Travel Tuesdays. It's all about the Food!

My sister Tamara and I decided we wanted to start a joint blogging venture that centered around travel and adventure. She travels the world for business and I search out adventure closer to home.

We both firmly believe that adventure can be found anywhere, as long as you are willing to look for it.

Adventure is a state of mind, not a place on the map.

That said, stepping on to an airplane and winging off to far away destinations can be incredibly exciting and sharing in someone else's travels can be nearly as satisfying as being there yourself.

And so. . . without further ado . . . we bring you:

Travel Tuesdays!

Although I don't often travel far from home, I was able to make a trip to beautiful British Columbia to visit with family and to pack as much adventure into one week as was humanly possible. And no, I didn't get a whole lot of sleep while I was there . . .

I was going through the hundreds (yes, hundreds) of pictures I took while I was away, doing a quick edit on some of my favorites as I was trying to decide just what my first Travel Tuesdays post was going to be about.  I began to notice a pattern emerging. It didn't seem to matter who I was visiting with or what we were doing because the same subject appeared over and over again.

Flowers?  Yes, but . . .

Gardens? Yes, but . .

Antiquey things? Yes, but . . .

None of the things appeared in my photos as often as FOOD!

If you go on an adventure with me it is likely to include food and . . . you will have to wait and wait and wait to actually eat it. After all, I have to find the right spot on the table to display it, move the distracting elements away from it, fiddle with my camera settings, try out every angle know to man and then invent a few more before I will be happy with my food shot.

Only then are you allowed to dig in.

I have had to put but with some serious teasing and a bit of friendly mocking about this little quirk of mine but I will endure any hardship in quest of my Art. (Ahem)

 It's all about the food . . .

The best part? I can bring this home with me, trying out new foods, taking extra effort with presentation and  . . .  if I really want to kick it up a notch . . . take the whole kit and kaboodle out into the garden.

A lovely adventure . . . at home.

Please join us in throwing a spotlight on the little things you do in life that inspire you, delight you, and just all around make you JOYFUL!  Link back to our Travel Tuesday Linky Party and share your adventures.  Did you take a trip to Paris?  Or perhaps a picnic in the park?  Maybe you found a new little bistro just down the block?  Discovered a garden oasis in your neighborhood   Snap some shots and join us as we live out life of ADVENTURE every day of the week.

We start next Tuesday . . .

Now head on over to Tamara's at The Greenhouse Diaries and read all about her adventures on today's Travel Tuesdays.


"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

More Melanoma Tests. This One will be an Annual Occurrence.

I had my first annual abdominal ultrasound and chest X rays on Friday.

I wasn't at all worried about it until I was standing at the desk and noticed the phrase on the bottom of my requisition form.

Stage 3 melanoma.

Gulp.

Most of the time I can put that fact right out of my mind but waiting for yet another test brings everything rushing right back again.

I held it all together, determined that this time I would not cry during a test. I was doing fairly well too until it dawned on me that the ultrasound technician was spending an inordinate amount of time on my right side going back over the same areas again and again, while she zipped over the left side in no time. (The left side is were my melanoma was originally found)

I started getting a little nervous and my eyes began to leak a little. I wasn't crying mind you, just leaking a tiny bit. I may have had to blow my nose too but I think I'm getting a cold . . .

She went out to check the pictures, came back and asked me to sit up so she could take more in that position.

I started sweating. Was it getting hot in here?

Next stop X ray.

What in the world??? A full on xray and then only the right side??!

"All done!" my cheerful technician chirps "You should get the results by late Tuesday."

I went to the truck and cried. No leaking, just full on chest heaving, snottery nose crying.

I decided to treat myself to a very late lunch from Kentucky Fried Chicken. There is no eating or drinking anything for 6 hours before the test which had was at 3 in the afternoon and I was hungry!

I got home to discover they had forgotten the gravy. The gravy is the best part! My eyes may have started leaking again.

Thankfully Henry was home by that time and insisted we go out for an early supper (with real food) instead. Holly lucked out and got my chicken and Henry and I headed to my favorite restaurant.

 Joey's in Mayfield Common.

I love that man!

I got the call early this morning . . . All clear. No melanoma detected. Still cancer free!

The prayers of thanksgiving that went up!!

And all the attention to the right side? Well if I had had any sense at all and called my nurse friend Nicole she would have told me that's where all the organs are . . .

But even then . . .

Now I'm off to work on a very large rhubarb leaf grown by one of my neighbors. It's a beauty!

Stop back tomorrow at lunch time for a new feature Tamara and I are starting.

Travel Tuesdays- Adventures at Home and Abroad.

As you might imagine, mine will likely focus more on the 'At Home' and Tamara's on the 'Abroad' but we both firmly believe that adventure can be found anywhere.

Adventure is an attitude not a place on the map.

Because I Also Need Food For The Soul. . .

While my sister Tamara and her husband Byron were visiting we got in the chance to feed the soul with a whole lot of beautiful. . .

First we checked out Hole's, and then, when that failed to really satisfy (and I feel like quite jerk for saying that!)

 

we headed out to Wellington Garden center.

They never fail to deliver. . .

 Our appetite was also thoroughly whetted for the upcoming Christmas display .

One way or another I will be back for that. . . with my camera!

Thanks for a beautiful day!

Love you Tam. (and Byron and Rebecca. . !)

Mundare. . .Day 2

As we were up on the stairs by the giant sausage, two ladies strolled by, smiling and looking up at us.

"Looks like the locals think we're pretty foolish. I'm pretty sure they think your sausage is rather over the top Tam. . ." 

The ladies came closer, laughing and telling us what a good idea the sausage was.

They weren't locals at all, but rather, Edmontonians like me.

The ladies then asked if we would mind taking their picture.

Tamara offered them her sausage as a prop. . .

I snickered.

 They happily accepted.

When Tamara has a good idea. . . .

We should all be listening.

Because over the top can be a very good thing. . . .

Sisters. . . A Beautiful Thing

My sister Tamara and her husband The Big Guy are in town over the weekend and I got the chance to hang out with them along with their daughter Opera Diva.

We had the opportunity to visit the tiny town of Mundare. (Isn't that the first place you bring your out of town guests??)

It's the oddest thing. . .

We spent a few of our early growing up years in a tiny town, and those years hold some of our fondest memories.

Mundare was like going back in time. . .

Well. . .

Except for the sausage. . .

We didn't have a sausage in Yarrow.

Mundare is famous for it's sausage however. . .

So lunch had to include sausage. . .

And, if I wanted to go back and recreate my childhood. . .

There is some serious incentive to move to Mundare!

  On top of all this fabulous- ness

My sister Lisa is flying in on Monday and staying for four days!

Sisters are a beautiful thing!