by Kayleen Larson

Photography is part technique, part soul work. You follow the light and your heart. As always, there was plenty of heart and soul in the photos that flooded our offices for the 11th annual Lake Country Journal Magazine photo contest.»

by Cathie Mayr

The first Christmas after marrying into my Scandinavian family, my German husband observed with an incredulous tone: "Your family Christmas goes on for weeks!"

by Cathie Mayr

For Scandinavians of the past, one of the delights of Christmas was its seemingly endless variety of special pastries.

by Cathie Mayr

According to long-standing Scandinavian beliefs, a farm’s prosperity derived from the hard work of elves. In Sweden they are called Tomte (tomp-tah) and in Norway Nisse (nee-sah or niss-ah).

by Cathie Mayr

Lutefisk church suppers are common in Lake Country and are amazingly well attended.

by Cathie Mayr

Christmas preparations on Scandinavia's self-sustaining farms included one of the most important and difficult tasks:

by Cathie Mayr

Editor's note: Sure you know your lefse from your lutefisk, but do you know your smultringer from your sirupssnipper or your Nisse from your Tomte? Cathie Mayr, owner of Nordic Living, knows and for six days, starting today, she'll gift us with some interesting and fun (yes, Scandinavians can have fun) tidbits about these Old Country traditions and more. So visit our website daily from now until Christmas. Your inner Viking will thank you.

by Kayleen Larson

My husband once brought home a Christmas tree with needles so sharp I had to wear workman's gloves to decorate it.

There's blaze-orange in the woods of Lake Country — hunters watching for deer and DNR conservation officers watching for hunters. Things can get a little wild out there. And we're not talking about the deer.

By Andrea Baumann, LCJM Art Director

Autumn is hands-down my favorite time of year. It takes me back to my childhood — the smell of fallen leaves on a warm day, the Halloween candy my mother bought early and quickly hid (and which we always found and ate), and the annual "Building of the Buddy."