Blessed are the curious, for they will have adventures!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
I haven’t ever really “compiled” a written bucket list per se, but I’ve always had certain events or places that I wanted to experience. So, no time like the present, as I approach my 55th birthday, to put pen to paper and actually put together an actual list to check off as I achieve these mini-goals. To be honest, most of the items on the list are just places I really want to go, more like a travel list, but it’s a bucket list nonetheless. In compiling said list I realized, as I have in the past, that almost every one of them is an experience and not a “thing” because I couldn’t ask for any more “things” in my life. I truly have everything I need…a happy, healthy family, with two wonderful additions this year, and amazing friends to share this life with and although I’m open to that significant other in my future (just putting it out there my friends!) it will only enhance the joy that already lies within me. So, without further adieu, my bucket list, circa 2015….
1. Meditteranean Cruise with the immediate family…yay! going next May!
2. Fall colors cruise down the Eastern seaboard…specifically Maine, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland
3. Japan…the culture, the sushi!
4. Loire Valley, Southern France….specifically this Castles and Foodies Tour.
5. Some places in the U.S I’d still like to see….Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; Boise (yes, Lola/Sars I’m visiting at some point!); Charleston, SC & Savannah, GA in the same trip; Miraval Spa in Tucson, AZ; Maine (maybe on that fall foliage cruise?); Wendy & Rob’s newest addition in WI ….I’m sure there are others.
6. Seeing Tom Brady play live… (yay!..going in December…birthday gift to me, the Dec 27th game against the Jets since it may be his last year..what with deflate-gate, non-suspensions and his age!)
7. Be a coxswain for an 8+ boat at the Head of the Charles regatta…and also attend the Royal Henley Regatta in England.
8. See the Underwater Museum in Cancun
9. Fly to Vancouver or Seattle, rent a car and drive down Hwy 101 along the west coast back home…stopping at the adorable Boardwalk Cottages, among many other coastal locales!
10. Lighthouse keeper for a night or week at Rose Island Lighthouse in Rhode Island (with that S.O.?) and/or a weekend at the Point Arena Lighthouse up near Mendocino, CA (they’re 3/bed cottages…road trip anyone!!)
11. Attend the writer’s festival and other fun/interesting Irish events at the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia. Although I could just attend one of the local Irish fairs or festivals here in SoCal!
12. Invite people to communal table dinner parties in my home for non-profits that I’m passionate about. I love to entertain and am passionate about volunteering (which I’ve missed and been out of touch with of late), so why not organize and do both at once.
13. Attend an EatWith dinner in LA and/or NYC.
14. Attend Redhead Days in the Netherlands (1.5 hrs from Amsterdam) or U.K. (missed the one this past weekend) and/or Gingers/The Gathering in the U.K. (there was supposed to be a Ginger Pride Festival in SF in 2016, but it may not get off the ground?)
15. Some European cities I’d like to get to….Barcelona…and Madrid while I’m in the area, Vienna, Lake Cuomo ! …or maybe just live in Europe for six months and go everywhere!
16. The Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, NYC Wine & Food Festival and/or Taste of Paris.
17. Take part in a Daybreaker dancing event!…..NYC, LA, SF or Paris?
18. Attend Pillow Fight Day…I may have to be an organizer for OC…looks like it’s April 2nd next year?…but not this kind of pillow fight..seriously?…yikes!
19. See the Northern Lights in either, Norway, Denmark, Iceland or Finland
20. Volunteer abroad program…this is just one of many to choose from!
….and the places I want to go back to…visit my friend Gina and her family in Ireland (might need to attend this, Gina recommended, festival?), Amsterdam, Vancouver, SF, any cottage or cabin near water, and an un-ending list of restaurants in NYC (La Boite en Bois, The Ugly Kitchen, Dirty French etc…. ) and LA (Petit Trois, Osso, Bestia, etc…)
(I did have “swim with dolphins” on my list because I just love them, but then I read this!)
What’s on your bucket list? Maybe I’ll steal some of your fabulous, creative, fun ideas!
…and a happy birthday to the adorable one in the middle…my son!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Stop looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security or love….you have a treasure within that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer….Eckhart TolleI’m really enjoying reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle…more info & review when I’m finished…it’s some deep shit!
….and happy birthday to the guy in the middle here…my almost son-in-law
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
One of the things I love about being back in my home is eating outside, whether it’s just a cup of coffee & reading the paper in the morning, or pizza Monday on the grill. And speaking of the grill, here’s a yummy recipe for… Grilled Romaine with Blue Cheese-Bacon Vinaigrette! 
assemble your ingredients
Serves: 6 servings (the recipe feeds a lot, but sometimes I just make enough for one or two…adjust accordingly)
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 pound bacon, chopped
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 heads romaine lettuce, cut in 1/2 lengthwise
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the grill to high heat.
nothing like caramelizing onions and bacon
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a saute pan over high heat. Add the onions and bacon and cook until the bacon is crispy. To the same pan add the balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and stir to combine. Remove from heat and set aside.
Brush the romaine lettuce with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, place on the grill, cut side down, and quickly sear for around 90 seconds or so.
Top with dressing, blue cheese, pepper & salt…magnifique!!!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
So true!
..happy hump day! (that’s Wednesday, if you didn’t know…no reference to the post!)
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
My sister, Mariellen, and her sister-in-law who is also my friend, Beth, both sent me this card a few days apart as I was moving back to my home. Meant to be!!!
Happy Labor Day!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Okay, I’ve been a bit lax with the postings lately, but I’ll be more consistent as my home gets more in order and after my daughters wedding….36 Days Until “I DO!” The weather here in SoCal has been amazing this week…I hear we’re in for another heat wave next week..ugh!! So, I thought I’d just share some of my favorite, beautiful, sunrise and sunset pics as we relax into the weekend.
Have a FABULOUS weekend! Enjoy some sunrises & sunsets….you’ll be glad you did!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Have a FABULOUS week!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
I think I’ve mentioned how awesome my neighborhood is and what a great place it was/is to raise kids. As neighbors we’ve gone on vacations together and generally just enjoyed each other’s company. For the most part, we all had kids in common and that unifying thread has stuck with us even as our children have grown, gotten married and some of us have become grandparents. There’s now a whole new crop of younger families that have moved in and the streets are alive with the sound of kids playing, bikes riding and parents calling them. I love the rejuvenation it’s brought to the neighborhood.
So, I say all of that because we, as a neighborhood, have been invited for the past 5 years to the Farley home in Arizona for “The Weekend in the Woods.” The Farley’s lived and raised their kids in the neighborhood, moved to Arizona and now their daughter and her family are in their home here. How cool is that! I’ve only been able to go to the first weekend back in 2011 because my life has been a little wacky since, but now that things had started to settle down a bit I looked forward to the 5th annual event.
I’m somewhat of a wuss when it comes to tent camping, so I’m lucky enough to get a beautiful room in the main house. Almost everyone else camps out under the stars in tents. We arrived on a Thursday afternoon, just in time to relax and get settled before prepping the dinner. It’s all very organized with everyone signing up for different chores throughout the weekend….prep, cooking and clean up for each meal, to name a few. I made the mistake of signing up for cooking a few nights this time, not realizing that it meant cooking over the open fire pit, where I have no experience…sorry Morgan & Jim! I think I made up for it by signing up for extra prep chores??
There are activities planned for every day and it’s up to you whether you want to partake…or just sit somewhere and read a book. There’s a few nature hikes, treasure hunting and tracking for the kids and a trip to Bearizona Wildlife Park. I had a couple of great afternoons just reading and napping, but I really enjoyed the wildlife park visit. Here’s a glimpse…
One of the highlights of the weekend is the team games/activity day. Our hosts split us up into teams and we compete against each other with prizes at the end of the day. We did weed pulling, archery and log-splitting and it’s always so much fun. Although there’s a picture here of me practicing archery, I was not in the competition (which was best for my team.) My form looks bad-ass but I never hit a bullseye…not sure if I even hit the bale of hay? Here are a few pics….
On our last night we made waffle cone smores…filling waffle cones with all kinds of goodies, wrapping them in tin foil and putting them in the fire to get warm…with toppings and whipped cream to top them off. Sooo yummy!!
Thanks Farley’s for an amazing, fun weekend with great friends and neighbors!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
