Galena, IL, 2025

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Jay, Laura and I left St. Rita Square at 10:00 a.m. on a drizzly morning, but by the time we got to Elkhorn, we saw patches of blue and then bright, sunny skies that followed us on our trip.

We stopped for lunch at Baumgartner Cheese Store & Tavern in Monroe https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064797993660&ref=page_internal.  

Besides cheese, there were other items on the menu, such as tomato basil bisque that was delicious.  The waiter thought it a little strange that I ordered raw onions with my braunschweiger on dark rye, but he delivered it with a smile, even after I added catsup.  

The owner stopped at our table and Jay reminisced about his visits to this tavern since he was a young boy.

On to Warren, IL, where we passed the home of Jay's great-grandmother, the cemetery where Jay stopped to pay his respects at the Sorensen gravesite and the church where Jay's mother worshipped.

When we got to Galena, Jay parked in a handicapped spot and we walked the Main Street from one end to the other on both sides. 

I bought caramel corn (naturally), some essential oil, and a microwave hot pad.  The streets were pretty well filled on this beautiful day, and the shops seemed to be doing a brisk business.  With all the walking we did, my walker was a godsend; I kept up without any discomfort. 

We got to the Wyndham Hotel and I hoped to watch some of the Packer game.  Scrolling up and down the channels didn't get any results.  I took a rest until it was time for dinner at Fritz & Frites Bistro. We were there for lunch a few years ago on our family December outing, and it's Jay and Laura's favorite place.  It is very cozy and quiet, dimly lit, and inviting.  https://fritzandfrites.com/

I had a glass of Bordeaux Blanc with my chicken schnitzel with spatzel and red cabbage.  The chicken was lightly breaded, flavorful and very tender. 

Laura had a bowl of Mussels.

 Jay had Wiernerschnetzel ala Holstein with an anchovy.  Because people were not eating the anchovy they stopped including it, but at Jay's  request, it was.   

The chef came to our table to answer Jay's question about the quality of mussels.  Chef said that the mussels come from Madison and are top quality.  We paid complements on the quality of food and the excellent service, which were warmly acknowledged.

This was memorable dining.

When I got to my room, I got ready for bed.  Even though I had my Kindle at my side it didn't get opened.  I was too exhausted to read.

Sunday, October 20, 2025

After a complementary breakfast, we were on our return home with stops again in Warren.  

Jay has kept in touch with the couple who purchased his great-grandmother's home, Jan and Grace Cikowski from Chicago.  We were on our way to visit them at another home they purchased in Warren.  

Laura had a jar of her homemade Zientek pickles as a gift to Jan and Grace, who greeted us warmly.  Grace led us on a tour of the house with elaborate furnishings and lovely collection items throughout the house.  There wasn't a surface that did not have a piece of crystal or china.  This is their own coat of arms.

Grace served Bundt cake and coffee while she and Jan told us about the work they are doing on Jay's great-grandmother's home, like scraping paint to bare wood, making draperies and other repairs.  They are a real team, supporting each other in purchasing and working on the restoration, while keeping an eye open for more collectables.

Laura mentioned beforehand Grace's generosity, and she didn't exaggerate: she gave me a lovely pin as a Birthday gift, Laura and me a bar of Lindt chocolate and Laura took home the rest of the Bundt cake; Grace apologized to Laura that she didn't have any Polish sausage to give her.  Then we were off to see Jay's great-grandmother's house, a short distance away.  

Both houses are about one hundred years old, and of very solid construction.  This house has multiple bedrooms and could possibly be a bed and breakfast.  It was not as elaborately decorated as the previous house, but the collectables are still in storage.

Here are Jan and Grace Cikowski with Jay and Laura.

As we left Warren on County DD, Jay pointed out a number of properties that are or were inhabited by the Schultz family (Jay's mother's family).

Laura was on a quest for pumpkins.  A search brought up Heidi's Pumpkin and Maze; much too expensive.

We were fortunate to find Ten Eyck Apples, a warehouse with many tables of apple varieties, plus affordable pumpkins; Laura bought three, I bought a huge caramel apple.

A good portion of our trip was through Lafayette County.  I was amazed at the vast farmland, beyond what the eye could see, planted mostly with corn.  Very little livestock; the barns held machinery, not cattle.  And then, a solitary home, with no other habitation for miles and miles.  We also saw acreage of sunflowers, that must have been gorgeous on a warm, sunny day.  We drove along steep hills that gave us a roller-coaster ride.

We were not overly hungry after having breakfast and Bundt cake, so we decided to head to Milwaukee and Lakefront Brewery, which would be open when we got there.

Jay and I had beers, Laura a Coke that we had with our lunches.  Jeff Klisch joined us and served us a second beer.

We did so much in one day, it seemed more like a week.  What a delightful experience.