Category: Blog

Day One: Family fun in Indiana – on our way

My family began our adventure to Santa Claus, Indiana with hopes of a great trip for my sons 2, and 4. However, for the first hour we had our doubts. During a...

Garden gnomes inspire stories, concerns

The Alice in Wonderland inspired gnome that a Mentor woman created for the Gnome and Garden exhibit opening Sunday at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland is filled with detail. Kelly Stamblesky-Smith says she...

Report cards A yields discount

Punderson State Park in closeby Newbury makes a wonderful when time is short but an escape is needed. And if your student brings home a report card with A’s bring it along...

Improve your gas mileage

Here are some driving tips to help maximize your gas mileage this spring: Drive consistently and carefully: Avoid braking hard or accelerating unnecessarily quickly. You waste gas each time you accelerate just...

Making clotted cream

It’s a staple for afternoon tea in England and can be found jarred at some high end grocers. But if you’re hoping to have real clotted cream with the scones you’ll be...

Changes at Gavi’s

It was sad to learn that Gavi’s Restaurant is closing so Dave and Mary Gromelski can devote their energies to their burgeoning catering business. But it makes sense when you hear them...

I’m so honored

Here’s my news from the spring meeting of the Midwest Travel Writers Association, of which I’ve been a member since 1983. Those who follow my regular blogs got other aspects of these...

Travel hassles could end with TSA redo

There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that airline travel has become a hassle. Even I have joined the scores of regular travelers who are avoiding trips because of past experiences. We’ve waited...

Winter of my discontent

First let me apologize to those who have followed this blog. I’ve been in a funk, and haven’t weighed in for quite awhile. This has, I fear, been the winter of my...

Day Four, Bordeaux Unravels

7:45 a.m. came a lot faster than I anticipated. My stomach, it had seemed, was still settling from the 5 course meal the prior evening. But, like a moth to the flame,...