2019 September-2020 January: The Silent Months!

Welcome back, everyone!

Thank you for sticking around during my silent months while I had my site rebuilt and a new logo unveiled. I hope you find it more alive, inviting, colorful, and easier to search for your favorite recipes, resources, and our travel posts. I’m so grateful to the team that worked for food. Thank you to Chris LaPage and Ian for the transformation, putting up with all my questions, and teaching me so much about creating in the technology world. They were amazing and so talented. A huge hug of gratefulness goes to them. Every day I work on my site, I appreciate the time and effort they put into making my hobby a joy! I am indebted to my daughter for her patience and time in making this dream come true.

And now, let’s get on with the main course.

What a whirlwind these past six months have been. After securing our boat, Virus, in the Netherlands for her winter nap, we had a moment to catch our breath by visiting Wolfach, Germany, to check on the progress of our new home being built in the Black Forest. It’s going to be amazing! I’m ecstatic about the kitchen. It will be a dream kitchen where I can mess around and create amazing dishes.

In October, we took off for the USA and hooked up Johnny and Cash, our Chevy King cab and 5th wheel, for a week of camping near my grandchildren and family. Naturally, we were just in time for our traditional Opa pumpkin carving!

During my first week in the USA, I could enjoy a dinner that many of my high school friends helped plan over the past few months. It was amazing to see over 60 friends still kicking and grinning. The hardest part was remembering names.

The following week, we actually took our two granddaughters out of school and headed out in Johnny (our dependable Chevy truck) to Brookings, Oregon, for a 10-day road trip to visit my sister, her husband, and my 89-year-old mother, who have all recently left the San Diego area for a new chapter in their lives. We had a short visit with cousin Amiee and her family in Hanford on the way up.

I’m proud of Ruby (7) and Eva (5). They were troopers, and the two 10-hour-a-day drives went by quickly. Of course, we had to stop at all the iconic sightseeing locations on the way!

We just had to hug a tree!

It was great to see my mom so happy in her new home. Melissa and Steve have been planning a move to Brookings for YEARS, and it finally came together. Their home is truly amazing.

It is built on the side of a mountain with panoramic sea views and just a short ride to town.

Grandma was her true artsy, teaching Ruby how to knit and…

of course art lessons as well.

Plus a bonus for us all! My son made the 8-hour drive from Tacoma, Washington, to Brookings. Yes, the girls were thrilled!

We spent one day on the Chetco River drawing, exploring, hanging out, and skimming rocks,

The trip was worth visiting my sister and seeing their new home. I know mom is happy, and it sure pays to have a nurse as a sister! Mom is in good hands.

When we returned, we escaped to our happy place, Borrego Springs. It was a wonderful six weeks with some rain and a few cold days, but it was perfect for hiking and a few rounds of golf.

Our annual Thanksgiving in Borrego was a success with my granddaughters, family, and friends.

Plus, a major 6 1/2 mile hike topped it off.

Christmas with my grandchildren and family was in order, and traditional goldenrod eggs were served. Yep, I had a gluten and dairy-free batch just for me! After breakfast, we headed to the Gage family home to spend time with my sister’s daughter’s family. Chris, her husband, is the tri-tip grill master and treated us to an amazing Christmas dinner.

Lutz and I decided to head back to Oregon for New Year’s Eve. Once again, we took off with dependable Johnny through the redwoods and beautiful green states of Northern California and Southern Oregon. It was great to ring with my mom, Melissa, and Steve in the New Year. My brother’s oldest daughter, Hannah, from northern Oregon, was there with her two darling children. Plus, we got to catch up with our old friends, Mary and John. The evening meal was delicious. We went with an Asian-inspired meal! Spring rolls, pumpkin curried soup, barbecue Asian ribs, and mango pudding. The great hikes and beautiful weather made this second trip just as special. We got mom up-and-at-it. We cruised along the Oregon coast and checked out several trails and ocean views. Just gorgeous.

We made it back to San Diego on the 5th of January just in time to repack our bags and catch our 9:30 pm flight to Ft Lauderdale, Florida. Lutz’s cousin Alex and his wife Judy were at their winter condo and invited us to visit. Lutz has always wanted to see the Florida Keys, so we all hooked up for a 2-day adventure.

After a great trip to the most southern point in North America, we gathered our belongings and headed to Naples, Florida.

But not until we got our share of alligators.

Of course, one of us had to have knee problems! Dang, we’re getting old.

We spent four days in Naples touring, beaching and eating! As for me…give me the beach any day!

Lutz had to stop at each State and National park for a full area tour. It was a great visit to the swamps, and we had a front-row seat… this poor guy only had us for his audience.

The last night we were in Naples, we had the flu! Flying home in a crowded jet was uncomfortable, but we returned in one piece. We’re settled in our camper on Coronado Island, recuperating and visiting friends and family for the last two weeks. We’re getting our previous shot of sunshine before heading back to Germany. Plus, we are enjoying a last-minute visit from my son, who flew down to hug us goodbye.

That’s a wrap for now. It’s pretty strange packing six months of activities into one post. I appreciate your hanging in until the end of this post. We’re taking off for Germany on the 27th of January and heading home! Keep your eyes peeled for February’s post. I’ll gladly update you on our next travel plans and cooking adventures.

Once again, thank you all for hanging in there while I redone my site. I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding my new site! A quick post would be greatly appreciated. I’ve also added a few new recipes, so take your time and browse around. Let me know what you think. If you have feedback or see something out of whack…. like spelling, an incorrect link, or a typo…As I said, this was a major change, and some things still might need a little tweaking on my part. I’m always open to improvement.

Till next month,

Please remember to try to create something new each day; try cooking!

Melinda