5/5/2010 – News
Volume 127, Number 13
Hvindens add large room for her artistic quilt creations
BY CONNIE KRAPP
Northern Plains Electric
Jonelle Hvinden has seven sewing machines. That isn’t so remarkable, not when you consider the hundreds of quilts Hvinden has turned out over the years. But what is remarkable is that five of those machines are portable. One has to wonder where — or why — Jonelle would transport those portables.
The magnificent sewing room she and her husband, James, added to their rambling farm home would cure any seamstress of the desire to wander elsewhere. But the term "sewing room" probably doesn’t accurately describe the airy, stone-tiled room that was added to the Hvinden home two years ago. Comprising more than half of a 28- by 40-foot addition, the room features a massive fireplace, cathedral ceilings and expansive windows lining its outside walls. Natural light bathes the room and provides a perfect "great room" setting for entertaining, reading, watching television, and, yes, sewing and quilting.
Jonelle says she quilts year-round. Her prowess with needle and thread is evident in wall hangings and bedspreads that burst with color and speak of artistry and creativity. A framed case of ribbons from the North Dakota State Fair attests to Jonelle’s mastery of the art.
And it truly is art that you are seeing at the Hvinden home, for Jonelle’s quilted masterpieces blend in beautifully with the aura that she and James have created in their home with family heirlooms and a love of art deco, antiques and authentic furniture. It doesn’t hurt, too, that James is a master craftsman who knows how to handle a hammer. In fact, he and Jonelle have remodeled their home three times during the past 30 years, and each time, they handled much of the work themselves.
Transformation of the Hvinden home, which was built in 1925 and has been graced by five generations of Hvindens, began in 1982 when James and Jonelle shored up the home with electric ceiling heat, cove heaters and new windows. In 1998, they added a two-stall garage and utility room. One year later, they turned to Lannie Simonson Building Company to customize their kitchen.
Although that was more than a decade ago, the result looks as though the kitchen was just finished yesterday. Featuring granite counters, beautiful oak cabinets and stainless steel appliances, it not only is wearing today’s finishes, but is a center of efficiency.
"We like the U-shape and of course we’re really happy with all the little extras that Lannie built into the cupboards," Jonelle says. "It’s user friendly, and we love all the storage."
Like the sewing "great" room, the Hvindens’ kitchen features heated, tiled floors. James points out that the floors in the latest addition (sewing "great" room plus master bedroom suite) are a natural stone called travertine which, after years and years, becomes marble. While the travertine floors are stunning, another plus lies beneath that stone in the form of pipes carrying a source of heat.
"We have 4,000 feet of pipes in our floors that carry liquid heated by an electric boiler," he says. "We love our floor heat and find it very affordable. Over the years, we’ve learned that in order to afford to live in these big houses, you have to be extremely energy efficient."
Toward that end, the Hvindens have taken other steps to energy efficiency: They have installed styrofoam insulation, new windows, an electric heat pump and zone heating in spare rooms that are used occasionally. And the last time they talked to Northern Plains Senior Energy Advisor Tim Johnson, he suggested they replace their incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents.
James says Northern Plains has been an invaluable source of advice and help throughout the 30 years they’ve worked on their home and farm. "We love Tim Johnson," he says. "He’s been just great and always gives current advice on heating and cooling. Before we do anything, we call him."
This article originally appeared in the April, 2010 issue of North Dakota Living, the official magazine of the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.
Jonelle Hvinden of Maddock looks at some quilt patterns she’s made. She and her husband, James, built the perfect room in their house for her to make her artistic quilting creations. Their house is highly engergy-efficient. (Photo by Kirsti Lukens, Northern Plains Electric)
James takes a dish from the Energy Star high-efficiency dishwasher in his custom kitchen. (Photo by Kirsti Lukens, Northern Plains Electric)
Big cottonwoods removed
Dakota Tree Service of Devils Lake made short work of the big cottonwood trees on the east side of the West Bay Homes apartment complex. It was feared the trees would fall on cars parked beneath them. The cotton they shed was also a factor in their demise. These 60-foot bucket booms reached almost to the very top of the trees. It took the crew only a little over a day to complete the job.
Leeds students release butterflies they raised
Leeds first graders recently learned about the four different butterfly stages, as they raised 10 of these beautiful insects from the caterpillar stage, through the chrysalis stage and watched them transform into beautiful painted lady monarchs. Samara Blegen holds a butterfly.
Blayne Anderson holds a dandelion with a newly released butterfly.
The butterflies were so tame, they didn’t show much interest in flying away. John Fischer is shown with one of the newly released butterflies.
Students released the butterflies on a beautiful spring day. Kearyn Nelsen enjoys the butterflies.
Car goes in lake
A car with Texas plates driven by David Garcia ended up in Devils Lake April 17 about 1:30 a.m. Garcia missed a stop sign at the intersection of ND 20 and ND 57 and plunged into the water. Garcia and a passenger managed to get out of the vehicle and both were unharmed. This photo shows the vehicle being recovered the next day. (Photo by Deb Pierson, Minnewaukan)
Some pothole!
The Easter storm resulted in a great deal of damage to roads which were already saturated with moisture. A culvert went out at this location in Aurora Towsnhip. Similar situations were evident throughout the county. (Photo by Deb Pierson, Minnewaukan)
Senior tea held
On Sunday, May 2 the girls of the Minnewaukan graduating class of 2010 were guests of honor at the traditional GFWC Timely Topics Senior Tea. The future graduates were entertained by Debbie Dyste and her music students: Chelsea Rallo, Errin Ambers and Miriah Thompson. The girls introduced their family members in attendance and told those present of their school activities and future plans. To honor the graduates, inspirational messages were read by club members and a lunch of fresh fruit, tea sandwiches, sweets, punch and coffee was served. Left to right are Kylee Rallo and her mother, Cindy Rallo; Emily Swenson; Amanda Sherman, Shayna Sherman’s aunt with Talon IronHawk, Shayna’s cousin and graduates Shayna Sherman and Tanya TwoHearts and Becky TwoHearts, Tanya’s mother. Not pictured but present was Elaine Ross, Shayna Sherman’s grandmother. The two graduates who were not able to attend were Toni Lohnes and Brittany Reyes.
Bison in the drink
Although the excess moisture in this area makes it handy to get a drink, this bison could be saying "Enough is enough!" (Photo by Deb Pierson, Minnewaukan)
Waves carve road
These photos by Deb Pierson of Minnewaukan show the damage done to the shoulders of ND 19 by high winds last week. The waves carved out canyons in the roadway near the Foss Bridge on Mauvais Coulee.
Playing at Opera House in NR"
A Don’t Hug Me County Fair" is running weekends through May 23 at the Opera House in New Rockford. The sequel in the "Don’t Hug Me" series, it is a roller coaster ride of rollicking regional humor, funny original songs and a strong story line. The cast of the show brings the story to life with a touching and humorous look at life in little Bunyan Bay, Minn. Lynnae Lies returns as Clara, the role she played in the two previous "Don’t Hug Me" plays. Jess Roscoe gives a bubbly and memorable performance as Bernice, while newcomers to the stage, Austin Langley and Kaleb Edmonson, bring new life and laughter to the roles of Kanute and Aarvid. Also, Peter Foss returns to the Opera House stage, taking the role of Gunner to a new level of hilarity. Left to right are Austin Langley, Jess Roscoe, Kaleb Edmunson, Lynnae Lies and Peter Foss. Tickets are available online at www.dprca.com.
Active Women donate
The Active Women of Maddock recently presented a check to Rachel Markestad, left, Maddock School vocal music teacher, in the amount of $3,000 for the repair of the school auditorium floor. The check represents a portion of the funds raised during the production of "A Homespun Christmas," written and directed by Markestad, which was performed in December. In addition to the $3,000 check, a pair of wireless microphones was purchased by the group with proceeds from the production. A few of the Active Women are pictured. Left to right, back row, are Robin Rosendahl, Jennifer Benson and Joann Bergrud. Front row: Rachel Markestad, Paula Duren (rear), Mary Jones (front), Kaaren Duren and Jennifer Hagen.
Greenhands receive pins
Ten freshman members of the Maddock A.S. Gibbens FFA Chapter received their greenhand pins at the annual Greenhand Ceremony. The greenhand degree is the degree bestowed on freshman agricultural education students. The Maddock Chapter officers, headed by President Preston Gilderhus, conducted the ceremony for the students. Katie Rice recited the FFA Creed at the ceremony. Katie was the district winner in the Greenhand Creed Contest and will participate in the State FFA Creed CDE Contest at the State FFA Convention to be held in June.
Pictured with President Preston Gilderhus are greenhands who received their pins. Left to right are, front row, Sara Schwanke, Katherine Sears, Katie Rice, Jessica Johnson and Marty Kueffler. Back row: Jaden Kallenbach, Clark Doornbos, Preston Gilderhus, Chelsey Weigler, Erik Broten and Andrew Pranke.
