Tag Archives: travel

Muddy’s Of Wooster

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When I travel, if given a choice I’ll always favor a local restaurant over a chain. Not only is it often a better experience, it’s also a literal taste of the community.

When we were in Wooster last year to shop at this fabulous downtown bookstore, we first needed a bite to eat.

Even a book dragon needs nourishment before setting out to build their book hoard.

So we found this local hangout called Muddy’s which has an extensive menu of sandwiches, pizza, salads and more. It’s in an old Cadillac dealership and has nostalgic garage decor.

The service was terrific and our food came out quickly. I recall enjoying my meal but can’t begin to tell you what I ate. This is why I take pictures of my food when I think it’s a place I’ll someday recommend!

It was some kind of sandwich maybe with tots? All I know is that it was good and quick and we had enough time to scope out that bookstore before heading up the road to the holiday lights at Stan Hywett.

Want to visit Muddy’s? Check out their website.

Pourtales Library

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If you are fortunate enough to be a guest at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs and are a book lover, there’s a very special place to see. It’s called Pourtales Library and it’s located just off the main mezzanine in the resort’s main building. 

I had seen a photo online but was still delighted and enchanted to see it in person for the first time. We were fortunate to be there for the first time when no one else was around.

It’s a small place with big character and an elegance that comes from something that feels both timeless and almost medieval. There’s a massive fireplace with a crest. Floor-to-ceiling shelves are stuffed with books that were donated by a longtime Broadmoor guest.

There are delightful reading nooks built into bookshelves and a warmth that makes you want to sit down and stay. There’s even a ladder!

Time didn’t allow me to sit and stay but I did take time to browse the collection a few times. It’s an eclectic assortment of old and new available to guests on the honor system. Some of the books are truly strange and others are perfect for browsing at a place like this.

I liked everything about this place including the name. Incidentally, it was named for Prussian Count James Pourtales who was a driving force in the development of Colorado Springs and the construction of Broadmoor Casino. That casino no longer exists but was the precursor to the hotel that exists today.

It’s like something from a storybook. If you ever get to stay at the Broadmoor, I hope you will seek out this space and rest a while amongst the books. You will love it!

PS: If you’re into woodworking, you might find this 2020 article about the redo of this library interesting. The woodwork is pretty special!

Silent Sunday Kaleidoscope

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Mule Deer

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Southern Ohio is known for its prolific population of white tailed deer. Hunters come from all over to take part in deer hunting season. Most of us have inflicted damage to our vehicles by hitting at least one deer. They traipse through my yard and are an ever constant presence in our world.

In other words, I’m familiar with deer. Yet I squealed like a toddler every time I saw a mule deer in Colorado Springs.

They were everywhere.

Mule Deer are a little bigger and stockier than the White Tailed Deer we have here at home so they’re kind of a novelty.

There’s a small herd that lives at the Broadmoor Resort and in the surrounding neighborhood. Locals lookout for them and even give them names. They walk down the streets and across grocery store parking lots.

They act like they own everything and it’s pretty awesome!

Uncle Sam’s Pancake House

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If you ever find yourself hankering for pancakes in Manitou Springs, Colorado, I have just the place for you. It’s called Uncle Sam’s Pancake House and they know a thing or two about serving up a hot breakfast on a cold day.

Those of you who have been around for a while should already know that I believe food tastes better when enjoyed in interesting places. The outside of Uncle Sam’s has loads of charm with an a-frame design. According to a note on their menu, the building dates to the early forties when it was first a drive-in called Michaelis. It became Uncle Sam’s sometime in the sixties.

Plus, there’s an absolutely fabulous sign.

It’s even cozy on the inside with patriotic decor.

And then there’s the food. I ordered a breakfast that came with eggs, potatoes, and THREE pancakes. This was reminiscent of my inaugural Waffle House experience when I naively believed the waffles wouldn’t be that big. After all, no one gives customers value these days. Right?

Holy Toledo. Look at this. Two big plates of food. Three giant pancakes.

Friends, I am almost permanently unimpressed with restaurant food these days but find the mom and pop shops are the best way to go. Uncle Sam’s supported this theory. These pancakes were fantastic. They have a great variety of flavors including seasonal specials but I went with good old blueberry and they were wonderful.

I’m telling you. Uncle Sam’s in Manitou Springs. Go find it!

Sleeping Late

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I slept late this morning.

Yesterday started in Colorado at 3:30 am. One short car ride, a flight, airport train ride, another flight, airport shuttle, and rides in two more cars brought me to my Ohio home on the ridge by about 8:30 pm.

Easy peasy!

As I turned down the bed, I couldn’t shake the sensation I was still in motion. Luckily, Scout curled up next to me and I was out like a light, sleeping through the night for the first time in longer than I can remember.

When I awoke this morning, I knew I was home before opening my eyes. The sound of the heat pump and even the feel of the bedding are unmistakable elements of home.

And when I opened my eyes, Scout was sitting at my right arm, staring at me. It’s hard to tell how long he was there. He didn’t make a noise and wasn’t asking for anything.

He just sat there watching me as though confirming I was really there. I scratched his ears and he settled in next to me for a nap.

I tried to go back to sleep but the dry nose I always bring home high western elevations made that impossible. But I have stayed in this spot, hurkle durkling for a while and luxuriating in the solace of my own home.

This is partly for me and partly for him. While he didn’t go on a journey, he’s had a rough week too. My parents take good care of him but that’s not the same as having me there and he doesn’t understand where I go or why I would want to leave him.

Our pets are our family but we sometimes have to leave them. Whether it’s for a few hours or a few days, they are left alone and wondering why you left in the first place.

They miss us. He misses me. It doesn’t hurt me to lie here with a stuffy nose for a while longer just so he can luxuriate in the moment of having his person home.