It’s been a dream of mine to visit Europe since I graduated college. I figured that’s what brave people do. You don a backpack, get a Eurail pass, and a buddy and off you go! Nearly 30 years have passed. Finally, I am here. Print making class in Barcelona with Cava! In accord with my … Continue reading Mistakes while Solo Traveling
I have been searching for a word and as a writer, this can be a consuming endeavor. I have written ten blogs since March 2012 about the word, but never straight at it, until recent events serendipitously placed the elusive word at the forefront. I knew somehow there had to be a word that encapsulated … Continue reading Hygge: The Art of Creating Comfort
It's not recommended to travel during a Mercury Retrograde, but I like it. It's kind of like being the ball in the pinball machine. You just don't get to move the levers - that's up to the mischievious, mercurial God of Communication. Mercury appears to retreat its steps from our two-dimensional perspective four times a … Continue reading Touring with the Book of Spells
I’m a sucker for gold stars. There was no better feeling as a child than watching a beloved teacher peel off a gold star and stick it next to my name with a special smile just for me. Oh, how I loved watching those gold stars line up. AirBnB guests rate hosts with gold stars … Continue reading How Did I become a Superhost?
We should respect the cultures and traditions of the communities we visit, except when those mores and beliefs break down humanity. In 2002, my friend Nila and I lead a group of women to Kadavu, Fiji, for a Goddess retreat. We planned rituals to honor the four faces of the Goddess: Maiden, Enchantress, Mother and … Continue reading Responsible Travel
Sometimes a highly anticipated experience can surpass keen hopes and dreams. Gratefully the Oregon Country Fair did just that. For nearly ten years I have heard of this free-spirited three-day extravaganza and let my imagination roll around, wondering what could make people sigh so contentedly when they thought of their days on the fairgrounds. A road … Continue reading Dreams Come True at the Oregon Country Fair
“The Mountains Are Calling and I Must Go” Photo Credit: Giuseppe Vicente First Snowfall 2015 These words by famous explorer John Muir greet the traveler upon entering Mammoth Lakes, California. Nestled in the Eastern Sierras, about 35 minutes south of the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Mountain is a world-class winter wonderland. This … Continue reading Local’s Guide to Mammoth
It’s been a week since I’ve been home and so far all is well. It’s a bummer looking at Jeep’s delectable pictures of corn on the cob and rhubarb pie or fun shots of the nighttime concerts and people riding bikes across Iowa on RAGBRAI. But I also know it’s been topping at over 100 … Continue reading Landing Gear Down
Friday With a car full of gear and clothes, two bikes and a kayak on the roof of the little car that could, Jeep and I head for the I-40 route to Denver. Just passed Newbury Springs, Jeep points out the hillsides that will soon be covered with hundreds of bird and bat-killing wind turbines. … Continue reading Adventures Unlimited – Part I
Last week my friend Pilar closed the door to a cleaned out apartment – homeless on purpose. Her snake Pythia and dog Loki stayed briefly with me while she and her boyfriend Michael ran last minute errands – drop off a few things at the storage unit, exchange the bulky cotton bag liners for silk … Continue reading Little Windows