By Mary Boyle

Brenda Peterson was around 7 years old when her family moved to Port Washington; it was also when she first saw and felt who she now refers to as "the peeps" – spirits, guides, and angels who she sometimes feels around her, and occasionally  actually sees.

"I was always an empath – I feel what other people are feeling – but then it became something more."

When she was a teenager, she was able to shut out the communications for a time; she just wanted to be "normal."  Then, shortly after graduating from Port Washington High School, she developed an intense craving for spiritual knowledge, becoming a Reiki Master, reading books, joining groups, and developing her abilities; however, not many people knew about her skill set since, for most of her adult life, she worked with non-profits and kept her other talents mostly to herself.  Finally, seven years ago, she decided it was time to embrace her gifts as a medium, as well as focusing on her art; in fact, she even found a way to combine the two.

People who knew her from the non-profit world were often shocked when they learned about her career change.  "One guy actually started laughing ​– he thought I was joking," Peterson laughed.  In fact, helping people connect with their loved ones, guide them on their journeys, or even develop their own intuitive abilities is something that Peterson takes quite seriously.  Through her website, clients can register for art classes that help to develop their creativity and intuition, purchase Peterson's art, or book an intuitive reading, reiki session or a mentorship session, among other opportunities. 

"I love to feel that curiosity building in clients," Peterson shared, "That's my favorite; when I feel the heart and spirit open; when they feel the love they didn't know was there."  

Peterson hadn't planned on writing a book about her experiences as an intuitive but, during the pandemic, she sat down and began to write, and the words just poured out of her.  The book, Marvelous Mystical Messages, brings attention to all of the different ways "the peeps" communicate, which often depends on who the message is for.  "They communicate how you would know them," Peterson explained, meaning that they use language or images that mean something to the person the message is intended for, but it may not make any sense to Peterson or anyone else.  Sometimes the message feels like her conscience talking, but sometimes they communicate in pictures that appear in her mind.  Interestingly, they never seem to use names.  

People have been coming to Peterson for the past six years, during transitions in life when they need help getting balanced, or often after the death of a loved one.  Peterson feels that regular visits with a medium are very heathy.  "We get facials and massages, but what are we doing for our spirit?" she asks.  Peterson considers herself a very spiritual person, but not a religious person; however, if she had a religion, it would be love.  

In telling the stories of the people she has delivered messages to, Peterson hopes to open readers up to the possibility that they may be able to develop the same gift or, if nothing else, to bring them to the realization that they are not alone; that there are loved ones, guides and angels looking after them and that they can learn to notice the signs of their presence if they are willing to.  

There are several upcoming events as part of the book launch for Marvelous Mystical Messages, including an Intuitive Reading and Book Signing at Eclectic Avenue in Port Washington on October 20th, a Book Signing at Art of Joy in Cedarburg on October 29th, and an Intuitive Reading and Book Signing at Village Point Commons in Grafton on October 30th.  Peterson is a participating artist on the Studio Art Tour, where her book will also be available, and her art can be found at the Grafton Arts Mill Roastery, the Cedarburg Art Museum and Cedarburg Cultural Center, Eclectic Avenue in Port Washington, and Sheboygan Visual Artists and Book Maven in Sheboygan.

Above all, Peterson considers herself a messenger, and the overall message that she brings is love.  "We're all brothers and sisters; we're all made of energy," Peterson said.  "Once people leave this place, there are no issues, they're pure love."

To learn more about Brenda Peterson, go to: https://brendapetersonllc.com/​

Fall is here, and that means it's time to get your pumpkins and apples!  Luckily, finding a humble pumpkin patch, or a sweet-smelling orchard in Oz is not too difficult a task.

One of the best ways is to let the farmers come to you at one of the area's Farmers Markets: Port Washington and Cedarburg on Saturday, Saukville on Sunday and Thiensville on Tuesday.  Of course, if you're looking for a farm to visit, we have plenty of those, too:

Cedarburg Creek Farm has just about every pumpkin hunting experience you could hope for: a kid's straw bale, a corn maze, and much more fall fun, close to home. Add in no admission fees and FREE Hay Wagon Rides, and they are THE place for affordable family fun.  Cedar Creek Farm is located at 649 Hwy. 60 in Cedarburg and opens for the season on September 17th.

Appleland in Fredonia has apples, of course, and a stunning variety of them, at that, but they also have pumpkins to pick or already picked, and an assortment of jams, bakery, caramel apples, cider, and more in their market store.  Free wagon rides on the weekends.  Appleland is located at 4177 Highway 57 in Fredonia.

Buechler Farms offers a fun family fall experience on the weekends, beginning September 30th with their three day Fall Festival, which coincides with more events celebrating Belgium's Centennial, including a Water Lantern Release, and more.  The farm is located at 587 South Royal Ave in Belgium.   Regular pumpkin season will continue every weekend in October.

Creekside Valley Farm opens for their season on Saturday, September 17th, with a pumpkin patch, hay maze, petting zoo, fall decor, pedal tractors, and more.  Find them at 13101 N Wauwatosa in Mequon, open daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Nieman Markets, located at 14335 N. Wauwatosa Rd. in Mequon, has apple picking, a corn maze, pumpkins, a petting zoo, a market, and more.  

Barthel's Fruit Farm is synonymous with apple picking.   Located at 12246 N Farmdale Rd. in Mequon, the barn has plenty of already picked pumpkins and gourds, or you can go to the field to pick your own.   Barthel's apples are also available at Outpost in Mequon.  Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily, Barthel's offers homemade bakery as well as a Beer Garden (weather permitting) from noon-6 Fridays through Sundays.

If you're willing to venture a bit out of Oz, there are a few places worth the trip:

Spieker's Pumpkin Farm in Random Lake features a massive corn maze, hay rides, and an incredible variety of pumpkins and gourds, as well as a petting zoo, and more.  Find it at N1181 Hwy. 57 in Random Lake.

Meadowbrook Pumpkin Farm and Market in West Bend has quite the exotic petting zoo, and a haunted corn field, a totally unstaged and hair-raising adventure through 8 plus creepy houses and 3/4 miles of narrow trails in tall, dense corn, on narrow confined trails.  Not exactly family fun with young children, but possibly a great outing with your teenagers or adult friends.  Find Meadowbrook at  2970 Mile View Road in West Bend.

​Happy picking!!