October 2025

Happy Friday, friends. It is the best day of the week as it is followed by two and a half days of freedom. I have things planned for this freedom, and the weather is going to be perfect. In fact, looking at the long-range forecast, I think whatever Winter we had is gone. Crazy talk for February. 

For now, let's dive into what my October looked like.

The first Friday of the month, I spent it with my best friend, Rebecca. We have a standing date most every Friday, and we take turns hosting. This particular Friday was my turn, and I put out a lavish charcuterie, paired with a bottle of red and white.

The next day, I took my other bestie's little girl for the day while he worked. He didn't ask, but my job was offering us a free day at the Kiewit Luminarium, the new science center downtown. I thought I could get her out for some fun instead of being stuck inside. Before we went, though, my daughter and I took her to Hummel Park's annual Fall Festival. Here, kids can color, paint a pumpkin....

and check out animal furs, among many other fun things. After she was done, we took her to the top area of the park where there is a shelter house and a playground. I had packed up the charcuterie from the night before, so we ate and played.

After a quick clean-up and an outfit change, we headed to the Luminarium. Elizabeth explored to her heart's content.

Even my big kid enjoyed some of the activities.

We took her out to eat before her dad picked her up, and I promptly fell asleep on my couch after they left. I forgot how exhausting toddlers can be. LOL

Sunday, then, was some much-needed adult R&R. The weather was nice, so Soaring Wings was doing their live Sunday music on the deck. I bought a bottle of wine with my wine bucks and waited for my son to meet me there from Lincoln.

I'll never get tired of this view.

A few weekends later, my son, daughter, and I gathered to celebrate my son's birthday. We headed back out to Soaring Wings that Friday. The next day, we went for a Fall drive and ended up in Nebraska City. We had appetizers and drinks (a non-alcoholic one for my daughter) at the Arbor Day Lodge.

The following Friday, the 24th, my friend Dora asked me at the last minute if I wanted to get some dinner and check out a show. I'm always down for something like that, so I met her in the bar area of the Holland Performing Arts Center. We ate in their restaurant, Zinc, then saw the show: The Life and Music of George Michael. It was a lot of fun!

The very next day was my Autumn Ladies Wine Day. Dora, I, Libby, and Rebecca get together twice a year to check out an area's wineries (and maybe a brewery or two). Honestly, it's a new tradition as we first did it in early April of 2025, and had so much fun we decided we should do it in autumn, as well. We have already planned for the Spring one next month.

In the Spring we moved south and west of Omaha. This time, we moved in a circle around Lincoln, with a few stops in Lincoln. We started at Junto Wine.

We then went into Lincoln and to the Whispering Winds tasting room. It was an interesting place, to say the least. Located inside Rock 'n' Joe coffee shop, you purchase a card, put money on it, and get your wine selections from a machine. Libby and I were recently talking about how we both have money left on those cards, which is a good enough excuse to go back there.

After a stop to eat dinner, we headed south of town to Capitol View Winery. 

They have a generous covered front porch with heaters, so we sat there.

Last, but surely not least, we headed over to Deer Springs Winery.

Deer Springs is the perfect autumn winery visit. They have hayrack rides, they decorate the grounds for Halloween, and they have mulled cider, which is best enjoyed around their firepit.

To wrap up the month, I headed up to the motherland on Halloween to spend the weekend at my childhood friend Amy's century farm. She and her brother inherited the family farm after their parents passed, and she's been working on turning it into an Airbnb.

It's quiet, peaceful, relaxing, and would you look at these autumn colors?! 

They own many acres of land, and this old pig barn sits on some of it. Amy's son manages the farm and has turned this old barn into his workshop and tool storage.

However, in a little old room in the corner, he's made a speakeasy. Whenever I visit, we always go down and have a few drinks.

I love all the fun signs, new and old, that cover the walls.

An old bar light hangs from the ceiling, and an old dresser holds a variety of liquors to enjoy.

And that's it. That's how my October went. 

Until next time, friends, enjoy your weekend.