So Plaid I am Back

Many think that Spring is the season for rebirth - starting over - beginning anew.
But for me, it is Fall that aspires me to refresh, renew and remmeber what I love about many things, including blogging again.

It brings memories of football games and hot apple cider. It evokes feelings of gathering together to prepare for what is next to come. Be it winter or life.

So as the leaves swirl about, my spirit begins to flutter in the wind .
Time again to share and inspire. Time to blog again.

Fall brings change in the color of the leaves and change within myself.
Change for many of us is something that we don't always welcome but for some reason
the flutter of the leaves in the wind and the brisk air is welcomed by all.

Fall, with is bounty of colors, red, orange, sienna and gold covers us like a warm blanket, providing warmth and comfort from the judgement of others or from the world in which we sometimes do not understand.  It brings a cuddle when we are alone or a apple to share a laugh with a friend.

It is the season of traditions, touchdowns and togetherness.
It is what I strive to be to others : warm, inviting, caring and gracious.

 Fall is upon us - I welcome it like a warm sweater. I cherish the cool days to write
 and share life as it changes. There are books to be read, fires to be light and stories to tell.
Like the fabrics of the season, plaid, flannel and cashmere - I too hope to bring warmth to your days with my new focus on sharing my blog once again.

So Plaid I am Back!!

Turning the Page on March- Books I have Read

March is nearing the end and I can't believe how much I got accomplished.
It was a month of trials and tribulations but in these times I was able to
draw a sense of comfort in some amazing books.

At the end of each day after caregiving for an ill family member, I looked forward
to a hot shower and a warm lit room to be taken away by mystery, history and places yet to be discovered.

I am often asked what I am reading and I miss my favorite book club, so I thought
I would share and see what you might have on your nightstand.

It began with the

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins- If you like to get swept away in a mire of love, regret, violence and many twists in a tale, this has it all tied up in a physchological thriller. I have to admit it gets more and more intense and you want to stay with it all the way to the end.

Moved to something a little lighter but so enjoyable. I always love when Debbie Macomber comes out with a new book- It means spring is right around the corner and there is always a factor of her books that ring true. Is it forgiveness, sisterhood or second chances that determines who will be
Last One Home by Debbie Macomber

I know I can't believe I had all this time but that is what you do when the house is quiet and
there is little TV.  I traveled on a journey to Vienna and entered the life of Sisi and Franz Josef.

The Accidental Empress by Allison Pataki.  A strong women character who's tumultuous love story as “Sisi” the Austro-Hungarian Empress and young and charismatic wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. It takes place in 1853 when the Habsburgs were powerful rulers.

And to end in a very riviting and intense book portraying a young French blind women and a German boy that become confidants and friends during occupied France in WW11. I didn't want the book to end. It was visually stunning and around each page like the corners in occupied France you discover courage and sorrow and strengh. I loved this book.
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

So what is on your night stand?

It is so true that books can take you to places you may never venture.

Let me know what you are reading?

Hands of Time. Ageless Perfection

Wait. When did that happen!!

Today as I sit in a serene setting in Northern California waiting for a Pedicure, I do what most of us do. I try the product and then stepped  outside to wait and drink my coffee.

Looking down at the hand that holds that cup. It happened

Wait when did that happen?My once youthful hands show signs of age, wear and tear. I begin to feel a bit sad and wonder where did they go. When did that happen. 

And then I thought. What a life they have had. 

These digits, as the youth of today call them,have had an adventurous life right along side me. 

They have held 4 beautiful babies,guided them on to their own path some 33 years later. The hands of little grand babies curled around my fingers filled with trust and love.They have worked on careers with me each and every day. They didn't disappoint when I needed them to cook or clean.They have wiped dirty faces and many tears. A lot of those my own.  

But most of all they held the hand of the man I love and married. Twice   

Same wonderful hands entwined twice.

So I guess that is when it happened.

Through much history,much love and laughter they have earned their age spots and thinning wrinkles.

So as I make my way to my Spa treatment, I stop, take another pump of the glittering bronzer and treat my hands to a little sparkle. 

They deserve it.  

And So it Happened 

This Lamp is a Love Story

'“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.”

― Anne Lamott

It sits in the window
catching a ray of light
glistening through its crystal cuts

It glows at night
watching and waiting
always illuminating
until you return safely

It is a long story- aren't they all!
Its travel began in Ireland in the town of Waterford
purchased by my very Irish Mother In Law and brought
to California to shine brightly in their stately home for many years.

Gifted to me after her passing- I cherished its history.
The stories it coud tell
The only place for it was in a corner window,
watching over our family as we grew, lived and changed

The Light was always on -
In good times it shone bright
In sad times, it was a beacon to bring love back through the door
The hope never dimming

Until
It was broken
Shattered and not to be lit again...
Both
The lamp that guided me and - and my heart.


But I wouldn't let my heart go dark- There was always a
glimmer of hope and love was going to win.

Fast forward to Christmas 2014 -
Dinner with the love of my life.
Love had healed wounds and returned.
Our hearts filled with  joy and contentment.

We sat in our favorite quiet cozy table with the snow falling softly.
Candles flickering and reflecting off our wine glasses.
Brian leaned over and  handed me a card and as I read it - I cried
Not out of sadness but pure joy
His love illuminated my heart - His gift illuminated my hope.

The gift:
He had found the exact lamp in Ireland 
The lamp would  once again be in the corner window -
Beaconing and lighting the way for our love to shine.
For future Kelly's to always be guided home to family

Oh The Stories this lamp will tell-
Now back where it belongs

My heart is full
Hope will always shine through when you believe in it enough

Always find your way home  We did..

Happy Valentines Day 

Catch Up and Cultivate

January has come and gone and it has been a nice time to reflect and catch up with
my thoughts after the holidays and more importantly just enjoy the memories that
we made with family over Christmas in the stunning Canadian Rockies.

Thoughts go to why and how often I blog:
I began blogging to have a creative outlet and to  journal for my family and friends.
One of the things I love about blogging is the freedom to blog when I feel I have something to say or something has moved me to share with you. It is a personal decision to be myself and be true to what I love and what I am moved by.
It has been a joy that I have allowed to evolve naturally and therefore haven't blogged as often as some but when I do it feels organic and straight from the heart.

With a new outlook and fresh energy to make this year special and to broaden my
own world- I have recommitted to do more of what I love "BLOG"

So what better way than to begin anew with just
Catching Up with each other-  Me First

January brought snow, cold and spending time indoors,
so what is better than a book and a cup of tea curled up on the couch.
Currently I am --- READING:  The Humans- a sad,silly but soulful charming book about humans by Matt Haig,
and drinking a warm cuppa  Kusmi Prince Vladimir Tea . This tea is amazing.

What are you reading? 
Let me know- maybe a booksclub to come?

WATCHING - Of course Downton Abby - Love Love It and if I am being honest- 
I watch the Bachelor- Yes I said it outloud !

LISTENING: to the new Decemberists Album  (Click to Listen)
with a lot of candles lit for quiet meditation

LOVING: My blanket scarf- my favorite addition to my winter wardrobe- It is a must
               

Goals- Many years ago I gave up New Years Resolutions and instead I choose one Word
that I can use to enlighten and improve my own life
This Year
CULTIVATE

Looking forward to: Spending more time here with you.

Cultivating a warm place to come and sit for a while
with friends- New and Old
Even if the blog only touches a few people,
I look forward to sharing 2015 with you.
Stay Warm and Stay Tuned

Kim

My Fathers Walking Stick

Sometimes Symbolism is Ironic 

A Walking Stick propped in the corner of my room, hand made by my father.

It loomed there like it needed a walk, like it needed to share a trail.

It had a story to tell just as my father would tell.

He knows my heart and my needs and the walking stick is my guide.

I need an older brother's welcoming  hug. 

I need an older sister to still give me wisdom and be the holder of 

shared conversations like a vault. 

When do these two forks merge back on the trail.

Is the walking stick there to guide us back together.

On this Crisp fall morning the leaves dance in the wind and crunch under my boots.

Colors brilliant but yet dying

Branches been stripped bare by the wind. 

As the seasons change, So do families  

They become that path not taken, The path less trodden.

 

My heart is full of warmth but my soul is restless.

I am mindful of the saying "Blood is thicker than Water"

And the river between the two roads is deep.

I reach across to embrace and reconnect,

cherishing the thought of traveling this path together.

To share a walking stick.

Only to realize they took they other path. 

Since my fathers passing. I have felt more like an orphan than a sibling

Life seems just stuck in one season. No longer do we huddle in the warmth of winter together,

No longer do we wash away our grievances in a spring rain or laugh together under the moonlight of summer.  Siblings choosing to diverge into many muddled paths, everyone taking their own road. Leaving us each vulnerable to what lies ahead.

When do these two forks merge back on the trail 

Is the walking stick there to guide us back to family. 

To return to the other path and maybe take that one .. Together 

Remember it is important to realize that there is no wrong path ..

Robert Frost's poem is not “The Road Less Traveled” but “The Road Not Taken.” Even as he makes a choice, the traveler knows that he will second-guess himself somewhere down the line—or at the very least he will wonder at what is irrevocably lost: the unknowable Other Path. But the nature of the decision is such that there is no Right Path—just the chosen path and the other path. 

Reach across that fork in the road. Merge the path while you can

Let family be your compass, your light. But more importantly

Let the Roads of life converge and let the Walking Stick guide you

back to the same road.

FERRYTALE DAY TRIP TO VICTORIA BC

My trip to the PNW would not be complete without a trip to beautiful
Victoria BC. So I grabbed a coffee, a warm sweater and headed off to
catch the CoHo Ferry from Port Angeles for the 90 min ride.

The deck was full of first time and seasoned travelers, all looking forward to a day in the charming, british oriented city of Victoria and the beautifully organic Vancouver Island. Talk of sites to be seen and food to be tasted is a conversation that is heard and might I add, great advise.

The ride across the Strait of Juan De Fuca is breathtaking but nothing compares to the view as you turn the corner and enter the Inner Harbor.
Seaplanes landing, tall ships loom through the fog and the cutest little water taxis scoot around delivering visitors to the piers for a day of adventure.

My adventure begins at Murchies Tea Shoppe as I meet up with the kids to enjoy family and food for a few hours.
No trip to Victoria is complete without a stop at Murchie’s Teas.
Murchies has a classic British influence with tea sets, linens, and 109 types of loose teas.
I grab a Lavender Black tea and we are off to explore.

Even a few rain sprinkles will not dampen the day as we venture into Fan Tan Alley. You might think you just walked into a Harry Potter movie. Fan Tan Alley is a hidden gem. Tucked away in the heart of Victoria's Chinatown, it's a tiny (5' wide) stretch of a walkway between Fisgard and Pandora Streets.
The sweet smell of fresh bread lead us to a small italian bakery La Tana drew us in to taste and buy a treat to cover us until we got to lunch.

La Tana

Lunch couldn't come soon enough as we were headed to

Red Fish  Blue Fish. This amazing wharfside take out stand

is a must place to eat. It is located in an old shipping container right

on the pier of the Inner Harbor. I had the fish and chips and the kids had their fish “Tacones” –  Grilled Fanny Bay Oysters and BBQ Wild BC Salmon wrapped in flat-bread with sweet-smoked chili adobe, pea shoots and lemon pickled onions.

Be patient- the line is worth waiting in.

Courtesy of Red Fish Blue Fish

The rain begins, so time to open up the umbrella and head to the ferry but not before a stop at the magnificant Empress Hotel- The cornerstone of Victoria. The hotel looms atop the harbor in all its floral glory. Most people go for high tea but on this rainy day

the perfect spot to sit and people watch is the Bengal Lounge. It has been serving people for over 60 years. It overlooks the stately gardens and the harbor streets. You step back in time to when

Queen Victoria was also the Empress of India. The decor is rich, the service legendary and the signature cocktails are delicious.

This was an amazing feast for the eyes, the beautiful gardens, the taste of the fresh food, the visit with family but the ferry awaits . I will return to explore and enjoy this magnificant city on the edge of the Vancouver Island again and again.

PS: If you do get to stay overnight,

I highly recommend The Beaconsfield Inn.

It is an award-winning Edwardian Inn in the heart of quiet Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

From the nine guest suites to breakfast to the edwardian gardens - this is an exquisite stay only four blocks from downtown.

I maybe biased. The Beaconsfield Inn is where I began my innsitting career and I adore it. 

Keep Calm and Make your Own Carmel Sauce

Apple Farms

Apple Picking

Apple Pies

Fall is here and so are Apples
Macintosh, Red Delicious, Pinklady
and Minnesota's own Honeycrisp

After a day at the Apple Farm,
I usually run out to get some carmel
because what apple is complete without Carmel

Not anymore-- I decided to make my own
and I am only sharing it because - well it worked!!

Ok Really  10 Minutes and you will have

Sea Salt Carmel Sauce

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
6 Tablespoons salted butter - cubed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp sea salt

Directions:

Heat granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat,
stirring constantly with a rubber spatula. Seriously-
NO DISTRACTED COOKING ALLOWED
Sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick brown, amber-colored
liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn.

Once sugar is melted, add the cubed butter.  The caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added. Don't get scared - It won't run away
Stir the butter into the caramel until it is completely melted, about 2-3 minutes.

Very slowly, drizzle in 1/2 cup of heavy cream while whisking. I forget to pour slowly- it turned out anyway.
Since the heavy cream is colder than the caramel, the mixture will rapidly bubble and/or splatter when added.
Boil for 1 minute. It will rise in the pan as it boils.
Remove from heat and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt.
I used more salt - just because I don't like to follow rules!
Allow to cool down before using.
Cover the caramel tightly and store for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Warm the caramel up for a few seconds before you use
Unless you just eat it by the spoonfuls !!

That is right- there was no thermometor harmed or used in this recipe.

SO STAY CALM AND MAKE YOUR OWN CARMEL SAUCE

A Tourist in My own Hometown

A trip to my hometown of Anacortes,Wa was truely a Ferrytale
I came back home for my 40 class reunion to revisit, reconnect and reunite with classmates and the beauty of the San Juan Islands.

Growing up in this beautiful island (Fildago Island) was like growing up in the enchanted forest with its stunning landscapes and mezmerizing views of the Puget Sound.

Not only is Anacortes rich in seafarer and fishing history, you will find an open kindness and friendliness from the locals. You will be treated to mouth watering cusine and luxurious accomodations.
Seafood right off the boats and eateries that reflect the flavor and
taste of the people of Anacortes. A must stop is Geri Deli for a sandwich,Calico Cupboard for a cinnamon bun not to be missed and Anthony's Cap Santefor an outdoor fireside bar with a stunning harbor view to eat, drink and be merry.

My stay in Anacortes began at the Majestic Inn and Spa in Old Town

While growing up it was an retail store but with careful restoration it has been transformed into a pillar of the city. The owners have mixed old history with new amenities from the stunning entrance and the carved staircase to the comfort of the modern 52 rooms. Most rooms have some water views.
I was welcomed by a friendly and gracious staff and treated to a room that overlooked Cap Sante.

From the rooms to the resturants and the rooftop bar-
the Majestic Inn and Spa is truely majestic. A must stay
if you are staying downtown and enjoying the historic town of Anacortes.

Coming home to some can be a dissapointment because of changes
or circumstances but this visit exceeded every expectation I had.
With every hello to each genuine hug to just a simple drive to a
sacred spot that held many memories- Anacortes will not and did not dissapoint.
Now that I have shared my little secret spot in the Pacific Northwest, you must be sworn to travel secrecy. It is a hidden gem only to be discovered by those who truly appreciate beauty.
I do- Can't wait to visit again

My Apron travels next to San Juan Island..