Civil War, History Class, Life, Museums, Travel, Uncategorized, World War 2

Exploring the Oshkosh Public Museum (and a Small Piece of the National WWII Museum)

2023 has arrived, and even though the gray clouds remind me of Washington winter more than the dazzling snowscapes I envisioned, it's off to a pretty good start in the Clare household. We had a lovely Christmas break with many visits from family and friends, and my kids and I found a snow drift large… Continue reading Exploring the Oshkosh Public Museum (and a Small Piece of the National WWII Museum)

Civil War, History Class, Life, Uncategorized, World War 2, Writer's Life

Where Does Thankfulness Fit on the Calendar?

My husband and I set up this little display in our new school. Students and visitors were encouraged to add "stars" with the names of veterans they'd like to recognize. We were pleased to see that due to high participation we'll probably need to make the board bigger next year. November in the United States… Continue reading Where Does Thankfulness Fit on the Calendar?

Civil War, History Class, Life, Memorials, Photos, Travel, Uncategorized, World War 2

Exploring the Oshkosh Military Veterans Museum

I did something that wasn't unpacking, cleaning, or schoolwork! A Saturday or two ago, I slipped away for a couple of hours into Oshkosh, WI, to explore a new museum. Just down the road from the rather better-known EAA Aviation Museum*, the Military Veterans Museum was a fascinating place to visit AND it provided some… Continue reading Exploring the Oshkosh Military Veterans Museum

Civil War, History Class, Podcasts, Writer's Life

How (and Why) We Almost Went to War Over a Pig

Not every international conflict leads to destruction and violence. Our American Stories is featuring me in a 10-minute talk on a time when the U.S. and Britain almost went to war over a pig, but diplomacy triumphed. If you're interested in giving it a listen, here's the link! If you're interested in the story but… Continue reading How (and Why) We Almost Went to War Over a Pig

Civil War, History Class, Life, Memorials, Photos, Uncategorized, World War 2, Writer's Life

Exploring the Naval Undersea Museum

As my family and I prepare to move across the country this summer, we've started making our "must visit" list. What places do we need to explore again while we have the chance? This museum is a definite maybe—it was always a favorite and might be even better now that the kids have had four… Continue reading Exploring the Naval Undersea Museum

Civil War, History Class, Memorials, Travel

The Pig War — A Bit About Britain

Hello Readers!Today, I'm guest posting over on A Bit About Britain, the site of author Mike Biles. Mike's site is a tremendous source for fascinating stories from history and information on locations that I'd love to visit someday. Below is the link if you'd like to pop over and read about a time when British… Continue reading The Pig War — A Bit About Britain

Civil War, History Class, Life, Memorials, Photos, Uncategorized, World War 2, Writer's Life

Road Trip!!! Part 2: From Wisconsin back to Washington

Our travel route- roughly. 🙂 Map image courtesy Wikimedia commons: links here. I added the red and black arrows. Avoiding the craziness of flying with a family of five, the Clare family embraced the alternative craziness of driving across more than half of the U.S. It was a long haul—about 2300 miles each way— offering… Continue reading Road Trip!!! Part 2: From Wisconsin back to Washington