cherylk

A trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba is not complete without a visit to Assiniboine Park.  It's a wonderful attraction and it's open 365 days a year!  There's the zoo, a sculpture garden, an exotic horticultural collection from around the world in the conservatory.  And there's a Nature and Adventure Playground! Pavillion Gallery Museum One of the most interesting attractions is the Pavillion Gallery Museum .  It's a beautiful art gallery on it's own but the most fascinating story told... Read Full Story

We returned from Kansas on Monday and, with two weeks until we leave for Washington, I was confident that I could accomplish much.  As they say, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray" (Burns).  I've been fighting a head cold since Wednesday which has put a damper on my plans to catch up on everything from sewing projects to trying new recipes, to writing and reading. You might remember that I traveled with three friends to Winnipeg, Manitoba in September 2011.  It's a... Read Full Story

We're still in Kansas and we are having an excellent visit!  The children are in school during the week so MJ and Jack and I have completed several little projects around the house; we've made cookie dough for the freezer; we've explored a variety of thrift shops and we've taken a field trip or two. This is "Pioneer Mother", a statue in Penn Valley Park.  After spending the better part of two days at the wonderful World War I Museum at the Liberty Memorial, we stopped by this Kansas City... Read Full Story

I'm in the middle of a blogging intermission.  Does that even make sense? We've been in Kansas for about a week, now, and I'm thinking that I should post SOME thing, for goodness sake!  We have plans to do some "touristy" stuff but the weather has been cold and windy. Quite frankly, I'd rather stay indoors!   The forecast looks promising next week so that will be the time to go out and about. J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain First and foremost on our list is a visit to  The Country... Read Full Story

My brother-in-law buys a puzzle for my sister every Christmas.  I've always enjoyed working on their current puzzle whenever we're visiting the Pacific Northwest. I thought it would be a great little extra gift for Jack so I purchased one, this year, thinking that we could work on it together during the long cold winter.  I could just imagine us, heads together, bent over the table mulling over this piece and that.  It would be a fun! Well.....so far Jack has wandered by and glanced at... Read Full Story

This is one of my favorite quotes and I've shared it as a Christmas post in the past. But it will work well as my wishlist for the New Year. If I substitute "my" for "your" it makes an excellent personal pledge for 2012. So...in 2012 I pledge to give... "To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.” ~Oren Arnold, Writer and Newspaper Publisher At... Read Full Story

This is a Christmas wish.  But it's also a wish to all of my friends and loved ones who celebrate other spiritual holidays this time of year whether it's Hanukkah, Kwanza, Las Posadas, Ishura, or any one of a  number of religious days celebrated in December, each year. This is a joyous and loving season whatever your beliefs.  I think Happy Holidays is a lovely greeting.  If someone wishes me Happy Holidays, I'm honored.  Especially those I meet while shopping or simply walking down the... Read Full Story

We've had the tree decorated for about a week, now, and as we were hanging the ornaments I remarked to Jack how much fun it is to remember where we got each one. We don't have a fancy tree.  The ornaments have been collected over the years as we've traveled here and there.  The children all had personal ornaments, too, but they have those, now. So I'll share a few that have special meaning to us. Lollipop and Bear These two were crafted by one of my best friends when we lived... Read Full Story

This was in our morning newspaper and it took me aback because when our children were little we said that there was a big television at the North Pole and Santa Claus could tune into any house in the world to see if the children were being good or not. Only recently have I realized that was probably a terrible thing to tell them!  Luckily, they're all grown up and fairly well adjusted!  :-) I had to chuckle at a conversation our daughter-in-law had with the five year old twins a few... Read Full Story

I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to purge files.  Mostly photographs.  It's been a nightmare but I'm making progress, I think.  Fingers crossed. I ran across this photograph of a sign at a truck stop somewhere in Iowa, I think.   I don't remember where or when.  It's hard to believe that anyone takes them up on this challenge but I'll be they do get takers. A Trucker's Breakfast? Seriously?  9 pounds of food for one meal?  A dozen eggs?  A pound of cheese?.....and the... Read Full Story