In February, I had an unexpected and extended trip back to
Mankato. I had planned to visit that weekend, but when we received the sad news
that my nanny from childhood had passed away, I knew plans had changed and I’d
be going up to Mankato much earlier in the week. (More to come in another blog
about what an amazing woman Ann was.)
It’s funny how unexpected visits back home can often be the best. I really enjoyed my extra time
in Jewell County and took advantage of the opportunity to be back home for so
many days. With our work schedules, vacation time, and family holidays, most of
our visits are wonderful and fun, but they’re often just too short. My few days in February were wonderfully
unplanned and relaxing. It was a really rare opportunity for me to spend those
days with my parents. I left Sunday morning thankful for such a great weekend.
Here’s a recap of all the great things I enjoyed back home -
- Antiques in Scandia – Scandia,Kansas, is a quaint little town on the Republican River with a large
Scandinavian heritage. Their main street is lined with fun little antique shops
that offer plenty of treasures if you’re willing to dig a bit. Ann was buried
at a cemetery in Scandia on Thursday, so after the burial, my mom and I decided
to stop at the shops before heading home. Always fun to browse.
- Buffalo Roam Compuestos –I grew up
on these. A compuesto is basically a really good taco salad. They’ve never
changed in my 20-something years of eating them, and that’s a great thing.
- My parents’ deck – My parent’s
home has this amazing wraparound deck with really great views of the sunrise in
the morning and the evening sunsets. It was a bit chilly to spend too long out
there this trip, but we were able to enjoy the views a little in the morning.
Missy especially loved it.
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Beautiful sunrise on Friday morning.
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Missy loved her view from the deck.
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- Shopping- Small town shopping is the best! I
stocked up on candles at Possibilities, bought Mike a new lunch box at the new
Dollar General, and found darling Easter décor at Aunt Flossie’s cupboard in
Superior, Nebraska.
- Visiting Grandpa and Grandpa –
It’s always good to see Grandpa and Grandma, and it’s so great now that they’re
both in Superior. I really enjoyed showing Grandpa photos of my cousin
Victoria’s new little girl, Rebecca Claire. He wanted to go through the
slideshow many times!
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Grandpa loved looking at the slideshow of Rebecca! |
- Mexican food in Superior- For
lunch on Friday, we took Grandma to the new Mexican restaurant in Superior, and
it is really good. And they serve margaritas! For those reading this
and wondering why I’m so excited about margaritas at a Mexican restaurant….it’s
a big deal. Coors Light is about all you can find at most restaurants in
Mankato and Superior. Nothing against Coors Light.
- Cruisin’ in the Corvette – My dad
loves his yellow Corvette and we were lucky enough to have a unusually warm
February weekend that called for a cruise on Highway 36.
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Beautiful 70 degree weather meant the Corvette was out and about. |
- Running in the country- I really
enjoyed running on the dirt roads north of my parent’s house. The weather was
beautiful that weekend, and the wheat was just starting to show and paint the
fields green. I loved taking in the scenery and realizing just how beautiful
this part of the state is.
- The Kettle in Beloit, KS – For
lunch on Saturday, my parents took me to The Kettle in Beloit, Kansas, a
cute little restaurant downtown with plenty of delicious soups, salads, and
sandwiches, and a great wine and beer list! It’s fun to have a place to go when
we visit now that we can order a glass of wine. For lunch on Saturday, I had a
Cuban sandwich which was wonderful, and a mimosa. I was very impressed, and definitely
want to go back!
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Enjoying lunch on Saturday at The Kettle. |
- Trip to the Farm- Saturday morning I went to the farm with my dad. I really enjoyed the drive out there. It used to be so normal to me, but this time I really appreciated the scenic views and the wide open space as we traveled down the white rock roads. While my dad fed cattle, I wandered around the farm and through Grandpa and Grandma's house - truly a trip down memory lane!
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I love this rustic flag my dad bought for one of the sheds.
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My dad with Pippen, the beloved farm cat. |
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I had fun wandering around the old farmhouse and taking photos. |
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The old chicken coop! |
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Feeding on Saturday morning |
- Happy Hour- Each evening we enjoyed Chardonnay and
tasty appetizers around the kitchen island. It was fun for the three of us to
catch up and tell stories. Being home was definitely good for the soul.
I headed south to Derby
Sunday morning excited to return home, but also feeling very thankful for my
weekend visit and realizing that Mankato will always be home.