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.
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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
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...
Craving “Nothing”
This week there are far more “Sightings” than Satire in Moonberry Lake. The summer crowd has descended like locusts in biblical proportions. It is that time of year when our charming and quaint town triples in population and finding parking on Main Street actually...
The Puckering Pleasure of Rhubarb
Lazy summer afternoons have descended upon Moonberry Lake, which means rhubarb is abundant. People don’t think of it as a fruit and certainly not a vegetable, but a voracious weed that takes over your garden. The mysterious plant that's strong in flavor and sturdy in...
Danish Crunch Bread
“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 Arielle, (Welcome to...
Big, fat, juicy tears…
My friend, the "Southern Belle," whom I've written about before was crying the other day. One of her dearest friends is dying of cancer and she went to say goodbye. As she was sharing her sorrow with me, tears began to fall...
Rhubarb Queen, Colossal Carnivore & Miss Manners
Excerpts are taken from the Moonberry Lake Town Times Newspaper. The morning headlines. Congratulations to Ingrid Soren, the new Moonberry Lake Rhubarb Queen! At the sassy age of 72, she beat out other rhubarb enthusiasts. The contestants were judged on their...
Where Beauty Lies
I learned something about beauty this week. Perhaps I should more accurately say, our “self-perception” of beauty. The image we hold of ourselves is often cruel and distorted. I believe the image others hold of us, may...
French Brioche
“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...