A Gift and A Vicarious Tour!

I could not resist buying this book for my sister's birthday. She is an avid knitter. And since our family is of Italian descent, it seemed like the perfect fit!


Of course, I also couldn't resist flipping carefully through it before mailing it off to my sister and I'm glad I did!




The book is called "Knitting in Tuscany" by Nicky Epstein. Along with some of her original patterns, the author presents tips and travel recommendations with beautiful photography and interesting commentary on the history of knitting in the region.

A glass of wine is always a welcome break!

I adore this beautiful knitted, wool version of Pinocchio! Author Carlo Collodi was born in Florence.

Siena is a beautiful, medieval city in Tuscany.

This is a knit wreath based on a terra cotta coat of arms for the Wool Guild. "On your wall, it declares your affiliation with the International Order of Knitters."

I found this book beautiful and inspirational. I couldn't begin to accomplish most of these projects, but I would love to wander around Tuscany and imagine doing them. I know my sister will love it!

Atlanta in Five Days or Less!

I've just returned from a quick trip to Atlanta to visit family. We had so much fun, just shopping, seeing the sites and eating great food!
I visited IKEA for the first time. This is a great store for people starting out in their first home! They have virtually everything you need and lots of fun fabric choices!
After IKEA, we shopped and had dinner at Atlantic Station, a fairly new development in Atlanta with a mix of mid-range and upscale housing along with plenty of varied shopping and dining choices.
We visited "Z Gallery" and "West Elm" among some other shops!

After a few days of endless shopping, we decided to get away from the hustle and bustle, so we drove up to Blue Ridge, GA and took the scenic Blue Ridge Railway ride. Located in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the railway starts off in a quaint little town full of antique shops and meanders along the Toccoa River.

The weather was unseasonably cool for Georgia in July, and the train ride was a relaxing break from the busy pace we'd been keeping for most of the trip.

It's so invigorating to just get away for a few days! We had a great time and a fun visit with family. Must do it again soon!

Angels All Around!

I am back from my beach trip and we had a fabulous time with beautiful, sunny days! We ate some great seafood, drank sangria in the afternoon and enjoyed the sun and the company of good friends!

But, we had a very frightening experience on the way home. We were within a couple of hours of our hometown when suddenly the car in the next lane, obviously completely unaware of us, suddenly changed lanes, coming right over on top of us! I was driving my SUV with two of my friends as passengers. I had my cruise set to about 75 mph. When I hit the brakes and swerved to avoid a collision with the other vehicle, we started fishtailing all over the highway and onto the shoulder! I struggled to regain control, just missing a steel highway sign, and also avoiding the steep dropoff on the right shoulder which, had we gone down it, would certainly have resulted in the vehicle flipping. We finally ended up in a complete tailspin and came to a stop facing oncoming traffic! Amazingly, no one hit us and after the moment it took me to regain my wits, I moved the car into a turnaround in the median!

I can't express how shook up the three of us were! We then discovered that the extensive skidding had caused a flat tire.

So, here we were, three middle-aged, slightly sunburned and badly shaken ladies, in the middle of a four-lane state highway with a flat tire! Then the most lovely sight appeared like a mirage in the desert. A camo truck carrying four Army National Guard men and women came down the highway and right to a stop where we were. They were apparently on their way back to Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, MS. They got out, and after inquiring as to why we appeared to be facing in the wrong direction on the side of the highway, they made quick work of changing the tire! We could barely express our gratitude and relief!

What a weekend! I had a great trip, of course, but more importantly, I was visited by angels, in the air and on the ground! I'm glad to be safe at home!


photo by The National Guard

Say No to Cake!

Just Say NO!


I have been getting ready for my annual spring trip to the beach with my five best girlfriends! We have been taking this trip together for the past 12 years and I look forward to it all year long. Unfortunately, I don’t really start getting serious about my diet and workout program until just a few weeks prior to departure.

It’s always the same, living large (no pun intended) all winter and then frantic dieting and exercise from mid-February through the end of March when I know I will have to put a swimsuit on again.
I have had chicken and vegetables, fish and vegetables, and shrimp and vegetables every night for weeks, with a couple of salads thrown in here and there. I miss chocolate cake with all of my heart!


But, I am determined to stick it out and be ready to go, all for the joy of having four carefree days and nights with my gal pals, sunning, sleeping late and sipping wine and, oh yes, there will be cake!

Cake photo by scubadive6

Beach photo by nola.agent

Packing Light Makes for a Carefree Trip!

I have a strange fascination with packing. I love getting ready for a trip. I sometimes pack a week in advance even for a short getaway. I think the act of getting ready to go is part of the enjoyment and anticipation of the possible adventure that lies ahead.

I love to see how light I can pack. I want to be able to handle my own luggage wherever I go, if possible. To that end, I am always looking for ways to cut down on weight and bulk when packing for a trip. I keep sample sizes of toletries handy. Toothpaste, shampoo, lotion, hairspray, even contact solution can be found in travel sizes. Those little packets with nail polish remover wipes are great for packing. With products for which I have a brand preference, I simply fill a 1 ounce travel container from my larger container at home.

Pill organizers are great for taking either prescription meds, or just fill the sections with ibuprofen, tums or whatever over-the-counter medications you like to keep on hand. I keep small, plastic containers that can hold Q-tips, cotton balls, band-aids, etc. but a ziplock bag would work in a pinch. Those facial wipes that are dry, but suds up when you run them under water are lightweight and perfect for travel. I have several sectioned, zippered travel organizers to hold everything in place.

For clothing, I try to pack a basic wardrobe with interchangeable elements. Black and khaki colored basics are great and can be combined with a bright tank, colorful scarves and other accessories to add pop to your wardrobe! With black, it's so easy to dress up or dress down depending on the occasion. Rolling rather than folding clothes can sometimes make it easier to pack and also, reduce wrinkling. I take a small, empty spray bottle in case I need to spritz something that is wrinkled. One or two pairs of shoes will usually be sufficient if you take the right ones. If I'll be walking a lot, I take one pair for comfort and then one more for pretty!

Packing light is a bit of a hobby, some might say obsession, for me. But, it's fun and I know that I am preparing the way for an easy and carefree trip, where everthing I need is close at hand, but my luggage is not going to drag me down. Happy traveling!

Here's to the Ladies Who Love and Laugh Near the Sea!

I go on a "girls only" trip to the beach every year in early spring and I am already looking forward to it! No, that's not us in the photo, but don't they look like they are having fun? I have been taking my trip with the same group of six ladies for about 12 years. Some of them are friends I see all the time and some are friends I really only see when we go to the beach! But, for those few days each year, they are all my sisters and confidants. I can say anything to these ladies and they will understand.

We have been through so many life changes together and I feel they know me and love me no matter what. I look forward to it all through the year, but right about now, at the beginning of February, when I am tired of the cold in my bones, I really start to long for carefree days in the sun with my gal pals, just soaking up sun, sharing the ups and downs of life, and trying to wait until at least 3 pm to start cocktail hour!

And to think, those ladies above were probably doing the same things about 50 years ago. Let's hear it for girlfriends!