A Travel Story

This is a story about traveling to another country. Since some of you have read me long enough to know how I feel about traveling, flying, and other countries, this story just may help you understand my feelings. (I hate traveling and flying even though I've been to other countries and refuse to do either anymore.)

My daughter's husband died about 3 years ago now and you can read the blog post about that here. It was a very sad day for all of us. But her in-laws treated her to a Mediterranean cruise 5 months after their son's death. It was a sweet and gracious thing to do. But it got ugly real fast.

My daughter hadn't ever traveled to any place beyond our continental borders, except for Hawaii several times, and wasn't used to the culture shock. And, truthfully, I don't think those countries were ready for her. Before the trip, she had traveled extensively in the U.S. and her choice for the worst drivers in the U.S. and the worst city in the U.S. are recorded forever in my memory. I won't mention which were her choices here on the internet, but if you ask me through an email I'd be happy to share with you. I just don't want rants from people about a city which just may well be their city.

Anyway, after crawling through the pyramids of Egypt (scary and suffocating—her words), trekking through the filth of some of those countries and experiencing the ports of call in that area of the world, she told me her experience in Turkey, which she now says is the worst country for drivers. Their laws for motor vehicles are taken as just a hint, never enforced really. Traffic jam? They just pull on the sidewalk and drive. Now, that alone should be your first clue but I'll elaborate. Second clue is my daughter is very demanding—very. This is important to the story.

A relative is a travel agent (Terry) and sets up all the trips for the family and always travels with the group. This is also important to this story as I don't think most travel agents would go as far as Terry did in helping daughter. They spent a few days in Turkey off the ship.

When time came to return to the ship and they got to the dock to get back on, her passport was missing. She looked through her purse, pockets, everywhere and they couldn't find it. The border agents put her in detention. Terry, travel agent, was beside herself. She couldn't leave her in Turkey but the Turkish government wasn't about to let her go to the ship without a passport. Finally, she thought it could be somewhere in her luggage that went on back to the ship and was on board at that point. (Luggage goes on before you do.) So Terry went on the ship, waited for  ALL the luggage of all the passengers to get on the ship, rummaged through hundreds of suitcases until she found daughter's luggage and finally found the passport. Now, the relevant part here is that took hours. SEVERAL HOURS! Daughter was in tears because she had absolutely no control if they wanted to keep her there. (I'm sure some of you have seen the movie, Midnight Express.) Plus the cruise ship would sail on time, with or without her. They did give her some things to eat and Terry or her in-laws brought her food. She was scared to death when in that detention. She just wanted to come home to California. She said she'll never leave the U.S. again.
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Another cute pink vignette I like. I think I say “love” and “adore” too much, but it is actually how I feel about these photos.

I saw this pool on this high-rise home and just can’t see myself ever swimming in it, not that I’d ever get the chance, but I’d get dizzy just approaching it.

Do you remember these old 1950s dining chairs? I certainly do and it looks like this one had been given a fresh update. Cute!

Beautiful for French, English or any décor actually.

Sweet.

A teapot from Green Gate.

Bedroom with Green Gate accessories in it.

Green Gate tea tin. You’ve really got to visit their website. I’ll be posting more Green Gate items here for you to see though.

A mews in England somewhere. I think mews are very quaint places to have a shop, office or residence. Mews are a row or street of houses or apartments that have been converted from stables or built to look like former stables.

While I doubt this is really pink, I thought it was clever the way the photo turned out sort of pinkish.

Cute way to do some used eggshells, if one can paint! I can’t. Read about that here if you'd like.

A cute little thermos.

Another divine old lawn chair with a cover for the sun.

Fun place to watch the ocean.

I can’t believe this is available somewhere for sale. Surely the owner spray painted it and painted or decaled the BREAD on it.

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A Story about Accents

 
Back at this post I alluded to hubby's accent being different from his sisters' and brother's accent. I'll now tell you the story.

When Love Bunny was overseas the first time, I left Southern California and went to San Jose to live with my parents, I got a job at JCPenney working in the women's clothing department. I liked it actually because it helped the time go by faster plus the extra money would come in handy while we were maintaining 2 households—him overseas and me living with my mom and dad.

Anyway, one day a family was shopping there and came up to the counter to pay for their purchases. An older mother and father with their adult daughter were the customers. When they started talking I noticed their accent right away. I asked where they were from and they said, "Oh, you've never heard of where we're from."
I said, "Try me."
They said, "Pennsylvania."
I said, "Where in Pennsylvania?"
They said, "Ahhh, you've never heard of it; it's a small town."

I persisted and finally, they told me. It was the same town my hubby was from! I asked if they'd ever heard of a family with our last name. They said yes they had. Then they told me their name and I squealed. Their son, Charlie, was my husband's best friend in high school. Charlie was then living not far from us in Southern California before I went up north to my parents. He now lives over in Oregon, not too far from us here. Hubs couldn't believe it when I wrote and told him about it. So never tell me I don't catch that accent from that part of Pennsylvania. It's very distinct to us from California. ;-)
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This is such a "feel at home" type of living room. Just calls out "home" to me.

Like this blue sun porch also.

Bucket of posies.

This is a kitchen/dining area in a Scandinavia country. Looking at them a lot recently I've noticed they are very, very small.

Another red and yellow bedroom. Those are close to my favorite of pink and yellow.

Gorgeous walkway to a beautiful home.

I liked this living room also. Very homey too.

Very pretty living room in white and beige with touches of bright colors.

Cute paper teacup.

A lot of old churches are being sold off to homeowners for homes. I don't think I'd like to have that much room but what some of them do to the churches are beautiful.

Pretty idea for a patio. While they aren't lights, they certainly add an appeal.

Another absolutely stunning lamp! I love that shade.

This is the first I've seen of this kind. Beautiful!

Another small European kitchen.

One of my all-time favorite bedrooms.

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Linking up with Mosaic Monday.

A Dinner Party

Many years ago, Love Bunny, the kids, my parents and I were having lunch at a restaurant in Monterey, California. (The important thing to remember in this story is that my mother was fanatical about cleanliness.) The salads came and we began eating and my mother noticed a worm or some insect in her salad. She was horrified. And complained. Usually, when this happens a restaurant will offer that dinner free to the customer. They didn't; they asked if they could bring her another salad. We all stared at them as if they were crazy. Would you want another salad from that kitchen? Well, my mother didn't. I believe we got up and left. I can't remember about the bill, but I thought a reduction in the bill would have been appropriate. As far as we knew, this was a classy restaurant. Most of them are in Monterey or Carmel. But no, no reduction at all in the bill. We never went there again.

Fast forward forty-five years later.

A friend, her daughter, son-in-law and new grandson (their first grandchild) came over for dinner several days ago. I love this woman. She's the absolute best kind of friend anyone could have. Loves me no matter what. I'm also a great cook. Her expertise lies elsewhere.

I prepared an early dinner of Angus roast beef, mashed potatoes, shoepeg corn, candied carrots, fresh-from-our-garden salad, french bread slathered with butter and homemade ice cream, made earlier.

I told her earlier they didn't get the good china, the fancy silverware or crystal glasses because 1.) They are considered family. 2.) I was too lazy that day and getting ready for surgery in a few days with at least an appointment with doctors every single day that week and had 3 different events that day. 3.) She can live without the frou-frou! Not a problem with her at all. ;-) The new baby took precedence that day. I absolutely love babies and I smooched him quite a lot. Here's this little photo of him looking up at his Dada.

We sat down to dinner and the young father filled his salad plate and proceeded to spear some lettuce and tomato with his fork and said, "There's a bug in my salad." I'll never forget the look of horror on his face. I almost laughed but didn't. He was so stricken. Hubs had picked and washed the lettuce and assured me he had done each leaf. I just grabbed the plate and said, "Well, I don't think Dada will want any salad." Also, I skipped salad that day and I'm a big salad lover. I apologized and later called my friend and asked if Dada had recuperated from the shock. We laughed. I hope he wasn't too traumatized to see the little green wiggling up at him. I'm wondering if he'll ever eat at our house again if the opportunity presents itself.
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Sunny, bright, white dining area. That canopy is quite the thing also.

Cozy and bright pink room and accessories.

Exquisitely lovely blue table setting.

Yep, love that birdcage also!

Birdie singing his song.

What a cute table setting with different kids of cake plates and cloches on a vintage, rustic table.

This room looks familiar and I like the fabrics of course.

Ooooh, let me walk this pathway.

Cute idea to keep the kids and hubs clean while doing garden chores and not dirtying up your kitchen or baths.

Vintage baskets and rose strewn quilts.

I like this idea of soft lights on the porch or patio at night. Easily done, too.

Another quaint cottage and garden for you.

Lovely, but soon the windows will be covered with ivy and the owners won't be able to see out.

I could definitely live in this room happily. I would, however, paint the walls a delicate pink and put pink and white striped satin curtains on the windows.

For a week in the country, hubs could entice me if he rented this cabin. Yep!

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Random Thoughts 7/19/2012

Granddaughter and great-granddaughter were in California recently visiting with our daughter. This video made by granddaughter makes us laugh as we're the great-grandparents. But as you know, I don't show much in the way of Caroline on here so as not to bore you but I am a very proud, doting great-grandmother so you'll have to indulge me once in a while. ;-) We are pretty sure the dogs were so severely traumatized they refused any walks thereafter with Miss Caroline. BTW, our son says our granddaughter and I sound exactly alike. So now you know what I sound like.

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Just some random thoughts today.

I cannot tell you how many times here on my blog I get questions from people who post as anonymous, have no blog, and/or don't leave me an email to respond to their question. I truly try to find a way to respond but that just doesn't happen. I don't know if they read every post so I can't post an answer on one of my posts. Please, if you want a question answered from me, leave an email address or ask me by sending an email, which is on my sidebar. I'll definitely get back to you.
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Oh, and another thing. I monitor every single comment. EVERY ONE. So if you're trying to advertise your real estate site, your computer software site, removing stickers site, payday loans site, rapid cash site, garage storage site or your  tent trailer site, don't even bother. It'll never see the light of day on here.
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I read a lot of espionage, mystery and thriller books. I always wonder how good a spy I would have made. I'd love to work for the CIA. Wonder if they take 70 year old great grandmas? That would be a perfect cover I think!
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I recently found a fashion blog. She just posts photos of fashion, no writing or text, just photos. Not really any advertising either. But down at the bottom there is a "Donate" button. For the life of me I can't figure out to what a person would be donating. Her blog? Her lifestyle? I have no idea. Nice try though. I suggest she go out and look for a job instead of begging.
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Every kid is a frustrated lawyer. Example:
Why do you ask?
How do you know that?
What about it?
I don't have to tell you anything.
Sigh...
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Power tools. We women know how to use them; we just prefer to let the men get their hands dirty and have the broken nails instead of us. Why do something when men love doing it? That way my hands stay clean. I have my own tools and they're clean. Hubs are greasy, dirty and gross. Need I say more? Hmmmm?
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Isn't this bouquet and vase exquisite? What a stunning display for a table setting.

Lacy ornaments in a basket.

Another refurbished, decorated bottle. So simple to do with just any bottle.

A cottage for rent in Brittany, France.

Beautiful vintage window with pansies and lace curtains.

A crown table display for a birthday party. Cute!

Lovely potting shed.

Scrumptious-looking cake.

I. Would. Love. To have this fence and flowers in my yard!!!!

I need to make more of these for a friend who is having a baby in September. They are easy to make, just time consuming since I make mine by hand.

THIS is the color of yellow I love with pink! Gorgeous.

Another sweet little cottage in France.

This is the inside of a Carmel, California, cottage. I wish everyone could pay a visit to Carmel. It is like another world there.

Or you might like this little cutie.

I have some old tiny wine crates I got in Napa Valley. I think I'll paint them white and display some things like this in them. Adorable.

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Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. ;-)
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