Monday, June 7, 2010

Weekend Highlights: Nebraska!

Apologies that this post is so late. Blogger wasn't letting me post this morning, then I had to go to work...and here we are 12 hours later!

My first trip to Nebraska this weekend was completely splendid. We went to Red Cloud, NE for a Willa Cather (maybe you read My Antonia in school? She wrote that, among many other books and stories) conference for Josh. The theme was her work and food, so I was more than happy to tag and eat along. 

We stayed over in Omaha on Friday, then hit the farmers market in Lincoln, NE for breakfast the next morning. We got there just as the market was opening, which meant it was quiet and calm and fully stocked with kolache for us to sample. There was an informal taste test in the car, only to continue when we got to Red Cloud and had another dose of kolache (a Czech pastry that's not too sweet and is filled with just enough fruit filling) that afternoon. I'm not complaining—they are delicious!


The highlight of Saturday was two fold: an edible prairie tour, where I learned that it's probably best not to try to eat anything you find on the prairie unless you are a trained naturalist, and square dancing. The "barn dance" wasn't exactly in a barn, but oh man, I had totally forgotten how much fun it is to square dance. I didn't have my camera with me, but you should know it was the most fun I've had dancing in ages—I like that someone tells me what to do! (And yes, New York friends, I realize you are laughing at me right now but I just don't care!)

On our way back on Sunday, we stopped for a hike around the Nine Mile Prairie outside of Lincoln and ate wild blackberries along the way. All in all, it was so nice to see such different landscape and eat so well.
I am really enjoying living in the Midwest!

6 comments:

  1. This looks wonderful! Before I read the post I thought that top picture looks just like the picture on my copy of My Antonia! Looks like such a beautiful place.

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  2. I hope Omaha treated you well :) Too bad you went in town for the Omaha Farmer's Market on saturday morning - my in-laws have a bakery and they have a booth there where the sell the BEST (sorry, but it's true - there really are the best) kolache! Maybe next time :)

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  3. Oh Corinne, I am confident that we will be back in Omaha soon- please tell me the name of your in-laws bakery so we can be sure to visit their booth!

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  4. That asparagus i not fair!!!!!!!

    http://ladulcivida.blogspot.com/

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  5. Amy, I just noticed my typo in my first commment - sorry!!
    Their bakery is called "Verdigre Bakery". They drive down from Verdigre Nebraska for the market each saturday. The fine folks of Verdigre have given the tiny town the unofficial title of "Kolache Capital". You don't HAVE to be Bohemian to live there but it doesn't hurt ;D

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  6. we are, my love, but only in the most joyous way possible! (i like it when they tell me what to do, too...otherwise i just seem to wiggle)

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