MINOT | NORTH DAKOTA LIFESTYLE
living our best life in Practically Canada. let's carve out space for your mind to breate.
As a military spouse, I’ve spent my entire adult life being “not from around here.” By nature, I resist change at all costs–I long for roots, familiarity, and a lasting place to call home. My life has led me down a path that makes those ideals far-fetched.
Instead, I’ve become a specialist at integrating myself into a community. Minot, ND–a place I didn’t know existed before we were ordered to move there–has become my muse. Minot, AFB is often called one of the Air Force’s “worst” assignmets, but I find it utterly charming in the best, and quirkiest ways.
The following articles contain practical information on living in Minot, or have appeared in my popular opinion column, “She’s Not From Around Here,” which chronicles the nuances of small-town life, marveling at the goodness of humanity, and weaving the kind of stories worth telling.
The Simple Guide to Explaining Spring Symbols to Kids
Why bunnies? Why eggs? Why doesn't it look like spring? These can be tough questions to answer. This article was originally written for the Northern Sentry and I am so grateful for their partnership and support. Tough Questions About Spring Symbolism "Mom, why are...
15 Unique Minot Date Ideas Just in Time for Valentine’s Day
The 15 Minot Date Ideas PDF List Looking for the perfect way to get out of the house this Valentine's Day? My latest resource is a free PDF guide, "15 Minot Date Ideas." It's an easy to read and easy to access list that will get your wheels turning when it comes to...
What is a Scotcheroo? The Best Dessert You’ll Ever Eat
What is a Scotcheroo? I lived in the Dakotas nearly a decade before making a pan of scotcheroos for myself. Looking back, I guess I was just coasting along on the kindness of others. I’m quite spoiled by a plethora of from-around-here friends. It should also be noted...
A Friendly Push
Just your average winter day A few weeks ago I came across a car stuck in a bank of snow. We’d gotten snow earlier in theweek, but this was a warm, 35 ̊ day. Streets were clear, snow had even begun to melt on thesidewalks. The sky was blue, the sun was warm, the wind...
Talk Like A Local | The (Un)official Dictionary to Hot Dish Land
Local midwest vocabulary When you move to a new place it’s common to feel like an outsider. Obviously, you expect it to take some time to find your stride and your people – but that stage of relocation is never fun. I’ve never felt so foreign in a place than when I...
Hot Dish Airports
Airports are an alternate universe Since moving to North Dakota I’ve had many moments that leave me thinking I must have stepped into an alternate universe. However, few compare to my experiences at North Dakotan airports. Though locals may not bat an eye at the Hot...
When You Can’t Control the Windchill, Take Control of Your Story | Changing Your Thought Patterns
Being a 'realist' I’m not an expert at many things. A lover of learning, I tend to soak up information and skills, without ever committing them to lifelong practice. This comes in handy because I know a little bit about a lot of bits. If I need to know more, I can...
She’s Not From Around Here | No Sane Person Would Choose This
USA's Best Kept Secret “No sane person would choose to leave Florida to live in North Dakota." I read that quote in a news article a couple weeks ago. When my eyes ran across the words, I nearly spit out my coffee, choking back a laugh. The next day, friends...
You’ll See
Creatures of habit “I see you here a lot,” said the man who held the door for me as we simultaneously left the library. “Yeah,” I replied, while shoving my now-empty coffee mug into my bag. “I come here to work when my husband is home with our kids. I’m close enough...
The Unsung Hero of Blizzard 2022
When will it end? We got more snow than I expected. When I wrote last week’s column the blizzard was impending with predictions hinting at the possibility of 30” of snow. However, with my vast meteorological experience (okay, I have none), I made my own prediction:...
Why is Winter Taking So Long?
The Never-ending Winter “Mom, why is winter taking so long?” My four-year-old has asked me this question exactly every day for a week straight. When he says it, the phrase is drawn out. It carries that tone of voice only a genuine child can produce when talking to...
The Community Pool
A different kind of date night We could see the glimmer of sunshine on water before we heard the splashing or smelled the sunscreen. My husband, Derek, and I pedaled our tandem bicycle up to the bleachers near the pool and climbed off. On the other side of the chain...
