travel
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Ruins—Irish and Homegrown
How old does something have to be to qualify as a ruin? I’m wondering because on a recent trip to Ireland I saw buildings in various states of ruination. When I came home, I realized that Maywood has its own collection of things that could be considered ruins. What makes something a ruin, as opposed Continue reading
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Irish Inspiration to Tame My Jungle
Irish third cousins are on my mind as I grab my little hedge-trimmer and venture out into the yard. Newly retired and fresh from a trip to County Donegal, I face the neglect of my little version of Wild America. It is daunting. Saplings push their way where they do not belong—popping up in flower Continue reading
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Les Rûches de Notre Dame and the Prize of Paris Honey: Beekeepers Go to Paris
We were dining in Montmartre when the news broke that Notre Dame was on fire. Almost instantly, our phones began dinging with texts from back home. “Notre Dame is on fire!” “Where are you? Are you ok?” Concern for our well-being came with snarky comments, too: “Was John smoking cigars in the restroom at Notre Continue reading
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Surf and Turf
Not yet 8 a.m. Vacation Man heads to the beach to set up camp for the day. He’s not the first. He has been spurred to action by another Vacation Dad hauling beach gear down the street. Yesterday, he set out after eight and barely found a good spot. Today, while he claims his turf, Continue reading
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A Sauna-dweller travels to Colorado
I should have packed eye drops, but I forgot that Colorado air is dry enough to suck out all your eyeball juice. In Colorado, no one says, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” like they do in Baltimore. In Colorado, when it is hot it is dry hot. Sweat doesn’t stick to skin like Continue reading
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Looking Up
My tag-along trip to Boulder while John is taking a class here got off to a near disastrous start. And by disastrous I mean epic fail, I should have stayed home. But the ticket was bought, and it’s Boulder, so how bad could things be, right? Premonitions of disaster began when I checked our hotel Continue reading
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Nougat Non-Non
I should have bought the salted caramels. Then I would have some to share because they would not have ended up in the trash can at Paris Charles DeGaulle airport security. We were vacationing in Port en Bessin, Normandy. After enjoying coffee and pastries in the brisk morning sun at Café du Port, we explored Continue reading
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Chillin’ out in Boulder, Colorado
The first week of summer vacation finds me in Boulder, Colorado where hubby John is taking a class for IBM. Boulder, with its reputation as “the happiest town in America” is a shock to my system. Boulderites merrily bike along paths that are an integral part of the city layout. They bike as transportation as Continue reading
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The road less traveled…or alternate routes
With the rare exception of fugitive man-hunts through our woods and the not-so-rare “incident” during rush hour, living next to Interstate 83 is a good thing. I-83 makes it possible for Hereford Zonians to live in beautiful, rural northern Baltimore County and get to everywhere else. And that’s the problem. The highway is the primary travel route for most people to get to work. Continue reading
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A Tale of Haggis
Strolling through the Notting Hill market during my recent trip to London, I did not see Hugh Grant or Julia Roberts. I did, however, see a sign in a butcher’s stall for haggis. I had to take a picture of the sign. Then I peered around to the front of the stall to see if there Continue reading
Slightly Off the Grid 