Moonberry Lake
The place you’ve always longed for.
Stories that invite you home.
Are you looking for A Moment With Martha from her column in the morning newspaper?
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I’m Holly Varni. I’m thrilled to introduce you to the fictional town and world of Moonberry Lake. Tucked away in the beautiful North Woods of Minnesota, Moonberry Lake reminds you of a simpler time, yet the struggles and drama revealed will feel similar to today. You’ll hopefully find something familiar in the quirky characters that speak to you and make you smile.
Moonberry Lake Books
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Listen to the Podcast
Listen to my podcast, Moments from Moonberry Lake. This is where you’ll find all the Moments with Martha! Click one of the titles below to listen to the most recent episodes. Or, click the “More Stories” button below to view all the episodes.
From the Blog
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Recent Articles
The “After” of Breast Cancer: Chick with the silicone chest
This year has been one of growth for me. Not that I was stagnant in a pubescent stage or anything, but there are times in life where difficult circumstances propel you forward a few steps on the evolution of who you are as a person. One of those growth enhancing...
Breath of snow
I imagine it’s a snowy day in Moonberry Lake and the good townsfolk are nestled in their homes trying to stay warm by drinking hot liquids and wearing an extra layer of clothing. The temperature sometimes warms up to above zero, as this winter has broken records as...
Da Vinci’s Golden Cup
Have you heard the story about the golden cup in Leonardo Da Vinci’s, The Last Supper? The enormous painting that measures 15 x 29 feet and covers an entire wall, depicts the evening before Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples. If you don’t know that story...
The Gift of a Griswald Memory
Each of us has certain memories from our childhood that stick more than others. When I think back to the holiday season when I was growing up, the first image that comes to mind are my parents in our front yard putting up lights. It’s an understatement to say that...
Pumpkin Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Moonberry Lake “Bread is the basic sustenance of every culture in the world, and I’m trying to connect with that primal need that we all share. The act of creating and baking bread can be a very meditative act. It centers your spirit in the present moment,” said...
She responded, “I am blessed…”
A dear friend of mine, who is a regular topic of discussion on my blog, is someone I refer to as "Southern Belle". I've written of her charm and syrupy sweetness, her expectation for always being proper (said with a heavy lilt) and down home hospitality that could...
My life as a Hallmark Movie
Boy meets girl. Boy and girl feel a spark but an obstacle stands between them. Boy can't stop thinking about girl. Boy and girl keep running into one another. Boy and girl spend time solving the problem. Boy and girl fall in love and live happily ever after. I am a...
I love you Garrison…
Everyone develops a crush at some point. Mine happens to be more of an obsession. Not to the point where I would stalk this person, but he definitely holds my admiration from a distance. I get excited at the mention of his name. My heart races and I'm filled with a...
Bouquet of sharpened pencils…
"I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils..." Do you remember this line from a famous movie? One of the main characters was talking about autumn and how it made him feel to the other character. He was saying how the fall season made him feel like buying...
Social media: As bad as Crack…(Part 2)
Not addicted to Pinterest? Good for you. But can you say the same thing about Facebook? Think about it. Be honest. Really honest. Come on. How many times a day do you check Facebook for “new stories” posted? Do you...
Pinterest: As bad as Crack…(Part 1)
I admit it. I have a problem. My name is Holly and I am addicted to Pinterest. Just like substance abuse, it typically takes someone close to you to be brutally honest with your change in behavior. In this case, it was...
All about the Boobies…
“Do your boobs hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie ‘em in a knot? Can you tie ‘em in a bow? Can you throw ‘em over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do your boobs hang low?” How important are your breasts to you? Are you attached...