Last week my mom and I celebrated her birthday by going to Heartland Lodge. She had never been there and what better way to treat her than to take her someplace and let her be pampered…incredible meals, luxurious beds and some peace and quiet in the beau
Can you imagine living to be 100 years old? Most of us can’t…but that doesn’t mean that the City of Alton, Illinois still won’t throw a birthday party! And just whose birthday are they celebrating? Well…none other than their very own “Gentle Giant”, Robert Wadlow! Read on to find out how you can participate in
Last week a blue sky & warm day graced the lodge with temps reaching 70 degrees. I tried to pretend the weather man was wrong and that we wouldn’t see freezing temps the following day, but much to my dismay I had to grab my winter coat as I went out the door the next
Summer is in full swing…and so are the county and state fairs! I have to admit, when I look at all the activities and entertainment for our local fairs, I could very easily become a “county fair junkie!” However, I’m pretty sure the job doesn’t pay very well…but that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy
Here it is! The end of June – which means that the July 4th holiday is just around the corner! When it gets to be this time of year, I always ask “where has the year gone?” Unfortunately, for me, I know where the year has gone…what about you? July 4th is always a sign
I have a confession to make! I have never been a huge history fan and as much as I hate to admit it, American history was not my favorite subject in school. I know! How can you live in the Midwest and NOT enjoy American history? We are surrounded by it! O
When it comes to planning trips and vacations for Dan and I, I am usually pretty good about scheduling our travel and activities in order to enjoy all that we want to do…no matter where we go. And yes, sometimes our plans have to change based on where we
If you’ve taken my advice and scheduled yourself for a little R&R at Harpole’s Heartland Lodge, then good for you! Maybe your R&R getaway isn’t all about the rest and relaxation – you may want to hit the ATV trails or go horseback riding. You may even want to try your hand at the sporting
Have you ever dreamt of owning your very own petting zoo? Well, Jason Clark (a.k.a. Cave Man) and Kris Mooney made that dream a reality about four years ago with the creation of Full Moon Farms Petting Zoo and Pony Rides. Their farm sits just off County
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…Jack Frost nipping at your nose…”. When you hear these words, what comes to mind? For most of us, it’s one of the most recognized and beloved songs of the season – “The Christmas Song” – or commonly subtitled “Chestnu
