Wordless Wednesday

The Florida Keys Screwworm

When we started into Key Largo on our way to our condo rental, we noticed a sign warning of the screwworm. What? Huh? I grabbed my phone and did what any curious mind does. I searched the internet.

The screwworm is a larva from a type of blow fly. The fly lays its eggs in the wounds of a warm blooded mammal and when they hatch into a maggot, they feed off the host, enlarging the wounds and ultimately causing death. The cycle repeats and repeats and can be a danger to livestock and other warm blooded animals.

The infestation was discovered in Big Pine Key as it began to devastate the endangered Key Deer herd. Over a hundred deer so far have died or been euthanized due to the infections they suffered.

Unfortunately pesticides are not effective on the fly or larva so they are importing sterile male flies from a research center in Panama to release and hopefully mate with the females that are present. Since the females only mate once, it is an effective way to eliminate the problem although obviously it will take some time. The problem was discovered last summer and has been monitored since then.

As you exit the keys in Key Largo, there is a mandatory inspection for all pets. So many people bring their dogs when they come that there is a danger of carrying the infestation farther. It is suggested if you have a pet that you inspect them twice a day to be sure there are no wounds that the maggots could infect. If some are found, it is further suggested that you take your pet to a veterinarian to be treated.

Oh, husbands do not qualify as pets. Just sayin'.

A Look Back - Geauga Lake Park

The jacket hangs in our hall closet. The smell of funnel cakes has finally faded. The blue jacket was part of the uniform worn by my son on one of his first jobs--funnel cake maker at Geauga Lake Park. But it is also a reminder of good times once had at the amusement park not far from where we live.

Geauga Lake is all but gone now. I believe the Big Dipper roller coaster has been taken down. It was all that remained to remind those who had enjoyed warm summer days there of the enjoyment the park had brought.

The park, located in Aurora, Ohio, dated back to 1889 and went through several transitions as ownership changed. One of the favorites was when Sea World opened up across from the amusement rides on the other side of the lake. Shamu, the sea lions and of course the dolphins brought a day filled with wonder and education.

The amusement rides of Geauga Lake included not only roller coasters but more nostalgic rides like the old fashioned cars that ran on a rail. How many of us remember our first driving experience on that track when your parent had to push the gas pedal because you couldn't reach it?

But alas, Sea World is gone. Geauga Lake Park is gone and even the water park that ran a few more years is gone. What will replace it can only be imagined. Many though will pass by and say, "Remember when. . .?"

Books For The Road - The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro

A while back I read a book called The Muralist by B.A. Shapiro and thoroughly enjoyed it. While searching for another book to read, I happened across another Shapiro novel, The Art Forger. Could the author capture my interest again? Absolutely.

Shapiro has a way of taking you into the mind of the artist and along the journey teaches you about facets of art that you probably never considered. In The Art Forger, you learn some surprising facts about some of the very first people to forge or copy the works of famous artists.

One of the things that intrigued me about this read was remembering back to my high school days when I, with a group of seniors in my German class, went to visit our teacher's apartment. She had a picture hanging over the mantel that was a copy of--if I recall correctly--a Rembrandt, perhaps a self portrait. It made an impression on me. I didn't know that people would paint a copy of someone else's work.

The story in The Art Forger takes you into the life of Claire Roth who in order to make money to survive and paint her own art makes reproductions of other famous works. She is made an offer to good to pass up to copy a Degas painting but there is a darker side to the whole proposition. There is a bit of a mystery to solve and of course the protagonist is into all sorts of trouble by the time the story unfolds but along the way, the reader not only gets a good storyline but also a little art history and a look into the forging  or copying of a painting.

It's a good read and one worth packing/downloading for your next trip.

Biscayne National Park - Family Fun Fest

The text message said "The kids would like to invite you to this event this afternoon." There was a link that took me to the BNP Family Fun Fest page. The event for the day was called In Cold Blood and featured lizards and turtles and snakes--oh my! I could just hear the grandkids giggling as they told their dad to invite us. They know my feelings about snakes.

Bravely I said we would meet them there. We had about a forty minute drive to get there and an errand to run along the way but we still got there first. It was good we did because I got to watch the program with the live critters first. I could stand in the back of the crowd and not be anywhere near the two snakes the herpetologist presented.

The show was very informative and when we saw it a second time with the kids we learned even more tidbits of information. The most interesting was telling the difference between an alligator and a crocodile. Both inhabit the Florida waters. Basically the crocodile has a pointier snout and when it closes its mouth you can still see its teeth. Of course that presupposes you stick around long enough to observe closely when the animal closes its mouth.

The turtle was cute actually and when the herpetologist talked about how this species' numbers had been reduced because people made turtle soup of it before it was protected, the kids all made sympathetic noises that expressed their disgust at the thought of hot turtle soup.

And then there were the snakes. In the first show the herpetologist lost a couple kids in the first row when he pulled out the first one, a blue indigo snake that was actually from Texas. The Florida population was decreasing. It was non poisonous and actually eats other snakes. The snake went up a notch in my admiration of him at that little fact.

The next snake was all but booed as he was pulled from his box. It was a Burmese python about 12 feet long. The pythons are a big problem in Florida. The herpetologist emphasized that if anyone was considering buying a small one as a pet they should understand that it will grow quite quickly and there is no where to take it when it outgrows the home. And therein lies the problem. Zoos have more than they can handle so many people have just taken their pets and let them go in the Everglades. The environment is such that they can actually thrive and therefore reproduce. Each year there are python hunts but it doesn't seem to be making a very big dent. What truly suffers is the natural small animals of the area, the rabbits, small birds and even some larger ones as well as small deer.

The park had several stations set up where the kids could learn more about the reptiles. We learned  about natural camouflage, made origami turtles, and learned several new facts about turtles. When the kids had been to each station they took their punched tickets to the gift shop and received a button pin they could wear.

It was a great afternoon and it was FREE! If you are near a National Park, check out their events. You might be missing some great opportunities.

Wordless Wednesday

All The World's A Stage-Starting with my backyard

We have an eating area in our kitchen surrounded by windows looking out over our backyard. When the trees and brush were cut away, it gave us a beautiful view of a small lake and creek behind our house. It's a mecca for wildlife especially since I've planted so many "delictable tidbits" for the deer. They dine in the morning and evening eating plants and shrubs from the top down.

Then there's the rabbits. They take care of the plants from the bottom up and generally choose those the deer leave behind. Chipmunks feed on the bulbs in the ground, moles "aerate the soil" and the geese tear up the grass. A huge blue heron circles on occassion checking out the size and availablity of the goldfish in my pond. (I was smart enough to only buy the 59 cent variety.) Someday I fully expect to see elephants tromping through.

I keep the nurseries and hardware stores in business buying all the latest "off" sprays and "animal resistant" plants. We have motion detectors that chase the deer with a spray of water. Unfortunately, the detectors don't descriminate between deer and meter readers or friendly neighbors. All these things help to keep me slightly ahead of the wildlife...except for the squirrel.

This is no ordinary run-of-the-mill squirrel. He sneaks his way up two levels of decking to a bar stretched out from the railing to a spot right in front of the window where he hangs by his tail to grab the suet block and smear greasy lard all over his paws and face. Then he swings to the finch feeder and somehow manages with those greasy paws to wrest the top off the tube of thistle to grab what he can.

Quite the showman, he performs these feats in front of us as we sit at the table trying to eat our dinner. One evening I thought I might get his acrobatics captured on video for America's Funniest Video. At least then I would have some money to pay for the seed and suet he was consuming. He was so greasy from the suet that he slipped into the half empty tube head first and for a moment appeared to be stuck. Face pressed against the side of the tube, his tail flicked and twitched with his discomfort. Unfortunately for me, by the time the camera was on and running, he had managed enough leverage to pull himself out of the tube and he scampered away.

Having learned this new trick however only brought the furry critter back again and again. He became very adept at popping the cap off the feeder. That is until Bob drilled a hole through the cap and screwed it on. Now he sits there and contemplates the problem before him...the squirrel, not Bob. We fully expect one day to see him come, metric wrench in hand and dig into the feeding tube again. In the meantime, the finches enjoy the food when the "sentry" is not there and we continue to contemplate a way to keep him out of the suet.

Shakespeare said "all the world is a stage". He must have had a backyard like ours.

Writing for a Postmortem Audience?

[One more chuckle from an earlier post]

I've been at a writers conference for the past week. I was looking forward to sunny California but 4 out of 5 days it has rained. I think it affected my brain function. As I surveyed the list of workshops, my eyes caught one titled "Writing for the Postmortem Audience." I blinked twice and read it again but it stayed the same.

A postmortem audience? What is a postmortem audience? Is it one full of dead people? Is it an audience of coroners? Morticians? Forensic scientists? The questions bounced around in my head for the afternoon and the next day. Even though my mind was beginning to go into overload mode with all the information being crammed in, the question would still surface. What is a postmortem audience?

When the world of critiques, workshops, keynotes, and networking slowed a bit, I got out my notebook with the scheduled workshops list and looked again. Writing for the Postmortem Audience was right there. Or was it? The fog lifted a bit. I think the sun may have even peeked through for a moment. It wasn't "postmortem" it was "postmodern"!

Oh...

What's a postmodern audience?

Laughter - The Best Medicine

[Another look back at a really early post]

Well, it is confirmed. Laughter truly is the best medicine. I knew that! Now we have real proof. According to the reports on the news, researchers have found that the arteries widen when we experience laughter thereby putting our blood supply to the heart and brain at a healthier level.

Now come the complications. Does this mean that the theater will charge more for a comedy than an action movie? Will comedians demand more money? Will they have to be licensed as health care givers? Will this open the doors to a private specialty practice? Will malpractice insurance be available should they fail to treat the patient with a sense of humor?

And, what does this do for all those tort lawyers? I can see the commercials now. "If you, or someone you love, saw Vin Diesel in The Pacifier, and it failed to make you laugh, your arteries could have been seriously damaged. Call us. We can help you recover financially."

Now, that's funny.

Daddy Hair

[Perusing some old posts I came across one of my favorites. It bears repeating. By the way, Tyler is now a taller-than-me sixteen year old.]

"I'm gonna be a daddy," our three year old grandson, Tyler, announced as he strolled into the restaurant to meet us for lunch.

I immediately looked to my daughter-in-law. Was he making an announcement? Were we going to add to the growing list of grandchildren? A grandmother is always looking for another.

"You can thank your son for that idea," Lori said. "Ron told him that when he got hair on his chest he would be a daddy. The other day day he noticed he had hair on his legs and he figured that was good enough--he could be a daddy."

"Well if we shaved the hair on his legs, does that mean he could be a mommy?" I asked. To her credit, Lori politely asked me not to plant that idea in his head.

Wordless Wednesday

Carnival's New Medallion for Cruising

One of the things my husband looks forward to when we come to Florida is that he can get the Miami Herald delivered every day. A real printed newspaper! The delivery system is a little strange. The paper gets placed in a bag with the number of our condo on it and it rides up and down in the elevator until Bob goes out and retrieves it--unlike last year where it got tossed up on the walkway in front of our second story condo. At times there was a stone in the bag so it had enough weight for the toss.

All that detail aside, the Business Monday section this week contained an interesting report on a new innovation coming to the Carnival Corporation. Those of us familiar with cruising know the value of the sea pass that resembles a credit card or hotel key. You use it as your stateroom key and to charge onboard purchases to your account. It is also your pass on and off the ship where it is scanned and matched with your security picture. Get ready for a change to procedure.

Carnival who also owns such lines as Princess, Holland America, Seaborn and Cunard has hired the fellows that engineered the mousebands for Disney vacationers. While I like the idea of the mousebands that are used as room keys, charges to your account and link to an app that allows for making reservations, setting your schedule and several other planning options, this new innovation has me asking some hard questions.

According to the Herald article and several I found online, they have engineered what they call the Ocean Medallion about the size of a quarter that will work with a variety of devices connected to something called the Ocean Compass. Before you cruise the Ocean Compass will ask you to fill out all sorts of information beyond the usual precruise details like your credit card number, dinner reservations, excursions, etc. that are usually done. It will all be programmed into your Ocean Medallion along with suggestions for extras to add on to your cruise experience based on your answers to questions about what you expect from your cruise.

Unlike the mousebands, you will not have to hold your medallion to the door of your stateroom, only stand in front of it. When you pass a monitor on the ship, it will register with suggestions for what you might like to buy in the gift shop. (By the way, there are all sorts of items in the gift shop like a necklace or key chain to keep your medallion in.) Pass the display for photos and you will immediately be up on the electronic board. Want a drink by the pool? Order through your device that's connected to the medallion and you'll never have to leave your deck chair.

The medallion will allow ship personnel to immediately identify you as you pass their devices. Your picture will pop up on their display, your preferences noted and of course the idea being that your every desire will be met. No cherry in that pina colada without being asked. Supposedly you will be able to order your food and it will be ready by the time you get to the dining room.

All of this presupposes that you have noted all of your preferences, desires, and plans on the Ocean Compass. The question is, how much privacy are you giving up and how much information (read commercials) will you be bombarded with? If someone has your medallion can they open the open the door to your stateroom? I realize that we have already given up a lot of privacy with social media and other technologies but, really, a cruise vacation is a chance to get away from all that.

Wouldn't it be more unique to have a cruise where there were no devices allowed? Where people actually interacted face to face? Where crew members actually learned your name? What's next? Robots serving drinks at the pool? Microchipping passengers as they board?

Part of me wants to see this be successful--the part that owns stock in the company and realizes they are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to develop and initiate this. The other part of me says stop messing with my cruise experience.

Here's several links to articles I read:
NY Times
Crusie Critic 
Princess Cruises

Life on the Florida Bay - Pelicans

Key Largo has an Atlantic side and a Florida Bay side. While we are staying on the Bay side facing west, we could walk across Route 1 (which can be quite a challenge) if we want to watch a sunrise over the Atlantic. Since that would require getting up pretty early, we opt to enjoy the sunsets from our side of the Key. We also enjoy the wildlife although the most entertaining life is not really very wild.

There is a dock that is part of the condo complex where we are seasonal renters (another term for snowbirds) and we have four or five pelicans who are always in the area. Around the outer part of the dock are some large rocks that help to protect the dock and the boats inside the little harbor area created by the dock. The pelicans perch on the rocks and keep a watchful eye for any fishermen who may be cleaning fish or even for that matter catching fish from the dock.

We will walk on the dock past a pelican perched there and he will watch us with one eye. As we pass, he'll turn his head and watch with the other eye. I'm not sure he can actually see by looking straight ahead. If we happen to stop at the table set up where you can clean your fish you can be sure that the other pelican cohorts will zero in and immediately land or swim up to the table and watch for any fish tidbit you might throw into the water.

Fishing on the dock can be quite a challenge if you want to keep your catch. As you finish reeling in and turn to take your fish off the hook, you'll find yourself surrounded by the grey feathered long beaked web-footed beggars. If you want to catch and release, you have to be quick about it or it the fish will be pelican food before it hits the water.

Watching the landing and take off of a pelican brings a smile every time. They sort of scoot as they land, surfing along the surface of the water until their momentum stops. They are heavy and hardly look like they can actually fly. Their take off is a lot of flapping of wings and I keep watching to see if their feet are actually running along the surface of the water until they take flight. They are pretty expert at zeroing in on a food source though (other than the freebies a fisherman may offer) and they dive down out of the air making quite a splash when they are on the hunt.

I hate to call them clowns but they do bring a smile and a chuckle every time I watch them.

So What's New in Key Largo?

Not a whole lot was obvious to us as we drove into Key Largo on our way to the Rock Harbor Club where we rent a condo for the season. As we passed the place where our favorite BBQ stand was set up the year before our hearts fell. There was only an empty space where we had purchased some of the best brisket we have had anywhere. Disheartened, we began making other plans for future dinners.


As we spent the first couple of days getting settled in and buying groceries and a few other items we hadn't brought or couldn't fit into the car that was stuffed to the gills (thank goodness we didn't have a flat tire) we really didn't notice much else that was different. But suddenly as we were driving down Rte 1 from the Publix to our condo, Bob slowed a bit and pointed with a "Yahoo!" There in a different spot, and even closer to us, was the We Be Smokin' trailer. We'd be enjoying brisket by the weekend.

The most obvious change from the past year was the new resort next to the Rock Harbor Club. Last year we had lived through all the truck and construction noise. This year there was only the noise of excited guests as they stood on the newly renovated dock in front of the new Playa Largo and cheered the sunset.


We couldn't resist taking a look at the finished product since we had watched it take shape for a couple of years. It was impressive. Beautiful grounds and a couple of promising places to go for a dinner out.


I'm sure there will be a few new friends to meet but it was nice to see the familiar faces of the other snowbirds we share the complex with. We even managed to find a place for our beloved pickleball. It's down the road a bit but that's okay. We're retired, as Bob says. We have all the time in the world.

Snowbird Migration

No procrastination on taking down Christmas decorations this year. Like yanking a bandaid off, we took down and stored all the outside and inside holiday decor. Thankfully the weather was good for the outdoor lights and one more day of Christmas shopping although I hated the crowded mall.

After an overnight stay in Columbus to visit family, we began our flight south. The weather was overcast but clear and we could only hope that it would hold as we passed through the West Virginia and Virginia mountains.

A little snow began falling the higher we climbed and instead of the temperature rising as we headed south, it fell as we gained altitude. The snow got a bit thicker and whiter and deeper before we crested and began our descent into North Carolina. To our delight the temperature rose from a cold 25 in the mountains to a warmer 40 degrees by the time we stopped in Dobson, our regular stay along the way.

Bob had already made reservations at the Harvest Grill that sits in the middle of a grape vineyard at the Shelton Estate Winery and Vineyards. A roaring fire in the fireplace greeted us and we were seated just close enough to be toasty and comfortable for our dinner.

The next day our goal was to see the temperature rise at least another 20 degrees. It did. By the time  we reached our next stop in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island it was in the lower 60s. We still needed a jacket but certainly not a winter coat although there were some Floridians bundled up in boots and coats in the evening as we went to dinner.

Two things were happening that night. First there was a NCAA playoff game, OSU v. Clemson--but we won't elaborate on that. Let's just say that we didn't watch it all the way through. The other event was the local shrimp drop that was to happen at midnight to welcome in the new year. Since we needed to get up early for our last leg of the journey we didn't stick around for the drop but did catch a glimpse of the preparation and watched a bit as many families began to arrive for the festivities. It looked like there would be a lot of fun for all ages.

Sure enough our last leg of the journey had the temperatures rising more than 20 degrees. By the time we landed in Key Largo, the temps were in the lower 80s. They were in a stretch of unseasonably warm weather unlike the previous year where we arrived to unseasonably cold weather.  Warm or cold, it was still better that back home where our camera showed at least four inches of snow on the deck.

Unlike last year too, we arrived to find a beautiful condo awaiting us with a warm welcome note and a bed ready for road weary travelers. Let the Florida fun begin.

Wordless Wednesday

Do You Buffet?

Years ago a buffet was a real treat. All you could eat for one price. My metabolism was a lot better back then and chasing five kids kept the pounds off. Somewhere along the line however the appeal faded. Maybe the buffets became too much the same and poorly kept for freshness.

Then along came our venture into cruising and the buffet was rediscovered. The cruise ship buffets were much better and we indulged for a while--mostly for breakfast and lunch. The appeal wore off there as well. Perhaps it was the crowd and the lines and the trying to find a seat at peak dining times. Buffets have evolved from the take a tray and put your plates full of food on it to only carrying your plates without the tray and making several trips to manage it all.

The single line of food choices has evolved into stations of food often following themes like Asian, Carvery, Salad Bar, Italian, etc. To decide what you want, you move from station to station and see what the offerings are dodging of course all those others who have already plates full of choices. I dubbed it dodge 'em dining.

We have found that dining in the smaller venues or in the main dining room suits us much better for now. The only time we use the buffet is when we've returned to the ship too late for the dining room or first thing in the morning if we are in a hurry for breakfast.

There was one exception on our last cruise. One day we happened to see roast duck on the menu for the dinner buffet. We checked the main dining menu and found it wasn't available. That night we enjoyed our roast duck in a casual setting that wasn't nearly as crowded as the breakfast and lunch times. It was delicious and we managed a window seat with a view of a beautiful ocean.

Cruising, like all travel, is a matter of choices you make along the way. Don't want to dress for dinner? Try the buffet. In a hurry in the morning? Visit the buffet? But if you want to sit and enjoy the wait service and not have to dodge crowds, you might enjoy the dining room instead. Not as many choices perhaps but to my mind a much less hectic experience.

So the choice is yours. Do you buffet?

[Check out the Cruise Critics' choice of top buffets.]

It's January 2! What Are You Doing With The Rest Of The Year?

No, I have not made any resolutions. Why do so when I know I won't follow through? Try to lose weight? That's always a given. Exercise more? I'm happy with my routine. I don't smoke so I can't give up smoking and I reuse to give up chocolate. No, resolutions aren't for me but goal setting is. So I'm sharing and hoping you, my readers, will hold me accountable.

First off, I'm going to finish writing Pickle Dilly, the second book in the pickle lady series. If you haven't read the first one, In A Pickle, now is your chance to grab a copy and then the second one will be right behind it for you. To those who have read it, maybe a rereading is in order. I have to do that to remember what and where my characters are coming from and going to.

Next up is revising and revamping a Christmas novel I started years ago and would like to have published by the end of this year--in time for Christmas of course. It's a heartfelt story, some tissues will be needed, but also an uplifting one.

If I get those two items finished this year in the midst of more travel, time with family and friends, and of course time with that man of mine, well, that will be accomplishment enough. Anything extra will be "icing" as they say.

How about you? Any goals for the year?

When A Girl's Gotta Go

Long ago when I was just a young whipper-snapper we made some long car rides. (Whippersnapper by the way is not a term of endearment according to Merriam Webster). There were no McDonald's along the way and few rest stops. There was always the empty coffee can on the floor in the back seat. I knew what it was for. My brother could just stand by the car if necessary when nature called but I was relegated to using the coffee can. I tried hard not to have to avail myself of such relief.

We have often joked about me having to use an empty to-go coffee cup but have always managed to find a rest area or appropriate restroom along our route even if it meant buying another cup of coffee or other foodstuff to avail ourselves of the facilities. I thought I had blogged once before about a device called "stand by your man" but I couldn't find it in the archives. That was quite some time ago when we were planning a trip to China and I knew there would be squat toilets. The idea for devices to help women in troubled times must have caught on since then because now there are quite a few products for women who love to camp or travel where facilities are not ideal or few and far between.

The devices are called female urination devices. Go Girl seems to be one of the most popular or is advertised better. Basically they are funnel type devices that can eliminate that need to squat and hopefully will direct a stream away from legs and clothing much like a male who can naturally do that. It certainly would have come in handy when we climbed Mt. Fuji and I made my own device from a discarded beverage cup. Had I only known. . .

Finding A Place To Rest Your Head At Night

There is no way I will venture out on a trip unless I'm sure there are reservations made for each night's stay. Why? Because we tried taking a chance once and it ended up with us sleeping in the station wagon with three kids and trying to keep warm by covering up with beach towels. Take my word for it, you do not want to travel I-90 to Niagara Falls without reservations.

It was a Friday night, we left in the evening, a day earlier than our scheduled trip with the intention of finding a place along the way and arriving earlier at the Falls than planned. Between a large car show and several other events there were no rooms between Cleveland and Erie, PA. A van beat us to the last room at the Holiday Inn in Erie. We started back toward home and gave up at the state line, pulled into a rest stop and sandwiched between semis, settled in for the night. Needless to say the first day at the Falls found us struggling to keep our feet moving.

We once met a couple from the UK who were touring Australia and they had booked their first and last night of their trip but all the rest were a matter of pulling in somewhere and finding a room. I still like to know where my head will rest each night rather than chance a Niagara Falls experience.

Knowing my feelings on the matter Bob books our stays ahead of time. Sometimes he uses an online travel site but mostly he deals directly with the hotel or B&B. When you are dealing with an unfamiliar area and an unfamiliar hotel or hotel chain, you can't always count on getting the best room for the money with an online site.

The deals, you say. Well, yes there are great deals on online sites but sometimes there are hidden costs. Be sure to look for "additional fees may apply." There may be resort fees, cleaning fees, pool fees, the list goes on. By checking directly with the hotel, you can ask up front about additional fees.

It doesn't cost anything to join a loyalty program for a hotel and it can get you some extras like free WiFi, a better room, or as we found one time, an upgrade and a warm welcome with a sign and all because Bob was chosen as the customer of the day. It was fun.

Always use a credit card to book your room. It will save you a lot of trouble if you have a problem. Using cash or debit will not be so easily refunded if you find yourself in an unsolvable situation.

And be sure if you are booking an overseas trip that takes you over the international dateline that you have booked for the correct night. It's embarrassing to show up at your hotel and discover that you were a day early or late.

Wordless Wednesday

Does the Bucket List Ever Get Shorter?

I hope not!! There are still so many places to go and things to see. We haven't covered many of the places in our own country that need to be explored. The more people say it's a small world (ha! there it's in your head) the more I realize it's truly a big world and there is more to explore.

2017's big bucket list item is the European Christmas Markets. We chose to book a river cruise that begins in Vienna and cruises the Danube to several stops in Austria, Germany and Slovakia. Decorated booths and displays of arts and crafts, food and beverages will abound in the towns and cities we stop in. I'm not a big shopper but I'm great at looking and taking in the culture of the area through their Christmas tradition. We have begun to book some of our side tours including the Lippinzaner Stallions.

Our trip home from Florida this year will include a stop in Sarasota to check out the circus history of the city and the museums there. Further north we are planning to stop and check in on a young cousin who has begun a job as curator of education at the Old Governor's Mansion Museum in Milledgeville, GA. The mansion dates back to 1839 and is rich in history.

There's the annual scuba trip with our grandson and the hope of actually getting to check off the last dive site on our list to earn our green shorts.

There are a few niches in the calendar year that could hold several possibilities for travel to some of the states we have yet to check off our list--maybe Oregon or Colorado or a couple more of the big national parks we haven't been to.

Of course there are still things even in our backyard that have yet to be discovered and explored or experienced. No, the bucket list never gets shorter.

Essays on Life - End of the Year Reflections

The house is quiet. Family has left for home. The echoed chatter of grandkids is fading. Thankfully the warm memories won't. The week between Christmas and New Year's Day always seems to be a time of reflection. If you turn on the television that is pretty much what you are going to see. It's kind of like your life flashing before you as the year ends.

Ours was quite a year. Travelwise, we stayed warm in Florida a few months, went scuba diving in Grand Cayman, climbed Mount Fuji on our visit to Tokyo, drove all the way around Iceland and visited Italy and Spain with a transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale. More importantly we got to spend time with family, made some new friends, grew deeper relationships with other friends and continued on in this glorious partnership we call marriage.

We once had a sailboat named Silver Reflections, The name was chosen for two reasons. One, it was a silvery color as it was a silver anniversary edition of the 30' O'day so its reflection in the water would be silver. The second reason was even more important. We knew we would be making wonderful memories of our time sailing--silver reflections, so to speak.

While I can look back on the wonderful adventures of 2016, I can also hope for the opportunity to journey further on, to make each day count as we look forward in the coming year to making silver reflections that will soon be turning to gold.

No matter what the past year has held for you the reflection will change. It always does as you sail through the waters of life. May your journey be smooth.

Merry Christmas!

Picturing Christmas

Our travels have circumnavigated the globe. It's an amazing thought. As we have visited so many different places and I have written about our travels, I have struggled to clearly picture in words how those areas and people appeared to me. Think about the most glorious sunset you've ever seen and then try to put it into words. Once you are past the oranges, reds, purples, pinks, etc. it gets more difficult and it is impossible to capture the magnificence of the moment and the emotion it evokes.

Taking a photo or even a video of the experience does not do it justice either. There may be some beautiful pictures as a result, but it will still not equal that one stunning scene that will be embedded in the archives of your mind.

Now imagine the miracle of Christmas. In our heads, we see what others have told us. We see images others have painted--and those mostly as an impression of the words used to describe the scene. Scripture does not recall a donkey (exactly) for Mary to ride on. Nowhere does it say that there was an innkeeper but we insist on that as part of the story. The three kings were three wise men--but wait! Now we don't even know that there were three. There could have been more since the Bible doesn't really give a number. And they didn't arrive until Jesus was around two years old.

In our joy, in our desire to celebrate this great miracle, we have tried to picture what we were not there to experience. In doing so, we have created lovely pictures on cavases and in words that have come to symbolize our Christmas story. While every detail may not be exact, the truth still remains. God sent his only Son so that whoever would believe in Him could have eternal life.

In my mind, I have a picture of heaven. It's based on several places in the Bible where heaven is described. I'm sure the real thing will look nothing like what I've pictured. It will probably be much more glorious than I could ever describe. Does it diminish what God has prepared? No. It just gives me something to look forward to.

However you picture your Christmas story, a stable or a cave, a donkey or a cart, three wisemen or a dozen, may you focus on the one thing we all know to be true: God's promise fulfilled in His Son, Jesus.

Silent Night

There is a lovely legend that surrounds this carol sung in many churches on Christmas Eve while candles are lit to celebrate the Christ child's birth. The song originates in Austria and was originally written in German by Fr. Joseph Mohr and put to music by Franz Xaver Gruber, a music teacher.

As the story goes, Fr Mohr wanted a children's choir to sing the song he had written in 1816 at a Christmas Eve Mass in 1818, but unfortunately, the organ broke down. Fr Mohr knew how to play a guitar so he asked Gruber to compose music for the guitar. That night it was performed for the very first time by the choir accompanied by the guitar.

The legend continues that an organ repair man actually circulated the song that soon became very popular. There is no record of there ever being a children's choir, or of the organ being broken. There is, however, an original copy of the music and words written down in 1820 by Fr. Mohr and crediting Franz Gruber with the music. It is displayed in the Carolino Augusteum Museum in Salzburg.

May this carol bring you the stillness that will allow the holiness of this wonderful night to fill you with the wonder of the miracle and the gift God gave.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

Wordless Wednesday

Crachit's Christmas Goose

In Dicken's A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is shown the Crachit's Christmas celebration by the ghost of Christmas present. They have what appears to Scrooge to be a pitiful stuffed goose. In that day it probably was the poor man's dinner. When Scrooge is finally through his visits and awakes on Christmas morning he insists on buying a large turkey for the Crachits.

Today the goose is probably a more unusual and even gourmet meal. We used to have a Christmas goose almost every year. Baked to a golden brown the wonderful smell of our goose dinner filled the house. Here's a recipe if you are ready for a Crachit Christmas goose.

1 domestic goose (10-12 lb)
salt and pepper
1 apple cored and quartered
1 orange peeled and quartered
1 lemon peeled and quartered
1 cup hot water

Sprinkle the goose with salt and pepper. Place fruit in empty cavity and place goose in shallow baking pan breast side up. Pierce skin with a fork near the thighs and wings. It allows excess fat to drain as it cooks. Pour water into pan.

Bake uncovered at 350 for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until thermometer reaches 180. You may want to drain some of the fat from the pan if there is too much.

Let stand for about 20 minutes and remove fruit and discard before carving.

We always liked sauerkraut and dumplings seasoned a bit with the goose drippings but being English, I'm sure the Crachits had more traditional "puddings" and potatoes with other vegetables.

Christmas Clogs

While many of us are scurrying around thinking of gift ideas and readying those stockings to hang "from the chimney with care," the Dutch children have already received their gifts. December 6 in the Netherlands is St. Nicholas Day and the evening before (December 5) the children put out their wooden shoes in hope of receiving sweets and presents from Sinter Klaas.

Instead of cookies, the Dutch children put hay and carrots in their shoes as a treat for Sinter Klaas' white horse that he rides through town. The children's treats are replaced with presents to be enjoyed on St. Nicholas Day.

There are often parties on St. Nicholas Eve and anonymous presents are exchanged with poems or sayings that give a clue to the giver.

For the most part, Christmas Day is a quieter holiday with church services and a family meal. Some children believe that Santa Claus (not to be confused with Sinter Klaas) who lives in Lapland in Finland comes on Christmas Eve to bring a small gift of a book or orange or biscuits.

Japanese Christmas Cake

Along with their KFC meal on Christmas Eve in Japan, people also have a Christmas cake or kurisumasu keki. It is basically a sponge cake (angel cake) with whipped cream for frosting and strawberries.

I searched for recipes for sponge cake and they all looked like more work than I was willing to do. So I went to my man the Pillsbury guy and found an angel food cake mix. (Actually many brands of cake mixes have a sponge or angel food mix.) So here is the "recipe".

Japanese Christmas Cake

Angel Food Cake Mix
Make according to directions on package. Bake in two round cake pans and set aside to cool

Frosting:

2 cup heavy whipping cream
4 TB of sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
About 20 strawberries

Use a large cold bowl and make sure your whipping cream is cold. With a hand whip or mixer, whip the cream, sugar and vanilla together until soft peaks form. Put half of whipped cream in another bowl and add about 10 thinly sliced strawberries to one bowl.

Spread frosting with strawberries on one layer of cake and set second layer on top. Use the rest of the frosting to cover the top and sides of cake. Decorate top of cake with whole strawberries.

If this all sounds good but you don't want to do the work, seek out a Chinese/Asian bakery and they will usually have a cake for purchase.

Meri Kurisumasu

On our visit to Epcot at Christmas time last year, we stopped by the Japanese venue. The storyteller there was talking about the New Year's celebration rather than Christmas. That's because since there is only about 1% of the population that observes Christmas it is not an officially recognized holiday in Japan. Yet, there are seasonal decorations in the shopping areas and the Japanese have begun to exchange cards and presents. And Santa is seen on occasion.

The really big tradition is to eat fried chicken on Christmas--all thanks to a successful marketing campaign back in the 1970s by Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now KFCs in Japan have lines streaming around the block as customers wait to pick up their chicken orders which range in price from $40-80.

The New Year's celebration however lasts for four days. The storyteller at Epcot was cast as a Daruma doll sales person. The doll is almost egg shaped, made of paper mache and weighted on the bottom so it doesn't fall over. The eyes are blank. You paint in one eye, make a wish and when the wish is fulfilled you can paint the other eye in.

The dolls are also considered a symbol of perseverance and good luck. They can be a gift of encouragement if instead of a wish, a goal is set by one eye and the other eye painted when the goal is achieved.

Wordless Wednesday

Norwegian Cookies - Kokosmakroner

Basically Kokosmakroner, Norwegian Christmas cookies, are coconut macaroons, something my husband loves so I guess after I post this recipe I'll be off to make some for him. If you are a chocolate lover, once you bake the macaroons, melt some semi sweet morsels and dip half of each cookie in the chocolate. Set them on some waxed paper until they harden.

Coconut Macaroons

2/3 cup flour
5 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1/4 tsp salt
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 tsps vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In large bowl mix together the flour, coconut and salt. Stir in vanilla and sweetened condensed milk. Use your hands to blend it well. An ice cream scoop or tablespoon can be used to drop the dough onto the cookie sheets.

Bake for 12-15 minutes until coconut is toasted.

Okay, now my mouth is watering.

Gledelig Jul!

Clever and full of energy was the elf at the center of the venue at Norway in Epcot. The Julenissen is derived from the Nisse or the barn elf that looks out for the livestock on Norwegian farms. Julenissen is the "barn Santa". He had some magical powers that included being invisible--at least to the lady beside him.

Across the countryside children on farms leave a bowl of porridge in the barn for Julenissen to thank him for taking care of the animals and watching over the family. Farm animals are treated to the finest oats and barley and special sheaves of grain are placed on poles for the birds.

Julenissen visits on Christmas Eve with the greeting, "Are there any good children here?" Of course he brings presents and will sometimes make the children sing a song, "Pa Laven Sitter Nissen" (In the barn sits the elf).

There is also another song, Musevisa (The Mouse Song) that tells of a mouse family getting ready for Christmas and Mother and Father Mouse warning their children to stay away from mouse traps.

And of course as everywhere, there is a Christmas feast--pork or mutton served with red cabbage and potatoes. A special cake, Julekake, and rice porridge are favorites as well.

First The Antipasti

Christmas meals in Italy are varied by region but one thing they have in common is the antipasti. Well, at least the general idea of the dish or platter. It is basically a platter with all sorts of cold meats, cheeses, condiments and vegetables arranged beautifully to create an invitation to begin dining.

I chose this item as a part of my reflection on Christmas in Italy because it is so adaptable to any Christmas celebration. Here is a list of things you might choose from for a more authentic antipasti, which by the way means "before food or before the meal."

Cold cuts sliced thin:
prosciutto
salami
mortadella with pistachio
mild coppa

Marinated vegetables such as artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, pepperoncini, and mushrooms.

Cheeses:
Bocconcini
chunks of parmigiana
thin slices of asiago, provolone and fontina

Breads like Grissini bread strips, focaccia, ciabatta, and other varieties of artisan breads.

All sorts of gourmet olives

You can also add deviled eggs, grilled veggies, figs or melon (wrap the melon in prosciutto).

Antipasti make a great addition to any buffet table and informal gathering.

BUON APPETITO!

Buon Natale!

No matter what country that celebrates Christmas with a figure of generosity, there is always a reward to children for good behavior. Even if it is a witch! La Befana is the witch that during the Christmas season will go house to house rewarding good children with a special treat. She was featured at the Italian venue in Epcot when we visited. Let me tell you about the legend and how she got started.

La Befana predates Santa Claus who gained recognition around WWII. La Befana dates back to the 13th century. She is pictured as an old witch lady with a large red nose, hunched back, dressed in a jacket of colorful patches and with a broom in hand. The legend says that on the 12th night of Christmas (January 5) the three wise men set out to find the baby Jesus. La Befana was asked to join them in their search but she declined. She said she had too much housework to do. Later she changed her mind and went out to find them but never did.

Every year on January 5, La Befana travels on her magic broom, still searching for the baby Jesus. She climbs down chimneys and leaves candy and fruit for the good children and coal, onions or garlic to the naughty ones. Children leave out stockings or shoes to be filled hopefully with sweet treats. After her visit of course there is feasting with family and friends.

Wordless Wednesday

The Yule Log Cake

Yesterday I posted about Pere Noel and some French traditions at Christmas. One of the most important is the Yule Log Cake. There are lots of versions of the Yule Log Cake as people have taken recipes and tailored them to their own tastes. Basically the cake is a jelly roll so you can make different fillings. There are all sorts of recipes that are super easy to super hard but here is one I think even I could tackle.

Yule Log Cake

6 eggs
1 box Devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 TB powdered sugar

Heat oven to 375. Line a jelly roll pan (10X15X1) with wax paper or foil. Spray with a baking spray (one that has flour in it).

In large bowl beat eggs with mixer on high speed until they are lemony color, about 5 minutes. Add cake mix, water, and oil and beat on low speed until mixed and then on medium for 1 minute. Scrap bowl often.

Pour 3 1/2 cups of the batter into the jelly roll pan. (The rest will make 6-8 cupcakes if you like)

Bake 14-16 minutes until cake is springy to the touch. Now comes the tricky part. Run a knife around the edges of the cake to loosen it. Sprinkle the powdered sugar on a kitchen towel (don't use terry cloth) and turn the cake upside down onto the towel. Remove the foil. While cake is still hot, roll the towel and cake into a log from the narrow end. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour.

While you wait, make your filling:
1 1/2 cups cold whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and beat until cream is stiff.

Unroll cooled cake and spread filling on top. Roll again without the towel and place on dish to frost. Use canned frosting or make this creamy rich frosting:

Microwave a 1/2 cup whipping cream in a medium bowl for about a minute or just to the boiling point. Stir in 1 cup chocolate cups and 1 TB corn syrup. Let set 3 minutes then use wire whisk to gently beat until smooth. Beat in 1/4 tsp vanilla. Refrigerate for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes.

Drag a fork the length of the log to make it look like roughened bark. Decorate with a few sprigs of artificial holly or pine.

Joyeux Noel!

Last year's visit to Disney on our way south took us, through the magic of Epcot, to several different countries to see their Christmas customs or traditions of the season. I'll start with France and Pere Noel.

The character came into the French pavilion area in a beautiful red and white coat and sported a soft white beard. He was very similar to Santa in his attire but much more conscious of his weight obviously. He told of how he would bring the good children gifts at Christmas time.

What wasn't mentioned (or at least I don't recall it) was that at times he can be seen with his traveling companion, Pere Fouettard, who is said to frighten the children who have been bad.

Just like for Santa, children set out either socks or shoes to be filled with goodies from Pere Noel. They also set out treats for Pere Noel and his reindeer or donkey that take him from house to house.

After Christmas mass the tradition is to have the reveillon, the feast that includes the traditional Yule Log Cake. Some families start their Yule Log burning and it burns from Christmas Eve until New Year's. Must be a big log.

You can usually find nativities in each home on display and as throughout much of the world, the season is celebrated as a time for festivities with family and friends.

Polar Express Time!

For the last five or six years, Bob and I have volunteered at the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad as Trainman and Elf for the Polar Express runs. We have a great time doing it. I started out as a train elf but found that a little too much to handle and last year switched to the North Pole.

The North Pole is a little less hectic and still a lot of fun. North Pole elves arrive at the "Pole" around 7 PM and sign in. We're out ready to greet the first train by 7:15 as it pulls in from Akron. The train pulls through so all the cars can see the North Pole lights and the elves. Then it backs up and stops and Santa in a John Deere version of the Polar Express train drives down the parallel road and waves to all the kids.

On his way back Santa boards the train and then magically makes his way through all the cars by the time the train has returned to its starting point. Of course each child gets a Polar Express bell and as long as they believe, they can hear it ring.

Meanwhile the elves at the North Pole are welcoming the second train from the Independence station. It does the same procedure as we elves wave and greet the little faces at the windows. And magically, Santa is there for them too!

This year I chose to be a baker again but expanded my costume to a chef's jacket and new red hat. I kind of like the look and someone told me I look like the movie part. If you look closely at the picture, you can see that someone stole a bite of one of my cookies. I walk along the stopped train and try to find the culprit. There are a lot of suspects *smile*.

If you are in the area and would like to volunteer to have some seasonal fun, go to the CVSR website for volunteer information. The North Pole furnishes costumes if you don't want to make your own and you can even be a tree or Rudolph or Frosty if they are available. I'll be looking for you.

Christmas 2015 Remembered

Last year we left early for our snowbird escape to the south. Being the kids that we are, we planned a couple of days at Disney World in Orlando. Our first day was spent at Magic Kingdom. If you have never had the opportunity to do the Disney parks without kids, give it a try. It will bring out the kid in you.

We rode our favorite rides: Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain and yes, It's A Small World (there, now it's stuck in our heads again). We flew with Peter Pan and stomped our feet with the Bear Jamboree. Hopefully we left the hitchhiking ghosts at the Haunted Mansion.

The light parade would not be held that night--at least not for us. If you bought an extra ticket you could have stayed later that night and watched it. We did however get to see the lighting of the Cinderella castle. It became the Frozen castle as the magic of Disney made it an icy glow. It was amazing and eased the disappointment of not seeing the light parade.

This year my resident illumination expert will turn our house into a bit of magic with his new led lights. While it won't look like Cinderella's castle it will be heartwarming and magical.