From Dream to Shining Dream

Growing up with a dad who dared to dream was very infectious. The wonderful part of this is that he spoke his dreams aloud to us at the supper table each evening. However, some of his dreams made me nervous. I was pretty sure we would be moving to either Montana or Alaska before I was out of school and I would have to start over making new friends. But he taught his children, by example, a very important lesson…dream big and tell your dreams to other people. He also started two businesses of his own; Nelson Auto Body Shop and Whispering Pines Log Homes.

My sister and I played “store” frequently when we were children. She wanted to cashier and I was all about finding the merchandise and displaying it. Frequently, we would talk about the store that we would someday own together. That dream became reality when thistleberry opened on May 3, 2006 in Motley, MN . The building is a 100 year-old cottage style house. It was a family project to remodel and get it ready to be a gift shop. The summer of 2012 we added a “barn” beside the house to expand the business. Over the years the merchandise changed as trends and styles changed. Being in the lakes area, we sold many items that customers would use to decorate their cabins.

Why Motley? Many would ask me that question. Not only is Motley 25 miles from where I grew up, much of my family still lives near by. Motley is also on Highway #10 and 4 miles from a vibrant cluster of lakes. Lake Alexander, Lake Shamineau, Fishtrap Lake, and Crookneck Lake. The population in that area swells to thousands during the summer months and we capitalized on that. The Lincoln Lakes area coins themselves

as “Minnesota’s Best Kept Secret”. (We know it is really Amboy, though!) October of 2013, my sister announced that she did not want to be a part of the business any longer and had other plans to pursue. I decided to do the business by myself and hired employees to take up a bit of slack. Regardless, it was too much travel time and too many days away from home when I was there every week, rather than every other week. I did not feel like I was completely doing what I needed to be doing at thistleberry or at home.

Al Steinberg had talked to me a few times in the last couple years about bringing thistleberry to Amboy and using part of his building. In February, I decided to make him an offer to purchase the whole building so that I can expand with a new dream. I hired LTD House Doctors (Marty Aldinger and Mike Borne) to head up the renovation project and I think the community will be intrigued with the changes being made. It is fun to see a new dream come to life.

The front part of the main floor will be called The Chatterbox, a comfortable lounge area for relaxing, meeting with friends, and live music on the stage. The other half of the main floor will be Thistleberry, which will feature boutique apparel, accessories, home décor , and other fun stuff! We expect to open some time in June. The second phase will be the upstairs, called The Getaway, which will be a bed/breakfast suite/retreat that will sleep up to eight adults, and also, an art studio which will be open for public use, as well as retreat guests. You can expect to see card making classes, scrapbooking events, canvas painting, photography, and other types of artistic venues. The goal is to have the upstairs ready by Arts ‘N’ More Festival in September, if not before. I am excited to be a part of a progressive community that is full of well-established businesses and an active community club with vision for preserving the historical elements of the area. I hope that I can build upon that foundation, and help Amboy thrive even more.

Cam Bissonette’s new colorful addition to Amboy Maine St.

Cam Bissonette’s original store in Motley, MN

Vol.9 Red Cow Gazette, Amboy, Minnesota 56010 Spring/Summer 2015 No. 2Funding and Content for the Amboy Red Cow Gazette is Provided by the Amboy Area Community Club.

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Page 2 • Red Cow Gazette • Spring/Summer 2015

COW TALES– Telling the Story of our past to the generations of the future

ASK IMOGENE Dearest Imogene,

I am 82 years old and getting married for the first time, in just 3 months! My fiance lives in the same assisted living complex where I live. But don’t you worry---we are not living together. I don’t go for that! Anyway, I need your help with the issue of my matron of honor. My older sister assumes that she will be the one stand-ing next to me. We were very close growing up as children but we went different diredtions as adults. Quite some time ago I found a girl friend that became my travel companion and confidant...a real soul mate. We have been friends for 50 years! My friend is the person I want by my side on my wedding day. How do I tell my sister without hurting her feelings? Thank you ror any help you can give. God Bless You!

–Sleepless in the Solarium.

Dear Sleepless,

There is no way to tell your sister without hurting her. My advice to you is either send her on a lovely cruise and get married while she’s away or take that fiance of yours and get a justice of the Peace to hold a private ceremony for you ASAP. If your sister complains tell her that it was a shotgun wedding. (Tell her that any loud noises might put your honey into cardiac arrest...so you needed to marry quickly before someone dropped another tray in the dinning room.) At 82, it is also your option to use the excuse that you forgot to tell her you were getting married. Age certainly should have at least some perks. Mazel Tov!

–Imogene

Business History for the double buildings West - East Riko Bros. Ed Huebmer Torgerson Drug Gus Johnson Jenkins and Mullin C. Call Otto Ives Fred Truwe Geo. Fox Wm. Boughton Larry Weir H.Otterstein Chas. Pavik J. Meurer Minz and Schulz M. Angval Robt. Cartright K. Torgerson Graf’s Pool Hall Ted Torgerson Drug Store Graf’s Home Furnishings Amboy Launderette (Les Johnson) FrameIt! (Al Steinberg) Amboy Laundromat (Willie & Jan Thistleberry Wolfswinkel)

Built sometime after 1893, another photo has signs indicating a Doctor’s office was upstairs on the West side and a Dentist upstairs  on the East side, with an awning below that says “Hotel”

Graf’s Home Furnishings – Bi-Centennial Tour for Lt. Governor Perpich and other dignitaries Bob, Mary, and Jerry Graf offered full service for your home – furniture, wall coverings, floor coverings, accessories, décor….and more. You can see why they needed more space!

Quite often, all’s not quiet on the Amboy Front…and it’s been going on for 136 years! Planning, building, remodeling, and rearranging…something’s always brewing…You may have seen a bright green car parked on Maine St. lately. The owner is Cam Bissonette, a creative thinker and one of the most energetic people around. She purchased the “Frame It” building from Al Steinberg when he decided to move his studio back to his farm. Painting in a barn, next to the woods along the river, just seems the right place for his art. Multi-talented in many artistic mediums, Al specializes in fabulous realistic wildlife paintings and extremely detailed pen & ink drawings. But don’t worry, you’ll still see Al on Maine St. when he gets a hankerin’ for some coffee conversation.

Cam’s not wasting any time getting her “Thistleberry” shop moved to Amboy from Motley’ MN. Her new building is bigger and she’s got lots of great ideas…but you’ll have to ask her what she’s planning…or come in on opening day and be surprised!...and amazed!

Building History Built as a double [mirror image] building, with a shared stairway between the two stores, and a façade that features a metal sunburst design in the center. We don’t know the exact date it was built, but it was shortly after 1893. A 1954 quote from Amboy Business Directory written for our 75th Anniversary “Graf’s ran a pool room six years ago but changed to a furniture store in 1950.”

What’s Up on Maine Street!

Red Cow Gazette • Spring/Summer 2015 • Page 3

Georgia Spice and The Mexican Bandit

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431 Maine Street EastAmboy, MN

Amboy’s NEW Holidays to rememberWe are all familiar with the traditional holidays, but what about the not so commonly known “fun” days. Maybe we should celebrate these a little more!

“Finally Summer Days” June 21Summer Solstice is sometimes referred to as “Midsummer” Litha”. It’s the longest day of the year. The amount of daylight only goes down from here....for the next six months. Summer Solstice is the meteorological start of summer. It’s time to enjoy vacations, great weather, pools, baseballs, and everything else that goes along with the favorite season of kids and most adults. Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the season, because for many of us it is all too short.

“Camera Day” Always June 29 For all of our local photographers!! Camera Day is best celebrated with pictures. Our memories and stories are captured in photos. For most people, a camera is a vital tool to record important events in the family and in the world. It captures the moment.....forever. It creates the memories that we share and look back upon. From the birth of a baby, to high school graduations, people take pictures at a fast click. Year after year, the camera records family vacations, holidays and Christmas.. and yes, selfies. The camera takes pictures of good times, and occasionally bad time. If you haven’t yet, start your photo album on June 29th!!

“I Forgot Day” July 2, Yep, this is the day to forget! So, just what are you forgetting? Can you even remember? Is it important? Hopefully, not. Some days are days to remember and to cherish all of our lives. Others, like today, are ones to be forgotten. If you are having a bad day, it’s just as well that today is I Forgot Day. Some people view today as an opportunity to express their regrets for forgetting something, and to make amends. Maybe send a card and flowers, apologize for your memory lapse. Just don’t forget something important tomorrow, or you have to wait a whole year for the next I Forgot Day to arrive.

“Cow Appreciation Day” July 15 Yeh! Amboy should celebrate this day. This is a little know day, maybe for a reason as I couldn’t find much on the beginning or creation of this day but it is out there on some wacky calendars! Most notably most of the celebrations are centered on dairy products for this day, but hey, those that have cows understand the significance of the day. Perhaps most don’t want to give their cow a hug, but they would enjoy a hand full of flowers (no vase needed).

“Left handers Day” Aug. 13 This day is just for Southpaws. As we all know, but rarely give it a thought, but the world is built for right handed people. Only about 10% of the population is left handed. For example, in school, have you ever seen a left handed desk? Most left handed items cost more to purchase. Scissors are for right handed cutters, only a lefty would understand this. And, the computer mouse your are using…yes, right handers. If you’re a lefty, you can name off quite a few of these examples and today is your day!! Just a fun note: Did you know that right handed people operate in the left side of the brain, and left handed use the right side, hence, only left handed people are in there right mind….

Page 4 • Red Cow Gazette • Spring/Summer 2015

May 25 - Memorial DayJune 18 - National Splurge DayJune 21 - Father’s DayJune 21 - Finally Summer Day

LOCAL DATES

May 15, 16 - City Wide Garage SaleMay 19 - City Spring Clean-Up DayMay 29 - Last Day of School at Maple River June 19 - City Appliance and Electronics RecyclingJune 22-25 - Community VBS at 1st Presbyterian ChurchLibrary Summer Story Hours - June 10; July 8, 22; Aug 19

FIND THE ICONB. Leiding of Lake Crystal won $50 worth of Amboy bucks for finding the icon on the front page of the last issue of the Gazette.

In this issue look for a Ladybug icon. If you find it, email your name and contact information to redcowstory@gmail.com Be sure to state where you found the Ladybug. You will be entered into a drawing for a prize of $50.00 Amboy Bucks.

I enjoyed my winter accommodations in the crawl space below the Depot Mercantile. It was nice and quiet for most of the winter but lately there have been some loud pounding noises and its time for me to look for a place to stay during the summer months. I think that Iwill look for something near a lake or a south facing slope with lots of grass for me to eat. According to my records last year’s daily average temperatures were nearly 2 degrees higher than the previous year. The snow fall was less than normal and so far the April showers have not recharged the underground aquifers. If we look down the road toward summer it looks like for those of us that live in Minnesota we are in store for one of those boring summers. Not too hot and not too cold. No

floods and no droughts on the horizon either. West coast will be hot and dry and that’s not good news for them and their water shortage problem. Colorado, Wyoming and the panhandle of Florida will experience above average rainfalls. If you watch the deep ocean currents near Hawaii and the high tide levels in the Bay of Funday near Nova Scotia you will be able to better forecast the upper stream path for the next few months. If you understand the jet stream path you can do much better predicting the future. When I settle in someplace for the summer I will work on my fall forecast. Marley

Marley’s Summer Forecast

Marley theMarmot

Free Library in Amboy What is the free library? It is a free will book exchange that allows people at any time to take a book to read. What is requested in return is for you to leave a book. This is good for any free library box, so if you take a book in Amboy, you can donate a book in Oden or St. Peter.

There are nine of the libraries out there, a couple in the cities, and in Michigan. You may have seen the box in front of the Cottage Café in Amboy. The little book box is the third one Fred has done, and Amboy was the recipient of this gift during Arts N More festival in 2013.

Fred Jerbe from Oden, MN has always liked doing

woodworking. Since his retirement eight years ago he has been doing small things, but was looking for a little more fulfillment with his projects. He was aware of the free library’s in other places, so he took it upon himself to create his own version of these fun filled free book exchanges.

It takes approximately a month of work to get one completed and ready for books. When completed, Fred gives them his final “brand” of approval. Look for the polar bear shaped brand on the boxes, and that is how you know its hand made with care from Mr. Jerbe.

So, if you enjoy reading, please feel free to visit the free library on Maine street in Amboy, and take a book. We also encourage you to leave a book for the next person that visits. Creating a new “brand” of library

June 29 - National Camera DayJuly 2 - I Forgot DayJuly 4 - Independence Day Aug. 13 - Left handers Day