Some may find Valentine’s Day corny; but personally in this fast paced world; in this isolating pandemic, I think it’s especially important to slow down and connect. Some will say, you don’t need a commercialized day to do this –but at its core it is a day to celebrate love; something we need a whole lot more of right now!
I put together a few gift guides –you can celebrate romantic love, platonic love or the love you have for yourself!
Finally got the chance to go to Houston, TX with my husband; there was so much to see and such great food to try! Here are our Houston Highlights (and some are future highlights; as COVID interfered with us being able to check out all of them, sadly)…
1. Buffalo Soldiers Museum *The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum tells the story of the historic Buffalo Soldiers, and the history of African Americans in the US military.
2. Houston Center for Photography *The photographs are breathtaking; they also offer classes in addition to the exhibits.
4. The Waterwall Park *It’s a little piece of paradise in the bustling city; listening to the water rush while walking among the mighty oaks is super relaxing.
I have been known to eat interesting culinary concoctions that make my husband wince. I have found a few weird and wonderful recipes that even he enjoys. Here are my top three…
1. Apple Dumplings courtesy of The Pioneer Woman –>Whoever would have thought that Mountain Dew + Pillsbury Crescent Rolls + Apples = Heaven; certainly not me –but it does!
2. Strange But True Casserole courtesy of Grey Eyes on allrecipes.com –>I stumbled upon this during a cold snap; I wanted a warm comforting dish and I was tired of all my other casserole recipes.
3. Bacon, orange marmalade & avocado sandwich with everything bagel seasoning on rye bread. –>I’m always experimenting with sandwich fillings; I love sandwiches, I could eat them morning, noon and night. This combo is sweet, salty and satisfying.
When I am not curled up on the couch with a good book; I am curled up with a magazine. I have numerous subscriptions…which may seem outdated in our digital world –but just like books, nothing beats flipping through the crisp pages and the smell, my goodness, the smell!! Magazines allow us to decompress or unplug, increase our knowledge and, “[b]ecause they prioritize visual aesthetics throughout their pages, not just on the covers, magazines create a highly sensory reading experience, which improves memory,” (BPS).
I was gifted an awesome journal for Christmas last year; Picadilly’s 200 Writing Prompts. I am still working my way through it! I wanted to share my most recent entry with you…
I spent the last month and a half checking out a new author, Wilbur Smith. My husband is a longtime fan and has been ‘suggesting’ that I read the books. And, I should have known that he was going to be right… I LOVED them!
Smith has several series: The Courtney Series, The Ballantyne Series and the Ancient Egypt Series.
I started with The Courtney Series; there are a couple ways to read these novels. They can be read in order of publishing date or in terms of the historical eras. I chose the historical era route; which is broken down into THREE parts. The order of the parts is as follows: Part 3, Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 2 (1917-1987)
1. Burning Shore This novel follows Sean Courtney’s first son Michael, who meets and impregnates Centaine, however, tragedy strikes and Michael dies on their wedding day. Sean Courtney steps in and sends Centaine and her entourage to South Africa but she becomes shipwrecked after her ship is sunk by the Germans. Through sheer will and determination Centaine survives and even gives birth in the wilderness. Eventually, she is tracked down by an outlaw named Lothar De La Rey; whom she falls in love with and has a child with. Their relationship dissolves after Centaine discovers Lothar killed the San people who helped her. She leaves Lothar and abandons their son, Manfred. Centaine becomes a wealthy woman after opening up a mine at the “Place of All Life,” a special place the San showed her. She is also reunited with the rest of the Courtney family.
2. Power of the Sword The Depression has hit hard and Centaine’s mine is struggling against De Beers. Her two sons Michael Shasa and Manfred De La Rey, do not know they are half brothers, find themselves on opposing sides continually throughout their lives. Manfred struggles while Michael tends to prosper. Manfred becomes a boxer and member of a pro-Afrikaner group. Both men compete in the 1936 Olympics for South Africa. While in Germany, Manfred falls in love with Heidi and becomes “The White Sword,” his mission is to kill the Prime Minister of South Africa as a way to destabilize the country. When the plan hits a snag, Manfred and Michael meet again; while their saga continues –dissatisfaction is spreading among the black workers, leading to the rise of Mandela, Botha and the African National Congress.
3. Rage Following WW2, anti-Apartheid rage is growing. Michael and Manfred discover their true familial connection. Michael is lured by the National Party with the promise of power and position. The ANC’s military wing (The Spear of the Nation) under the control of Gama and Tabaka seek vengeance against the very base of Apartheid. Gama usings Michael’s wife, Tara against him after seducing her and having a son with her. Gama plots to take down the government brutally. Manfred and Michael form an alliance to stop Gama and prevent a bloody revolution; however it is too late… the “rage burns brightly.” Michael also discovers that Manfred killed his uncle.
4. Golden Fox Michael and Tara’s youngest daughter, Isabella is the protagonist of this novel. She lives in London with her father who is now the South African Ambassador. Cunning Ramon, lures Isabella into Operation Golden Fox. Ramon is not who he appears to be. He is not a Spanish noble, but a KGB agent who is also related to Fidel Castro. Isabella gives birth to a son named Nicholas; Ramon and the baby disappear. Nicholas is tortured as a way to convince Isabella to betray her country and her father. On behalf of the KGB she spies on Armscor to obtain information on how the nuclear weapons will be used in the South African Border War. Once her espionage is discovered; the Courtney’s embark on a mission to resume Nicholas and unite him with Centaine, his great grandmother.
5. Time to Die Isabella’s brother, Sean Jr was a high ranking Rhodesian Army commander; he has since turned his efforts and occupation to hunting. He is prompted to find a legendary elephant upon the detah of one of his clients. On his journey he is accompanied by Claudia; the beautiful daughter of his friend. Unfortunately, she is abducted by anti-government forces, Renamo. To save her, Sean Jr is forced to work with Renamo. Sean has to steal missiles for General China, so they can be used to take for the Hind Helicopter fleet –the major obstacle in the way of General China’s goal of decimating the Frelimo government. Sean and Claudia must try to escape South Africa amidst a bloody war between the Renamo and Frelimo.
Just got back from a lovely trip to Sacramento; now we are gearing up to hit Houston, TX! So excited; it is my first time!
Although it’s not my first rodeo flying during a pandemic, it is still pretty overwhelming. The masking and sanitizing are just part of our everyday lives so I don’t bat an eye over it. But, the testing prior to departure/arrival and the anxious wait for results is the worst part. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the importance of testing!
I figured I’d share a few of my favourite travel items that make my journey better.
I am looking forward to checking out the great food at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen and going to the Museum of Natural Science! Check back next month for my “Must See/Must Eat” feature!
Finally heading back to Sacramento, CA! There is a lot to see and do and great food too!
What to do/see… 1. Crocker Art Museum *It houses an incredible collection of Californian Art and is the OLDEST art museum west of the Mississippi.
2. Old Sacramento *Step back in time by touring this historic riverside area complete with cobblestone streets; it boasts a ton of attractions like the Schoolhouse Museum, the Automobile Museum; you can even take a tour underground and enjoy a carriage ride.
3. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park *Built as a farming and trade colony by John Sutter in 1839; it draws visitors because of its connection to not only the founding of Sacramento but also the Donner Party and the California Gold Rush.
4. Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park *This beautiful home with its stunning grounds was finished in 1857 and was home to Stanford, the renowned railway founder and president who also went on to become the eighth governor of California.
Where to eat… 1. Bacon & Butter *Breakfast/Brunch Recommendation: Grilled Cheese Benedict & Prickly Pearmosa
1. Traditional *Having a paternal English grandmother meant that a trifle was always on the menu for dessert at family gatherings! I unfortunately never had a chance to get the recipe, however, this one from allrecipes.com, comes extremely close.
2. Taste of Home Trifle *Valerie Bertinelli isn’t the only one who LOVES lemon, I do too! This recipe has a bright, fresh springtime vibe.
3. Chocolate Lovers *Swapping sponge cake for brownies and fruit for candy bar bites makes this version oh so decadent!
This classy lady is known for her coat dresses, pussy bow blouses, wide leg trousers and beautiful gowns (to name a few of her signature fashion pieces). I am hard pressed to find an outfit of her’s that I don’t like. Her ensembles stand the test of time. Taking inspiration from the Duchess, I put together a look.
