Tag Archives: Travel

Solo Adventures

14 Wednesday Aug 2019

Posted by in vacation

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I’m part of a fb group for women solo travelers. Most of what is posted is all about far off adventures and leaving their own continent. While that’s awesome, getting out in your own backyard can be just as fun and beneficial for the soul. This is just a few of the things I did, and that occurred to me, while I was tooling through the backroads of rural Tennessee.

I just got back from a road trip plus family vacation. The road trip part was just for me. Whenever I travel for family trips, I do research to see what’s in the area that I want to do. I found all sorts of things along the way to checkout. I took two days to drive the distance everyone else rushed to do in one.

I have a fun family, but we do all have different things we are interested in. This particular trip, we went to Gatlinburg, TN. Not somewhere I would have ever picked to go. I got on the google and found things I wanted to see in the area and was able to get out for a few solo adventures, as well as be the guide for a few family outings. Ultimately, as long as you come back together at the end of the day, it’s a win.

Don’t be afraid to take some time for yourself. Leave mom at home with the siblings or the baby while you get out for a hike they have no interest in. If your family is easily offended, sell it like you are doing this for their benefit. I really want to make sure you have some time with brother so y’all can talk about his recent breakup.

You can also travel solo without even leaving town. Get dressed up and dine at a restaurant you’ve been wanting to try. While dining and food is generally a communal experience, eating out alone is self esteem building and you get to try what YOU want. There’s no one to judge your choices.

Take a weekend all for yourself. Google something you are interested in, such as antiquing or thrift stores, junk yards, cemeteries, breweries, distilleries, and wineries (that’s mine), diners, public murals… you name it. Find one that is two to three hours away and go the longest, most backroad way you can. If you see something along the way that you want to stop and view, DO IT! This is your trip.

When you read an article in your local or regional magazine, save places of interest. Google has a “want to go” flag. When you are planning your trip, look for that as a starting point for your adventure.

My vacation was 8 days, 4 for me, 4 with them. I hit 4 breweries, 5 distilleries, 2 wineries, a historic prison, a bbq joint, and 2 waterfalls. I also found so many things I need to go back to checkout, including a town that was part of the Manhattan Project, countless antique shops, and more distilleries.

Traveling solo is an empowering, learning adventure. Your goal for traveling solo is your own. Just remember, you don’t have to spend thousands or fly far away to benefit from a little solo travel.

A million miles

01 Thursday Feb 2018

Posted by in 365project

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This sleeping pup’s paws have been on hikes, swims, chased frisbees and squirrels. She has been to 14 states & Canada. In her 16 years I think she’s put at least a million miles on these paws.  I love how the pads are different colors and how soft the fur around them is.  Since she pesters me every morning to wake me up, I play with her paws to wake her up.  Turn about is fair play!

#365project #photoaday #amillionmiles

 

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Toast Tuesday: Hey so fun

02 Tuesday May 2017

Posted by in recipes, Toast Tuesday

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I recently went on a vacation of a lifetime. It was amazing, exhilarating, and exhausting. While it recharged one part of my spirit, it also depleted another part so tremendously. That’s why you haven’t seen me in a few weeks. Slowly I’m getting back to my center and this week’s supper club certainly helped. I made an amazing dish of pure cheesy decadence.

So many things have been running through my brain lately; memories and ideas galore. I think traveling unlocks a part of you that we normally have to keep shut away. When we travel we can be whoever, do whatever, and experience whatever. That kind of power and energy in the everyday is overwhelming and stifling, simultaneously, for me anyway,

One of the things my recent vacation reminded me was how much I love travel and adventure. The at home adventure I’ve found myself really missing is hiking. I’ve been seeking out trails in town and I’ve been doing more hiking lately. While finding trails near town is a little more challenging than in Portland, I have managed to find one right in my backyard, and another one about 30 minutes drive. I’m making my own little adventures.

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, that was the theme of our dinner. Queso fundido has been on my to-do list for a while. Back in Portland, this was a staple of our weekly jaunts to a favorite restaurant, Oba. When I started searching google, I was almost amazed to find it really was a dish of actual Hispanic origins and not just some yummy variation of cheez wiz with a fun name. I also got confirmation from my coworker who lived for some time in Mexico. She gave me some tips and said there were all sorts of variations.


So here is what I did for my queso fundido(or as Siri wants to call it hey so fun Dedo).

2-3 poblano peppers
1 pound Mexican chorizo (casing removed)
2 pounds Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 jar fresh Mexican crema

I made this dish entirely under the broiler.

Roast 2-3 poblano peppers under the broiler or on a grill until all the skin is black and charred. I did this under the broiler, rotating every couple of minutes. Once the entire thing is all black, put in a paper bag or a bowl covered with cling wrap. The steam will soften the skin so it is easily removed. Remove all skin, seeds and stem. Slice into strips, chop, and set aside.

In a cast iron skillet, cook chorizo until done. Crumble while cooking. Drain the chorizo on a paper towel, retaining a little of the fat in the skillet.

At this point, if you have time, put your empty cast iron skillet in the over for a couple of minutes to get good and hot.

Add half of your shredded cheese to the bottom of your skillet, top with all of the poblanos, chorizo, crema, and then finish with remaining cheese. Put back into the oven, under the broiler, until your cheese begins to melt. Pull the skillet out and stir. Do this every couple of minutes until your ingredients are combined. Allow the top to get bubbly and a little brown, about 5-7 minutes.

Serve straight out of the oven with tortilla chips or soft warm tortillas.


This was a perfect appetizer for 8-10 people.

Don’t forget the margarita, we are toasting after all.


Cheers to cheese, adventure, and constant exploration of all things good!

A trip not taken

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by in vacation

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  Today’s prompt is a map. What a map reminds me of, are the things on my to do list that have gotten shoved aside with the madness of my last 15 months. It reminds me of bittersweet trips I’ve taken, of trips I’ve missed, of unexpected trips, and the elusive trip.

The number one thing on my to do list that I’m embarrassed to say is… I need to renew my passport. And lately this one just glares at me daily. I can tell you there have been other expenses that have been more important at the time, I’ve filled out the forms and they sat on my desk gathering dust because I haven’t gotten a haircut, or I didn’t have a stamp, or some other excuse.

On the dating website, there are a series of questions to answer. Some seem rather innocuous and others are embarrassingly revealing. But the one I cannot bring myself to answer, until I can answer it the way I want, is: Do you have a current passport?

This may sound kinda snobby, and a little telling about me, but I cannot believe I haven’t left the country in 10 *TEN* years. I miss the exploration of different cultures, dishes, views, and histories. I’ve been traveling and exploring our own country, but it just isn’t the same. I think most folks who have travelled abroad will agree with that.

To do… ASAP… Renew passport. Actually I’m having a good hair day and my outfit looks very nice. I’m going to stop and have my passport photo taken today.

  
Dorky selfie 😏

Heaps o’ praise

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Blogging

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I spent Sunday morning sitting in my big chair, sipping coffee, surfing the web, reading blogs, and cleaning out my inbox. I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’ve been writing more lately. I love my friends who send texts and emails to reply to my blog posts. They’ve been quite complimentary (she blushes).  Additionally, I have found a group of bloggers that offer support, commiserate, and give good feedback. In the cheerleader crowd I have a few friends who have graciously bestowed some lovely awards on me and I’ve been remiss in saying thank you.

I want to thank these folks for being such awesome cheerleaders and for saying such nice things. Part of accepting your award is you have to answer some questions. Since I’m running behind, I’m going to cherry pick questions from each of them.

the girl from Hoeville

If you were to choose between a two-way ticket to the moon or an unlimited air ticket to travel around the world, what would you choose?
no question about it… the unlimited air ticket around the world! see the next question
The five things in your bucket list that you already crossed out?
Traveled to Australia, traveled to Alaska, got a tattoo, New Years in Time Square….. and some other stuff that at the moment isn’t coming to me (at least until I hit publish)
Are you a lefty or a righty?
At the moment, I’m kinda both. This was never a goal or desire, but life’s circumstances has made it happen.

 

Mind and Life Matters

What was your choice of career when you were a kid?
I think it changed daily. At some point along the way I wanted to be a Rabbi, a police officer, a newscaster, and a veterinarian.
Your all-time favorite book or movie would be?
Books: Fool on the Hill and Tartine Bread
What according to you is a good day?
I always say this jokingly, but it is true… Every day above ground is a good day.

 

Invisible World Where Imagination Soars

Give a brief story of how your blog got started, and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers. Thank whoever (Megan the Imaginative) nominated you, and provide a link to their blog. List who you’ve nominated in the post.
Provide a link to the original post on Edge of Night. That way, anyone can find the original guidelines and post if needed.
I started my blog as a place to record my cooking foibles, recipes, and experiments. I needed a space that I would help clear my head and connect me with other creatives.

The advise I offer is be yourself. Write for you. Don’t censor yourself because you think Aunt May will be upset that you spilled the family beans.

 

blabberwockying!

What do you like most about the present situation?
My patio. It looks out onto the 120 acre park where Coe and I spend the better portion of our days
What is the role of gratitude in your life?
This is one of those things that each person has to come to in their own way. When we are children, our parents tell us to say Thank you and very often we don’t understand the Why. I have always thanked my employees for a job well done and thanked someone who served me in a restaurant. But until I broke my shoulder and really had to ask for help, gratitude was almost superficial… that isn’t the right word, but I hope you know what I mean. Now I can say it’s genuine and heartfelt. I am genuinely grateful for all I have in my life, my amazingly supportive friends and family, and the life I am still living and am able to live.
Has blogging enriched your life? How?
Blogging has connected me to another world. One I would never have found if I hadn’t started blogging. I have found all these great folks and so many more!

 

These awards are akin to a modern-day chain letter, you pass it on. And I would like to share the love with…

Liebster: Barking Back

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Sunshine 1:  Dragons Rule OK

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Sunshine 2:  Afthead

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Blogger:  B’s Words

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Here is my list of questions for my nominees:

  1. What are 6 things you couldn’t live without?
  2. What time of day do you do your best writing/work?
  3. Biscuit or scone?
  4. Favorite season?
  5. What are your thoughts on social media?
  6. Favorite way to end the day?
  7. Best trip?
  8. Would you eat at a restaurant that was really dirty if the food was amazing?
  9. How important is it to you to learn something new?
  10. Have you ever flipped a coin to make an important decision?

 

I will admit, I have sort of bastardized the “rules” and taken many liberties.  To those whom I’ve tossed the baton, please link to those that gave to me for all the official rules.  Or feel free to run wild as I have done 😉

Thanks to all my new friends who feed my creativity and thank you to all my old friends who give me entertaining things to write about XOXO

around the world and back again

10 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Blogging

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I was in such a hurry to leave the south all those years ago.  I almost forgot why.  When I came back, I thought I was coming to a city with some character and culture, and not just another small town like the one I left behind.

The palates here are unrefined.  The vision is narrow.  The ideas are limited, and the creativity is stifled.

I forget how much I’ve seen and done; how much I’ve tasted and experienced.

I have to remind myself every day.  I have been so lucky and so blessed.

 

map wp writing101

Posting from another planet

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by in just a thought

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I’m traveling today. Flying from cold, very wet P-town to warmer, sunnier places.

Living in the Pacific NW, we kinda forget there’s so much more world out here. A little layover in Dallas was quite a reminder.

I saw more makeup on one woman than I wear in a year. I saw hair so big it needed it’s own zip code. A guy walked over and spit on (not in) a garbage can. And the topper was when I entered the gate waiting area for my connecting flight and I was consumed by perfume. You could see a cloud hovering it was so dense.

I gave up wearing perfume years ago because my body doesn’t hold it. Now I know I don’t need to wear any because there’s plenty of it in the air for all of us.

Happy travels and Happy Thanksgiving to y’all.