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Treasures from a log cabinTwo local business women created careers from their passions By Barbara Brown For Log Cabin Books owner Judith Kissner, life is just too short to spend your time doing anything other than what you are passionate about. That revelation came to Kissner September 11, after four passenger jets were hijacked. Kissner worked for 17 years as a flight attendant for American Airlines and she thought she really liked what she did. After September 11, she realized that her commute to Chicago, where she was based, was not keeping her as connected with her community and home as she wanted. She worked for three days a week out of Chicago and she began to see that she was spending her life around plane passengers and flight attendants she probably would never see again. Thatís when she asked local antiques dealer Lori Popehn if she could rent the late 19th century log cabin on their property to open a book store. Kissner and Popehn had met seven years ago in a book club. Kissner always had a passion for books, she said. Her mother read to her all the time and she found herself immersed in books regularly as a child. She even has traveled around the United States with a womenís book club to meet authors. After only a minimal amount of convincing by Kissner, Popehn and her husband agreed to let the book store open in the log cabin. The cabin, which dates to around 1890 was on nearby property and had been threatened with razing until the Popehns saved it and moved it on to their property along Stark Road, almost seven miles west of Harris. Somewhere between seven and eleven people once lived in the two room house Kissner has now turned in to a cozy, well-stocked book store. Kissnerís selections touts everything from classic collectible childrenís books to modern cooking and gardening volumes. A feature at the store is an abundant supply of womenís literature including books about women and books written by women. ìLifeís too short to not be doing what you truly think you need to do,î Kissner said. Granted, Kissner said, leaving a steady, secure job after 17 years to start out on your own with no benefits or health insurance is not an easy task, but it has turned out to be one task that makes her happy. Kissnerís husband Mark, an independent remodeling contractor, and she worked for months to get the cabinís roof repaired, loft staircase replaced and build pine shelves to house the nearly 10,000 books she has collected so far. ìI decided I was going to take the jump and have a go at this,î she said. ìItís the best thing Iíve ever done.î Books are not only sold at half or more off the cover price, but Kissner also will buy quality, good condition books from people looking to clean out their own libraries. Families and book clubs are invited to bring picnics during business hours and use the lawn and orchard space in front of the cabin to meet, Kissner said. Kissnerís Log Cabin Books, which opened May 1, is a complement to Popehnís American Dream Antiques and Milkhouse Garden Gear store. While Ralph Popehn owns Wild River Restorations, she is starting her third season as an independent dealer of collectible, unique and antique furniture. Finding the accent piece or conversation piece for the dining room, living room or office is one thing Popehn enjoys helping people with. The furniture in American Dream Antiques is mostly local, coming from auctions and other sales in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Popehn said. Some of the interesting pieces of furniture in the store come with history, like the 1884 Scandinavian kitchen cupboard with a built-in wood box and desk or the 1889 Wisconsin-built corner cupboard made of butternut and accented with hand-carved decoration. Both stores are open May through December seven days a week. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. ©ECM Post Review |