Billy Wardle Happenings

 I went to the jazz concert at Washington Park and was impressed with the mushroom bloom.  I am not sure what kind they are but they are pretty.

 Off of Curnhusker

 While Mark and Dianna were her we went to First Watch for breakfast.  Mark and Dianna had been to First Watch in Logan so it must be a chain.  AI said there are 648 locations in 32 states.  I was not too impressed.  I had biscuits and grave which was good.  However the potatoes were over cooked.  They did not offer hash browns but just country potatoes.  Sheri had strawberry tres leches French toast which she enjoyed.  However a breakfast place has to do better with their fried potatoes.  

 I drove past a thrift store and decided to stop.  New Life Thrift is actually a very large thrift store with lots of furniture.  They have books and clothes and shoes.  There is a section for collectibles.  What I looked at was very well priced.  Books are $.50 and CDs a bit more.  There was a large selection of Christian books.  The records were in a locked area so didn't look at them but it said they were individually priced.  I found a picture of Native American rock art for less than a dollar. This store is located behind the Walgreens on 36th street in Bellevue just before you cross into Omaha.

 KFC is a long established restaurant for which I get a craving e very month or two.  I love that original recipe chicken.  Tony likes the bowls.   He loved the chicken poppers but they have been discontinued in favor of nuggets.   I like the thighs and Sheri the drumsticks.  I know Charity loves their potatoes and gravy, and Tony their macaroni and cheese.  He also likes the baked beans.   KFC in Bellevue is on Galvin Road.  There is one in North Omaha, Florence area on the 30 which is on the way to the temple, or home from the temple.  KFC is also a good choice while traveling. The KFC in Bellevue has closed.  However the next closest to the house is on L street and 48th in South Omaha,  It is pretty nice, much nicer than the Bellevue KFC was.    

 Sickies Garage is a restaurant new to me.  I assumed it was a fast food restaurant with a drive through window with the name.  However it is not, it is a sit down restaurant.  I went to get food to take home, and had to order and pick up at the bar.  They would be most comparable to a Red Robin as they have many different kinds of specialty hamburgers.  I had the Philly.  I thought I would get a Philly cheese steak but instead got a hamburger with Philly cheese steak toppings, steak, mushrooms peppers and onions with cheese.  Tony ordered the BBQ pork Macaroni and cheese which was macaroni and cheese with barbecue pulled pork on top.  He said it was very good.  Mine was good as well.  Sheri didn't want to try anything new so I got her Arby's from next door.  Sickies in on Cornhusker not far form the 75. Their menu says they have many sandwiches.  The have a breakfast hamburger with an egg on top.  Their mushroom Swis...

 Village Inn is a new restaurant to me, even though it is a chain with several locations aroung Omaha.  There is a Village Inn in Bellevue on Fort Crook Road.  The restaurant caught my eye with their daily specials Monday through Thursday; crush burger on Monday, select sandwhiches on Tuesday, Free pie on Wednesday and $5 breakfast on Thursday.  However when we visited we did not have the specials.  I had a hamburger steak which was good.  Sheri did not like her enchilada.  I guess Mexican is not their specialty.  They do have a senior discount and a family atmosphere.  They make a good hamburger. 

 With the new year and new goals I have discovered the Lied Activity Center which is part of the Bellevue School District.  My main motivation in joining was to have a place to walk on cold days.  So far it has met the bill.  The facility has four gymns, and a balcony going around the gyms which creates a walkway for jogging or walking.  There is also a pool, but you have to pay a bit extra for this.  You can use the gyms for basketball or volleyball.  The basketball is better for playing alone and dribbling for exercise.  There is a weight room upstairs.  So far I have only used it for stretching.  There is also a playroom with pool and ping pong.   So far so good.  They are however closed when the schools are closed during the school year.  Their hours vary.  The Center is at 2700 Arboretum which is off of Harlan one light east of the 75.   picture on the floor picture from above

 Don and Millies is a local fast food restaurant.  I noticed something for sale called a Frenchee.  I did not get one, but I did get the loaded potato soup advertised.  The soup was the high light for me.  I also had a hamburger, onion rings and a shake.  The shake was good, the hamburger just so-so and the onion rings fine.  I wish I had tried a Frenchee.  I looked them up online afterward and discovered it is a breaded, deep fried cheese sandwich.  That sounds good. Don and Millie's is a bit pricey.  They are located on Cornhusker almost at the corner with 25th. I returned to Don Millies and got Tony a hamburger meal.  I had the Frenchee.  I was very impressed.  I like the crunchy outside and the gooey cheese inside.  Sheri tried it and was not impressed.  Tony would not try it.  

 Little Caesars are every where.  A great place for a quick pizza.  They have expanded their options.  They now have a pepperoni pizza that is like Mountain Mikes, with lots and lots of pepperoni.  My daughter, says our local Little Caesars has the best bread sticks around.  (She thinks the breadsticks at most Little Caesars have fallen off.)  But not ours which is on Cornhusker just east of highway 75.  I asked her why and she says because they have the most butter and parmesan cheese.  She is right, they do.  

 We went with Jeremy and the boys to Buffalo Wildwings in Elkhart.  There is a Buffalo Wild Wings on Cornhusker, across from the Walmart in Bellevue, close to our home.  I have never ventured there before, thinking wild wings must mean very hot wings.  They had those, but they also had some that weren't quite so hot.  I was in the mood for a burgers, and ordered the mushroom Swiss burger.  It was probably the best mushroom burger I have ever eaten.  I also had fries and onion rings for an appetizer.  We had many different flavors of wings, from orange wings, honey barbecue, lemon pepper, asian zing. I think everyone was pleased with the wings, but felt the onion rings were the high light.  Asher tried a hotter wing, but it wasn't too hot for him.  We had a good time.

 There is nothing to complain about in terms of the quality of food at Chick Fil A.  Their chicken is delicious.  I had the chicken sandwich and Tony the nuggets.  Their waffle fries are unique and also very good.  I also had macaronis and cheese which was also good.  We both had shakes.  The strawberry didn't have much strawberry flavor.  But Tony really enjoyed his cookies and cream.  They could use more shake flavors beyond the Strawberry, chocolate and vanilla and one specialty flavor.  And then there is the cost.  $28 seemed a bit steep to feed the two of us.  In Bellevue Chick Fil A is located on Cornhusker and 21st. Chik Fil A is a Christian sponsored restaurant.  They are closed on Sunday.  

 We took my niece to Applebee's with us while we were moving in.  This is just up the street from our house on Cornhusker.  However my niece did not want to be there.  She likes home cooking and not trying new thungs.  Sheri drove her hme reallh fast while we ordered.  he was back before her meal came.   Other than that we had the regular Applebee's fare.  I had riblets, all you can eat but couldn't eat very many.  Miranda and Tony had pasta and Sheri had French dip.  It all seemed adequate but not stupendous.  We go to Applebee's in a crunch, but as a family prefer Chili's but that is farther from our house.  

 Maybe Sheri and I ordered the wrong things, but Catfish Lake at the Lodge sort of fell flat.  This restaurant is atually in La Plattte, a very small community where close to where the new water slide park is being built.  We had gone there before but decided we did not want to wait around for a table as it was overly full.  Seems to be very popular.  We came back earlier in the day and had no trouble getting a table.  I had the catfish, and it came with the whole catfish with all the bones.  It is hard to get bones out sometimes.  Then the batter was too crumbly and fell all over the table and got me very messy.  Other than that it tasted OK.  Sheri had chicken fried steak.  It also was too crumbly, and too salty.  This restaurant was my pick as I was craving catfish.  I should have had the catfish strips I think.  Both Sheri and I agree we will not go back. Mine came with beans and fries

 We were no in the right continent to see the eclipse the other night, but still the moon looked very different and beautiful.

 We went to heroes park for a walk and did this with a couple turns around the pond.  They have even added more playground apparatuses.  Always a fun park. in the big chair other side of the pond

 This is our first venture to a new restaurant, albeit a fast-food chain.  Who ever heard of a fast-food Italian restaurant.  We went to the drive-up window.  Sheri had spaghetti and meatballs, I spaghetti without meatballs and Tony Chicken fettuccine.  We also had bread sticks.  Tony said his meal was excellent, especially the chicken.  SHer i said hers was passable.  Mostly she ate the meat balls.  I enjoyed my spaghetti.  The portions were super large.  I have been eating spaghetti everyday for lunch and still have plenty left over.  The bread sticks were excellent.  The price for everything was a little steep for fast food, but isn't everything lately.