We discovered produce markets when we moved to Italy. The fresh-from-the-vine strawberries rarely made it home before we attacked them, the juice running down our chins. We found the same in Greece, where weekly market shopping became a habit. Over time, we discovered we preferred this vendor for peppers and onions and another for tomatoes. …
This week, I am continuing my backyard series. If I drive a few miles to the end of the main road that passes our neighborhood, I can see Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, across the Potomac River. Several years ago, Dave and I, along with other members of the 7th Virginia, slept in …
Well, we are finally settling into the new house and able to do more exploring of our new area. Over the summer, I wrote a few posts, mostly about exploring close to home, even in your own backyard. While I love to travel, I also believe you don’t need to go very far to find …
During COVID, we lived in Germany, where the restrictions were strict. But outdoor fitness, especially caring for animals, was allowed within your family group. Dave downloaded an app showing places near the house to hike. As you can imagine, our dog joined us for many of those walks. We found gorgeous mountain views and hidden …
Well, we’re moving again. It’s always hectic, but I consider it a chance to explore a new place and meet new people. Since I know this won’t be our last move, I like to look at it as a vacation—a really long vacation. We thought we’d be moving back to Virginia to our house on …
I love architecture. My family will confirm this, as they have often joined my meanderings down cobblestone streets or busy sidewalks to view a building. And so it was when Dave and I recently visited Palma de Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. We were on our way to see …
These days, it seems most people play games online. Me? I’m a bit old-school. I prefer board games. There is something special about sharing the fun while sitting around the table with friends and family. And, you may even learn something as you play. This week, we are visiting our son and his wife in …
I confess I haven’t always been a football (soccer) fan. I grew up in the Midwest, and while I had heard of it, I’d never seen a match nor known anyone who played. The Kansas City Chiefs were my football team. It wasn’t until I met my husband, Dave, who’d played in college, that I …
Recently, several people reading Sign of Nine Stripes commented in their reviews that it was surprising the Natives spoke English so well. I hadn’t gotten that comment before, and I realized as advanced readers of the third book, they hadn’t read the first one. So perhaps I need to add that to my author’s notes. …
I confess I am more interested in ancient history than modern. My husband, however, has a passion for World War II. A few years ago, we joined my parents on a tour of the beaches at Normandy. I learned a lot and found it very interesting. But I didn’t come home and do further research. …