Replacement

When the bottom of my backpack recently sprouted large holes that grew with each walk to the office (thankfully I realized the deterioration before my laptop slipped to the pavement!), I knew it was time for an upgrade. I'm quite pleased with my new, berry colored High Sierra. I've never before owned a High Sierra pack, but based on my limited experience, I would highly recommend a backpack just like mine if you need a new one. It has a perfect place for everything... and then some! 

Getting a new backpack is like experiencing the best part of school without any of the work involved in actually going to school!

vacay day

 

Vicky, Pam, and I had a fun vacay afternoon in Florida after our conference wrapped up.

When we picked up the rental car, the gal at the counter recommended we check out the nationally famous Gideon's Bakehouse.

We did (of course).

Wow those cookies are huge!

(and, no, we definitely didn't eat them all in one sitting)

In keeping with Julie/Vicky holiday tradition, we also did some taste-testing at Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream shop. Let me just say: Kelly is doing an amazing thing with pistachios, cream, and sugar. YUM.

We wandered over to Mt. Dora, which is a super cute little town I'd actually visited a couple years ago. This time, we visited the Spice & Tea Exchange, and also a specialty shoppe filled with local artisan crafts and creations. I fell in love with the hand stamped vintage silverware (so beautiful, unique, and fun), but I didn't wind up bringing any home with me-- just a few inspirational pictures.

After dark, Vicky and I wandered the town of Celebration, which has an interesting history (established in 1994), and is engineered for those who want to experience the world as pedestrians.

In the airport on the way home, I bought a thirty-two cent cup of hot water to make this buenos everything cuppa.

oolala.

Until next time, Florida...

Florida Orchid

After attending a work conference in Florida recently, Pam, Vicky, and I booked a personal day for exploration. We discovered this lovely orchid while visiting a small gardens (which was also brimming with butterflies... and a few snakes!).

friends

so many good times with so many special people

!!!

Necessities

Complete travel pack:

water

Clif bar

mini orange

hand sanitizer

What else would one need? 

[besides maybe dark chocolate and toilet paper]

rememberings

mini ranges and gas cookers which require a match/flame to light

During my recent visit to Southern Africa, I kept noticing little every-day details which I forgot about (or mainly have no reason to typically consider/remember in the States). It was fun to see so many familiar bits and pieces of "normal" from my Zambian life.

eggs come in trays and are stored on the kitchen counter

unique and "beautiful" food warmers-- insulated to keep nshima and relishes hot

fave brand of juice ever
(South African Ceres, 100% juice)
Whispers of Summer is a delicious blend of passion fruit, mango, and orange juices.

Sunlight dish soap-- forgot that smell!

who wants some "desiccated" coconut?!
I always found this adjective for tiny bits of coconut amusing.

Eet-Sum-Mor  expat biscuits :)
(a very nice shortbread biscuit-- slightly more expensive than most other biscuits,
but much more tasty than many other biscuits as well)

Semi-Tamed Bush

There's something a little adventurous about taking a walk in the bush and spotting numerous types of wild animals, including various antelope species, a warthog and her babies, and a zebra.