All the Best Things
Day 2 of this summer’s vacation took us from Raleigh to Winston-Salem, NC and eventually to Christiansburg, VA where we spent the night at my sister’s house. Before heading out for the drive in our borrowed Prius, though, my wonderful mother-in-law wanted to show us some things. My MIL is really good at sorting through things. If […]
Looking Your Best
There are some conversations that can only happen when you’re in that altered reality, time-warped state known as vacation. Meals are more leisurely, so you can sit at the table longer and tell stories. Car rides, free from the pressure of getting to work or school, become fertile ground for talk too. Bedtimes? On days when […]
Mother-Daughter Travel: A Double Book Review
Over Thanksgiving week in 1998 my mother flew to visit me in Norwich, England where I was studying at the University of East Anglia. She came to a few of my classes with me and I cooked us a horrible pasta with canned tuna in the shared kitchen of my campus flat. We visited the […]
God Knows
This week my family has been tooling around southwestern Virginia, visiting family and friends. At my brother’s house in Roanoke we breakfasted on cheesy potato casserole with Corn Flakes on top. Oh hell yes. The entertainment this morning was nephew Sam’s excellent conversation-starter. Sam is 5. He said: On the last day of Vacation Bible […]
Book Review: Julia and the Art of Practical Travel
There’s no place like home. In the classic film The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy repeats this refrain as she clicks her heels, transitioning back from Over the Rainbow in search of the people she loves best in the world. The camera zooms in on her ruby slippers as she follows the instructions for travel. “Click three times, […]
I Feel a Road Trip (Book) Coming On!
No, I’m not writing a road trip book. Not yet anyway. I tried to, a few years ago during National Novel Writing Month. I was going to cook up a zany madcap road trip adventure. I wrestled through possible plot lines, all the while trying to hush up that voice that kept asking, “Could that even happen? […]
Bike Ride: American River Parkway
Daylight savings time is here! I’ve just about recovered from the sleep disruptions and am a-l-m-o-s-t ready to get back outside on my bike. Are you? If you’re in the Sacramento area and you have a couple of hours, I recommend you try a section of the American River Parkway (also known as the Jedediah Smith Memorial […]
Afternoon-Saver: Hiking Hidden Falls
On a Sunday afternoon in January our family was in danger of melting down. All the signs were there: two kids poking at each other after too much post-church screen time, a talked-out preacher (their dad) who couldn’t stop thinking about all the meetings that awaited in the week ahead, and a mom who felt like dropping into […]
A Day Hike at Mt. Tamalpais
This weekend there’s rain in the forecast, which isn’t ideal for a hike, but I’ll for sure enjoy these pics and memories while snuggling inside! And maybe you’ll get some ideas for future outings. Why Not Go for a Ramble? A couple of years ago my husband bid a crazy low price at a silent auction for two […]
The Holidays: 5 Ways to Keep it Real
Some years I get completely overwhelmed with the holidays. When the kids are out of school, just trying to keep up with work deadlines—not to mention normal routines like exercise and cooking at home…it’s crazy-making. Pile on holiday gifting and concerts and parties and getting the house clean for guests and, yeah. It’s fun! And […]
