Today is Thanksgiving Day in the USA, a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November to express gratitude for all we have. It is traditional to prepare a turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, multiple vegetable dishes, and there should always be pumpkin pie for dessert. Americans will consume 46 million... Continue Reading →
I Left My Passport in San Francisco
Last week, theTravelSketcher and I flew to San Francisco to submit applications to the French Embassy for long term stay visas. This has been a dream of ours for a long time; and those of you who are regular followers of our blogs know that we had intended to be settled in France by July... Continue Reading →
Images in Yellow
Thanks to Jess at I’ve Been Travelling Blog, I’m focusing on a specific color again today; yellow. Sunshine, warmth, flowers and some foods are the first things I think of when yellow comes to mind. Here are a few of my favorite photos in yellow. Kayaking off San Juan Island, WA Flowers at Mt. Rainier... Continue Reading →
Tipsy Baked Mussels on the Half Shell
The Pacific Northwest is seafood heaven with a dazzling variety of options, availability and creative methods of preparation. Over the years, I have enjoyed cooking with shellfish and have tried many different techniques. I developed this recipe after finding some inspiration online (thanks to the hundreds of recipes available for stuffed mussels). This delicious dish... Continue Reading →
On the Road Again – Wine Tasting!
Have vaccine will travel! And that’s exactly what we did last weekend; our first trip in way too many months. It was so great to be on the road again. It was drizzling in the Seattle area as we left town, but by the time we were over Snoqualmie Pass, the sun was shining and... Continue Reading →
A Different Kind of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving dinner has always been my favorite holiday meal to prepare. I enjoy trying new recipes and making changes to traditional favorites, to add a new twist. Sharing the meal with friends and family is the best part; the more the merrier. So it was hard not to get sad and discouraged as it became... Continue Reading →
San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy
San Gimignano is a walled village in Tuscany that is famous for its medieval architecture and tower houses, which are stunningly evident in the skyline. It was three years ago this week when we visited this beautiful village and we were instantly charmed by its unique character and warmth. There are many things to do... Continue Reading →
Chuckanut Drive, Washington State
Chuckanut Drive is a scenic stretch of road in Northwestern Washington State that runs from Bellingham to Bow. Before it was completed in 1896, boat or train were the only options to get south of Whatcom County. This scenic road was once part of the Pacific Highway that ran from Vancouver, BC to San Diego.... Continue Reading →
Another Milestone Birthday
My husband had a milestone birthday last week. Since we thought we would be living in France by now, I had planned on surprising him with a trip to the Loire Valley for a hot air balloon ride and wine tasting. But sadly, thanks to COVID, that didn't work out. (I have written about life... Continue Reading →