how this is all going to shake out. But I wasn’t yearning for the things that I own. For a girl who craves “home” that’s a really big deal.
All in all, this is my long, drawn out way of trying to offer you encouragement. What are you facing right now that seems impossible? What thinking do you wish you could shed? Turn on its head? Redeem? Becoming intentional (more purposeful) is a process. And it’s not a process that falls on our shoulders to bear. It’s a process led by the Holy Spirit–we simply need to bring an earnest heart and a teachable spirit to the table.
You’ll be hearing more about the soap opera that is our transition in the days, weeks, and months to come. But for now, be encouraged.
xo
Amy
The Big Move
We’re in the red-hot center of a military move. I don’t often write about military life. Partly because there is so much confidential–I don’t want to write something that I shouldn’t, or compromise the safety of our troops in any way. A bigger part is that I often don’t understand military life, even though I’m smack dab in the middle of it.
There are so many pieces to this lifestyle that are always moving. And so many things about this life that cause me anxiety, stress and even things that trigger depression. I often don’t share because I am usually not in a positive headspace to share anything productive. (My words would probably just confuse anyone who read them!) But something is shifting. With this move things feel different. Even though this is maybe the craziest move of all, I have an uncanny calm. Today I’m going to harness that and write a little about our move.
Every move is different. If you know someone in the military (or married into it) I hope this will give you some insight. If you are in, or joining via marriage–I hope this will help you see that you aren’t alone. We’re all doing crazy things to make it work and get our families resettled. Even if it means flying cats across America and living out of a suitcase for months at a time.
So, without further ado, here’s what our move process has looked like this time around.
Like all moves, military or otherwise, our move started long before we packed up our bags and took one last family photo in the driveway. Because of the structure of Derek’s job, we knew a move was on the horizon quite a while ago. And, yes…the rumors are true…we made it known that we preferred to return to Minot. In this life you don’t always get your preference, but this time it worked out. And we praise God for that!
Now, you might know that I have a deep love for South Dakota and I’ve had a passionate affair with our house there. I didn’t write too much about it, but I loved it from the first moment I laid eyes on it. I knew it was special. Yes, I’m a house whisperer. No judgment please.
I’m always attached to my home, but this one was different. Derek and I have hopes of returning to Rapid City. And if we are going to return at some point, we’d like to come home. To our home. Canyon Lake Cottage.
And quite frankly, if we sold the Cottage–we couldn’t afford to buy it again now that it isn’t falling apart at the seams.
Loving a house is all well and good. But it does open a big can of confusing when it comes to moving across state lines. Since we want to keep our Rapid home, in hopes of coming back, that meant finding a way to make our house self-sustaining (read: we can’t pay two mortgages) while we’re away.
At first we thought Derek would be headed for a short term training assignment for his job in Minot in June/early July. If that was the case, Gideon and I would stay in Rapid City, find a renter to move in in the fall, and we’d all meet up in Minot, buy a house and have a nice, smooth move.
But things changed.
Derek’s training got pushed back to August, but he still needed to report to his new base at the end of June. Since we don’t like volunteering to spend time apart, unless we really need to–we decided we’d all move up to Minot in June.
And that’s what we did.
After lots of praying, we decided to open our house for the summer as a vacation rental via AirBnB. (I’ll be writing about that experience once the summer wraps up.) We moved furniture and personal items. We bought extra beds and dressers. I installed locks on closets to create “off limits” spaces. I decorated and photographed. Derek lined up (amazing) friends who would take care of turn over and lawn care. We asked for advice from everyone we could find with any experience in the short term rental game.
We listed and booked through Labor Day in three days. Praise God!
Things haven’t been without hiccups, but the summer has gone more smoothly than I could have imagined. It’s been so fun to share our favorite place with vacationers.
So that was one piece of our moving puzzle was taken care of.
With all moves (especially the military variety) there are many unknowns. When we were packing up to leave for the summer, we didn’t know what kind of house we would buy (a fixer or something move in ready.) We didn’t know if we’d end up renting for a while. Or how long we’d really be gone. Derek would be gone for training from August until November, but Gideon and I might be in Minot, Indiana, or come back to South Dakota.
It was so stressful deciding what to pack and how much to bring. We have two cars and a small trailer, and at the time, very little idea of how long we’d be gone. (I’ll also be writing on that later.)
After marathon days of planning, packing, praying, and good-byes we loaded up the cars. Derek drove with Panda cat and the trailer. I drove with Gideon.
When we got to Minot, we spent about 10 days living in a hotel. Then we moved in with a friend from church. She’s an older woman, and one of our favorite people on the planet. She has been kind enough to provide us with bedrooms and a kitchen and company and game nights and all the comforts of home until we close on our house. Gideon adores her, and is quite smitten with the retirement living lifestyle.
If you follow me on Instagram, you know we’ve house hunted and despite our preconceived ideas of finding a place that needed minimal work, we are in the process of purchasing the biggest project of our lives. (More on that to come.)
I have trepidations, but we’ve earnestly sought God in this whole process and this is where we find ourselves. I’d like to say I can imagine the adventure to come, but I don’t think I can even begin to comprehend the ride in store for us.
So here we are. Derek is in yet another state for training. Panda cat is being fostered by our lovely, kind friends. Gideon and I are taking bids from contractors. The process of getting “settled” has been so long and drawn out, but every day we get a little closer. Here are the “steps” we have left until we are officially fully transitioned back to life in Practically Canada.
- Get the house appraised.
- Gideon and I are headed to Indiana to visit family. Why not since we are homeless and already living out of suitcases?
- Find a long term renter for the Cottage in Rapid City–it’s available at the end of September if you know anyone looking!
- Go to South Dakota, supervise the movers as they pack up all our worldly possessions.
- Come back to Minot, close on the house.
- Get our cat and all move into the “new” house.
- Get moving on major “must do” projects before the Big Freeze settles in.
- Welcome Derek home in November.
See we’re basically done.
And now that I’ve written this big update my mind feels free to write about all the other things buzzing around in my head! Like how to pick a fixer-upper. How to live out of a suitcase for months at a time. How to find contractors. And of course, plenty of posts on how to love life in Minot!
xo
Amy
Kind Intentions
Today I’m sharing some of the most impactful things I have learned while studying Ephesians 1. I’d love it if you told me what most affected you from this chapter!
Season One
I really like TV. I know I probably shouldn’t say that. Because “good” Christians don’t watch TV. But here I am, admitting that I like TV. I watch a lot less TV than I did before I became a mom. (For obvious reasons.) And my TV consumption has gotten more picky as I’ve matured in my faith. I’ve come to understand the importance of what I put into my mind, even passively. (Which is a different topic altogether.)
Have you ever been watching TV and been several seasons in and thought: How’d we even get here? Then you wrack your brain for what happened in those early episodes. Or you go back and rewatch the first season. (I’m specifically remembering watching Lost all those years ago.)
Maybe you have a favorite show that you watch all the way through to the series finale and then cycle right back to season 1, episode 1. (The Office, anyone??) Suddenly you see how the whole series fit together. Then, you revel in the nostalgic beauty that is that very first episode. It perfectly lays the stage for the whole plot.
Sometimes it pays off to go back to the beginning and remember how the whole plot started.
Ephesians 1: God’s Redemptive Plan
Paul does this same thing in the opening chapter of Ephesians.
If you read my Ephesians primer, you know he is addressing believers in the ancient city of Ephesus. Paul kicks off his letter by going all the way back to the beginning. Or in this case, the prequel to the beginning. Before he begins giving instructions for Christian living, he answers the question: How did we get here? He takes readers all the way back to Season One to give them a fuller appreciation of the greater plot that has and is still taking shape.
Paul starts by reminding his readers (including you and me) where the path of redemption and rightness with God started.
You might be tempted to say that God’s redemptive plan started immediately after the first sin took place in the Garden of Eden. Paul, however paints a different picture.
You see, Paul tells us God’s plan for us started before sin. Ephesians 1 tells us this plan started before the Garden, even before Genesis 1.
…just as He chose us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:4, emphasis mine
Do you see the timeline?! God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless before the foundation of the world. Before sin ever entered the picture God had already chosen to make a way for us to be right with Him. There has never, even for one second, been a time that God didn’t have a plan for us to be with Him.
He knew sin was a possibility. But that doesn’t matter. Before the earth was created. Before Adam lost a rib, God had already decided that we could stand blameless before Him, if we stand before Him in Christ.
Decided Beforehand
In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…
Ephesians 1:5 emphasis mine
Yikes. Predestined. That’s a scary, hot-button word. If we aren’t careful we can get into fruitless debates about the P-word. Don’t go there. The word predestined here is the Greek word proorizō, meaning “decided beforehand.” Let’s stick with that definition.
Not only did God choose us to be right before Him through Jesus, he also decided beforehand that we would be adopted as His children (and all the good things that come with being someone’s child.) We aren’t just nameless people able to stand blameless before a judge. We are God’s own children.
In love God decided beforehand that we would be:
- fully adopted (1:5)
- given grace (1:6)
- redeemed and forgiven (1:7)
- given an inheritance (1:11, 14)
- sealed by the Holy Spirit (1:13)
And all of this was decided according to God’s kind intentions.
God’s Kind Intentions
Here’s another thing I hate to admit. I’ve believed a lot of lies in my lifetime. One of the most damaging lies I have believed is that God’s intentions are not always kind.
I don’t know if I would have come out and said that I thought God was unkind. My thoughts on God’s character were tangled and confused and incorrect. What I believed about God’s character is too confusing to put into words right here in a way that you might understand. What I can tell you is that my behavior and thoughts did not reflect a heart that believed God is kind.
As with lots of deeply ingrained lies, I must remain diligent to dispel it any time it creeps back into my mind and my heart.
There are many places in Scripture we can turn to, to gain an understanding of God’s character, but Ephesians 1 has become my favorite. This chapter concisely tells us who God is and what His will looks like.
When I am tempted to believe that God is not kind, or that He should not be kind to me, I turn here.
I look at the verb trail and the timeline.
We see evidence of God’s kind intentions in how He made a way for us to be fully right and fully reconciled to Him before the earth was ever formed. Before we could ever do anything to earn or lose His kindness.
The Mystery of God’s Will
He did more than just make a way for us. He also let us in on the mystery of His will. Look at verse 9.
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him [Christ}…
Ephesians 1:9 emphasis mine
I can tend to have a selfish view of “God’s will.” (Maybe I’m not the only one?) When I talk about God’s will, I’m often referring to God’s specific will for me. I have been known to search high and low for His will–thinking that it is a grand mystery He is hiding from me…and if I could figure it out my life would be easier and more streamlined. (I told you I had confusing ideas about God’s character.) But Paul is telling us that God’s will is bigger than where we go to college or what job we plan to pursue.
Don’t get me wrong, those things matter to God….but don’t make my mistake. Don’t become too blinded by selfishness to see the grander, greater mystery at work.
God’s ultimate will is that we know Him. The mystery of God’s will is not whether I will write a book, have more children, get a “real” job or die of a moose attack in North Dakota. The most mysterious thing about God’s will is how a perfect, pure, wonderful God could ever reconcile sinful mortals to Himself.
The mystery has already been made known: that we can be right with God through the work Jesus did on our behalf. A work that was carried out because ultimately, God’s intentions toward us are kind.
God is kind.
Our Part
God decided before the foundation of the world that anyone who came to Him through Jesus would be holy, blameless and adopted. Our job is simply to go to Him in Christ, to accept the plan and put our faith in Jesus.
I hope you’ve already made that decision and this is just a nostalgic reminder of Season 1. But if not, now is a great time to accept God’s kind intention toward you. Step into His plan. He made a way for you to get to God through Jesus. It’s a mystery, but boy is it sweet.
DIY Busy Board
Today I’m excited to be sharing how to make a DIY busy board along with 50 busy board ideas!
I really like making toys for kids. Before Gideon was born I had a little more disposable time and was able to make some super cool things for the little in my life. Now, I’m a little more pressed for time, but I still really like making things for my guy to enjoy.
Hopefully in the near future I’ll sit down and make him something really fun and elaborate. But that hasn’t happened quite yet.
One of the most-used and most-loved homemade toys I’ve created for him has been his busy board. It’s really nothing too exciting to look at, but I’m sharing it here because it is ever-evolving (it has grown with him), cheap, fun to make, and super fast to put together.
I started this busy board for Gideon when he was about 4 months old. At that time we were working on tummy time. This was something he could look at and play with on the floor, or could be in front of him while propped up on the Boppy. He loved it then. He loves it now. And a friend’s 3-year-old was recently here and she exclaimed, “I want one of these for my birthday.” It’s truly a gem for all ages, and it’s easy to make and update!
I often put the board on his high chair tray while I’m getting his meal prepped. This gives him something to do and buys me a couple extra minutes.
Build A DIY Busy Board
Here’s what you’ll need to create a busy board of your own.
- Scrap of wood
- Hardware knick knacks
That’s it! Honestly, you probably have everything you need already laying around the house.
I used a scrap of 1″ pine we had in the basement left over from our Master Bedroom Remodel. A quick sanding and wipe with a damp rag made it clean and clear of any splinters.
Then I gathered up mismatched hardware pieces and screwed them in. For the very first version of the board I attached several cabinet handles with interesting shapes, a piece of sandpaper, a chain, etc. Mostly just things to feel and see since his motor skills were very basic. Bang! Done.
Now, if you look at Pinterest you can easily become overwhelmed by elaborate busy boards. Those are great and super cute–but your baby isn’t going to care much about the boards aesthetics. At least, not when they are still learning to hold their head up, crawl, and walk.
Here is the most beautiful part of a very simple board like this: you can easily change and modify it as frequently as you like! Since it is just a scrap piece of wood, you can take things off and make new holes and have no regrets.
How To Update A DIY Busy Board
Here is my busy board “work flow.”
After a couple months your child will make it pretty obvious which items he is still loving and which items he is over. I remove items that have lost their luster and replace them with new things we’ve picked up at Menard’s or the Habitat ReStore. I try to reuse screw holes if I can. If not, I try to place the new item over the existing hole just to cover it up. If that doesn’t work, I simply give the old hole a quick sand to smooth out splinters and drill a new hole.
To give you an idea of how gradually I change the board, here is a photo prior to our most recent update. The board included a slide lock, stretchy key chain, strap hinges, a static door handle, press light, handle, caster, and u-bolt with a faucet line zip-tied to it. (It looks weird, but he really liked it.)
And here is our current board. I left the caster wheel, hinges, light and red key-chain. (That is one of his FAVORITES and has been on here since I first made the board.) I added a hinged lock, hinged door stop, towel ring and two door stop springs. (These are the new favorite…boiiinnnngggg!) I’ve got carabiners that I clip on to various parts of the board. In this photo it’s hooked onto one of the strap hinges.
I’ve also found that adding zip-ties to existing hardware is a super quick way to add a little extra interest. Adding a few to this handle gave it more texture and things to spin.
It’s so fun and picking out new items is something I look forward to doing with Gideon. We wander the hardware aisles and I let him hold things and see what sparks his interest–then buy a few and add them. This is a great project for an overwhelmed mom…or would be a great gift for an overwhelmed mom!
50 Ideas For Your Busy Board
The possibilities are endless, but here is a big ol’ list of 50 ideas of simple things to put on your DIY busy board to get started. Keep in mind that not all items are appropriate for all ages and kids should always be supervised while playing with a board…just in case a small piece should come off.
- drawer handles
- hinged handles
- door knocker
- knobs of all shapes and sizes
- hose spigot knob
- static door knobs and handles
- turnable door knobs and handles
- door hinges
- cabinet hinges
- strap hinges
- piano hinges
- slide locks
- chain locks
- combination locks of all kinds
- lock with a key (I would attach the key with a string so it doesn’t get lost)
- coiled key chain (like mine above)
- retractable name tag
- sand paper or textured fabrics/ribbons
- closet push light
- battery operated light switches
- battery operated door bell
- toggle switches
- dimmer dials
- bike safety light
- chain
- pulley
- wheels or casters (I painted white stripes on mine to help Gideon see it move)
- latches of all kinds
- velcro
- toilet paper holder
- towel ring
- bungee cords (without the metal hook ends)
- U-bolts (these are fun to put extra pieces on, like nuts, washers, curtain rings, etc)
- mirror
- zippers
- use carabiners to attach measuring spoons, keys, bells, paintbrushes, etc
- sponges
- M-F pill box
- a land line phone
- reflectors
- pet collar
- belt buckle
- toys that squeak
- house numbers
- Gears
- silicone hot pads
- an old thermostat dial
- faucets and handles
- pieces of hose, water line or other flexible tubing
- small retractable tape measure
Happy making!
Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches
We have very few, true holiday traditions. Easter is always iffy since weather in the Dakotas is highly unpredictable. Somewhat frequent summer burn-bans make 4th of July sparklers hit and miss. Our Thanksgiving table is always set for company–but we never really know who will be dining with us. Christmas and New Years are usually spent traveling–and those plans never seem to materialize until a week or so before December 25.
Valentine’s Day is different.
We don’t do anything elaborate for Valentine’s Day. Sometimes we go on a date. Sometimes we don’t. We might eat dinner out. Or maybe we just eat at home. I guess it’s really as unpredictable as the rest of the holidays. But we do have one tradition, and it might be my favorite of the whole year.
I don’t know how it started. I think I happened across this photo of beautiful, homemade ice cream sandwiches in an issue of Martha Stewart Living. And since V-Day falls right smack-dab in the middle of the coldest part of winter (for those of us in the midwest) I thought I’d give it a try. (Here is her recipe. The cookies are a lot like the traditional ice cream sandwich cookies you can buy in the store. I made these a few times, but I had a knack for over baking them.)
I’ve been making homemade ice cream sandwiches for about 6 years now. Every year they get a little better. This year our treat was sweeter than ever because I shared my favorite edible Valentines with not one handsome boy–but two!
Maybe now that Gideon has joined our household we’ll create more traditions. Even if that doesn’t happen, hopefully he’ll always look forward to ice cream sandwiches in February. Perhaps he’ll want to help me make them even when he’s too big to be confined to a Bumbo seat on the counter.
Because I love this tradition so much I want to pass on my recipes to you. I’m a big fan of the traditional chocolate cookie sandwiches. (Like Martha’s above.) I’ve tried several cookie recipes, but this recipe from Handle the Heat is the best one I’ve found yet.
The cookies are soft and chewy–even when they’re frozen. They’re easy to make. The ingredients are usually already in my kitchen and the recipe is well-written and easy to follow. (The only down side is that they can’t be cut with a cookie cutter.) I’ve never made the cookie butter ice cream mentioned in her recipe, but I can only imagine it is di-vine!
I scoop the batter with a medium cookie scoop. Don’t be alarmed that the cookie dough looks thin. It’s more like a batter than a dough. I find that the cookies don’t spread too much and they come out light, airy and a little puffed up at first. Just don’t let their delicate look trick you in to over-baking them. They’re meant to be a little gooey.
As they cool they flatten out a bit. (Oh, and I should mention that they are delightful to eat on their own. Or topped with peanut butter. Just saying.)
I’ve used lots of different fillings over the years too. The first year I did store-bought strawberry ice cream–just like Martha. Later I did vanilla. Then two years ago I got an ice cream maker for Christmas.
Best. Gift. Ever.
Well–one of the best gifts ever. Especially for an ice cream lover like me.
This is the one I have and if you have a KitchenAid, I highly recommend it. It’s easy to use, affordable, and makes a perfect sized batch of ice cream.
This year we filled our sandwiches with this Maple Nut ice cream from The Cookie Writer. It. Is. So. Good. I’ll definitely be making it again. It pairs perfectly with the chewy-gooey brownie cookies!
If you are going to try your hand at making your own ice cream sandwiches here are my top three tips. (Here’s a quick FYI. I don’t do elaborate staging for photos, as evidenced by the pile of used bottles waiting to be washed behind me.)
- Freeze everything before assembly. They are much easier to put together if everything is solid.
- Uniformity is key. Use a cookie scoop to size out cookie dough. I also use a round biscuit or cookie cutter sitting on top of a cookie as a guide for filling it with ice cream. It gives a nice clean edge and consistent filling.
- Do it in two days. While this is easy, it’s also a tad time consuming. I find that making cookies and ice cream on day one and doing assemble on day two helps fit this treat into my lifestyle. Doing it that way also keeps it fun, instead of leaving me cranky that I’ve been in the kitchen all day.
For pretty presentation I wrap mine in parchment paper and tie them with baker’s twine. However, if you aren’t giving them away you can just store them in an air tight container. I’ve been told they’ll keep a couple weeks…but we eat them too quickly to know if that’s true.
Happy baking!
