​You’ll find the Western Trails Scenic and Historic Byway in the western portion of Nebraska. This historic 144-mile route from Ogallala to the Wyoming border roughly follows the path the pioneers took almost 200 years ago. While there is much to see and do here, I have chosen the amazing geological formations that those brave pioneers saw along the way to be the topic of this post.  

I am always interested in unique and interesting architecture. The Painted Churches on the Big Island of Hawaii certainly fall into that category. ​If you are an architecture or art lover or just like to visit churches, I would consider them must-sees.  Just be aware that these painted churches don't reveal their secrets on the exterior. You must go inside to discover their beauty! 

I have a funny story about that!  On one of our visits to St. Benedict's, my husband was out in their fantastic garden, mostly trying hard to stay out of my way. He was enjoying the quiet and the birds when a car hurriedly wheeled into the parking lot. This guy jumped out of the car and loudly proclaimed, "I'm not sure why they call this the Painted Church. It's just white!" Before my husband could tell him to go inside, he was back in his car and had sped away.

ATTENTION: Car Lovers, Auto Geeks and Gearheads...​ 

You don't know what you are missing if you have never visited Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford for a car show​!​

​I have a confession to make: I was 50 before I read Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series. I can hear the collective gasp of all the shocked women reading this post. Blasphemy, I know!

In my defense, when I was about the age when all the other little girls were madly absorbing these books, playing "Holly Hobbie" dress up and dreaming about being Laura, my local librarian marched me over to the adult section of the town’s public library and handed me an Agatha Christie novel. I never stepped foot in the children’s section of the library again.

Looking back, I’m not sure what I was doing when the television series came out because I didn’t watch that either. Oh, I saw an episode or two, but without the background of the books, I just really didn’t get it. Maybe it was just too “girly” for me; I hated pink, didn’t play with dolls, and was the only kid in my neighborhood with a complete football uniform, shoulder pads, and all.

Needless to say, my husband was more than a bit skeptical when I suggested driving up to DeSmet, South Dakota, for a “Little House on the Prairie” weekend.

Visiting Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii has been on my bucket list since 2006. We were on a seven-month assignment on Maui then and had hopped over to Hilo for a weekend visit. We planned to hike the volcano, see waterfalls, and drive down into Waipi'o Valley.  I had done all the research, rented the jeep, and was raring to go, but then we simply ran out of time. I failed to plan for the driving time, not realizing how much larger the Big Island was than the other islands. Plan accordingly; from Hilo, it is an hour and fifteen-minute drive, and from Kailua-Kona, you are an hour and a half away. That's no stopping to take pictures or sightseeing but straight drive time. 

Fast-forward 11 years to 2017. When I received the news of the Big Island assignment, my first thought was, "I finally get to see Waipi'o Valley!"