Travel Journal

Last year my mom bought me a small journal with Paris labels all over the front and a variety of lined and unlined paper inside.  It took me awhile to figure out how I was going to use it.  Then last Christmas I decided a travel journal would be quite useful, and this little book would be perfect for the job.

The book is naturally divided into sections because of the assortment of paper, so I have designated them into categories:
1. Basic Itinerary - what I did each day, with whom, and what I ate.

2. What I packed that worked well, and what I never want to forget again.

3. Design Inspiration -  I always see art and fabric that is different from my regular world.
I have written a few notes, but really a photograph of the item is most effective for remembering.

4. Business Cards of Hotels and Restaurants that I loved along with ticket stubs and other Mementos

5. Capture the Moment - a descriptive essay of something extra funny from each trip
So far this year I have written about:

"Gaynor and the Smelly Dog"
"Reminiscing with Kip about 1980's food"
"Daniel and the Hair Dye"
"Exchanging Recipes with Men in a Race"
"Mental Breakdown on the top of a Cliff"
"Walking Runaway James Back to His Room""

6. Ideas I bring home for my Guestroom

Here is a link for an online store selling similar journals made by the same company, Cavallini & Co.
There are lots of great choices, and just think of all the wonderful things you will record!

Rainbow Bridge

Staying at Lake Powell on a houseboat is the ultimate camping on the beach experience.  Hiking, fishing, swimming, kayaking, boating...all in the comfort of a mini house with fun friends or family.

Our last night there the kids all ran around catching glow-in-the-dark bubbles while the grown ups watched nervously, hoping there were no long lasting affects for our glowing children.  Later that night when everyone was sleeping, Teddy woke up and I looked over the edge of the boat at the water.  Had the glowing bubbles blown into the water?  I studied the water more and realized I was seeing the reflection of sparkling stars from the sky.

Half way through our week we took a boat ride over to Rainbow Bridge.  You can't see it from the water, but once we got to the right spot, and tied up our boat, it was only a third of a mile to hike up.

It's the biggest natural bridge in the world, sacred to the Navajo people,  and it was only discovered by the white man  in 1909.  That wasn't very long ago.

Very neat to see, I'm glad we went.

The Pittsburgh Half Marathon

I just spent the weekend with my family.  Why?  I went back to my hometown to run thirteen miles with my Dad and my brother Michael.  There were over twenty-five thousand runners, so you can imagine the crowd that came to cheer us all on.  There were sixty live bands, high school cheerleaders, even a children's choir to help distract us from our task.  I say distract in a good way.

We ran through the Cultural District, the Strip District (which includes the freshest food shopping available in the city); we ran over several bridges, through old neighborhoods, and back through Downtown ending at the Point, a park at the point of the three rivers.

After mile six I was ready to be done, but I kept pumping my arms to propel me forward.  As soon as I crossed the finish line I thought, "That wasn't so bad".   My friend Annette says that happens to her every time.  I guess I like races because is forces me to exercise and I think its fun to participate in a community activity.  This race had the added bonus of family time.

Oahu

In March Daniel and I traveled to the island of Oahu.  For three nights we stayed in Turtle Bay and loved sleeping with the doors open, waking up to the sound of the ocean.  I collected some old pieces of coral and baby pine cones on the beach, which I now enjoy looking at in a dish on my bedroom dresser.  While on the North Shore, we dined at local shrimp shacks and thoroughly enjoyed coconut shrimp with green salad and garlic shrimp with macaroni salad.  The Hawaiian Temple is on the north side of the island and was very breathtaking to behold.

For the next part of the trip we met our friends at Waikiki, the famous beach in Honolulu.  There we shopped, visited  Pearl Harbor, and swam in the ocean.  Our favorite meal was at Alan Wong's where we chose the five course sampler meal.  It's so fun going to new restaurants when everything is so amazing.  You're giddy the whole night, well I am.  I purchased a few prints from  local artists, and have also displayed them  in my bedroom.  The thing that makes Hawaii so worth the flight over the ocean is hearing the laid back Hawaiian music everywhere you go and learning about their very interesting history.

Newport Beach, CA

The last week in June we drove to southern California and vacationed in Newport Beach. John, Heather and Tess flew in and we all stayed together in a beautiful rental home.
Highlights were grilling yummy dinners on the barbecue, going to Sea World on Daniel's birthday, renting a bike carriage at Huntington Beach, and just being carried away by the beauty and calm of our surroundings. It was wonderful.

Chicago spring trip

Daniel and I just came back from a weekend in Chicago. John and Heather Henstock asked us to come for Tess's first birthday and her Christening. They had asked Daniel if he would be the godfather, and he was very honored.

Our hotel was across from the river; just off of Michigan Avenue (famous for its mile long strip of high end shops), and an eight minute walk to Millennium Park which then leads into the bike trails along Lake Michigan. It was a great location!

We spent time getting to know John and Heather's family better, with dinners together every night and a short sailing trip on the Saturday.

The pictures here include a view of the city from the harbor, the view from my hotel lobby and Tess with John in the church lobby. You might notice a women with a banana up to her ear as if it were a telephone. I just happened to catch that when snapping at the potted flowers.

Maui

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to go to Hawaii for a week. Maui to be exact. We were beach bums, on lawn chairs in the grass. Here is a picture of our view.

Every day we went by the ocean to read our books and would periodically look up when a humpback whale would catch our eye. Sometimes the whales would puff water out of their blowhole, or flap its tail, or completely jump out of the water. During the months of January to March, the humpback whales live in the Maui waters because they are warm and shallow, ideal for giving birth to their babies.

One day we decided to rent kayaks to see if we could get closer to the whales. We kept seeing whales way in the distance and knew we couldn't paddle that far that fast. Right when we were about the give up, a group of three whales came up approximately one hundred feet away. Daniel was banging the oar against the kayak, hoping to stir their curiosity. Without any warning a humongous spine poked out of the water only ten feet away from us. It was awesome and I was scared. After that he must have joined the others that were at a more safe distance.

The restaurants were all amazing in Maui, all in the steak and seafood genre, but my favorite meal ended up being my last night there at an Italian place where I ordered a Caesar salad with spaghetti and meatballs. I guess that just shows I need variety even in paradise. Ohh! And I have to mention my favorite dessert from earlier in the week - gingerbread ice cream sundae with ripples of pear sorbet. Amazing!

England's turn for a report

We spent a week and a half in England having a wonderful time with Daniel's family and friends. Lots of get togethers with great spreads and hot drinks. A country walk, lunch at the pub, and sledding at the Chill Factor were highlights of our stay. I also really enjoyed doing some investigating work for family history purposes.

More Paris Pictures

Here are a few good pictures from my trip over the holidays. I thought the architecture of the airport was pretty cool. Here are photos of Geraldine's house, back garden, and stomping grounds. Then there is a picture of the theatre we went to for the ballet, and Daisy & Geraldine with the jeweled trees of the Champs-Elysees in the background.

Paris at Christmas

I just spent four wonderful days in the outskirts of Paris, France with Daniel's wonderful family, Geraldine and Terrence Watson. We enjoyed toast with hot chocolate for each breakfast and baguettes with every lunch and dinner. Everything was lovely and tasty.

The high point of the trip by far was the night Geraldine treated me and her daughter Daisy to a Sara Baras flamenco performance in the city. A show at the theatre is always a treat and I have never experienced flamenco dancing before. It was unbelievable. Like tap dancing but with wood bottoms. The streets of Paris were all lite up for Christmas, the trees and the Eiffel Tower. I can not wait to return and discover more!

California Dreamland

Here are a couple pictures taken on my vacation to Pebble Beach and Sacramento,. One of my favorite things about going away, is enjoying the different vegetation and trees.

One morning I went on a five mile run with Truly. We followed a trail along the beach and I felt alive smelling the salty sea.

When we were at Helen's, Daniel and I went for a long walk every day around her neighborhood lake. On one side we were treated to lovely homes and gardens, then on the other side of the lake was vast countryside with rolling hills.

Casanova

Last night I had a pretty nice dream. I was picked up in a horse and carriage by Gordon Ramsey, who then proceeded to swoon and seduce me. The funny part was Emma Thompson was there, turning around from the front seat to watch. Eventually I remembered I have a husband, so I said good-bye at that point.

I think my dream came because Daniel is regularly spouting Gordon's words of wisdom that he has learned from BBC's Kitchen Nightmares. But speaking of suave men and amazing food, I have to tell you about my last meal I enjoyed at Pebble Beach. I just spent last weekend there with our friends Shane and Truly. The restaurant was called Casanova, and I was in heaven while eating my meal.

Good company, festive atmosphere and slow cooked short-rib beef with crispy polenta. Every bite was thoroughly savored. Food for the soul. You might think I bring up my soul too often, but I have recently discovered the definition of soul: the union of the body and the spirit. So now that I understand I can use the term confidently.

The Art Institute of Chicago

My last day in Chicago was my most spectacular. I spent it wandering through the Art Institute completely enjoying myself. Upon arriving I had been given no information about the collections. I began my adventure with the Impressionists.

I had no idea something so familiar and so wonderful would be available! My joy kept increasing as I went from one room to the next, discovering "Two Sisters" by Renoir, then "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" by George Seurat. And my greatest joy along with a swell of emotion came from "Water Lilies" by Monet. Prints do not do these paintings justice. The colors are more vivid and the textures gave me such pleasure to behold.

The American paintings from 1900-1950 were great. I am showing you my two favorites, which are George Wesley Bellows' "Love of Winter" and "Shoe Shop" by Elizabeth Sparhawk Jones.

There was also an inventive cardboard art by James Castle and the most recent Caldecott Awards winners on display. I am posting a page from "Flotsam" by David Wiesner. I was also introduced to a delightful book called "A couple of young boys have the best weekend ever" by Marla Frazee. The subject matter caught my attention immediately, I wonder why.

Chicago: dinner at Nacional 27

This weekend Daniel and I went to visit our friends John and Heather, and their new baby girl Tess. They live in a charming tree lined street, in a 1930's brick bungalow. The house features include original wood floors and crown molding, not to mention all the fun photos and books scattered through out the place. We spent most meals in the dining room, all were pleasant and yum. But, Saturday night we went on the town, to a place like none other.

Nacional 27 is a modern Latin restaurant. Big and open with lots of energy. The closest I could compare it to was the first time I went to PFChangs, and felt excited with the decor and tastes. The food was to die for. Of course the appetizers were the tastiest, (you know when your tummy is empty.) I have been inspired to try cooking my next Mexican meal with plantains. They are sweet but definitely not too sweet.

Our meal finished just in time for the restaurant to clear the tables that were on the dance floor. Yes, salsa dancing started at eleven o'clock and lots of couples participated. I just loved going to a place I could never find in Provo. I was giddy the whole night.

Missing in Action

I can't believe how long it has been. Last month I was busy at my sewing machine and then finished the summer with a trip to Lake Powell. So fun.

I was crazy for the water! So smooth, so blue, and a lovely temperature. I went swimming every day.

I was introduced to a Monte Cristo, which is a sandwich dipped in batter and fried golden for breakfast. The sandwich fillings may vary according to your tastes. The most popular choice on our boat was peanut butter, banana, and bacon. So yummy.

The thing I liked best about being in Lake Powell was being completely absorbed into my atmosphere. Being free to choose whatever activity I wished: reading, kayaking, making a sea shell picture frame...

I feel like a lucky girl and refreshed, able to actively pursue a full life back at home.