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 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.

When you hear someone refer to "The Bridges of Madison County," I bet your first thought is the movie with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. If you are an avid reader, it's the best-selling novel that preceded the film by a few years. Many people are not aware that those beautiful covered bridges Clint's character went to photograph are located in a picturesque area of Iowa, less than an hour's drive from Des Moines.

One of Iowa's newest byways, the official name for this area, is the Covered Bridges Scenic Byway. At 82 miles long, this drive includes beautiful natural places and unique destinations like John Wayne's Birthplace. There's enough to see and do in Madison County to fill a two—or three-day weekend. But, if you are like me, you may need a second trip to see and experience it all!



​National Geographic calls the spring migration of the Sandhill Cranes through central Nebraska “one of the greatest wildlife phenomena in North America.” 

If you are a birder, a wildlife photographer, or a nature lover, I consider this a "must-do" for your bucket list!

In 2017, I was lucky enough to spend the entire spring migration season in Nebraska with the Sandhill Cranes! It had been on my bucket list for quite some time. I had gotten a small taste of it 10 years before when my husband completed a two-month assignment in Grand Island. That year, we left at the beginning of March when the cranes were starting to arrive, but what I saw in those first few weeks literally blew my mind!

Sometimes what's going on behind the scenes is just as good as the image created.

My husband is a medical traveler. He fills in at hospitals all over the United States that are short-staffed. Contracts typically start at 13 weeks, but they can sometimes be extended for up to a year.

It's a very different life. A little like a substitute teacher, only with a temporary relocation. Sometimes, those locations are amazing, and sometimes, not so much, but it is always interesting. I have discovered so much beauty in areas of the United States that some people might think they would never want to visit. We have also been fortunate to get some great locations, so I have no complaints!