EDITOR'S JOURNAL: July/August 2008

Jodi Schwen
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

1. A good beachcomber has her eyes open—looking for what may be hidden in plain view.
At LCJM, we are always on the lookout for people, places, events, recreation, artists, or wildlife. Since these are often found in our own backyards, we are constantly aware that what’s familiar or commonplace to one person could be new and unique to someone else.

2. A beachcomber turns over a few rocks or a bit of seaweed to discover what lies underneath.
The writers, photographers, and artists we work with continually look for new perspectives to showcase stories or photos. Sonja Larsen’s nature printing provides a closer look at the flora we often call weeds and then presents their hidden beauty in a new format (p. 42).

3. A beachcomber isn’t afraid to get her feet wet or even muddy.
Or, in this case, a little dirty. With their eyes intently framing the perfect shot at the county fair, members of the Focal Point photography club still needed to watch their step when they photographed the animal barns and the midway (p. 52).

4. A beachcomber never knows what she will find.
Some of my favorite treasures weren’t agates or beach glass, but a rock embedded with fossils, a tiny antique doll’s ceramic leg (which led to ponderings about the child who once played with the doll), and an old fishing lure.

Discovering the beauty in the prairies of Minnesota has inspired John Pennoyer to take his photography in new directions (p. 68).

5. A beachcomber can work in solitude or in the company of others.
While it’s sometimes peaceful to have the beach all to myself, I also enjoy the gleeful shouts of my children or grandchildren as they make discoveries of their own.

LAKE COUNTRY JOURNAL MAGAZINE is a team effort. We couldn’t do it without our dedicated readers, talented contributors, and faithful advertisers. Not to mention myriad folks in communities across central and northern Minnesota who open their homes and their hearts to our goal of bringing you the best of what we all love about Lake Country.

At LCJM, we beachcomb year around!
Enjoy!