My daughter and I visited the Arabia Steamboat Museum this summer. I’ve lived in the Kansas City area for the bulk of my life, but I had never visited before. The Arabia was a steamboat the sank near Kansas City in 1856. Lots of interesting artifacts to look at and some videos describing the excavation project. It was an interesting visit.

Kauffman Gardens, near the Plaza in Kansas City, is a little-known gem. It is lovely in spring and summer, but even in autumn the gardens are blooming. I was there last week, and the chrysanthemums put on quite a show. There were a few dahlias still hanging around, but mostly there were chrysanthemums. I am partial to chrysanthemums because I was married in November, and my wedding featured a lot of gold and yellow chrysanthemums.

The Queen Rides in my car and waves to to anyone noticing. She makes me smile. How about you? Out and About

Recently, my daughter and I saw this beautiful tree, one of the first to turn, on an afternoon walk around our neighborhood.

I recently traveled to Napa Valley where I held a $4000 bottle of wine! No sipping. Just holding.

This past weekend, my husband and I took some time to stay at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City, Nebraska. While we were there, we drove into Omaha. We saw the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens, then stopped by the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge at a National Park Service site. We didn’t walk the bridge, but we admired it and the view of the Missouri River. A peaceful setting on a beautiful early autumn day. How are you welcoming autumn days?

I got my bivalent COVID booster earlier this week, along with this year’s flu shot. I’m hoping for another winter of good health. How about you?

I recently had dinner at a restaurant in Colorado that specializes in local wines. Apparently, hundreds of them! It always surprises me to see the vast selection of wines available. I tend to find a couple of labels I like and stick to them. I used to be a chardonnay drinker until I realized I had an allergic reaction to the oak from being aged in oak barrels. Made me sneezy and sniffly. These days, it’s sauvignon blanc for me. I also enjoy a dry riesling from a winery in New York’s Finger Lakes region. Do you have a fave?

. . . You find a long list of alcoholic beverages in your car in your son’s handwriting, and realize there’s nothing you can (or should) say to him, because he’s thirty years old, and he was on a liquor store run for his grandmother. This incident happened ten years ago. Son is now forty, and his grandmother still needs liquor store runs on occasion. What made you realize your child was grown?