Jill Winger

  I know I looked rough standing in the back room of the soda fountain yesterday. Glistening with sweat. Shirt half-tucked. Dishwater-soaked sleeves. Hair stuck to my face. It hadn’t been a good day. When she asked how I was doing, I teared up. I always do that when someone looks me in the eyes and asks something like that. I can’t help it. She offered a hug, and I took it. I needed it. “Can you take a day off?” she asked. ...Continue Reading

    Once upon a time I could speak my goals into existence... Or at least that’s what it felt like. I’d lock onto a target, take decisive action, and everything would fall into place. Then things changed. The past 12 months have been some of the most unexpected of my life. I’ve hit targets, but not the ones I expected. My shaky aim this year has caused me to reevaluate the delicate balance of flexibility and ...Continue Reading

The paperback edition of Old-Fashioned on Purpose launches this week! It has a new cover and we added a sourdough guide & garden planner, too. To celebrate, I'm sharing a few paragraphs from the conclusion of the book. Enjoy this sneak peak and grab your copy here if you don't have one already! A turn-of-the-century church and cemetery can be seen nestling in the fields east of our town. They stand as a remnant from Iowa Flats, one ...Continue Reading

I have lots of conversations at the soda fountain these days. It never ceases to amaze me how many random folks have ties to our obscure little town. They share their stories and I nod in recognition when they mention local names or landmarks. Wyoming is like a giant small town. I can't help but notice a recurring theme in the stories of those with ties to our community. They usually start with phrases like: Years ago, ...Continue Reading

We’re hosting our first steak night at the Soda Fountain this week. I’m talking three courses, steak and hand rolled pasta, white tablecloths, candlelight, fancy cocktails… the whole nine yards. Our new manager, George, and I have been scheming this for months. Neither one of us have done something like this before. We’re transforming our burger-and-shake vibe into high-class dining for the evening. (This will be ...Continue Reading