It’s that time again. September starts the craft shows for my friend Paula and me. We kick it off with an Inventory Clearance Sale of the previous years’s things in Kenosha’s Harbor Market Every Saturday in September. Last Saturday was our first one this year and it went well. This is the first year that we have taken credit cards for purchases of $25 or more. (more…)
Okay here’s something I’m going to try to do. Throw back Thursday posts – old things I have that I’ll share. Some are to laugh at myself like this one here. Others I imagine will interest me enough to share for other reasons.
Here’s what I know about that picture – it’s me! I’m in my maternal grandparent’s house in Laurens, South Carolina’s guest bathroom. That potty was wooden. Which at the time I thought was odd. (more…)
A bearded Iris is my favorite flower. It has been for as long as I can remember. I think this is why. I loved it when the irises next to our driveway in Greeneville, Tennessee in were in full bloom. It was a riot of color and scents just my height. One of my fondest memories of living in town (besides having playmate just across the street) was the bloom of the irises followed by the big old lilac bush at the corner of the house. All are gone now.
When Greeneville started hosting the Iris Festival back in 1994 it was the right choice in my mind. (more…)
Day five in Naples started with me waking up to say “Honey it’s 6:30” when he intended to get up at 5 and I wanted to get up at 6. We both dashed to get ready. I skipped shower as I had to be at the roundabout outside the gate at 7:15 to catch the bus to the boat for my day on Capri. I got there and then learned about Italian time… it is approximate. I was the only one there until 7:30 which is when the bus was to depart and up strolled three couples from base. The bus rolled in about 7:45. It’s all relative… except when it comes to boats going to Capri. We were rushed from the bus to grab our tickets from Aldo, our guide, and dash aboard a hydrofoil to Capri. Once again I got the most envied of all seats the middle of the middle. I could see nothing. Dosed off for the hour over. Once there we caught mini buses to Anacapri.
Anacapri is the settlement on the top of the rocky island. Villa D’Capri is the one that rings it down by the sea. The island has been human inhabited since 5,000 BC Capri in Eutruscan meant boar – the island is where they hunted boar. Later Romans moved in and brought goats Capra thus inn Latin Capri means of goats.
We took off from the port in a small bus covered in ads for a tacky watch covered in Swarovski rosetta crystals of various colors called a Capri watch. It sells for 300 euro about $450 US. The road we took clings to the rock cliff and is called the Etruscan road hewn by the Greeks & Etruscans to trade easier with Anacapri.
It has not been widened since before Christ and has a granite wall on one side and a drop to the blue blue Mediterranean sea on the other. It is wide enough for two of their one goat wagons or just wide enough in parts for our minibus and an adventurous scooter driver. The drivers radio to one another when they are heading what direction on the road the others wait in the wider spots. Oh and by wider I mean where they barely pass… BARELY. But don’t think that slows down any driver because it doesn’t. Nor do the pedestrians on the road flinch for bus, car, truck, or scooter horn. I rode in the front seat on the way down to get a shot of the wider parts.
Once in Anacapri he we toured the graveyard where burials have been for 1000s of years. Then saw Tiberius’s vineyard. Seems the white grapes grown there make an impeccable wine that Emperor Tiberius
loved so his vineyard still growing grapes today for a family’s private wine but given to VIPs who visit Capri. You cannot buy any. Then we followed this narrow walk way to the center of Anacapri where we were set free for about an hour and a half.
I headed down to the red museum which was the nautical one. Found it and even could read the sign’s times. It opened at 10 am now it was 11 am but still not open. I look about the vendors now opening their stores and bringing out their displays. I asked one about the museum.
“It is a cold day, they will open later when it warms up.” It was in the low 60s F (teens in C). I went back made a few pictures and looked over the sign, no where did I spot anything about closed when “freddo” mornings arrive.
So I strolled out to the overlook past the just opening shops all bidding me “Good morning, open soon. Very cold this morning.” The funny thing is on the “cold” morning the ice cream stand was the only one open on time. The over look was beautiful, again made some photos. Walked back and kinda had to go to the bathroom but it is “50p to pee” as Aldo told us. The smallest I had was 20 Euro and we were going to lunch next where a bano would be available. So I just enjoyed sitting in the warm Med sun at the meeting point.
It was then another ride down the Etruscan road to where we had lunch. It was a house with a nice covered patio. The people have a restaurant-like business feeding tour groups that book them. First we had rigatoni with tomato sauce, made from fresh tomatoes. Then ravioli stuffed with 3 cheeses (buffalo mozzarella, ricotta from sheep, and goat feta) that was topped with a veggie sauce. Next you could choose from roast pork (called roast beouf here from some unknown reason), herbed chicken (cooked over open fire on spit), or the Capri traditional dish of pan cooked squid (calamari Capriese). I went for the squid – when in Capri do as Capriseans. This was accompanied with a basic garden salad topped with a light vinegar and fresh olive
oil. All this was with warm fresh crusty bread they kept bringing and kept bringing and I swear forced everyone at my table to eat at least a loaf each. That is our agreed upon story- that they forced us- and we at table 9 are sticking to it! It was capped by a vanilla gelato (ice cream). It all was to DIE for food. All the squid I’ve ever had has been chewy. This was melting in your mouth tender it broke with slight pressure from a fork. Very buttery with garlic and basil flavor and briney sea flavor. Mmmm-MMmm The pasta was perfect al dente not mushy. It was all so fresh. Oh, and I got to use the bano without having a 50p coin.
Next he took us to the Capri lemon shop. Lemons there are Caesar lemons. Think the size of a large navel orange or small grapefruit. They are sweet-like lemons. There I got some lemon chocolate and orange chocolate. Drat 5 Euro change still no 50p for the bano!
Now was a walking tour to the south side of the island where the rich live. We went up into the medieval walls and walked there. Originally these were the sentry walk and barracks.
Now it is a public walk with non-tourist shops in the former barrack rooms. It was interesting to see that one side for a good distance was a grocery. One barrack room vegetable produce then pay and move to the fruit produce pay and move down to the bread pay then sweets and so on through canned goods, dry goods, etc. Some were small pizzerias with workmen crowded in the skylight courtyards eating their lunch. We came out on steps filled with flowers that were a florist’s display.
Then to square of the important – tables set up with chairs and various upscale restaurants. Here the important people of the island gather to drink wine, play chess, and in good Italian tradition argue. We went down a winding street of all the upscale name shops you can name. Yes you too can own a Dolce Gaban t-shirt that says Capri on it for only 800 euro ($1000) or dress your babe in Grey Flannel brand baby clothes for only 1200 euro for one outfit. Oh and get a gelato for 16 euro looking much like the 3 euro gelato I saw for sale on the south side.
We moved on to the Sanatorium which was where people with lung disease came to be treated by the good sea air. It is now a four star hotel. Passed it and down Via Rupp a nice stone walkway made by a German named Rupp. We went to another major industry on the island besides Caesar lemons (for many a Lemoncello) is perfume. We toured the perfumery’s garden and I loved it as Aldo knew much about the plants flowers and uses. The views from there were glorious.
It was there Aldo said he’s meet us back at the buses on the south side. I got a bit of a fright hoping I could remember my way back! Then I thought, eh, it’s a small island keep following the coast and I’ll find the other side. However bano was NOW calling. I went in asked the attendant for change for my 5 euro. She was nice and had to call the men’s room attendant for help but between the two of them they made change. I thanked them both and tipped each a euro. Trust me I’d gladly given them the whole 5 for one 50p to pee! Now I dropped my coin in the slot (I had many as he opened a change box to get me change I’m sure he thought “Touriesta!”) And was relieved.
Then I started navigating my way back stopping by the Swarovski store in the rich section. Swarovski is a prized crystal jewelry piece maker. They are made in Austria and I deal with them regularly making jewelry. So I know many of their prices in US. There in the store a crystal that is about $0.75 US was selling for 14 euro ($21) a crystal pendant $3 US was selling for 118 euro ($170). I chuckled to myself at the snobby shoppers and headed for the sentry steps that were now a florists display case. Then through the walls past the grocery and down a few streets and I found the buses in plenty of time. Some were not so lucky so Aldo fretted about his babini (children is what he called us, his children) until they came from the opposite direction from what he had taken us. Seems they got turned around and figured as I did keep following the coast and the wall you’ll have to pass it being an island.
It was another harrowing bus ride down to the port. There we had to wait for the boat. We were running late it was 4 pm already and originally we were scheduled to be back at base at 4:30. Being a good papa Aldo let those who needed to use his cell to call babysitters, loved ones meeting them etc to tell of the delay. Me eh, Mike is in a secure area and I’ll get back when I get back.
So it was an uneventful hydrofoil ride back to the bus to the walk to the base then the walk to the inn on base. I got home as Mike did. He wanted to walk out to a restaurant for dinner. I gave him the very fatigued “I’ve walked all over Capri all day” stink eye and we got sushi at the food court.
Even though I didn’t label them all, all photos are by me. You can click on any one to see it larger and go to my Flickr account where there are many more of my day on Capri.
Yep this is another pic spam Vacation, wish I was there, posts.
Those of you with pets know that leaving them when going on vacation takes planning. We have a wonderful pet sitter that has always done superior work with our furry babies, Always There Pet Care. However for the first time in many years our holiday and theirs lined up. So I was in a quandary as to what to do considering I have two furry boys that need medication. At their check up I was asking the doctor if she could recommend someone. To my surprise one of the vet techs volunteered! Of course I paid her the same as I do our usual sitters and was glad to have the boys in good hands while I was on the high seas.
We flew to Ft. Lauderdale on Friday to catch the ship on Saturday in Miami. We left on an early flight from O’Hare and thanks to Mike’s frequent flyer miles the flights were $20 roundtrip! We had a connection in Charlotte and every flight went off without a hitch. Though really I swear if the seats get any thinner I’m going to have to sit on one cheek. My dream is to travel first class if not like this. And may I add I have never been in or through an airport that wasn’t under some kind of construction/renovation.
My BFF lives ten minutes from the Ft. Lauderdale airport. So she graciously arranged to be off work and picked us up at the airport. Then it was over to her place to shed our Wisconsin Spring clothes (warm!) for shorts, sandals, and tees. Then we went to the Hollywood, FL beach for a walk in the sun. After that to Las Vegas (yes in Hollywood) for a real Cuban dinner. It was delish! and yes Walter (for the fellow Fringe fans) is right everyone loves Flan! I however could make a meal on their black beans and rice with plantains for dessert. Then she graciously drove to our hotel in Miami Beach. By then I was exhausted. I’d gotten up at 4am to make it to O’Hare for our first flight.
We stayed on Miami beach in the Old Cadillac Hotel now a Courtyard by Marriott. The hotel was built in 1940 in Art Deco style and is on the US National Register of Historic Places. It was renovated in 2004 for $40 million and is a beauty any way you look at her. We stayed in the original tower. That night we did a walk on South Beach. Let me say I saw more silicone than you’d see at a caulking convention. Also I’m out of touch apparently the style is to wear neon undies beneath a thin white dress. We in Wisconsin are so behind the times…
The next morning was a great breakfast (split a HUGE omelet with Mike) and another walk on the boardwalk (very different scenery this time). We were just down from the famous Fontainebleau Miami. Of course being a crime show addict I had to tell Mike about the Batman memorabilia collecting heir’s murder. Once we enjoyed seeing the ocean and beach section that came with our hotel (that we didn’t have time to enjoy). We checked out and caught a cab to the port to catch a ship.
I guess this 24 hours was our version of Planes, Trains, automobiles, and ships. (train at O’hare to get to the airport from remote parking).
Next time I’m on travel it’ll be about being on board ship.
As always you can click on an image to be taken to my Flickr account and see more photos or click on the links for more information about other stuff.
Until next time!
Sometimes you just have to run away to the Caribbean and unplug from the world. That is exactly what I did. I floated around on a ship with my 2,999 shipmates.
Spent several days at sea – wonderful except for the throat infection days where I saw the ship’s doctor and slept. Did yacht racing in St. Maarten, took a tour of St. John, USVI and stayed on the boat for Nassau as I didn’t feel like snorkeling. Loved having someone to cook and clean after me. Could live there for that. When I was feeling better I started writing again but the cruise was almost over by then. **SIGH**
Unfortunately, I had to return to reality and the world here didn’t stop. So I’ve got a To-Do book instead of list. Oh, and I still feel like I am on ship – land sickness. I didn’t get sea sickness but I’ve got land sickness – prime demographic for it middle aged woman on sea over seven days. Good news – it goes away over time. Bad news – no treatment and can last months. Good news – not sick feeling just slight almost pleasant rocking feeling. Bad news – there are multiple documented cases of prime demographic that lasted years.
Stay tuned more photo posts to come. I’ve got three cameras of stuff to download and process.
Until next time!
Let me first start by stating the obvious – IT IS COLD OUTSIDE! Yes it was -16F when I woke up. No that IS the actual TEMPERATURE you don’t wanna know the wind chill – somewhere in the -30sF. I don’t plan to go out until afternoon when we are supposed to warm up to about oF. Okay formalities taken care of I’ll start on my post now.
Due to work I didn’t go down to see the folks (mine and his) until after Christmas. It worked out just fine. Aaron and Sara came down later and stayed after us as they wanted to celebrate New Year’s with their friends here. Ahh I remember when we actually stayed up in dressy clothes and partied with others. Now just staying up is the challenge. Funny as I get older I get more like a baby routine keeps me from being grumpy.
Any way here are a few photos from the trip. Not much as I only had my phone.
Okay tomorrow and Thursday I work so hopefully I’ll get another post in the pipeline for those days – maybe about the great YWriter and a postcard from the past… or maybe swamp tour or Colonial Williamsburg… or maybe not… Until next time!
If you have followed or browsed my blog you know I like to take pictures. This is partly because I have no talent to draw something, but I can take a picture of it.
I’ve been doing photography for years. It all started when my parents built a darkroom in the basement for printing black and white photographs. I became my high school’s photographer.
Over the years I’ve dabbled in and out of it but honestly it took the digital age for me to really enjoy it. In those intervening decades from basement darkroom to paintshop I developed a few things I like in a camera. I actually developed two types of cameras I like to use.
The first one is the SLR with fully adjustable settings – I can do what I want with this one. I like the feel of focusing, playing with depth of field, using sensitivity (ISO used to be ASA) and aperture to get the effect I want, and controlling shutter speed. All these are factors in creating the image I want to capture the moment. The digital SLR I have I saved for it over a year with discretionary income. I love it. It’s what I take with me when I go out to shoot photos most of the time. Alas here is where the WOE comes in – The battery for it no longer holds a charge. **SIGH** Yes I know get a new one. I will I promise and soon! But plate full thing and even though I enjoy it – it is winter with below zero temperatures so there’s no rush as I’m not going out to make pictures any time soon. Heck I’m not going out unless I HAVE to do so.
Second the compact but versatile point and shoot. It only takes one day of wagging around a big SLR at a theme park to wish for a small light camera you can tuck into your pocket. (Yes, yes I know phones have good cameras today but I don’t like them – more on that next. ) Except I don’t want to give up some adjust ability. So I look for ones with settings – Image stabilization is a must on these. First off the viewfinder has all but disappeared from point and shoots. This takes away a very stable body position for making pictures. Yes holding a camera to you face to look through that tiny hole had a purpose – it brought your arms in and braced them against your head and possibly your body thus giving the photographer a more stable stance / less shake. Sadly it is now only the pervue of the upper end models not ones you want to take on the roller coaster at Universal. Also if I’m going to spend that much I want an SLR where I look out the actual lens rather than an above the lens where there is the issue of parallax distortion. BUT for snapshots and fun photos that’s not a concern. Bonus is that in an affordable model I can get the same quality as far as megapixels and processor speed as I have in my SLR. Also they have enough body weight to help with stabilization and give this old photographer a sense of the shot I’m taking. Also the weight of the body suppresses the camera’s susceptibility to shake from the photographer’s natural breathing which would start to show up at 30th of a second or so for me on these (more sturdy SLRs it’s a bit slower – psst lean on a wall with camera to the face to help with this when at slow speeds). So it’s photos for quick fun where the camera thinks and I just point and shoot.
Now for another tale of WOE – my point and shoot after years of faithful service has given up the ghost. It turns one zooms then makes various chirping and tweeting sounds and dies. It is the fourth one I have literally worn out. BUT not to fret a new one is ordered on Christmas gift money (Thanks Mom & Dad, still supporting my photography habit after all these years) and will be delivered soon. If the snow storm doesn’t delay it.
Finally my take on cameras on phones – Okay in a pinch. I don’t like how they feel in the hand – too light too subject to photographer shake from even natural breathing. Also adjustments on the screen so again more prone to unwanted movement. Finally no viewfinder only LED screen that when you get in sunlight turns black – also a downfall of the newer point and shoots. This as become the most frequent reason I have my SLR with me and set on automatic – I can see through the viewfinder in bright light. So for me the lack of knobs/buttons, the screen issue, and the extreme light weight of it are all reasons I shun using it except in a pinch. It’ll do and the processor speed/megapixel quality has improved greatly – yet to this old dog it still doesn’t FEEL like a camera.
So for now I’m reduced to the phone which means I do little to no photography this holiday season. But soon – yes soon – I’ll have a new camera to play with in my spare time that is currently used to sit – stare into space while eating bon-bons. Yeah like I got LOTS of that time – pfft.
Until next time which will hopefully be sooner rather than later!
So part of 2014 starting off right was clearing the picture taken in 2013 from my phone. I don’t use it often so here in no particular order is a sample of 2013 as seen by my phone.
And so it went to until 2014 started.
**Blows the dust away and gets out broom**
Why hello there! It’s been awhile since I’ve been here. Lots has happened and not so much has happened. I do have a good excuse as to why I’ve been gone.
First off Miss Mo my female kitty got worse. It was very sad. She died and we did discover that the issue was a fast developing spinal cancer. I still miss her very much. She was a very special girl.
Next Mike graduated another post-grad program in Norfolk. It was another trip there for a few days. I was very proud of him. While there we went to Colonial Williamsburg. I made lots of great picture. Yes I’ll do a very belated post about them.
Then there’s work. A few times we’ve had short staff for medical reasons, people moving, etc. At times I’ve work full time rather than part time to help out. I love what I do so I don’t mind. BUT for me it’s a side thing.
Finally my writer’s block broke. Yes I furiously wrote 41 chapters of a whole new story, 21 chapters on my Urban-fantasy with a rural setting, and about 12 on my steampunk novel. The muses were so demanding I’ve been cramming in writing where ever I could. Now my goal is to go to an event in Madison by their continuing education branch where I can do pitches to publishers and agents. Oh to get an agent! My focus will be on the whole new story and getting it prepped as that muse is the most demanding.
Aaron is doing well in college and in ROTC. He got a full scholarship in bio-chem from them. He loves having his own small apartment. No roommate problems that way. Being one who has to report to PT at 5:45 am with roommates who think 10:45 am classes are early can be difficult.
The holidays were nice. Our big present this year was a new furnace and boiler. Our 30+ year old one finally gave up the ghost. Heat is a must in Wisconsin and a new system isn’t free. So each time the radiators bang with a surge of new heat we wished each other a very Merry Christmas.
Did craft fairs again this fall and winter. They went very well. Now maybe I’ll make time to get an on-line shop up in 2014 along with a book agent and a few novels sold! Eh? why not dream big!
Mike and I took a vacation to Florida in the fall. Again we enjoyed an airboat tour. Also we managed to not go to a single amusement park. Did hit the beach though!
Health wise 2013 was one of improvement. My 2012 surgery seems to have helped many issues. It’s a slow and gradual process getting healed and stabilized but well worth it. Sadly as you get older bouncing back from such things goes slower than I’d like.
Finally for Mike – he’s nearing the end of his Navy career and retire looms on the horizon. I don’t know what we’ll do with ourselves. We’ve spent all our relationship with our lives accommodating the Needs of the Navy first and foremost. Now, there will be no monthly drills, no 2 weeks or more of active duty, no call ups – just waiting until we need to collect retirement. However that might be pushed off another year or two if he can. Captain Mike loves his Navy.
Our remaining pets the two Furry Boys – Red and Blue are facing problems of aging cats. Red has chronic kidney insufficiency. Blue had hyper thyroid. They both take medication regularly. They are healthy and happy but aging like the rest of us.
As for comics… Yes I’m still into them. Saw Thor The Dark World and enjoyed it. However I do agree Tom Hiddleston’s Loki got the best lines. Then again I’ve always enjoyed snark (sarcastic humor). As for reading – I am behind. As in a few short boxes behind not counting those I only get in digital form. So be patient with me, I’ve been writing more than reading. However if there’s an issue you really want to chat about – shout out to me and I’ll be sure to move that title to the top of the catch-up list.
I guess that gets everything caught up about me and mine. Hope you and yours are doing well, had a great holiday season and are looking forward to 2014.
Mary Louise Eklund 