Thanks for a great vacation

An old friend of mine, a native of Billings, once observed, correctly, that everything goes better with bacon.

(Check out the potato salad at the bar in Gildford if you need more proof.)

The same also could be said about gravy. Good gravy adds warmth and substance. It's the bonus on top of a large mound of great or even not-so-great mashed potatoes.

There's something to be said for a people who routinely put gravy on their french fries. You know who I'm talking about - our neighbors north of the border. These are people who value both heartiness and the beauty of simplicity.

During a recent va...