We just returned from a tiny winter break in San Tan Valley, Arizona. It was our first visit to our brother and sister-in-law’s lovely and commodious new home. In addition to a great house, the property features an enclosed garden with waterfalls, a large fish pond...
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Our Own “Nevertheless, She Persisted” Women
In 1862, our great-great grandmother, Sigtrud, had just delivered twin daughters. The family had recently emigrated from Norway and was living in Wisconsin. A Union Army recruiter came in search of new recruits, but Sigtrud...
For Cousin Gail and All the Other Courageous Women
Even if Gail Laughlin wasn’t on our family tree, she would be a hero to the Cúpla Sisters. A list of her accomplishments on the behalf of people, animals and the environment would fill a large volume....
Pumpkin Pie and Other Things
inside the Hain Mill
Tonight I am part of a vast number of people who are rolling pie crusts, thawing turkeys and setting pretty tables. We are the lucky ones – the very, very lucky ones. There were some hungry times when I was tired...
Ruh-Roo and Zoinks!
The rivers of our childhood were the Shellrock, Winnebago, Cedar and on rare occasions, the Mighty Mississippi. A few lakes got thrown into the mix from time to time. The Winnebago River flowed on the...
Blog Hiatus
Dear Blog Friends, Several years ago, the Cúpla Sisters started a blog with goals to celebrate the positives and to provide an oasis of peace and civility amidst a desert of increasingly ugly rhetoric. This morning it feels to us that ugliness,...
Always Charming – Galena
Although this Autumn hasn’t been as colorful as some years, our leaf peeping day in Galena, Illinois, was certainly a lovely little vacation. The crisp air on our Galena River Trail stroll gave us good appetites for our picnic...
Tea in a Tree
If wishes were fishes, the Cúpla Sisters would live no further apart than next door. As it is, time and commitments make even sharing a cup of tea an all too rare occasion. Thank goodness for unlimited phone minutes....
Perry Art Scene
Soumas Courtyard plaques
One of the things that impressed us about Perry, Iowa, was its obvious dedication to the arts and literature. This was obvious as soon as we arrived at Hotel Pattee. Most of the larger paintings...
Snus Hill Vineyards and Winery – An Oasis on a Hot Day
Every once in a while you get the chance to roll in the sweet green grass of unexpected perfection. Neither of us knew anything about Snus Hill Winery before our trip to Madrid, Iowa. The winery is located...
You Wear It Well – Hotel Pattee
We looked about for interesting accommodations for our visit to Madrid and discovered Hotel Pattee in nearby Perry, Iowa. The hotel wears its 103 years well without showing any obvious wrinkles. A major face-lift was...
High Trestle Bridge Trek
The main purpose of our trip to Madrid and Perry, Iowa, was to visit Beth Ann’s former colleague/friend who had moved back to her hometown. However, when we travel together we usually have little side...
Visiting the Bookworm Gardens
Visiting the Bookworm Garden in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, was the perfect way to give our sunburned faces a break from swimming pool, beach and boat fun. I enjoyed Bookworm Gardens as much as the children whose ages range...
International Tea Tray on a Summer’s Day
Yesterday I was on the way to a supermarket to buy ingredients to make a rather time-consuming dessert when I made a u-turn of sorts. TJ Max is within walking distance of the supermarket where I usually shop,...
Sunny Summer Server and Matching Chairs
Sunny summer server and matching chairs to make your little staycations even more special I recently spotted a small gray server with whimsical chairs for sale. They looked like a simple refurbishing project. We all know how...