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!
Minot Fun Zone–It’s FREE!
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.
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).
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.
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.
Bingo cards are from Vintage City. Rackets came from a second hand shop in Rapid City. Poker dog prints were my grandparent’s.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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.)
10/27 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!)
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.)
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