Leap or Leap Not...(Updated to explain removing Captcha)

leaping in the Traveling Red TuTu - November 2011

No leaping for me today...just an extra day to try and get some things done....

Maybe earn a little extra interest from the bank (can you say so minuscule so that we hardly notice?)...I had a second cousin who was very "detailed" shall we say about  his money and he made sure to visit his banks (yes, plural) to be sure that he did in fact receive that extra day of interest....

I finally managed to get rid of that double word verification on my blog.  It took me a few hours (there are a few hours of my life I'll never get back...another reason to be glad we've got an extra day this year) to figure out how to get to my old blogger dashboard in order to do that.  If it is still there, please let me know so that I can flush my head down the toilet do something about it...

I closed my Pinterest account last night because of all the articles I'd been reading and thoughts from other bloggers.  Copyright infringement being part of it, and the ethics of sharing other people's work with often no credit or the proper credit being given even if I thought I had made sure to credit the appropriate person.  And the reality of what was I ever really going to do with all of this accumulated goodness anyway.  The truth is, that in the short period of time I was on Pinterest I loved looking at all the beauty and the "eye candy" and I loved collecting...but I never did go back to any of my boards to "do" anything with what I had amassed.  So, one less thing to do, one less place to go, one less way to procrastinate about all the other things that need to be done and are calling to me saying "please let's do this"....

Okay, maybe just one little leap as I get up from this seated position to make some coffee...


Update:  Oreneta asked how to get rid of captcha (that annoying 2 word, barely legible most of the time word verification).  My detailed and lengthy search led me to a forum where someone called the new Katney explained it well.

Whoa! I've been able to track down most things that seem to have moved on the new dashboard but I can't find this one. You may have to go to the old dashboard to do it. You can do that by logging in towww.blogger.com/home instead of www.draft.blogger.com/home . If it won't open the old dashboard for you, then you might have to clear your cache.

That will take you to the old dashboard we knew and loved and if you go to your settings there you can remove the word verification.  Hope that helps!

Vacation Can Be For The Birds...

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - February 2012

And sometimes you get your feathers ruffled...

And we did in Myrtle Beach....

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - February 2012

Tybee Island, Georgia - February 2012

If you're with friends, then even the annoyances and small petty things that happen are minimized and you think about the times you've spent with great people and not those you'll never see again...

Seaside, Florida - February 2012

Or maybe like the Sand Piper you turn your back on the aggravation and walk away...

Toronto, Ontario - February 2012

When all else fails there is nothing like laughter...someone making a funny face for your amusement just to ease the tension and say "hey, don't get those big girl panties in a knot..."

I was grateful that all of these birds were on the ground and not in diving range, though there were some that hovered...when you've got your face at the camera lens you aren't always as aware of what is going on around the top of your head if you know what I'm sayin...

*

It saddens me that I feel the need to put a watermark on these photographs and yet some are so lovely that I can see someone else wanting to use them, and that's a compliment.  I just want the credit when I manage to produce something that really makes me say "this is great!"

At the Beautiful Seaside...

Seaside Florida - February 11, 2012

Florida was the "ultimate" destination of my winter interlude and had been since sometime in late autumn.  The dates had been fixed and the plan was that I would fly down there and hook up with friends for some much needed and looked forward to "girl time".

Kim, Beth & Sherry - Seaside Florida - February 12, 2012

As so often happens in life, plans changed, mostly because of life events and a commitment to money already spent back in September on a Myrtle Beach scam adventure .  The difficulty with Myrtle Beach was that it had to be done by the end of February 2012.  Given that I was planning to be in Florida anyway, and we were running out of time on Myrtle Beach, we decided to make the best of it all and add Myrtle Beach at the end of our trip, so driving was the key.  And a hostess who was graciousness herself and insisted that "the Man" would NOT stay in a hotel as he and I had decided.  We were given the carriage house at the cottage.  We girls did our thing and bless his heart, Al did his thing for those days and gave us the space to have uninterrupted girl time.  We did, however, feed him and water him. 

I've been to Florida numerous times, but had never been through or stayed in the panhandle area.  I discovered how much I had been missing!  The white sand, the turquoise blue of the water....breathtaking.

walking down to the beach - Seaside Florida - February 11, 2012

Gulf of Mexico - Seaside Florida - February 11, 2012

Seaside Beach, Florida - February 11, 2012

It's too bad it was such a cold day, but it doesn't diminish the smile on my face or the joy in my soul as I stood at that water just soaking it all in. I'm Canadian...I'm used to cold weather.  I wasn't expecting it in Florida, but it in no way dampened the time spent with good friends!  There was no snow.  Need I say more?

So many wonderful days with friends, not enough time, but we packed the hours with talking, laughter (would you look at THAT, would you just LOOK at THAT??"), walking, shopping (we're all very good at that!), eating (as we are with this), and art (I watched while the others played...).  I have more to share about my Florida time and will continue to do so over the week.  If you'd like to hear other stories of our Florida time, you can read Beth's blog and Kim's blog.

It's dull and cloudy here today in Toronto.  I'm off to flip through my other Florida photos and relive the sunshine!  And memories of time spent with people who make me feel at home, no matter where I am.

Eating Southern Style...

This vacation will be long remembered for the food...the great meals and the friendship around the table.

There was a fried green tomato BLT in Atlanta.  Scanning the menu at the bread, bakery, bistro we chose (The Corner Bakery Cafe on Peachtree Road NE) that day my eyes lit on the "fried green tomatoes" and it was an easy choice...we were in the south.  It was  a "must" and the sandwich was delicious.  Homemade red skinned German potato salad was a perfect side.

In Louisiana I had a taste of Kathy's grits at dinner...rich, buttery and creamy and a little went a long way.  I had opted for the roasted corn and dirty rice.  Loved the dirty rice!

In Savannah we had lunch at The Cotton Exchange and while my main meal of a Reuben sandwich was tasty if pedestrian, the crab chowder before it was filled with crab, potato, corn and just the right amount of spice.

 It was in Florida where I was in gastronomic paradise...

crab cakes at Great Southern and even better ones at The Red Bar...

roasted red pepper and tomato basil soup with a half baguette at a wine store/cafe...and while the ladies were dining there, Al was out walking and treated himself to lunch at this fine establishment (housed in an old airstream trailer!)..

beignets at Great Southern...

and eggs, bacon and smoked gouda grits for breakfast at Great Southern.  Those grits are out of this world!

Key Lime Pie...you cannot be in Florida and not have Key Lime Pie...best one I have ever had, with the most melt in your mouth crust came from Red Bar...so good we had it for dessert back at the house and one night it was all I had for dinner...with whipped cream on top.

Best grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had was courtesy of our hostess Beth...the ingredients were a delightful mix (the tuna made the sandwich), but I think it was the fact of the sandwich being created with love that made it the best meal of vacation.

Sweet Home....

This trip afforded us our first opportunity to travel through the state of Alabama.  Whenever I think of Alabama I naturally think of Lynyrd Skynrd.  I'm not really a fan but everyone else in this house most definitely is.

I realize that there is so much more to Alabama than a song and a band.  Driving through Montgomery and stopping there to eat lunch, I couldn't help but be moved by the fact that we were in the place where the Civil Rights Movement was born in 1955.  Add that February is Black History month and I felt privileged to be traveling that road.  Times have changed, history has moved forward but there is still evidence that we have a lot of road left to travel.

Alabama was also the first official stop we made to "junk" or trawl for antiques and treasures.  Driving by the city of Opelika, we noticed a sign for an antique and flea mall called Angels and I insisted that we turn around and head back.  I'm glad we did.  So is Al.  I found a few treasures, he found some used LPs and 45s.

Next to Angels Antique and Flea Mall is Resurrect Antiques and I had a wonderful time browsing through this shop.  I found a few bits and bobs that had to come home with me and would have brought more if I hadn't known I would need to leave room in the car for more...this was only day 4 of our trip. 

image from Resurrect Antiques

If you are in the area or are going to be in that area at some point, definitely prepare to make a stop to wander the aisles.

Alabama is a beautiful state and one that I know at some point I would be happy to return and explore further.

Pausing to Think..

I took 10 books away with me on vacation and read exactly none of them. I read a few chapters of one and then a few chapters of another and never really found myself interested in reading any of them.  It might have been because we were moving around a lot.  It might have been that I found "better" things to do (especially when I was with my friends!).  It might have been that I was on vacation from everything including my regular routines, habits and hobbies and found other ways to fill my time.

I stopped in at the library yesterday to return all of those books as I didn't even feel the desire to renew any of them and found 2 on the 7 day loan shelf that caught my eye.  There was this one by a Canadian writer, Brian Francis, and another called "The Table Comes First.  Family, France and the Meaning of Food" by Adam Gopnik.  That one is non-fiction and looks like it will be a fun read about what goes on the table, what happens around the table and what that means today.

For some reason, I picked up "Natural Order" in the early afternoon and began turning the pages and before I knew it, I had read 272 pages of the 361.  It is what I would have to categorize as "a page turner".    There are moments when the story has upset me, where the story has unsettled me and where the story has made me smile.  It is written so beautifully and crafted so honestly that the characters between the covers of this book feel absolutely "real" to me.

I never like to talk about the story of a book because I think discovering the story is part of the mystery and the magic of reading.  I will say that the subject matter is relevant and as a mother I am reading the book and feeling the nature of a mother's need to protect her children, sometimes to the point of no return.  I'm feeling that when a parent protects a child too fiercely that maybe the parent is actually protecting him or herself more than the child.  I'm feeling that when we choose to just accept our family but never talk about "who" we are, we do one another a huge disservice.

There is a pull in this novel...a pull towards examining our own lives, who we think we are, who we think the other members of our family are and maybe for some a re-evaluation of what we think we have known.

I'm glad that my instinct lead to me to pull this book from the shelf and that I "chose" it as my first post vacation read.  Or maybe this book chose me.

The One About Louisiana....

Kathy & Sherry in Louisiana February 8, 2012

Our day in Louisiana was picture perfect.  Blue sky, warm weather, sunshine and then the anticipation of meeting a friend I have known for five years, and the relationship has just grown and flourished over those years.  Kathy and I met through our blogs back in 2007.  We've gone from commenting on one other's posts, to appreciating one another's art, exchanging our art and coming to realize that our souls are on very similar planes and we have an understanding of one another that has been expressed in many ways.  Being able to meet and to touch and share hugs and smiles was like waiting for Christmas morning...and it finally arrives.

Looking at this photograph of the two of us makes me laugh.  No, we are not divas (well, certainly not in the usual sense!), but when Al was taking the photographs of our arrival and first meeting, he seemed to be cutting off our heads and aiming "down" rather than "up".  So what did the two of us do instinctively?  We put our heads up and back as if that would "correct" the error.  Rather like shouting when you speak to someone who is speaking in a foreign tongue.

Lake Pontchartrain Louisiana - February 8, 2012

Most of the day was spent talking.  Laughing.  Wandering some of Kathy's favourite places to "junk" (we didn't buy anything, it was just nice to be able to look together).  We ended up at the Lake and sat in a little white gazebo, gazing at the water and soaking up the sun.  At one point we were serenaded by a "little" parade.   Little because it was just one young man and his recorder, or a penny whistle.  He marched while playing a little tune.  He made us smile.  Not so much because it was odd or unusual...because he was marching to his own drum, doing his own thing and most of all...he was happy.  He didn't care if others were looking or what others thought -- he was just being himself.  It was good to see that message play out as we relaxed by the water.

Louisiana - February 8, 2012

Louisiana - February 8, 2012

This house was the view across from the lake...I love the architecture and the design.  The big fan on the porch ceiling, the windows, the landscaping.  I love that these people still had their Christmas decorations up and that the wreaths on the doors and the garland at the top of the stairs were done in mardi gras colours of purple, gold and green!

moss on the trees in Louisiana - February 8, 2012

I love the vegetation and the flowers in the south.  I loved seeing the moss on the trees in Louisiana (and Georgia).  I love seeing how different plants and vegetation grow in different parts of this continent and how different it is to southern Ontario.

And finally we did the one thing that I had been telling Kathy for ages about...we went to get "drive thru" daiquiris!  Alcoholic beverages at the drive thru window.  Yes, it does exist!!  For those who may not be aware, we have very strict laws in Ontario.  We can only buy alcohol in a licensed outlet known as the LCBO (Liquor Control Board of Ontario).  We cannot buy beer or wine in the convenience store or the grocery store or the gas station.  We can only buy beer at The Beer Store or the LCBO.  So it has always been a treat for us when we travel in the US to buy our adult beverages while shopping for other things.  But never in my life had I experienced a drive thru adult beverage!!  And can I tell you...it was wonderful!!!

Drive Thru Menu Louisiana - February 8, 2012

I made this photograph extra large so you can read the choices.  And the prices.  And before anyone becomes alarmed, no we DID NOT drink and drive.  There are laws about that and while this was an unusual experience for me I didn't throw caution to the wind.  We took our drinks back to Kathy's house and enjoyed them there.

My "to go" Margarita in Louisiana - February 8, 2012

 It's so cute when the little window opens and the bartender takes your order.  The window closes and then "presto", out comes your medium margarita (Kathy had a daiquiri).  With a straw.  And it was really, really good!  Packed a bit of a punch too.

Sherry and Kathy dinner at Zea in Louisiana - February 8, 2012

As our day came to a close, Kathy treated us to dinner at Zea Restaurant.  I think the smiles on our faces are testimony to the wonderful day we had...and we toasted to friendship and life and the promise to do this again.  Soon!!!

Happy Fat Mardi ... Time for Pancakes and Beignets!

One of the things I enjoy most about travel is what I learn along the road.  I like being exposed to other culture, other food, other ways of life.  Some of what I see on the road is sad and unpleasant.  Poverty hurts and there are places all over the world, but especially in places hit hard by the economy where poverty stands out and you cannot miss it for what it is.  There comes from those experiences a great gratitude and appreciation for all that we have and a reminder that life is hard at times, it can be cruel and there are others who are often less fortunate than we are.

Spending time with my friend Kathy in Louisiana was one of our best days of vacation.  We arrived in Louisiana on the evening of the 7th and did find it a little difficult to navigate our way around.  Why?  Not fatigue or being incompetent in reading directions or following a GPS.  It was dark. And in Louisiana in the dark it is mighty hard to read the street signs...especially as they are so low to the ground.  You don't see huge Wal-Mart signs up in the sky in Louisiana..they too are low to the ground.  As are the stop signs...and everything else.  It's not because the people of Louisiana are particularly short, it's the weather.  And it makes sense.

My friend Kathy and her husband Steve were blessed during Katrina in that they are further north of New Orleans and reside on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain (which is beautiful by the way...Kathy and I sat by the lake in a little gazebo talking and soaking up the sun...for quite some time).  The only damage to their home was the loss of a number of trees but thankfully their house and their furry crew were spared.  Talking with Kathy about the changes brought about by Katrina gave us a different insight into that disaster.  We heard directly from Kathy how people felt, how the economy changed, how people moved further north, that there was in fact a state of martial law in effect and that sadly, while there have been improvements and rebuilding, the 9th ward in New Orleans still looks much as it did right after Katrina.  There is that pain of poverty again. And government.  And politics.

There was no time to venture into New Orleans on this visit but we did love the area where we were for the day -- and we had a delicious meal with Kathy in the evening.  We asked her about local, traditional foods like etoufee, and Kathy gave me a taste of her buttery grits which were rich and delicious.

Our best food laugh came at my expense and I'm still laughing about it...I'm sure Kathy is as well!!  When giving me directions to her home from the hotel, Kathy mentioned that we'd see a "Chick-fil-A" on the corner...she pronounced it "chick fillet" -- and I burst out laughing.  I mean, I got it when she said it and it makes sense.  But here I was reading it all the way through the US every time we saw a sign for one as "Chick Fill "A" (as in apple)".   These are the kind of memories I love making!!

You're probably wondering about these photos of the food basket...and FINALLY I'm going to share what this is.  Kathy, bless her transplanted northern sweet southr'en heart...y'all have to know what a wonderful woman she is.  And everyone in Louisiana calls you "baby" and that fits for Kathy!  Kathy put together a basket of essentials from Louisiana for me to bring home.  I love it!!!

There were mardi gras beads on the outside and on the inside (I am wearing them today in honour of Mardi Gras and I'm jingling and jangling!).  Each colour of bead represents something specific:  Purple is for Lent and stands for Justice; Gold is for Easter and stands for Power; Green is for Epiphany and stands for Faith.

Also in the basket were boxes for jambalya and dirty rice (Zatarains of course!).  There was étouffée sauce, cajun butter, Italian olive salad, creole seasoning, remoulade dressing and beignet mix...oowee!!!

In honour of Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Pancake Tuesday -- whatever you call today, tonight's meal will be pancakes and beignets.

taken at Great Southern in Seaside Florida, February 12, 2012

I had never had a beignet before but while in Florida, on our last morning there we had breakfast at Great Southern and shared a platter of beignets between the 4 of us.  Good?  It doesn't come close to describing this deep fried goodness.

If you stayed with me to the end of this, congratulations...there are many more stories to come from my February travels, photos of friends, and places and experiences.  I hope you'll enjoy hearing about them all.

H♥O♥M♥E

Savannah, Georgia - February 13, 2012

I am home.  After 15 days on the road, I am now back in my own space, my own bed, my "real" world.  

It's going to take a period of re-adjustment.  No one to make my bed.  No sitting down to eat whatever is on the restaurant's menu.  No one to ask me how "y'all are doing".  No warm days.  No flowers in bloom.  Yet.

I'm sitting here this morning, waking slowly and savouring.  I have a new latte mug that I purchased in Target.

In that mug is a huge cup of Georgia coffee that I purchased in Savannah.  It is in a word "sublime".  I'm drinking "Prissy's of Vidalia" Southern Pecan Coffee.  The packet says "A taste of Southern Gourmet".  Oh it is indeed.  Much better than the swill in the Styrofoam cup I'm holding in this photo.  I don't know what that was.

We left North Carolina on Saturday morning and it was 65 beautiful degrees.  And sunny.  As we drove north, the temperatures began to drop and upon arrival in northern Ohio that night it was 33 degrees.  We left for Toronto on Sunday morning to the tune of 30 degrees and while it was sunny and bright in Toronto....it was only 28 degrees.  But no snow.  Can we hear a chorus of hallelujah for that???

I took 418 photographs over 15 days.  It's going to take me awhile to go through them all because with each one comes a memory (and sometimes a total black out of "what the heck is that supposed to be" on the ones that are not in focus).

We went through 12 states in 15 days...5 of which we had never been through before -- Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi (and yes, as we went through Mississippi I did the old M I SS I SS I PP I...) and Tennessee.

The best memories are the ones with my friends.  I know I will be awhile over those as I remember laughter and conversation and the bliss and joy of being with those who you find complete comfort and a sense of belonging with.

Packing Up...

(image from google.com)

Two book reviews in two days.   There is a reason for that...books borrowed from the library that need to be returned before I leave for my trip.  Both books are on the "hold" list which means no renewals so it has been a matter of reading like a fiend in order to get them back to the library.  Happily I have done so.

I read Ami McKay's first book "The Birth House" when it was first published and was captivated by her ability to weave a story.  Her second book, which I eagerly anticipated, has been a long time in the making and I have not been disappointed.  "The Virgin Cure" is an easy read and it kept me entertained and compelled to keep turning pages, long after it would have been wise to turn out the light.

To understand what "the virgin cure" is, go to Ami's website here, where she will describe this period in time, the beliefs that were held by men and you will be taken into the life of her main character, Moth.  An unusual name for a most unusual child but a name that holds much significance. 

The packing for vacation has commenced and there will be books packed for the trip south.  I look forward to mornings, by the time I reach Tybee Island and Myrtle Beach, where I will sit on the balcony with my coffee, watch the ocean and read.  Hopefully there will also be pool side time in a comfortable lounger with my books and just time to "be" and feel the pace that moves as I want it to.

I'm taking this one with me...

 

(image from google.com)

Aside from the fact that it seems fitting for a "road trip", it is also one of those books that I thought I had read and yet I haven't.  High time I did.

I may be in touch while on the road...not sure.  It will depend on timing and if I am sitting still long enough in one place to write.  If I'm not online then I will be back sometime after the 20th.  Hopefully I will be rested, relaxed and filled with good food, good wine and great times and wonderful stories of time spent with friends.

It's rather nice to go away and know that there is someone at home to take care of anything that needs doing.  Being the parents of adult children is rather nice ... a bit of freedom well earned!

Mystery Alphabet...

I've been along for the ride with PI Kinsey Millhone since she stared solving crime with "A is for Alibi".  And it's been a great ride.

Sue Grafton writes mystery with a twist and her main character has character plus.  Reciting the alphabet has never been such fun.

We're nearing the end of this series and guessing what Sue Grafton will do with some of the more unusual letters such a "X" and "Z" is half the fun.  I thought "Q" might stump her but "quarry" was the obvious choice.

Over the years I've come to feel I know these characters -- Kinsey, her neighbour and landlord Henry, his brother William and his wife Rosie.  I look forward eagerly to each book being released and I realize I'll miss them when we've finished reciting the alphabet.

Leap...