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Visiting Friends In Madison, Wisconsin

May 1, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

The capital of Wisconsin, Madison, sits west of Minneapolis, with the capital building right between two lakes. During Fabgrandpa and my nearly 13 years of travel in an RV, we never made it up there. We did, however, meet quite a few people from Wisconsin, and have been thinking of visiting a couple of them sometime. Because we have friends living there, I was researching thing to do in the area, just in case this is the year we go. Here are some of the things I found that would be of interest to me in the Madison, Wisconsin area.

Cave of the Mounds. While I am not a spelunker, I do love caves. I am always amazed at the graceful formations found underground, formed by millions of years of water dripping.

Cave of the Mounds National Natural Landmark is celebrating 78 years since the Cave opened for tours. Since then Cave of the Mounds has become the premier cave in the upper Midwest and the jewel box of America’s major show caves. Guided tours of this geologic wonder follow paved, lighted walkways departing regularly every day of the year.

After a cave tour, you can dig for fossils, mine for gems, hike a trail, stroll through the gardens, have a picnic, or shop in the gift shop. I would love to go there.

BiPlane Rides of America. Want to see the city from above? Catch a ride on a restored 1929 biplane. A 15 minute flight is a great experience and offers a nice taste of the open flying cockpit adventure while viewing the beautiful local sights of Middleton and the surrounding area. This flight is $80 per person (fare based on a minimum of 2 passengers and may cost more for a single passenger). Check out their website for more information.

Capital City Food Tours. OMG! Yes. I love to try out the local eateries where ever we go, so this tour would be on my list for sure. Right now they are offering two tours. The Capital City Tour is a stroll around the capital square while learning about the history and architecture of Madison, and sampling local dishes at several restaurants. My kind of tour for sure!. The second tour is the Fifth Quarter Tour, which is one of the most historic neighborhoods in Madison.

Mukwonago Red Brick Museum. If you like to explore Native American history, this museum located in the heart of downtown Mukwonago, Wisconsin was first established in 1967. The Red Brick House was purchased with funds left by Mr. Arthur Grutzmacher. Built in 1842 by original Mukwonago settler Sewall Andrews, the home has been restored to a lovely Victorian house, reminiscent of the post-Civil War period. The Grutzmacher museum, one of two museums in the house, has a room devoted to local Native American artifacts such as clothing, furs, beads, pottery, arrowheads, weapons and other items. It would definitely be worth the short drive from Madison to see.

What kind of tours do you like to go on? Would you rather go to a food tour or a ghost tour? For me, it would definitely be a food tour.

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Five Best Places To Visit In Pennsylvania

April 30, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

With the countdown to the last school bell of the year, it’s time to get busy planning the family summer vacation. This year, I am thinking so much about going to Pennsylvania. Fabgrandpa and I worked at a campground in Gettysburg for 11 months back in 2007. It was a beautiful location, drenched in the history of the United States Civil War. The barn on the grounds of the campground where we worked was used as a hospital during that war, and was said to be haunted! I’m not much of a fan of ghostly apparitions, so I didn’t go near that barn at night! I did, however, go on a tour of the battlegrounds in and around Gettysburg during the day. It was an awesome tour. It was also sad that so many men on both sides of the battle died.

Here are my picks for the Five Best Places to Visit In Pennsylvania:

Number one on my list is, of course, Gettysburg. There is so much to see and do there that it would seem impossible to see it all in just a one week vacation. In addition to the Battlefield Tours, there are ghost tours, museums, camping, and farm stands down every country road. We bought fruit in season all spring and summer. Apples, cherries, berries, apricots, and more were so fresh and juicy! Drive out to the Round Barn if you get a chance! It is a great look at a piece of unique architecture. The Land of Little Horses is fun and entertaining for the whole family.

Number two: Philadelphia, home of the Liberty Bell, and the Betsy Ross House. There is so much of American’s history that took place in Philadelphia. While I am not a huge huge history fan, seeing the places where our country was born gives me goosebumps. To know that George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and countless others walked the streets of this town makes me want to go see it.

Number three: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburg. These gardens are so beautiful!

Yes, I am a fan of flowers. These are gorgeous. There is so much to do here, not just look at the flowers. Take a class, see the Butterfly Forrest, take in a Flower Show, take in a concert. Just go. Their website is crammed with things to do.

Number four: Hersheypark. What could go wrong with visiting a place named after chocolate? There are tons of rides, a water park, arcade games, many places to eat from snack stands to full service dining, and even food trucks! Let’s go right now! Oh, and if you are disabled, like me, got to guest services to enroll in the Ride Accessibility Program. You’ll get a special wristband to help park employees recognize that you have enrolled, and may need extra assistance with rides. Check out all the gluten free places to eat there too!

Number five: Great Wolf Lodge, Pocono Mountains. Great Wolf lodge is a family resort, located in Scotrun, Pa. It has an indoor water park with activities for everyone. There are character appearances; morning activities; story time; pajama parties, and more. Older kids will love the putt putt golf, Howlers Peak Ropes course, and the Northern Lights Arcade. Mom and Dad can take advantage of the fitness center and the spa. There truly is something for everyone at Great Wolf Lodge.

If you are planning a driving vacation this summer, have your car checked out at your local dealer before you go. Get the oil changed, fill up the windshield wiper fluid, have the breaks checked, and tires rotated. Being safe should be the first thing on everyone’s vacation planning list. What places do you want to see on your vacation this year?

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My Wish List For Visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

April 30, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again where I start getting itchy feet. I want to go places and see things and eat new foods. I want to explore new areas and just have a good time, traveling. It really doesn’t matter where. I just want to go. I have been looking at things to do in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this week. It’s mostly because I have never been there before.

Fabgrandpa and I spent 11 months working in ‘Gettysburg several years ago. The countryside was amazing–I don’t know why but I always thought of Pennsylvania as being ultra urban. It turns out that a lot of the state is rural, with rolling hills, giving way to mountains. It is a beautiful state to visit. We went to several cities close to Gettysburg, like Chambersburg, Hanover, York, and Lancaster. We never got to Philadelphia, though.

Some of the things I would like to see in the Philadelphia area are, of course, The Liberty Bell. Once I have seen that, I would head over to the Betsy Ross House. You know Miss Betsy was the woman who sewed up the first American flag, the Stars and Stripes. I feel a little connection to her because I do a bit of sewing myself. She must have been so proud to have been chosen to make that flag!

After seeing those two things, it would be a toss up of whether to go to the Rodin Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, or the Museum of American Revolution. It would certainly depend on whether or not it was a hot day because the zoo would be outside. If it was raining, I would probably choose to go to the Museum of American Revolution. It might also be fun to go on the Franklin Footsteps Walking Tour. Getting a glimpse of the life of Benjamin Franklin would be really neat, I think.

After all of that, I would look for a couple of really good restaurants and try out some of the local food. I’m always in for the food! What would put on your list of things to do in Philadelphia?

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Great Wolf Lodge Tasting Event

April 24, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

Great Wolf Lodge is opening a new resort in Lagrange, Georgia in May of this year. The new 457-suite family resort opening this May in LaGrange will offer eight unique eateries that range from the farm-to-fork elevated dining experience at Barnwood to satisfying sweet cravings with ice cream treats at Ben & Jerry’s. They invited me to come to City Winery in Atlanta on April 5th to taste some of the food that will be on the menu when they open.

Abbey and I at the Great Wolf Lodge Tasting Event.

I was allowed to take a guest, so I invited my adopted granddaughter, Abbey, to go with me. She was so excited to go because this was her first event experience.

The event started out with cocktails and Small Bites. There were lots of choices on the table: Cheese & Charcuterie; Pretzels with stone ground mustard and beer cheese; Pimento Cheese with Lodge Pickles and crackers; Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli and Micro Greens; and Mini Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits with Pepper Jam and Lodge-made Pickles. Everything was so good, but those Crab Cakes were absolutely delicious. I would go to Great Wolf Lodge just so I could order them!

The tables set up at City Winery for the event.

After the social hour where we met several other bloggers and magazine reporters, we found our seats. Each place at the table was set with name cards indicating where we would sit. I had Abbey to my right, a fashion blogger on my left, and representatives of The Good Life Magazine and Atlanta Magazine across the table. It was quite an interesting mix of folks making for great conversation. Before the food was served, we were introduced to Jason, the Communications Manager for Great Wolf Lodge, and Chef John Suley, the VP of Food & Beverage.

great wolf lodge — Introducing members of management from Great Wolf Lodge.

After the introductions, the first course that was served was Fried Green Tomatoes. I am not normally a fan of this traditionally southern food, but I tried these and they were really good. They had just the right amount of crunch, and were not too tart, which is why I don’t normally like them. I would order them if I went to Great Wolf Lodge. They were served with a Cajun Buttermilk dressing. Oh, and everything on the menu for the evening was gluten free except for the Mini Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits, and the corn that was served later on.

great wolf lodge menu — Fried Green Tomatoes with Cajun Buttermilk

Another thing on the menu that surprised me was the Roasted Golden Beets , with lodge-made Ricotta, Arugula, and white Balsamic. I don’t eat beets, ever, because they taste like dirt to me. However, I told myself that I would taste everything that was served. Chef Suley prepared this beet dish to perfection. I liked it and wanted more! That is a good thing! I did not get a picture of it. It was a very pretty dish of food, too.

I also did not get a picture of the Braised BBQ Short Ribs with Creamed Corn and Crispy Shallots. These short ribs were so tender! The Crispy Shallots made an excellent accompaniment. Mushroom Risotto with Mascarpone and Fresh Thyme was a creamy rice dish. I loved it!

Great Wolf Lodge eats — Mushroom Risotto with Mascarpone and Fresh Thyme

When we were first seated at the table and looking over the menu cards, I heard someone at our table remark “Let’s see how this Yankee Chef handles the Shrimp and Grits”. Well, I’m telling you he did a wonderful job. The Shrimp & Grits with Andouille Sausage and Roasted Jalapeño Cream were the highlight of the menu for me. Out of this world delicious!

Great Wold Lodge Eats — Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage and Roasted Jalapeno Cream

As if the Shrimp & Grits weren’t the best thing served yet, it seemed that Chef Suley kept the best for last. The New York Strip Steak with Grilled Vegetables and Compound Butter was melt in your mouth tender and so, so good! I wasn’t able to get a good photo of it, but if you like your steak medium rare, it was cooked just right. I don’t think I have ever had a steak that was so good. The vegetables served along with the steak were very good, too. So far, everything that was served was really good. With eight restaurants in which to dine at the Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, Georgia, and food this good, you could spend a week there and not taste all of the wonderful food!

The last thing served, of course, was dessert. Banana Pudding and S’Mores Sundaes were cleverly dished up in mason jars. They looked so good, and proved to be delicious.

The Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta in Lagrange, Georgia opens on May 24, 2018. The centerpiece of the resort will be the nearly 100,000 square foot indoor water park. With signature Great Wolf Lodge water rides and attractions including Fort Mackenzie, a multi-level interactive water fort treehouse with a massive tipping bucket, high thrill water slides, a relaxing lazy river, a huge wave pool, and several zero depth entry pools and kid water play areas, the new resort will feature water fun for everyone. There is a whole lot more to do there, though. To learn more about Great Wolf Lodge, the activities and attractions, and to make a reservation, visit their website. I haven’t been there yet, but believe me when I say I want to go just so I can enjoy the food!

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Reasons Why Some Simple DIY Maintenance Should Be Left To The Pros

March 31, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

While I have written about simple auto maintenance jobs you can do yourself to save money, there have been a few times in my life where those DIY jobs have backfired on me. And when they backfire, they cost more than double what I would have paid a dealership to do them for me.

For instance, when my son was about 12 years old, I had a Chevrolet Cavalier Station Wagon. It was a really cute, small station wagon, that got very good gas mileage. One time I needed to change a windshield wiper, but my son begged me to let him do it. Although I had never let him do anything other than wash the car, he stated his case that he knew how to do it. So, I gave in, and let him.

My son with his sisters at about the time of the windshield wiper disaster.

Seth got to work, and had the windshield wiper changed in no time. I was so proud of him, and praised him so much for helping me and saving me the money of paying someone to do it for me. The next time I needed to use my windshield wipers, though, they did about three swipes of the windshield and just died. Stopped working altogether. I wound up taking the car to the dealership, where they discovered the OLD windshield wiper, entangled in the windshield wiper motor.

Another time, I needed to have the oil changed in an old car that I owned. I let a friend do it for me. It only cost me the price of the oil and filter, and a six pack of beer. On my way home from the friend’s house, the motor ran hot, and the car stopped running. I had to have a tow truck come and haul it to the dealership to find out what was wrong with it. It turns out, that to reach the oil filter in that particular car, you had to remove the hose to the radiator. (it wasn’t a Chevrolet). When my friend put the car back together after changing the oil, he put the hose on backwards, which allowed the fan to cut through the hose. This car could not be revived. Lesson learned!

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That Time I Would Have Won A Race

March 30, 2018 Karen 3 Comments

Many years ago, when my children were very young, they were members of a BMX Club. The club was sponsored by City Of Powder Springs For Youth. If the parents of the children who were members volunteered to work at the races, then the children received a full Van’s BMX racing uniform, including shoes; and a BMX bicycle. So, you know, of course I had to volunteer. (I wish I had pictures of them in those uniforms!)

Becca around the time of her BMX competition.

There were BMX races every week. The class that my oldest daughter raced in, 6 and Under Powder Puff, had very few entrants. So few, in fact, that on most race days, Becca had no competition. All she had to do was ride her bicycle around the track, cross the finish line, and she received a big first place trophy.

That year, 1980, I had decided to take the kids on a vacation to Florida. There was a race the Sunday that we were supposed to leave, so we went to that first. On this particular day, Becca had her very first race where she had competition, as another little girl showed up. Even at the tender age of 6, she knew this race was different. She pedaled her little heart out and won the race. She was beaming with pride as she came running up to me with her first place trophy that day, saying “Look, Mama! I got first place WITH COMPETITION!”

As soon as the races were over that day, I threw the bicycles in the back of my Chevrolet Impala station wagon, and headed out for Florida. About half way to our destination, I was pulled over by the Georgia State Patrol. As the patrolman walked up to my car, Becca was hanging out of the rear window with her first place trophy. She said in her proudest voice “Look, I won first place with competition!” The patrolman looked at her and said “Yes, Honey, and if your mother had been in a race she would have won first place, too!” I was so embarrassed!

What is your most embarrassing moment?

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Grand Canyon Memory: Point Sublime

March 30, 2018 Karen 2 Comments

If you are a new reader, you may not know that I spent five seasons as a Park Ranger at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I think about that time of my life almost every day. The North Rim is one of those truly spectacular places that I could never get tired of seeing.

One of my favorite memories is of a drive out to Point Sublime. Point Sublime is one of those places that you need a four wheel drive vehicle, like a Jeep, to get to. The road is more like a trail in places, cut through the Kaibab National Forest and the Grand Canyon National Park to provide access for fire crews. More than one visitor has gotten their vehicle stuck in mud or sand while attempting to get to the point.

The drive starts out on the road to the Widforss Trail. After you pass the parking lot at the trail head, it isn’t long until you are driving through a gorgeous, wide open meadow. The day I went out to Point Sublime with my co-workers, there were puffy white clouds in a deep blue sky, over a meadow full of wildflowers. If you are lucky, you may see a herd of buffalo in the meadow.

Standing on the rock fin on the way to Point Sublime

Once you leave the open space of the meadow, the road narrows and winds through the tall pine trees of the forest. After what seemed to be hours on a bumpy road, we came to a huge rock formation that I thought was the point, but was not. We all got out of the vehicles and walked out on the rocks. It was a wonderful view. Soon, though, we were back in the Jeeps and heading further down the road.

It took us about two and a half hours to get out to Point Sublime. That road is really rough–I felt like I had been beat up from bouncing around in my seat. It was well worth the drive, though. Point Sublime is one of those places that not many visitors to the Grand Canyon get to see, simply due to the condition of the road out there. If you find yourself at the North Rim and have access to a four wheel drive vehicle, you really need to go there. The day that Fabgrandpa and I went was one of the highlights of my time at the Grand Canyon.

That’s me sitting on the edge of Point Sublime

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My Time As A Hot Shot Delivery Driver

March 29, 2018 Karen Leave a Comment

After spending twenty years and 31 days working at BellSouth, I accepted a buy out package. Suddenly, I was unemployed. I really had no idea what I was going to do. One day I went to breakfast with my oldest brother, Hank. He spent more than twenty years in the Navy, then became a truck driver. He told me that I needed to learn to drive a truck. I laughed and told him that I had trouble parking my Dodge Ram Pick-up truck, but that if someone would hire me to deliver freight with my truck, I would do it.

I laughed about that conversation for a couple of days. Then, I saw an ad in our local newspaper for someone with a pick up truck to make hot shot deliveries. I decided to call them and get more information about it. The phone call lead to an in person interview and inspection of my truck, and the next day I was making my first delivery!

The first hot shot delivery company I worked for handled food deliveries to restaurants. They either did not order enough of a product, or the product was left off the truck, or for a hundred other reasons, the item they needed was not on hand. It was hard work. I delivered 40 lb. boxes of hamburger patties, 50 lb. boxes of french fries, large boxes of plastic cups. Just about anything a fast food place would need, Fabgrandpa and I delivered it. One time we drove to Oklahoma to deliver two 50 lb. bags of chicken breading to a fried chicken restaurant. They were waiting for us to get there so they could open the store.

We worked with insulated blankets and dry ice to keep frozen things frozen during the hot summer days. I lost twenty pounds that summer. It was fun, though. We never knew where we would be going, or what we would be delivering on any given day. That first hot shot delivery job ended, though, when the boss asked me to go to traffic court for another female driver. We were driving for another company the next day.

What unusual jobs have you had over your lifetime?

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