Through My Lens - Closeups North Carolina Mountains

Mini Road Trip - Pisgah National Forest

Our last full day in NC with our family started out with another beautiful sunrise. I was going to miss having my coffee and cereal on the deck as the sun rose over the mountains in front of us. Today's adventure would involve a trip to the Pisgah National Forest but first, it was Wednesday--Pancake Day.

All of the grandkids love to cook and their kitchen skills are quite impressive. This morning, my grandson decided he would make the pancakes so in addition to my usual cereal, I was treated to an artistic creation, plated perfectly and served with syrup on the side. Did I mention that though he lives in Florida his heart is with the OSU Buckeyes?

After we gathered kids and lunch, we headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway and followed it to our destination--Graveyard Fields with a stop at the highest point (6,053 feet) of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The kids had been to the Graveyard Fields (so named because an area of tree stumps resembles gravestones) last year and wanted to see the second falls rather than the upper falls which had been quite a trek the year before. There were a lot of steps getting down to the waterfall which was quite nice. After enjoying the falls for a bit, we found some flat rocks and spread out our lunch.

Nourished, we started back up the steps, some of us a little slower than the others. Near the top I paused to catch a few pictures of some pretty butterflies that took a moment to pose for me. Then we were off to the highlight of the day--Sliding Rock.

It took us a while to find Sliding Rock. Our phones were rather useless for mapping our route since there was no service in most of that area we traveled through. Eventually we found Looking Glass Falls that was near our destination and we took a few minutes to explore that. Then the anticipation grew as we neared the Sliding Rock parking lot.

The season was over so the dressing rooms and restrooms were closed and there was no lifeguard so it was slide at your own risk. My clever daughter-in-law had brought a tarp and draped it over the back door of the van to create a private dressing area where everyone who was sliding changed into their bathing suits. 

Sliding Rock is a smooth waterfall that you can climb and then slide down the 60 foot boulder into an eight foot deep pool of chilly 50-60 degree water. The outside temperature was about 78-80 so at least when the adventurers got out they could warm up some. There were few people there when we arrived so the kids got to go as often as they wanted without having to wait long.

The youngest grandkids found a small smooth spot in shallow waters where they could take a mini-slide. Everyone had fun and Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed watching it all.

As it was getting close to dinner, we decided to make a stop at Ingles, the large grocery chain, and pick up some fried chicken, potato salad and beans for a quick easy dinner. We needed to finish up in time to see the space shuttle pass overhead at 7:45.

As we watched in wonder as the bright spot in the late evening sky passed overhead, I thought it the perfect ending to a perfectly fun day. 

Mini Road Trip -- Cherokee, NC

At the southern end if the Blue Ridge Parkway and at the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains lies Cherokee, NC. It is the headquarters for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. It lies in the Oconalufte River Valley and is a great spot for some trout fishing. With great expectations, we purchased fishing permits for the day for $10 each (for 12 years and older) and set off to catch our dinner.

Only four of us were interested in fishing so after our lunch, the others went to the visitor center nearby at the Smokey Mountains Park entrance and enjoyed the displays and the examples of farming in the old days.




Meanwhile, my grandson and one of my granddaughters, my son and I worked the shores of the river trying to entice a few trout to bite on our lures. My grandson and I ended up wading into the water a few times to find what we thought might be better spots and eventually we all ended up at a calmer deeper spot in the river where we could actually see a couple of trout in the water.

Suddenly my son yelled, "Got one!" and pulled up a nice rainbow trout. We put it in the cooler we'd brought along that had some ice in it and looked forward to hooking a few more. It was not to be. We fished that spot for quite a while and then all piled in the van and tried a couple of other spots further up the river. All to no avail.

The trout dinner would have to wait. Meanwhile we found a Mexican restaurant that had some terrific food and satisfied our hunger with that.

It would be fun to go back and wander around the Oconalufte Village a bit. There is a lot to do in the area and a lot to learn about the culture and tradition there. For a preview, check out their website, Visit Cherokee, NC.

Mini Road Trip - The Smokey Mountains

Cup of coffee in hand, I sat in the quiet of the morning on the wonderful deck of the house where we were staying with our son and his family and watched the sun come up over the mountains. The view was spectacular as was the sunrise.

With four kids twelve to three years old, there is a bustling start to the day when they are all up and ready for breakfast. As I watched my daughter-in-law in the kitchen, I remembered the days I had five young mouths to feed. Great memories. Kids fed, we made sandwiches to pack for lunch and gathered chips, drinks, and apples and were on our way to our first outing in the Smokey Mountain National Park.

On our way down the mountain we saw the local gang of wild turkeys. A few comments were made about Thanksgiving being only a couple months away. The sun was shining brightly through the trees and promising a beautiful day ahead.

After about a forty-five minute ride, we found our destination, Deep Creek near Bryson City, NC. The trail was said to be easy and there were several options we could take to see three waterfalls. We chose the shorter trail to one of the waterfalls--a concession to Grandma and Grandpa and a three year old whose little legs might not go the distance.

Not a minute into our walk and our grandson spotted a blue tailed skink, a black and white striped lizard with a blue tail. With all the attention upon him, the skink quickly backed into a clump of leaves so all I got was a picture of his head. Yes, he did have a blue tail.

There were many starts and stops along the way to examine flowers, bugs, and butterflies. A few more stops to look for salamanders along the water's edge and wave to a few people brave enough to tube on the cold water of the creek.

We arrived at one waterfall and admired it through the trees. The next one could be viewed at the bottom of the stairs but I did my admiring from the top while the others ventured down and back up again.

Avoiding the trail that would take us on a long loop, we answered our growling tummies with a return trip down the trail to our van and lunch. A picnic table next to a shallow calm area of the creek made an excellent venue for enjoying our sandwiches. It didn't take long though for the kids to be attracted by the shallow waters. Shoes came off and exploring began.

When they didn't immediately come out complaining that the water was cold, I thought I'd give it a try. I pulled off my hiking boots and socks and started in. I imagine what I felt is what it might feel like to a football player to put his sore appendages into an ice bath. Do toenails really curl? I looked to be sure. How those kids were staying in that cold water so long was beyond me. Guess my age was showing. While they enjoyed the water Grandpa and Grandma enjoyed the sunshine and the rest.

We made a stop on the way back to Eagle's Nest Mountain to buy corn and sample some apple cider, then the grocery store for some sausage and accompaniments for dinner and we were on our way back up the mountain, past the gang of turkeys again to the beautiful retreat on the mountainside.

The air chilled quickly with the setting sun and as nighttime fell, the sounds of crickets and the occasional owl filled the air. It was off to bed to recharge for our next day's adventure.

Wordless Wednesday

Mini Road Trip - Off To North Carolina

After a long hiatus from travel, it is starting up again. Our Florida son had the opportunity to enjoy a stay at a beautiful home in the mountains of North Carolina and invited us to join them there for a few days. We broke the long eight hour drive in two, staying overnight in West Virginia. There was no need to arrive so tired that we couldn't enjoy our grandchildren.

Arriving in Waynesville, NC, we spent a few minutes driving around the little downtown area and then followed our GPS to the road that the house was on. The house sits on Eagle's Nest Mountain at about 4500 feet and we knew the road would wind and climb for a while.

As we started up, the GPS said to take a turn on another road. It was a bit contrary to what our son had told us but we thought maybe the name of the road changed as some do or connected back to where we needed to be. In all fairness, it was a long day of driving and we probably weren't reasoning correctly.

The street narrowed quickly as we wound our way up the mountain. Soon it was gravel and no more homes. Then it was ruts. "I don't think this is right," we both said. Thankfully there was a flat spot to turn around and we headed back down. On the main road again, we ignored the GPS and just followed the winding, but paved, road up and up and found the place we were to be.

As we pulled up the driveway, four little people ran out to greet us. They looked very familiar and kept yelling, "Grandma! Grandpa!" Yup, this was the place.

The air smelled fresh and clean as mountain air does. It was a welcome fragrance after a day in the car. Leaves were falling even though many of them had not turned colors yet. It was just the beginning of autumn yet to fully burst into full glory.

Dinner was at a rustic restaurant called Bogart's with several stuffed toy bears laying on the exposed rafters. The sun had set by the time we were done and the chill in the air was a reminder that we were in mountain country. It cools off quickly.

On our way back up the mountain we fessed up about our excursion up the back road. We all speculated that the GPS thought it was a short cut. The only thing that really struck in my mind though was the sign we'd seen on a fence up there, "Beware of Bear." Was that a dog named bear? Or was it meant to be the warning of a real bear? This was after all, mountain country.

Sports And The National Anthem

It's football season and instead of arguments over who will win the season and duke it out at the next Super Bowl, the argument is over standing or kneeling for the National Anthem. As always my curious mind takes over and I begin to wonder, why do we even play the Anthem at sports events? I know I love to hear it played by the OSU marching band at the beginning of the Buckeyes games especially because the horseshoe stadium full of 100,000+ usually sings with the band. It is a moment of pride in my country--right or wrong in some instances but free in so many ways that others around the world are not.

Francis Scott Key penned the words. As the story goes he was inspired by the flag that flew strong in the midst of the battle at Fort McHenry in Maryland as the British bombed it in the war of 1812. What some might find amusing is that the words were set to an English drinking song, "To Anacreon In Heaven" written by John Stafford Smith. But where did it start playing at sports games?

The Star Spangled Banner, written in 1814, did not even become the official national anthem until 1931 but before that time it was played for many events. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson declared it should be played at all official events but even before that it was played as early as 1862 during the Civil War at the opening day baseball game at Union Base Ball and Cricket Grounds in Brooklyn, NY.

In the 1890s the Star Spangled Banner was played at several ball games but not until 1918 did it really make a big impression in the sports world. It was opening day for baseball in Chicago, Boston Red Sox vs. Cubs. We were 17 months into a war to end all wars and 100,000 had already died fighting. Fred Thomas, the Red Sox third baseman who was on furlough from the Navy, saluted. Other players displayed their feelings with hands over hearts. The crowd that was standing began to sing. It was reported in the New York Times that the end of the song was met with "thunderous applause and rent the air with a cheer that marked the highest point of the day's enthusiasm." That's saying a lot when the game included such players as Babe Ruth.

The playing of the SSB did not happen at every ballgame simply because it required hiring a band that was expensive back then. Sound systems came into being around World War II and changed that. Soon the SSB was heard at many sporting events as well as the theater and the movies.

During the Vietnam War, the NFL commissioner, Pete Rozelle, enforced a policy that all players were to stand at attention during the playing of what was now the national anthem with their helmets tucked under their arms. They were not to talk, chew gum or move their feet. Apparently while the government cannot restrict first amendment rights, owners of sports teams can require certain behavior from their players in their contracts.

We have been to many countries where their national anthem has been played at events we have attended. As a matter of respect, we have stood with the citizens of that country as they honor their flag. It didn't meant that we agreed with their politics. It was all a matter of respect.

Another Road Trip Stop - The Corn Palace

In 1892, the city of Mitchell built its first corn palace as a way to prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate.The palace was to be a gathering place where city residents and their rural neighbors could enjoy a fall festival with stage entertainment. It would be a celebration to top off the growing season and harvest.

In 1905 a second palace was built as the festivities outgrew the old one, only to be followed by a third building built between 1919 and 1921 when the second one proved too small as well. In the 1930s steps were taken to recapture some of the character of the original Corn Palace and minarets and kiosks of Moorish design were added.

Today the Corn Palace is more than just a building where the Corn Palace Festival continues to take place each year in late August. It is also a venue for many other celebrations and some sports events such as high school basketball. But its charm goes way beyond the inside activities.

Each year the Palace is redecorated with naturally colored corn, grains, and native grasses. There are thirteen different colors or shades of corn including green corn. A different theme is chosen each year and the murals are designed around it.The Corn Palace is known around the world as a folk-art wonder on the prairie of South Dakota.

Would You Live In A Hole In A Rock?

While you may have visited a "hole in the wall" restaurant have you ever visited a "hole in the rock" house? If you are out in the Moab, Utah, area you might want to check out Hole N" The Rock, a 5,000 square foot home carved out of sandstone. For real!

Albert Christenden, originally from Sweden, worked in the uranium mines in America. Upon retiring from the mines he and his wife located to Moab, Utah, where Albert began creating a home--from the sandstone mountain. He and his faithful donkey, Harry, excavated 50,000 cubic feet of sandstone to create the living space. There are fourteen rooms that are heated by a large fireplace with a 65 foot chimney.

It took twelve years to create but was not completely finished when he died in 1957. His wife, Gladys, continued the work of finishing his dream. In order to survive she set up a restaurant and gift shop where she sold jewelry that she made. She died in 1974 and is buried with her husband at the site.

In addition to being able to see this unusual home, there is also a petting zoo with live animals (Harry passed on long ago and is mummified) and many of Albert's paintings and sculptures are on display as well as Gladys' doll collection.

Just another one of those stops to break up the monotony of a road trip. If you'd like to preview it before you put it on your itinerary check out the Hole N" The Rock website.

Happy trails!

Wordless Wednesday

Where Does Unclaimed Baggage Go?

This is hard to believe but a facility in Alabama is the collection center for thousands of pieces of unclaimed baggage. I can understand there being a lot of lost baggage but I can't imagine anyone leaving a bag on the luggage belt to go round and round until it's eventually set aside and after 90 days of trying to find the owner, sent off to be disposed of in Alabama. Now that doesn't mean it is trashed. Oh no. Let me explain.

It all started with Doyle Owens back in 1970. He was apart-time insurance salesman in Scottsboro and the son of a general store merchant who had a friend working with a bus company in Washington, DC. The friend asked Owens if he might be interested in buying lost luggage from the bus company and reselling the contents. Owens saw an opportunity and took his pickup truck to DC for his first load. His wife, Sue, sorted the contents, priced it and the two set up a table and sold what they found.The business eventually grew to include luggage left behind at taxi companies, car rentals, commuter trains and of course the airlines.

Eventually it became one of Alabama's most unique businesses, the Unclaimed Baggage Center. The center was purchased in 1995 by Doyle's son, Bryan and now covers a city block. And of course it is open to the public for exploring and buying items left behind and unclaimed by travelers from all over the globe.

Everyday at 2:30 PM you can have the unique experience of watching as baggage is opened and discoveries made. Some of the more unusual things that have been found are a shrunken head, a 40 carat emerald, a suit of armor, and the ever popular vacuum packed bag of frogs. As they open the luggage and go through the contents there are four piles it can end up in, clean it, sell it, trash it or give it away. I'm assuming the clean it pile ends up in the sell it pile eventually.

There are bargains to be had at the store. IPads, cameras, clothing (a Versace dress was found in one suitcase), etc. A vase was sold for $80 and later found to be worth $18,000. Unbelievable isn't it that people would not be able to track down that kind of valuable stuff! And then there was the camera from a space shuttle (it was returned to NASA) and a missile guidance system for a fighter jet (returned to the Air Force).

If we are ever anywhere near Scottsboro, Alabama, you can bet we're making a stop.

An Ice Cream Graveyard

Several years ago we did a road trip through the New England area to see the fall leaves in full color. It was a great trip and one stop we made was especially fun--the home of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream in Waterbury, Vermont. There was a tour that explained their ice cream production and of course sampling.

What I don't remember is the graveyard. Perhaps it is something that has sprung from some innovative employee or marketer since our visit or the other logical explanation, I'm getting old. I found an article about it while surfing the net and while it might be more appropriate for a fun Halloween post, I decided to bring it to your attention now. After all, maybe you are in the midst of a fall foliage tour and could stop and check it out yourself.

The graveyard is both physical and virtual. It is the place where ice cream flavors are buried when they have passed away, out lived their tastiness. The dearly de-pinted, as they are referred to, are honored on gravestones that can be found in a graveyard just outside the factory. Each headstone has the name of the flavor, a cheeky poem and the years it was in production.

You can visit the virtual graveyard on the Ben & Jerry's website. There is a clever video of a funeral for a flavor and a list of 34 flavors that have passed into eternity--unless of course it gets enough votes to be resurrected.

One de-pinted flavor that caught my attention was Chocolate Comfort. Now how could anything chocolate pass away? Then I read the description. Chocolate truffle low fat ice cream swirled with white chocolate low fat ice cream. RIP! Low fat? White chocolate?

There are all sorts of links to interesting fun things like ideas for becoming your favorite ice cream flavor for Halloween. While it doesn't seem to involve eating it, I'm sure that it would help with the inspiration.

Lounging On A Long Layover -Airport Lounges For Economy Flyers

For a lot less than first or business class tickets you can get into those comfortable airport lounges with a little luck and ingenuity. We get access to United lounges and some of their alliance airline lounges with a credit card that we pay extra for. It still is cheaper than buying those premium tickets and when we have long layovers for our more lengthy trips, we enjoy being able to get out of the busyness of the main airport and enjoy some snacks and beverages as well as WIFI and other amenities.

But you don't have to pay fees for a credit card to gain access. There are day passes that can be bought and would be the way to go if you are not a frequent flyer. Of course those passes are predicated on whether or not the lounge is at capacity. You wouldn't want to try to get into the Ft. Lauderdale United lounge (or probably any other there) on a big turnover day for the cruise ships. Cruise lines drop their passengers at the airport and often there is a long wait before the flight home. We sat in the Orlando airport once when Disney dropped us off seven hours before our flight was due to take off. Thankfully we didn't have any little ones with us.

I ran across a great source for finding lounges in airports all over the world and how much a day pass would cost. I was surprised that they could go for as low as $20 in some cases. The site is actually called Sleeping In Airports and details places to sleep if you are delayed as well as hints for making yourself more comfortable. One of their pages though is all about airport lounges and lists hundreds of possibilities all over the world.

Go to the site and see if your next long layover might be in a spot where you can snag some time in a comfy lounge--maybe even take a shower if you desire. Also do a search online for airport lounge day passes and you will find several companies that will book your lounge time for you or sell you a pass that you can use for a limited time. You too can travel as though you paid first class.

Travel Companions Through Life

Forty-nine years ago my husband, Bob, and I traveled down the aisle and made promises that we've kept pretty well over the years. Little did we know when we made our first trip as a couple to the Hocking Hills of Ohio that we would become world travelers one day. That was quite a three-day honeymoon since we were the only visitors to the Lake Hope Lodge other than a large group of park rangers who were having some sort of conference.

My only souvenir (besides the memories) is an acorn. There was a large tank for heating oil or propane for the winter guests just outside our cabin window. We could hear the acorns rustle through the leaves as they dropped from the tree and then ping as they hit the tank. I still have the acorn. It's preserved in a chunk of plastic.

Since then we raised five kids, accumulated a gang of grandkids and made friends all over the world. What a great time! I'm looking forward to fifty next year.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY TRAVEL COMPANION AND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!

Wordless Wednesday

Salvation Mountin

Maybe it's because I was preparing a talk for a ladies' retreat this week that an article caught my eye. My talk includes the mention of Elijah visiting Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God. So when I came across a place called Salvation Mountain, well, I just had to take a look.

Leonard Knight was the creator of Salvation Mountain, the sole creator, and it was pretty much a life long work of his. It was begun in 1984 after he discarded his first idea of how to tell the world about his new found faith and the love of God. He wanted to build a hot air balloon and basically advertise the sinner's prayer so that others could find the peace and joy he had through Jesus.

The balloon never got off the ground and just about the time he was to leave the Niland, California area, he decided to make one last attempt at a monument to God's love. He began building a mountain.

The first attempt collapsed after four years of work. He learned that the sand and cement he was using was not strong enough to support the size his mountain had grown to. It collapsed. He began to make an adobe and straw structure that proved to be successful. The work grew to a height of 50 feet and breadth of 150 feet. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of paint, all of which have been donated, cover the mountain with artwork and scriptures and of course the central message of the sinner's prayer.

The story is fascinating and I will put links to the information I found below. Leonard Knight died at the age of 82 after a stay in a care facility because eventually he was a victim of dementia. All those years though he never faltered in his quest to make known his love of God and the importance of telling others. An organization has now picked up the cause but I think it is more to preserve what has become a beloved piece of folk art. Have a look at the links and if you are ever on a road trip in that area take time to have a look. It's on my list now too.

Salvation Mountain "official site" - has detailed biography and history of the site.

Salvation Mountain Wikipedia

Salvation Mountain FaceBook page

Salvation Mountain, Inc,  - the group working to preserve the mountain

Ranch Vacations - Are You A Dude Or Guest?

In all our travels we have never considered a stay at a dude ranch. Perhaps it didn't cross our minds or make the bucket list mainly because we have no desire to get on a horse. The last time I did I thought I wouldn't be able to walk again. Of course that was after having climbed Mt. Fuji and I couldn't make it back to the bus on foot.

Even so, the time before that when I was coaxed into mounting a horse at the ranch in Uruguay where our World Cruise group had an event (Carol and Carolyn, if you read this--I still love you) it was not pretty. The mounting or the dismounting. I was pretty proud of myself for following through though.

No, a dude ranch wouldn't be for us but it might for you if you love horses, the outdoors, and all sorts of activities that center around a working ranch. The question I had was what was the difference between a dude and a guest. Turns out, not much.

The term dude usually referred to a guest who gets involved by doing chores around the ranch like rounding up livestock and such and the term guest referred to someone who likes to watch someone else do the work. I'm guessing that for insurance purposes most of the dude ranches are really guest ranches where there are lots of activities but they don't really involve hands-on ranch work.

In the research I did online I couldn't find a ranch that even listed roundups as part of the activity or even feeding the livestock. There were a few where you could get a little more up close and personal with supervision. I'm sure they exist. They just didn't pop up in my search box before I stopped looking.

There is an association of Dude Ranches however and if you are interested it would be a good place to start looking. It's called (drum roll) the Dude Ranch Association. They explain the types of activities to expect. I must admit that while the horseback riding does not appeal a lot of the other stuff did, especially the trout fishing.

So dudes and dudettes, as my husband would say, if you are looking for some wild western adventure or just some home on the range relaxation put some Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers music on your playlist and check out the ranches. Who knows you might even find one of Trigger's descendants there.

Laptop Bans On Airlines

While I haven't seen it highly publicized (perhaps because it's old news and there is so much other fodder to feed on) there is an easing of the ban on laptops in carry-ons when flying from certain countries nonstop into the U.S. The problem apparently was that there were airlines or airports that did not do an adequate job of screening or did not have the equipment to screen that was approved by the Department of Homeland Security. There had been reason to believe that terrorists were planning to and/or had the capability of carrying a bomb on board with a laptop.

The checked luggage apparently goes through a security check that is different than carry-on luggage and is a better way to see if there i
s an unwanted device hidden there. Now the airlines, mainly those flying out of the Middle East, are complying with the standards set by the DHS and the ban has been lifted for several.

I'm still leaving the laptop at home for this next overseas trip. It's time to take a break from some of the electronics. I'm not even taking a camera this time although I will rely on my cell phone for pictures and of course a connection to family and friends but that will be minimized as well. I'm not ready to disconnect all together.

Caribbean Hurricane Season - Deals and Dangers

Harvey, Irma, Jose. Who is next? And where will they travel? It's been quite a season already and there are still a few weeks to go. We can easily see why there are deals to be had during the hurricane season in the Caribbean if you are willing to take the chance that a windy woman or malevolent man won't upset your plans with their bluster.

When Ivan hit the Cayman Islands a few years ago it was quite a shock. They were famous for dodging the hurricanes that usually passed to the north or south of them. It's that way with some of the other islands as well--at least during certain times of the hurricane season. I found an article on SmarterTravel that helped to explain why.

The water heats up and feeds the tropical storms that turn into hurricanes but it doesn't heat up all over the area at the same time. In June and July the Gulf of Mexico waters are warmer. In August and September, the  Northern Windward Islands (Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, etc.), Leeward Islands (U.S./British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Guadeloupe Islands, etc.), Greater Antilles (Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, etc.) are more likely to see storms build to hurricane strength from the warmer waters. In October and November, the western Caribbean and Southeastern U.S. are more likely to see a hurricane although I always thought the danger was pretty much over by the end of October.

If you are willing to take a chance on a trip to the Caribbean during the hurricane season you may just snag some really good deals. Cruise ships usually offer lower prices as do resorts in the area. Just be sure to read the fine print and if you are nervous and take out travel insurance but remember there's fine print to be had there as well. I can't speak for the resort areas but I know the cruise lines will change course and ports of call if there is the chance of being caught in a bad storm and especially a hurricane. While there have been horror stories of a few bad cruises those are the exception, not the rule.

While experiencing a hurricane is not a pleasant prospect there is usually enough time to get out of Dodge before it hits--unlike the tornadoes we experience in the Midwest that give little or no warning. Resorts and cruise lines want you back as soon as they can have you. There is sure to be compensation if your plans are blown away. (A friend was given full credit toward another cruise when Irma changed their vacation plans.)

You are not living dangerously by planning a trip to the Caribbean during hurricane season. Just be as cautious as you would crossing the street and look in all directions. And on some of those islands hit this year the tourist dollars are going to a welcome sight for their rebuilding.

Wordless Wednesday

Books For The Road - Casey Stengel Mysteries

In anticipation of working toward a third book in this series I have combined the first two Casey Stengel Mysteries into one volume. Murder Among The Orchids and Death Among The Deckchairs are available in one book now on Amazon. Here are the teasers for the two:

Murder Among The Orchids: Among his beloved orchids, Mr. Popelmayer lay as if he'd gone down swinging. Casey and her detective friend, Max, discover more than one bizarre and exotic turn to the mystery of Mr. Pop's death. Did his daughter, Cattelya, or his son, Garo, want an early inheritance? Or perhaps his first wife has had her revenge. The answer lies in the Costa Rican Forest of Orchids.

Death Among The Deckchairs: All Casey wanted was a relaxing cruise where she could visit with her daughter, the cruise director, but suddenly she finds herself in the middle of a murder at sea. Who would have guessed the beautiful young woman dead in the deckchair next to her had an enemy who would use her love of the sun to end her life? When Max joins Casey, what she thought would be a romantic ending to her cruise becomes an intense search for evidence. Somewhere among all the dermatologists holding a conference on board ship is a killer. Is it the victim’s doctor husband? Or one of his co-workers? And how does the shark expert fit into the puzzle?

Two for the road!

I Don't Make This Stuff Up!

Being a novelist you might think that some of my posts sound like fiction. Some are but I always tell you when it's a short story or I'm promoting a book. This story is true and happened last week when Bob and I decided to get a little exercise at one of our favorite places, the CleMet Zoo. (By the way, the photos are of the new Asia Highlands exhibit under construction.)

We sort of have a route we take and we had just stopped by the medical center to see if any of the animals were getting a root canal or other procedure. There was nothing going on so we continued toward the bridge that goes over the creek and up to the tiger exhibit. There were several kids with their moms on the bridge running back and forth and looking in the water. As we started on to the bridge we heard the loud call of a monkey.

Hmmm, I thought. Is there a new exhibit nearby with a monkey in it? There are some changes going on at the zoo. New exhibits being started so it was possible. Most of the monkey and gorilla population though is way up on the top of the hill quite a ways from where we were.

As we passed the kids who were still a little excited and one of the moms Bob said to her, "I thought all the animals were in cages." He was being funny as she was trying to obviously gather her kids together to move on.

Her face pinked a bit and she said with a smile, "My son asked me to make one more monkey call."

"That was you?!" I said with amazement. "You could have fooled me!"

I'm not making this stuff up--but I am saving it in the file. It's sure to fit into a story somewhere.

Stunning Coasts

Sometimes I wonder how travel articles come up with their lists. The most recent one I checked out was The 9 Most Jaw Dropping Coastlines. We've been to three on their list: the cliffs of Dover in England, the Queen Charlotte Drive on New Zealand's south island and the 12 Apostles in Victoria, Australia. They are amazing and I'm sure the other six on the list are as well but not on the list were some others we have seen that are amazing as well.

The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland are stunning. Windy but stunning. They are located near Liscannor Village in Co. Clare on the west coast. The cliffs are said to be formed from compacted mud, silt and sand that has washed down to the ocean for over 320 million years. Amazing considering the pounding they get from the ocean.

Another fascinating coast is west coast of Italy where Cinque Terre is . The five villages sit on cliffs overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Beautiful vistas can be enjoyed from each village and if you are up to it, you can walk a trail that leads you through each one. If not, take the train that stops at each. Whatever you do be sure to enjoy the local pasta.

One of my favorite cruises is to the Norwegian fjords. They are breathtaking. Wonderful cliffs, lush green vegetation, waterfalls. Either entering or exiting the Geiranger Fjord the cruise ship will slowly cruise in or out and you can leisurely enjoy the magnificent coastline.

And then there's the iconic coastline near Cape Town, South Africa, and the fjords of the South Island of New Zealand and. . .Well, I just don't see how you can pick out only nine and I'm sure there are many more that I haven't seen. There are lots of nooks and crannies in this world to be explored and appreciated.

Connecting To Iceland

If you live in the Cleveland area you no doubt heard the news that Iceland Air and WOW Air will soon (May of 2018) start flights out of Hopkins to Reykjavik, Iceland, and beyond. What a great opportunity for travelers who are looking for cheaper fares to Europe. Both airlines offer flights to many points in Europe from their base in Reykjavik. But I say why go on to Europe when you can have Iceland?

Our trip to Iceland in 2016 was amazing--so much so that with the new opportunity to fly direct from Cleveland we will seriously consider another trip. Last year we drove to Toronto to catch our flight to Iceland. It saved us $800 less gas money and it's just a five hour drive from our home without traffic. It took us eight hours getting home again because of the long line getting back into the US and then hitting rush hour traffic in Buffalo. It's only 20 minutes to Hopkins for us and usually we can avoid any traffic. Already I'm excited!


Iceland is a little pricey for food and lodging but it is an amazing place to visit. If you are at all interested in the Northern Lights, the best time to go is between September and March. Our trip was in early September and the lights were on! We missed the best night however as we were in flight and then the next night we were so tired we missed a second great night. Still, we did get to see them and experience the wonder.

Be aware though that if you go later than September you may be limited in your travel as the weather will turn on you and there will be many places that will close for the season. But the country is beautiful. We loved the food. The people were wonderful. Yes, I definitely see another trip in our future.

Wordless Wednesday

To Pre-Book Or Not To Pre-Book Those Cruise Extras

More and more we find ourselves booking our cruise extras ahead of our cruise. Usually several months before your cruise the line will publish its excursions for the cruise and then allow you to book them before you board. They will also let you book specialty dining and spa treatments. So we take the time to check out the things we find most important to us.

On our holiday cruises we especially take the time to book our specialty dining nights. The specialty dining is usually filled up quickly on those cruises since it is such a special time of the year. If you get on board and find that you booked on a night you'd rather eat in the dining room (don't want to miss lobster night or prime rib night) then you can either cancel or if there is another free spot, change to another night.

We don't usually use the spa other than Bob enjoying the thermal suite. He will usually buy his package on the ship as soon as we board--after he's checked to be sure it offers what he wants. Keep in mind if you are prebooking that days in ports will be less expensive than days at sea. Just be careful to not book something close to the end of an excursion you take. They don't always return on time.

And speaking of excursions--depending upon our itinerary, we will prebook the excursions that we just absolutely don't want to miss. While we do a lot of exploring on our own or booking tours that are not part of the ship's offerings, there are some that we want to be sure we make it back on board when the ship is ready to sail. Usually the more interesting excursions will sell out quickly so those are best if prebooked. There is a window of opportunity to cancel your excursion if your plans change. Be sure to check the cruise line's policies.

Hope that helps you make your decisions. The more you cruise the more you'll figure all these things out on your own. But then even after more than 50 cruises, we find things always change. Keeps us on our toes.

The Guiding Night Light

We weren't quite half way through our 2015 World Cruise when Bob decided he couldn't cope with the bright light in the stateroom bathroom in the middle of the night. Those night time visits when nature calls were waking him up too much with the bright light when he flipped the switch. So when we reached one of the ports in Australia where there was a large flea market, he found the answer to his problem.

We couldn't get a regular night light because the bathroom outlet was only for electric shavers. But there sitting on one of the tables with a whole bunch of other gadgets was a battery powered motion sensored night light. He was so proud of himself for finding it. We bought it and a battery and hoped it would work. There was no coming back to return it but the price was somewhere around $12 if I remember correctly and we figured it was worth the gamble.

Back on the ship, Bob set up the night light and it worked like a charm. Enough light to see what you were doing in the bathroom. No more fumbling for where the switch was on the wall and no bright light flooding the stateroom before the bathroom visitor closed the door. More importantly, it didn't wake you up so much you couldn't get back to sleep.

That little gem has been tucked into our suitcase for every trip we take. We use it at home as well. Ours takes a 9v battery but I've seen some online that take AAAs. It's a great investment if you are someone who needs a bathroom break during the night. Check them out at Amazon or Walmart. Just enter a search for them. There are lots to choose from.

Pickleball Around The World

So what is Pickleball? One of the fastest growing sports for all ages. It was said it was for seniors but the players are getting younger everyday. We even have middle school students coming to learn to play on occasion from the nearby school. And, to my surprise, it has spread to many other parts of the world. So, I guess we can start packing our paddles when we travel.

Back to the original question. Pickleball is a little like tennis but played on a smaller court with paddles that look like table tennis but are a bit larger and a ball that resembles a whiffle ball. Check out the video here.



So where do you find Pickleball outside the USA? Canada, Finland, Australia, France, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the UK. Did I mention Costa Rica? Yes. There is a couple from Washington who moved to Costa Rica and is now setting up tours for Pickleball groups to come and play and sightsee and play. Our Pickleball group may be going. Sounds like it could be fun. Travel and Pickleball. Best of both worlds.

Lighten Up! Leave The Everyday Purse At Home

I've said it before and I'll say it again, when sightseeing there is no reason to load yourself down with a heavy purse that will just make you tired halfway through your day. Time after time I see women going through the TSA security check with a purse the size of a carry on. Now that's fine if you are just getting from one place to another on a business trip or a visit with relatives, but if you are intending to tour on vacation, take a vacation from that huge baggage that will only give you a pain in the neck.

Opt for a small purse, one that can be worn across your body and in front of you for more security while you are out and about. How small you ask? Maybe we should back up and see what you absolutely need to carry with you.

You won't need all those store value shopper cards. Clean them out of your wallet and leave them home. All you will need is your driver's license or passport and one or two credit cards. Wow. That really reduces that wallet. Maybe you could get by with a smaller one of those as well.

Carrying all of your cosmetics including your nail polish in your purse? Why? Put your makeup on before you go on tour or take a vacation from it all together. A little lipstick may be all you need to perk up that I'm-on-vacation-look. If you must have perfume or fragrance, find a light perky scent in a small sample size.

Don't keep collecting change. Use it up as soon as you can with your next purchase. Some foreign coins are very heavy.

Now let's take a little inventory, Lipstick, maybe a sample perfume, small wallet with two cards and driver's license, a few coins, a small comb, a small pack of tissues, sample sized pain reliever and antacid, a small hand sanitizer and your cell phone. Add to that the hotel key when you get it and you are good to go. I know. I know. The withdrawal symptoms may come but once you relax and start enjoying the scenery you won't miss any of that other stuff. And your neck and back will thank you at the end of the day. You might even like it so much you'll make changes when you get home.

The only place you need a big bag is if you're heading to the beach. My suggestion is find a canvas bag you can tuck in your suitcase and fill when you need it with the beach essentials like sunblock and water and a towel or two. And of course that beach book!

Wordless Wednesday

My Grandparents Bought Me This T-Shirt

We have all seen them. They hang in the souvenir shops of every tourist stop. “My grandparents visited [you name the place] and all I got was this T-shirt.” I don’t usually buy a lot of souvenirs for my grandkids when we are traveling. There’s not a lot of room in the suitcase that many trinkets. But on occasion I do try to bring back something that will satisfy their curiosity when they express an interest in where Grandma and Grandpa are going.

On our “once in a lifetime” cruise to Antarctica, I tried to find something that was symbolic or educational to bring home to our young grandchildren. Tyler, the oldest, was four years old at the time and was the only one who had a little understanding of where we were going.

“How cold are the icebergs? Can you walk on them? Does it snow all the time?”

I was desperate to find something that would peak his interest and lend to his education. Trust me. There are not a lot of souvenir shops in Antarctica and bringing back a baby penguin was out of the question. In the ship’s gift shop, I found fleece vests with Antarctica embroidered on the back. The girls, I knew, would enjoy the clothes, but no so Tyler. I bought one for him anyway just to have something to give him.

Back home, as I unpacked the vests, I remembered all his questions about icebergs and snow. I stared out the window at the heavy snow that was falling as I anticipated our visit with him and his sister. Like an avalanche, the idea struck me. Why not give him an iceberg for his souvenir—a mini-iceberg!

Wading out into the snow, I packed a large plastic container with the white stuff, snapped a lid on it and set it in the freezer for our visit.

At Tyler’s house that weekend, the fleece vest got tossed over his head as I anticipated. (His father always did the same thing with gifts that were clothes.) Then I pulled out my special souvenir. His eyes widened and he took the mini-iceberg from me and set it on the floor in front of him. “It’s so cool, Grandma!”

He and Danielle took little penguins from one of their toy collections and played with them on the iceberg and before he went to bed that night, he had to float it in the bathtub with him. He was careful not to let it melt too much (already he was learning about global warming) and it went back into the freezer for another day.

Souvenirs don’t mean a whole lot to others, especially children, if they haven’t experienced the place they came from. When the souvenir is something that will impart a little knowledge or understanding of another place, it becomes much more valuable.

What is it you can whet your grandchild’s appetite for learning with when you look for a souvenir to bring back from vacation? It doesn’t have to cost a whole lot. Save a couple coins from a foreign country. Make a recipe from that country or region for them to taste. Find story books unique to where you visited that you can read with them. And be sure to send them a postcard!

T-shirts are usually three for ten dollars and don’t last past the second washing but a memory shared through a unique souvenir will last a lifetime. 

Books For The Road - The Annie Pickels Story

THEY'RE HERE!!

Several years ago (2012) to be exact I wrote and published In A Pickle, the first novel of the Annie Pickels Story. Here is the back cover teaser:

Annie Pickels, a 65 year old widowed pickle entrepreneur is in real trouble. One of her city farmers is growing marijuana on his rented plot of land. Annie, thinking it is marjoram, uses it as a secret ingredient in her pickles. Insisting Tommy is a nice young man, Annie discovers his beloved Mary Jane is not the name of his girlfriend when Annie is arrested for cultivation and sale of marijuana. But Annie knows God always takes care of her. On a cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2, Annie met Arnie, the man who may solve her impending legal dilemma. Elma, Annie's best friend, knows that Arnie is just what Annie needs in her life. But is he? Annie's niece thinks Arnie is out to fleece her aunt. Is she right? Or is Arnie the one who can get Annie out of the pickle she's in?

Now the story is completed in Pickle Dilly. Here's the teaser:

Annie Pickels, a widowed pickle entrepreneur, and her best friend Elma are off to London for a little holiday. While in London things are happening back home that threaten to cause the loss of Annie’s farm property. Once again she will rely on Arnie, her friend who is a lawyer but who wants to be so much more in her life, to help her out of trouble. A trip to Alaska and a meeting with her deceased husband’s family solves some of her problems but there are still questions to be answered. How far will the people who want her property go to get it? And, is there room in her heart for Arnie, the one Elma keeps telling her is the “man of her dreams”? It’s a dilly of a pickle Annie finds herself in but with friends, family and faith the answers become clear.

Both books are a humorous adventure that includes trips to the Caribbean on the Queen Mary 2, London and Alaska. Readers who have fallen in love with the characters, Annie, Elma and Arnie, have begged me to finish the story. It took a while but now it's here. In a Pickle has a new cover that coordinates with Pickle Dilly. After all Elma, the fashionista, would want the books coordinated.

In A Pickle and Pickle Dilly are now available on Amazon in paperback and ebook format. Enjoy!!

The Eclipse Adventure

Like so many other Americans Bob and I spent a good part of our afternoon on Monday (8/21) watching the eclipse. In our area it was about 80% which was pretty amazing in itself. It was a very hot afternoon and I was glad our setup allowed us to stay indoors. Thank goodness for south-facing windows.

While Bob had made a pinhole viewer with a shoe box, I opted to go the route of using the binoculars to project an image onto white poster board. It wasn't hard to set up. I took the lid of Sunday's pizza box and cut a hole just large enough to fit over one side of the binocular lenses. The instructions said the less light leaking in around the lens the better so we duct taped any gaps we found. I used my camera's tripod and taped the binoculars to it so it would be steady.

We had some foam board downstairs leftover from Christmas gingerbread houses and I used that for my projection screen. Once it was set up, it worked like a charm. We had to move it from the family room window to the kitchen window as the sun moved but we didn't have to go out in the heat (it was 90) and humidity.

I was amazed at how well the pictures came out that I took with my phone. And the video shows how the clouds passed over the sky as well. Thankfully at 2:31 PM, full peak time, the clouds parted and we could see the moon cover 80% of the sun.

We're ready now for 2024 when it is due to be a total eclipse in our area.

Wordless Wednesday

Grandma’s Journal

Do you keep a journal? Journaling is one of those things that I toy with now and then. I used to be a diary-keeper when I was a teen and young adult but life got busy with five kids and I fell out of the habit. Now, with all the writing I do I find that I have a kaleidoscopic journal that is in colorful pieces here and there. I keep a blog and journal on many of my trips—especially if it is to an interesting place like China.

Here and there in my writing I am influenced by my grandchildren. Usually it is because they have provided a good laugh. Case in point: One night we got a 1-800-Grandma call from our oldest grandson, Tyler. It went something like this:

"Tee-hee. Grandma? Can you come and give my Daddy a spanking? Tee-hee-hee."

"A spanking? Why? What's Daddy doing?"

"Well, he's your son and he keeps teasing me."

"Yes, he's my son, but what's he doing?"

"He flipped me with his sock. And it smelled, Grandma! Tee-hee-hee."

"Tyler, is this a 1-800-Grandma call?"

"A what?"

"Never mind. But if your Daddy needs a spanking, you better call 1-800-Grandpa."

Guess I still subscribe to the just-wait-until-your-father-gets-home threat. Tee-hee-hee.

And then there was the time when Kotomi, who was about four, walked up to Cinderella at the Disney World Castle and asked, “So, where’s the prince?”

I could go on but then I’d just be taking advantage of your listening ear—or make that reading eye. The point is that these are precious memories worth noting somewhere because along the way, they are often forgotten and too soon these little people will be grown up with little people of their own. What fun to be able to share the memories of their young lives with each other and their parents who may not have the time to write it down. And what a precious treasure for the future generations.

Journals come in all sizes, shapes, and price-points. When I was younger, I used a diary with the lock that had a one-key-fit-all to open it. Then I advanced to a seventy-nine cent spiral notebook when I figured out anyone could get into the locked diary.

Whatever type of journal you may choose, a clothbound fancy parchment-papered book with a raffia ribbon or a spiral notebook, put it in a place where you will see it often and remember to record those warm fuzzy moments with grands. And even if they aren’t so fuzzy, it may help you to see them in a different light. A journal is a map of a journey. Not necessarily where you are going but where you have been. It’s nice to look back once in a while.

Grandma’s Got a Brand New Bag

[It's time for some more Grandma stories. I wrote this several years ago when these two grands were much younger--oh, so was I!]

Tyler and Danielle can hardly sit still in the car. They are on their way to pick up Mamaw Patty from work and have lunch with her. Their excitement is hard to contain because they know that their grandmother will have a brand new bag of goodies for them to explore during lunch. They pick Mamaw up at work and head for McDonald’s.

“Ooh, what’s in the bag, Mamaw?” Tyler says before she can fasten her seat belt. He knows she’s not going to tell him but it’s worth a try.

Danielle rolls her big baby blues and says, “I know.”

Tyler scowls. “What?”

“Something good.”

They rush to sit beside Mamaw Patty while their mom, Lori, orders lunch. Patty reaches into her bag and hesitates. She’s drawing out the anticipation and enjoying their eager faces. Slowly she begins to pull out the supplies for the day’s project—fish foamies, glue, wiggly eyes, markers.

By the time the fries are gone and the last bite of hamburger disappears, Tyler and Danielle each have a colorful angel fish with wiggly eyes to take home. And to Lori’s delight, Patty has enough in her bag to give the kids a project to work on when they get home.

When Tyler and Danielle come to Grandma Robbins’ house, their enthusiasm is directed to my toy closet. Each time they visit there is always something new to be discovered. Sometimes it is just the latest toy from a Happy Meal. I like a smaller portion of fast food and discovered I could order a kid’s meal and save the toy for my closet. Or perhaps I’ve been out and seen something on sale that I could add to the collection that grows as they do while I try to keep up with their expanding interests. My toy closet is easily accessible and each grandchild is quite proud that they can go into it on their own and choose what they will play with. 

What’s your bag? What do you do that is special and unique for your grands? It doesn’t have to be fancy. Maybe you like to bake or cook and have a specialty that they can always associate with you. Perhaps you love to read and always have a new book ready to share in a special chair or corner of the garden. An ongoing project like a doll house that is only worked on at your home. A hobby or talent that is your specialty to share.

Your “bag” makes you unique in your grandchild’s eyes. That is one of the things they will associate with grandma and grandpa. They will remember that there was something special just for them, wrapped in your love, each time they visited with you. Keep it fresh but keep it uniquely yours.