More from Where We’ve Been
Postcard Jar Friends Group Cruise on Celebrity Reflection (Part 1)
Our first Postcard Jar Friends Group Cruise on the Celebrity Reflection was such a blast! Here are a few highlights from our inaugural group cruise to the Eastern Caribbean with Celebrity Cruises. Arriving in Fort Lauderdale All 58 sailors in our group arrived in Fort...
70+ things to do in Pawhuska after you’ve eaten at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Searching for things to do in Pawhuska, Oklahoma? Look no further. You've come to the right place. We're Steve and Ann Teget. In 2017, we stopped in Pawhuska for lunch at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. We were intrigued by this unique place and a year later, we bought...
10 things to do in Clear Lake, Iowa, in the off season
As we've traveled, we’ve discovered quite a few tips and tricks along the way. One of them is (if you have the flexibility) to travel to popular places in the off season. This fall, at the end of the busy tourist season, we had a chance to visit Clear Lake, Iowa, on a...
Memorial Stadium tours at Nebraska in Lincoln
Memorial Stadium tours at Nebraska are available to the public free of charge. Here's what to expect when you tour Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. To book a free experience, you just need to register online to reserve a spot. Our first official tour of Nebraska's...
12 tips for The Pioneer Woman lodge tours
The Pioneer Woman lodge tours are a must-do when you visit Pawhuska, Okla. Ree Drummond and her husband, Ladd, generously open up their Oklahoma lodge on Drummond Ranch to visitors. You can drive 18 miles into the country to tour the lodge, which serves as a guest...
Downton Abbey The Exhibition photo gallery
Downton Abbey The Exhibition took us inside the Crawley family estate and down the steps to the servants quarters. In early 2019, we were invited to visit Downton Abbey The Exhibition in Rosemary Square in West Palm Beach, Fla. Huge Downton Abbey fans, we took our...
Things to do in wonderful Wahpeton, North Dakota
Admittedly, we didn’t expect we’d find many things to do in Wahpeton, North Dakota. It’s a small town in the southeast part of the state with a population of 8,000. It is perhaps best known as home to the World’s Largest (fiber glass) Catfish called “Wahpper.” But...
Why you need to plan for vacation in the Midwest
Did you know that people who plan for vacation are happier? In general those who plan for vacation are happier with everything from their personal relationships to their work/life balance, health, well-being and their job. It’s true. [gallery columns="2" size="large"...
Things to do in Jamestown, North Dakota
There are so many interactive things to do in Jamestown, North Dakota, that we didn’t want to leave. Trust us when we say that you’ll want to discover Jamestown on your next summer vacation. Located between Fargo and Bismarck on Interstate 94, Jamestown has a perfect...
9 ways The Raphael Hotel in Kansas City helps you relax and unwind
When you're ready to relax and unwind, the historic Raphael Hotel in Kansas City is the ideal place for a getaway. A sophisticated boutique hotel, it's just steps away from Kansas City's premier retail center, Country Club Plaza. Whether you're planning a couple's...
Why you should hike the Prairie Earth Trail near Pawhuska, Oklahoma
The Prairie Earth Trail system was a pleasant surprise that we found less than 20 miles from our home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The day after Christmas we found ourselves with a combination of free time and gorgeous weather. It was the kind of day that was so beautiful...
Barbecue to Boba drinks: The best places to eat and drink in Kansas City, Kansas
A few weeks ago, we put on our stretchy pants and in a span of about 40 hours, sampled food and drinks from 20 different places to eat in Kansas City, Kansas. Yes, we ate a good amount barbecue - a local tradition and favorite. But we also tasted foods and beverages...
Why fans of “The Music Man” need to visit Mason City, Iowa
If you're a fan of "The Music Man" like I am, you are beside-yourself-excited at the thought of seeing Hugh Jackman bring Harold Hill back to life on Broadway in 2020. But before you head to the Big Apple to see the show, you should first visit Mason City, Iowa, where...
12 touches that make The Pioneer Woman’s Boarding House one of the best boutique hotels in America
The Pioneer Woman's Boarding House in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is booked solid and with good reason. It’s full of extra touches that make the eight-room boutique hotel one of the best in America. 1. Friendly staff Let’s face it, the open, welcoming, charming folks of...
Swim with whale sharks and other tips for your visit to the Georgia Aquarium
Founder of Home Depot Bernie Marcus and his wife Billi added depth to the phrase, “improving home improvement” when they gave $250 million to help create the Georgia Aquarium in 2005. Now, animals that would have perished in the wild live alongside others born in...
Surprise yourself with a vacation to legendary North Dakota
When we told people we were going on a 14-day road trip to “legendary” North Dakota, we got one of two responses: a blank stare, or a polite, "Why?" In all honesty, there was only one reason: We’d agreed to speak at a conference and that conference was in North...
Tillamook Creamery, because ice cream and cheese
I love ice cream. And I love cheese. When Ann and I realized our trip along the Oregon coast would take us through a town named Tillamook, we wondered if God loved us so much that he put the factory of our favorite cheese right in our path. It turns out, He did! Of...
Seven tips for your visit to the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida
The Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, Florida, is one of my all-time, favorite travel destinations. It has been since I was a kid. As you may or may not know, my family has had a home in the Florida Keys for as long as I can remember. My grandparents built it long...
20 Things to do in Kearney, Nebraska while you wait on the cranes
Sitting in the blind you're amazed at the noise coming from the river. The cranes get louder and more frenzied, reaching a crescendo you simply weren't expecting. Suddenly, tens of thousands of huge birds take to the air, wings flapping, the squeaking even louder now....
My return to Greenville, Mississippi, where I became a teacher
I called Greenville, Mississippi, home for six years, spending the formative years of my adult life in that historic city on the banks of the Mississippi River. My path there was simple. I had just graduated college with degrees in Spanish and anthropology and had no...
See what we learned (and drank) at Rock Town Distillery in Little Rock
Truth be told, I hadn't planned to do any day drinking when we rolled into Little Rock, Arkansas. But the federal government shutdown had shuttered the Clinton Library that we'd intended to visit so what's a boy to do? We needed a backup plan fast and happily...
Exploring Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas
When my mom told us we needed to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, I have to admit, Steve and I both felt a little skeptical. It was a museum we didn't know much about, nestled in a wooded area in a smaller city in northwest...
8 tips for your visit to The Walmart Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas
There are a few things you should know before you visit The Walmart Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas. When we road tripped across the South recently, Bentonville was the first stop on our 5,000-mile journey. We'd never been there, but knew that it was the birthplace of...
Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Coast in Gulf Shores
We celebrated a lovely New Year's Eve at Coast Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama this year. It was a great place to stop and spend the holiday while traveling from our home in Oklahoma to Florida for a cruise. The nice folks at The Beach Club Resort & Spa offered...
Postcard Jar’s Top 10 travel experiences of 2018
For us, travel is all about the experiences. Here’s a look back at our some of our most memorable travel-related experiences of 2018 (in no particular order). 1. Touring Italy Our tour of Italy was simply unforgettable! Deb from Italy Unfiltered and her husband,...
15 photo-worthy stops in Grinnell, Iowa
Grinnell, Iowa, is an active and artsy college town. It's also one of the most picturesque places we discovered on our weeklong road trip through the Hawkeye state. Whether you're returning for a class reunion, enjoying a weekend getaway, or simply passing through, be...
A unique wine tasting in the woods and our stay near Montepulciano, Italy
When we went wine tasting in Tuscany (can I just interject that I've dreamt about saying those words for quite some time) I had no idea what to expect from our visit to the town of Montepulciano, other than we would likely be tasting Vino Nobile, the typical wine of...
Five tips for wine tasting in Tuscany
I’ve done wine tastings before. You pull into a winery, hear all about their wonderful product while sampling a flight of four to five wines poured out in small, two-sip portions 10 seconds apart, decide whether to buy, and then head out the door. So, when we set out...
Our incredible private tour and cooking class in Chianti with Italy Unfiltered
After spending a day on our own exploring beautiful Siena, Italy, our hosts Deb of Italy Unfiltered and her husband Massi the Driver picked us up at our hotel and we began our complimentary tour of Italian food, wine, and culture in the Chianti Region. As we got in...
How I fell into a Tuscan food coma – Part 2
This is Part 2 about our complimentary delicious Tuscan food tour with American, Deb, of Italy Unfiltered, and her Italian husband, Massi the Driver. To read Part 1, click HERE. Time to walk off some of that delicious Tuscan food We left the bakery, simultaneously...
How I fell into a Tuscan food coma – Part 1
I intended to write this post about our incredible first day with hosts Deb and Massi yesterday, but I accidentally slipped into a Tuscan food coma. In all fairness, it isn't my fault. I mean, they took us on a foodie tour of Siena, and it was a grueling delicious...
Our first day in Rome, Italy, was quite an adventure. But who cares? We had wine.
Caio from Rome, Italy! We made it and Rome and intentionally did not pre-plan much of our first day in Italy. We tried that a couple of years ago but a mechanical issue caused our flight out of Omaha to be canceled and we lost money on pre-purchased tickets for a...
Places to stay in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, home of The Pioneer Woman
Yes, we've slept around Pawhuska, Oklahoma. All around. When Ann and I were married, we took vows to forsake all others and be faithful to one another. But we're not too shy to admit we enjoyed sleeping around Pawhuska. Now don't get too excited. It was just the two...
10 things we love about Kinkaider Brewing Company in Broken Bow, Nebraska
Central Nebraska’s Kinkaider Brewing Company is quickly becoming one of the most popular destination craft breweries in the Midwest. Located at the edge of the rolling Sandhills in Broken Bow, Nebraska, Kinkaider was founded by four small-town Nebraskans, three of...
This Clear Lake, Iowa deli ranks #1 despite only being open 17 1/2 (ish) hours a week
Trip Advisor’s #1-ranked restaurant in Clear Lake, Iowa, is only open 17 and a half(ish) hours a week. Might not seem like the best business model, but the sisters who own and manage Starboard Market have made it work quite well in this quaint Midwest town – for 19...
A very filling agritourism progressive meal from the Plains Safaris conference
I went on my first agritourism progressive meal today. Let me just say, I'm now a big fan. Ann and I are attending the Plains Safaris: A conference on tourism and conservation in the Great Plains in Kearney, Nebraska, this week. When I saw that one of the...
Our Route 66 stop at The Blue Whale of Catoosa near Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sometimes when I travel, something catches my eye and an obsession is born. It usually doesn't take long to convince Ann to go along when I explain what we'll be doing. For instance, one of these obsessive desires took us to Tabacon Hot Springs in Costa Rica where we...
The Pioneer Woman Boarding House hotel in Pawhuska, OK, is stunning!
We were at the right place at the right time this week when we rolled across the windy plains of Oklahoma into the small town of Pawhuska for the seventh time in nine months, excited to see if there was any progress on the Pioneer Woman Boarding House. As you know by...
Wichita, Pawhuska, Tulsa, and Pittsburg: Our road trip through Kansas & Oklahoma
We are on the road again through Kansas and Oklahoma for a variety of reasons. Earlier this week, we headed back to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to look for apartments for our daughter, Meghan. She was recently accepted into the accelerated nursing program at Oklahoma University...
Our swim in Cenote Ik Kil in Mexico
I had no idea what a cenote was before our cruise to Mexico. In fact, I don't even think I'd ever even heard the word. But I signed up to swim in one, anyway, because travel is about adventure, right? After leaving Chichén Itzá, we made a short drive over to Cenote Ik...
Our first wonder of the world: Chichén Itzá
It may surprise you that despite spending most of my career as a public school administrator, I was actually an anthropology major in college. Yes, that's right, I majored in anthropology and am not ashamed to admit that I'm an archaeology geek. I loved the semesters...
What I love most about The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, OK
It's Valentine's Day and that gets me thinking about all the things I love. My incredible family. Our fantastic church. The privilege of blogging about midlife travel. My electric mattress pad warmer. And yes, Edna Mae's pancakes at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. I...
5 things to do in Omaha when it’s freezing
We planned an overnight trip to Omaha recently on what turned out to be one of those bone-chilling cold days we have here in the Midwest. The forecast called for snow showers, 30-mile-an-hour winds, and temperatures dropping to below zero that night. Instead of...
A parade, The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, and Pawhuska at Christmastime
Just after Thanksgiving, I received a text message from the Pawhuska (OK) Chamber of Commerce that said, "Kind of kidding, but if you Steve want to be in Pawhuska the first weekend in December, I have two judging spots left for the parade. We just miss you all!" It...
Yes, Nebraska has a safari and I’m so glad we finally took the time to stop there
No matter where you live, there are likely tourist attractions nearby that you've driven past for years. You have good intentions of visiting, but never actually take the time to stop. At least once a month for more than 16 years, I've driven past a large, green sign...
![70+ things to do in Pawhuska [Part 2] after you’ve eaten at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile](jpg/pawhuska-part-2.jpg)
70+ things to do in Pawhuska [Part 2] after you’ve eaten at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Note: If you have not read #1-35 of the "70+ things to do in Pawhuska after visiting The Pioneer Woman Mercantile," click HERE first. 36. Get a refill on your pop at Handy’s If you’re working your way down this list, by now your cup is dry and you still have many more...
Our moms loved The Pioneer Woman Mercantile but we couldn’t get them on that swinging bridge
Both my mom and my mother-in-law are big fans of Ree Drummond and The Pioneer Woman cooking show on Food Network. We'd been to Ree's new Mercantile store and restaurant in Pawhuska twice this year, and when we returned home from our last trip, we could tell that both...
We brought our moms to Pawhuska!
That's right. It's only been a few weeks since we were in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to judge the National Indian Taco Championships, but we're back in town, this time with our moms, Carol Johnstone and Gayle Teget. Having been to Pawhuska twice already this year, we got the...
The secret to that good Handy’s fountain pop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma
When we agreed to come to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for the National Indian Taco Championship, we asked locals what we should do when we got to town. The first thing anyone told us was to go to Handy's to get a fountain pop because it's really good, and because they, "have...
5 things we learned judging the National Indian Taco Championships in Pawhuska
As you may have heard, earlier this month we were invited to be celebrity judges for the National Indian Taco Championships in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. We'd been invited by the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce to join six others (who had much greater celebrity status than we...
Talking with Johnny and other things we did in Norfolk and Neligh, Nebraska
We'd been on the road for several days, now, and while Valentine marked the turn toward home on our Nebraska adventure with my folks, we were far from done with our trip. We set out from Valentine, our sights set on the Ashfall Fossil Beds, and made it east of town a...
What’s not to love about Valentine?
Valentine, Nebraska is an easy place to love. And not just because of its name, either. When we took our trip around Nebraska this summer with my folks, we knew that one of our stops had to be Valentine. There is just so much to see and do in and around this city of...
How we drove 18 holes at Quarry Oaks Golf Club and didn’t lose a single ball
Yesterday, we drove carts through an entire 18-hole golf course and didn't have to stop once to look for a lost ball. Only because we didn't hit any. Not this time, anyway. This time, we didn't have to tee off once. My sister, Laura, works for a memory care residence...
Don’t judge Nebraska until you’ve gotten off of I-80 and seen the Sandhills
There is nothing quite like getting off the interstate to help you get to know a place better, and nowhere is that more true than Nebraska. Our state has a reputation for being flat and boring because the interstate used by hundreds of thousands of people each year...
Bull whips, the Wild West, and genuine hospitality – North Platte, Neb., has it all
Finally, I got to show my parents that 14-year-old me was right. On the second day of our trip across Nebraska this summer, we woke up at our hotel, mere steps from the place I'd wanted to go when I crossed the state with mom and dad 30 years earlier: Fort Cody...
Trains humping and other fun things we saw on our trip through central Nebraska
Day 1 of our Nebraska trip with Steve's parents began with a stop at The Village Pie Maker in Eustis, Nebraska. After learning the secret to making the best pie ever, we headed north to Cozad where we crossed the 100th Meridian. Having been on Interstate 80 a thousand...
The secret to The Village Pie Maker pies
Note: Since the publication of this post, Village Pie Maker was sold to a new owner, and the pies are now made at a facility near Omaha, Nebraska. We've tried the pies since the sale, and they are just as good now as they were then. I am the first to admit, I am not a...
70+ things to do in Crete, Nebraska
As you have probably noticed, Steve and I are very excited for next week’s total solar eclipse! We are really fortunate that Crete, Nebraska, (where we live) is in the path of totality and because of that, we’re expecting lots of visitors to begin arriving here in the...
Actually, it is rocket science! Our visit to Space Center Houston
Space Center Houston is just what the child inside you wants it to be. As you drive up to the entrance, your view is dominated by a 747 with a space shuttle on its back. I mean, what could be cooler than that? Earlier this summer, we took a week-long road trip south...
More than candlesticks: What we found at Clint Harp’s shop
No Fixer Upper fan's trip to Waco, Texas, would be complete without a stop at carpenter extraordinaire Clint Harp's design company. When we were in Waco last month visit Magnolia Market [read more about that HERE], we took a little jaunt about a mile down the road to...
My attempt at conquering a Vitek’s Gut Pak
When David Ridley of Waco Tours recommended the Gut Pak at Vitek's BBQ, I knew that was where I wanted to go for lunch. Sure, he had a couple other suggestions, but the name piqued my curiosity and after spending two days at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and Magnolia...
Explaining shiplap and shams to my husband at Magnolia Market
I’m still not quite sure how I convinced Steve to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and lodge as well as Magnolia Market within 24 hours, but I did. After spending two days in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where he waited in line almost two hours for a taste of Ree Drummond’s...
Seven things that surprised us about The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s lodge
This post is about our visit to the Drummond family lodge where The Pioneer Woman shows are filmed. If you'd like to read about our tour of the Pioneer Woman Boarding House, click HERE. The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond and her husband, Ladd, have been opening up the...
I like big buns and I cannot lie
Let me cut to the chase. One of the main reasons people visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla., is to eat. Sure, there are colorful serving bowls to admire, plates to purchase, and recipe books to thumb through. But for me (and I suspect many others)...
Six reasons to take your wife to The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
I had my doubts when Ann told me she wanted to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Okla. For me, I couldn't see how this would be time well spent. I envisioned a crowded store with mostly middle-aged women roaming around, oohing and aaahing at spatulas and...
Meg Kane keeps folks in line at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile
Within minutes of arriving at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, a young woman with a cheerful smile and a gift for hospitality greeted us. Her name was Meg Kane. How Meg Kane got her job Meg’s job is to welcome visitors to The Merc and ensure they...
Our visit to The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s Mercantile
About 12 hours after Steve finished his last school board meeting and his ended his career as a middle school principal, we were on the road for a much-needed (and anticipated) vacation. First stop – Pawhuska, Oklahoma to visit The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond's...
Our weekend getaway to Chicago
Sometimes you just gotta go. I know, I know. You'd like to travel more but feel like you never have the time. But trust me, you can pack a lot into a long weekend. Sure, the garage might need cleaning. But let's be honest. It can wait. Would you rather look back on...
Following our hearts to St. Kitts
Two years ago, I had never even heard of St. Kitts. Then, in August 2015, two incredible young men from this small island in the Caribbean stepped into our lives and into our hearts. We met Michael and Josiah their first week in Crete when they came to our church one...
Why we love Valentine, Nebraska
It seems like a fitting time of year to write about a place we love to visit -- Valentine, Nebraska. Meghan and I drove to Valentine for the first time on one of our annual Nebraska road trips when she was in middle school. We went to see Smith Falls, Nebraska's...
Sharing our Postcards from Nebraska
One of the primary goals of our blog is simply to inspire people to travel more. So, when we got a call from a nearby community college asking if we'd be interested in teaching a course on Nebraska travel, we jumped at the opportunity. And so, last night, we found...
Plane spotting at Maho Beach in St. Maarten
I've always loved airplanes and flying, so I was really looking forward to our stop at Maho Beach in St. Maarten. Situated at the end of the runway of St. Maarten's Airport sits Maho Beach, a wonderful spot to take in some rays and bob in the waters of the Caribbean...
Cruising the Caribbean: St. Lucia
I have been to tropical places. I've admired the lush forests and gazed at the blue waters. But nothing could have prepared me for the for sights and sounds above the treetops in St. Lucia. The second port of call on our Caribbean Christmas cruise was this incredible...
Cruising the Caribbean: Barbados
The first stop on our Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Summit was the island nation of Barbados. Twenty one miles long by 14 miles wide, Barbados is home to nearly 300,000 people if there are not ships in town. Our ship was one of about five docked there that day,...
Christmas in the Caribbean: Puerto Rico
I never sleep well the night before we fly out early for vacation. The combination of the excitement for the trip, along with a worry that I will sleep through my alarm and miss the flight, often conspire to give me a short night with lots of waking moments wondering...
A sip of nostalgia in Hastings, Nebraska
Lots of interesting things were invented in our home state of Nebraska. Yes, we're the creators of vise grip locking pliers, frozen TV dinners, collapsable voting booths, and center pivot irrigation. Perhaps our biggest claim to fame, however, is the fruit-flavored,...
Leaving I-80 for a better view
In case you didn't know, I'm usually a get-there-as-quickly-as-we-can kinda guy. So when Ann told me that she and Meghan preferred to avoid the interstate on trips around Nebraska, I felt a little queasy. The thought of trailing long lines of cars and putting along...
A quirky place called Carhenge
When we were in Great Britain last month, our first stop was at iconic Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, where a ring of standing stones is set. Its history and purpose have boggled the minds of archaeologists and visitors for hundreds of...
Fort Cody Trading Post: More than meets the eye
The first time I visited North Platte, Nebraska, I was 14. My family drove there via I-80 to attend the wedding of a close family friend. After almost 30 years, I don't remember too much from that visit, but I do remember being intrigued by the western stockade I saw...
5 interesting facts about Stonehenge
We arrived in London, England, as scheduled and had a lovely drive (thanks Chirton Grange) through the countryside to our first stop -- Stonehenge. It was amazing to see this ancient phenomena in person and learn even more about its history and mystique. We spent...
Nebraska’s Nicest Nine
A couple years ago, Steve and I took off on a 6-day journey to find out for ourselves if our home state lives up to its then new slogan, "Nebraska Nice." We wrote about some of the nicest things we saw -- calling them our 2014 "Nebraska's Nicest Nine." The list was...
Rediscovering Historic Stillwater, MN
For me, Stillwater is one of those places that will always take me back to my childhood and ignite fond memories. Every day I spent there as a child was filled with fun and relaxation. We'd fish off the back deck of my grandparent's houseboat, slowly boat over to a...
A great pit stop for Midwest travelers
A couple of weeks ago we were invited to visit the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed as guests of the museum. Even though it's located in Lincoln, Nebraska, only 30 miles from our home, we'd never heard of it. After just a little more than an hour there, we...
Ray’s Shabby Cottage Furniture
About this time each year, we make the hour and 45-minute drive from our home in Southeast Nebraska to Steve's hometown of Shenandoah, Iowa, to have our taxes done. We typically meet with our CPA in the morning and then check out downtown Shen, stopping for a vanilla...
Our first trip to see the Sandhill Crane migration on the Platte River in Nebraska
As we began to quietly leave the wooden blind from which we'd watched Sandhill Cranes descend onto sandbars in the Platte River at dusk, there was only one thing on my mind. I simply could not get over the fact that I'd spent most of my life living in Nebraska and had...
Wahoo, Nebraska — A Pleasant Surprise
For the last few years, we’ve enjoyed purchasing half a beef from one of Steve’s colleagues who is also a local farmer. This year, they had the beef processed at the meat locker in Wahoo, Nebraska, so we thought we’d make the 55-mile drive from our home in Crete to...
The Joy of Sidewalk Cafes
I have always loved travel. As a Spanish teacher, I thought it important to share my love of travel with my students. So, together with a German teacher colleague from across the hall who shared that belief, we planned a European tour for our students. It was hugely...
Exploring Ancient Roman Ruins
When we stepped out of the car along a roadside overlooking the Roman Forum and ruins, I could hardly believe my eyes. I'd seen pictures of these places in history books, and watched movies like Gladiator that showed these scenes, but nothing quite compared to the...
St. Peter’s Basilica
I'd looked forward to this day since we'd booked our European vacation. I'd been to Rome twenty years ago, so had been to the Vatican, but Ann had not. I'd told her that St. Peter's was something we could not miss on our visit to the Eternal City. I'd been counting...
Roaming Rome
The first stop on our European adventure was Rome. Since we were arriving mid-morning after a 10-hour flight, and because we weren't sure how Ann would be feeling due to her illness, we pre-booked a private car tour to give us an overview of the city until we were...
A memorable European vacation
Last fall, our college-aged daughter, Meghan, shared with us that she was interested in doing a summer study abroad in Spain. Since she is a Spanish major (as was Steve), we thought this was a great opportunity and encouraged her to apply. Once she was accepted and...
Our Inaugural Sine Die Adventure: Chicago
Our first ever Sine Die Adventure was to Chicago in 2012. Our daughter, Meghan, and I planned the trip for Ann and she had no idea where we were going until moments before we boarded our plane. Ann had traveled about 45,000 miles (literally) by car for her job that...
Music for the soul
After my appointments today at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Steve and I spent two hours sitting in the lobby of Mayo’s Gonda Building where we listened to Jane Belau play the grand piano for passersby. We’d seen her play before and enjoyed the music, but today was...
A new view of Key West
I'm one of the lucky ones. My grandparents spent winters in the Florida Keys so I've been to Key West many times. I have seen the drag queen lowered in her giant shoe at midnight on New Year's Eve. I've sipped beers in Sloppy Joe's, Captain Tony's and even the Hog's...
We got trouble. Right here in River City.
I'm talkin bout trouble with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool. Do you know that song? The one about the kids in the knickerbockers, shirt-tail young ones, peekin' in the pool-hall window after school? The first time I heard Steve recite...
Nebraska’s Nicest Nine Recap
Earlier this summer, Steve and I took off on a 6-day journey to find out for ourselves if our home state lives up to its new slogan, "Nebraska Nice." We wrote about some of the nicest things we saw -- calling them our 2014 "Nebraska's Nicest Nine." The list was...
Love me some koh-lah-chee
Cherry is my personal favorite. And it has been since I was a little girl and was first introduced to kolace, usually at the home of my great-grandmother, Olive (Moravek) Rashleigh. She was Czechoslovakian and whenever we got together for family gatherings at her...
A place to come Home2
A fews weeks ago, Steve and I were invited to participate in a reception and hard hat tour of the new Home2 Suites in west Omaha. The Hilton property owners and operators welcomed us (and other area bloggers) to a fantastic wine and cheese reception at the Hilton...
Wilber festival is worth Czeching out.
Polka music, kolaches, and lots and lots of pivo (beer), make the small town of Wilber, Nebraska, the place to be the first weekend in August. Each year, the Czech Capital of the United States hosts thousands of Czechoslovakians (and beer drinkers) for the Wilber...
Inspiring the next step on your journey