As I’ve mentioned countless times, we are campers. Outdoorsy folks. With limits, of course. You will never see us riding a mountain bike up a 20% grade through thick forest and jumping the bikes over large boulders. Or rappelling up a vertical slab of rock above a river of whitewater below. We like to walk around on easy paths and occasionally flex our muscles in order to hoist up our smart phones and take a picture of some beautiful scene. Yeah, that’s our style of “outdoorsy”. Continue reading “Recreational Vehicle? Depends on your definition of "recreation".”
Category travel with B
We go a lot. Come with us!
Energizer Bunny? Hardly.
This past summer I accompanied my husband on a work trip to Seattle. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to visit what I’d heard is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
I heard correctly. It is. Beauty everywhere you drive. Continue reading “Energizer Bunny? Hardly.”
Fences and Fear
Let me just preface this post with this unfortunate fact: I failed swimming lessons when I was a grade school child. Dropped out before the session was even close to being complete. The configuration of my body parts didn’t lend itself to really being much of a swimmer. 😜 But I was able to float (on my back) and potentially avoid drowning. In my mind that was close enough to success. Mission accomplished. Sort of. The failure stayed with me and put a dent in my level of confidence around water.
Beside the still waters and bicycling against the wind. It’s all good
Camping season began for us last week. Took our first trip to the lake for a few days. The weather cooperated magnificently.
During a conversation with a friend of mine I mentioned that we were planning to camp at a nearby lake. He said “Why in the world would you drag your camper 25 miles away when you could just stay at your house and enjoy your lovely back yard?”. That’s a valid question from a non-camper. But if you’re a seasoned camper, you know the answer. I don’t need to explain.
Continue reading “Beside the still waters and bicycling against the wind. It’s all good”
Observations from 1600 miles southeast of home
Today marks the end of a glorious two week trip to Savannah, Ga, with my husband the IT consultant. He travels 1600 miles from home every week to earn a living. This is his career. He’s had this traveling gig for the past 13 years. He provides income for us. To put food on the table and pay bills. To buy our home where I am the main occupant. He spends more time living in a hotel than in our home, if I do the math correctly. If nothing else, this trip has made me acutely aware of the sacrifice required in being a consultant. He doesn’t complain. I believe I might tend to whine a bit if I were in his shoes. But whining does come natural to me regardless of circumstances. We all have our gifts. 😃 Continue reading “Observations from 1600 miles southeast of home”
Comfort? Style? Or Companions?
In the past 13 years the hubby has spent more time living in a hotel than time living in our Kansas home. He has experienced every Starwood, Hilton and Marriott brand hotel known to man, and can give you detailed descriptions of them all. Continue reading “Comfort? Style? Or Companions?”
64 days and counting.
We have reached that part of the year when the short days and long nights start to wear on me. Just kind of mess with my psyche. You, too?
Mid-January every year, I will google “how many days until spring”, and come up with stuff like you see in the above picture. Brings me a bit of hope. Continue reading “64 days and counting.”
HGTV and contentment
Do you watch HGTV? House Hunters, Flip or Flop, or my favorite Fixer Upper? I’m guessing you have watched at least one episode of these shows, as well as perhaps Property Brothers, HH International, etc. I’ll be honest, I love to watch this channel. No real political undertones, no real drama, and no disgusting commercials that would make you hope your grandkids aren’t watching, and make you wish you weren’t watching. Ick. (talking about you, Sports Networks). HGTV is just stuff about home. Home is a precious topic for most everyone. Continue reading “HGTV and contentment”
Winter blues? Maybe it’s time to visit an island.
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It’s not officially winter yet but some of the coldest temperatures of the year have descended upon us Kansans. Temperatures that can bring a squeaky whine from even the toughest of us. Probably need to exclude myself from that “toughest of us” group. I just want to be near the fireplace with a cup of coffee and a good book. I was designed to hibernate.
I’d like to give you something to at least dream about. Sanibel Island, Florida. A slice of heaven off the gulf coast near Fort Myers (which in itself is another lovely spot for a getaway, but it is just a bit more lively & commercial).
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| View from our rental condo, 2010, at Oceans Reach Resort. Screened-in lanai. Bliss, I tell ya. |
In 2010 we were looking for a place to take a vacation for our May anniversary and decided on Sanibel from some friends’ recommendation. No buildings over 4 stories high and no street lighting (think very starry nights on a beautiful island) It’s a decidedly quiet and wonderful place. Very family friendly. Lots of seashells, and there is a wildlife refuge that is quite nice. Bike path over the entire island. Historic lighthouse. Plenty of restaurants and groceries, although it’s best to shop for most of your food before you cross the bridge to Sanibel. And you can always cross back over that bridge any time and be in Fort Myers. Easy peasy.
Continue reading “Winter blues? Maybe it’s time to visit an island.”
Snowy happiness. In my own backyard and far, far away
There is snow in the forecast this week. First snow of the season? We’ll see. Last year we had approximately 150 flakes of snow total during the winter here in the South of Kansas. But a couple of winters ago we were blessed with probably record amounts of snow. The ground was covered a lot of the winter. And I made a new friend. Continue reading “Snowy happiness. In my own backyard and far, far away”
Nostalgia. A side effect of cleaning
Now that I’m sort of semi-retired, my leisurely breakfasts often include thinking about cleaning. And occasionally, my thoughts become actions. Some of my closets are now phenomenally clean and organized. Some are not. Yet. Continue reading “Nostalgia. A side effect of cleaning”
Simply B 