Coffee with Emily (refill)

July 16, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

A few months ago, when Coffee with Chloe started, I interviewed Emily. We talked about her natural empathy and inherent desire to help others learn to help themselves. Now, settled into Josiah’s Coffeehouse, Café & Bakery with dark roast coffees and chocolate chip cookies, we’re continuing the conversation. In 2015, Emily graduated from the University […]

Coffee with Vern & Carol

July 5, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

Me, Carol, Vern (repping his signature Vern's Veggies hat) and Jill Bertus at my senior prom. Courtesy of Carol Tolsma.

Heading west past Avon, S.D., you’ll see rows of cucumbers, cabbage, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and more. Shades of green grow across the city block, backed by a large high tunnel greenhouse and bright red barn. Next, you’ll see two more greenhouses, one connected to a small building. Bright colors peek out from the greenhouse windows: […]

Coffee with PK

June 6, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

Lea, PK and me by our 2016 science fair project: Analyzing the Effectiveness of Shade Balls on Evaporation.

Paul Kuhlman aspired to extinguish fires; instead, he found a talent for lighting them. Kuhlman, known to me as ‘PK’ since my first math class with him, wanted to be a fireman – or maybe a garbage man. Instead, he’s spent 26 years teaching math and science classes in Avon, S.D., and igniting students’ passion […]

Twitter Coverage

April 28, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

As part of Janet’s multimedia class, I was required to live tweet at two events. These events provided a look at Burst of Sign. Click on the links to read my coverage! Silent Supper: March 7, 2018. Augustana Deaf Awareness hosted a pizza night in the American Sign Language lab. The first 10 minutes were […]

Coffee with Sophie

April 23, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

“I’m just a narcissist,” Sophie said when I thanked her for doing an interview. She’s wrong. Last fall, Sophie and I were delivering yearbooks and I dropped mine on the pavement, smashing the edge. I was disappointed, but Sophie immediately offered to switch with me. This was a kind gesture from a woman whose name […]

Coffee with Caleb

April 2, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

I held a beautifully wrapped package with a card resting on top. Excitement grew inside me as I stared at my birthday present from Luke and Caleb. I unsealed the card’s envelope and scanned the card. The card said, “Happy Anniversary Birthday, Chole!” I stared at my brothers. “Are you kidding me?” I tossed the […]

Coffee with Lea

March 5, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Lea buys chocolate ice cream, I buy coffee ice cream. She’s a redhead, I’m blonde. She drives a Chevy, I stick to Ford. Her creamer-to-coffee ratio is 5:1, mine is 1:5. She’s Froiland, I’m Humanities. Sixteen years ago, our friendship began. Our friendship grew stronger during high school as we searched for our passions. Lea […]

Coffee with Emily

February 25, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

“Emily, will you play dollhouse with me?” I looked up at my best friend with my bottom lip puckered slightly, hoping for an innocent puppy face. My 13-year-old sister didn’t hesitate. “Of course!” “Emily, can I interview you for my blog?” I asked (sans puppy dog face). My 25-year-old sister didn’t hesitate. “Of course!” So […]

Introduction: Coffee with Chloe

February 20, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

A hazelnut soy latte from Coffea Roasterie.

“What are you passionate about?” Professor Janet Blank-Libra asked. “That’s what you need to blog about.” During the last week as I struggled to decide on a blog theme, I asked my closest friends and family what I am passionate about. Everyone said, “coffee.” Well that’s not a good blog theme, friends. Yet, that’s all […]