Last week I got to share my love of the River with four spirited women. On our way to the Quapaw outpost in Arkansas, we got a taste of history as we drove through the historic Stovall Plantation, the place where the great blues legend Muddy Waters was raised by his sharecropper grandmother. While launching the “Junebug” Canoe the ladies marvel at the pure size of the River and tell us a bit about themselves. Walli is an avid kayaker...

Did you know the sound of the ocean in a seashell is actually the sound of our own blood surging through our ears? This is a perfect example of how we can hear noise, but understanding the noise is an entirely different story. In today’s bustling world, our attention is constantly being drawn in by a variety of sounds.  Our brains naturally have to sort out what they think is important and block out the rest or else we would be overwhelmed...

The NBA playoffs have arrived and the contenders have at least one thing in common: good communication. To successfully play in a band, run a business, land a plane, drive a car, boat or barge and yes, play on a sports team, good communication is essential. What most of us forget is true communication is about giving and receiving information. We must listen to each other, ask questions to facilitate our understanding and actively digest the...

Water Enthusiasts, History & Music Lovers, Civil War Buffs, Birdwatchers, Hunters & Fishermen, and the Curious…… Tennessee has an experience just for you! Throughout our six counties fronting the Mississippi River, (Lake, Lauderdale, Obion, Tipton, and Shelby) the choices for entertainment, adventure and family fun are endless! Whether you are driving along the National Scenic Byway, biking the Mississippi River Trail, fishing in...

April is the time for garden planning, despite the prolonged winter we have been experiencing here in Iowa. Growing up on the family farm in Little Turkey, IA, my family and I were fortunate to have the yard space for a garden. Although as a youngster I despised the summer chore of pulling weeds, the sight of the produce lined up on the kitchen counter for canning was always rewarding. Now, as a college student, I greatly appreciate the surplus...

Spring is here! Or so they say. Since the vernal equinox marked the beginning of spring, Minnesotans have been celebrating the annual tradition of asking, “What am I doing here!? Why did I choose to live here!?” While much of the country is springing forth with new life, the past two mornings we’ve woken up to 4 inches of fresh snow. That being said, nearly every conversation I participate in turns to excitement to get out on...