Chicago! My Kind of Town🤗

Unless this is your 1st time reading my blog you know it’s about my travels. Due to Covid that hasn’t happened in what feels like a very long time, but moving back after almost 30 years to the Chicago area makes me feel like I’m on vacation exploring a new and awesome place. And when one of your best friends and fellow travel companions comes to visit for 5 days it gives you a great motivation to plan a super fun action packed agenda - so here is a recap of most of the things we did, saw and ate. Since Cheryl and I have travelled a number of times together I knew she and I love almost all the same things. We have mirror image energy levels which is so important when picking a travel companion.

My plan was to spend two days in the city, so we took the L (subway) down early the first full day she was here to go to the Chicago Art Institute during the early entry member hours from 10AM to 11AM to get right into the special Monet in Chicago exhibit that I had seen once but knew Cheryl would enjoy. If you haven’t seen it you’re almost too late as it closes Monday June 14th, but the Art Institute is always a great thing to see if you’re in Chicago.

The Monet exhibit was fantastic and there is a new permanent installation of a gorgeous stained glass window called The Hartwell Memorial Window worth seeing, and in just a few days the Obama Portraits will be on display for 8 weeks. Always something great to see.

We picked up sandwiches and took them over to Buckingham Fountain and had a picnic while watching one of the largest fountains in the world built in 1927 to honor Clarence Buckingham by his sister entertain us with a beautiful water show that goes for 20 minutes every hour on the hour.

If the wind is blowing off the lake and it’s a hot day the spray will even cool you off a bit. The fountain was just turned on again after being closed for over a year due to Covid. One of the prettiest places to be in Chicago in my opinion.

A visit to Chicago isn’t complete without a photo op at The Bean. The actual name is Cloud Gate and was created by the Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor. It is prominently displayed in Millennium Park very close to the spectacular Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry.

Due to Covid you still can’t get as close as before, but with Chicago reopening yesterday officially that may have changed.

Pritzker Pavilion where the symphony plays during the summer and various other entertainment opportunities.

It’s always fun to walk up or down Michigan Avenue and check out the city views and Chicago River. Browse in the stores, people watch and get a hot or cold drink at the largest Starbucks in the country. We did them all.

It never gets old!

On our second trip into the city we were further north around Lincoln Park. We had a great brunch which I’ll cover when I get to food, and intended to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo but instead decided to just enjoy the park and walk down the lake since it was a beautiful day. Next time we’ll visit the zoo.

The Nature Boardwalk which surrounds a lot of the Lincoln Park Lagoon. So pretty with the skyline in the background.

The city view from Lincoln Park.

Lots of people enjoying the lake🤗

We spent the better part of another day at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois which was established in 1922 by Joy Sterling Morton, the founder of Morton Salt. I’m a bit ashamed to admit I had never been there, but I know it won’t be my last visit as it’s incredible if you like nature. The place is enormous - over 1700 acres so there’s no way we could see it all. There is a special exhibit there now called Human +Nature from the artist Daniel Popper that is wonderful. It just opened and will be there for a year so put it on your list. They have a lovely cafe with all kinds of great fresh sandwiches, salads etc., so convenient to pick up a selection and take it out for a picnic while you enjoy the beautiful trails and meadows.

Top picture is a cool maze you really can get lost in. Bottom left you can get a sense of the size of the scuptures when you compare Cheryl to the one called Heartwood. They were all huge and amazing.

Cheryl was my first customer (victim) on my Oak Park Walking Tour and she was a trouper. Even though it was quite warm she hung in there for the entire duration and seemed to enjoy it. Or she’s a great actress or was afraid I would not make her coffee in the morning if she complained. Either way I enjoyed showing her all the things I love about Oak Park and the amazing architectural museum all around me.

Now for the food! One of the many things great about this area is the wide assortment of delicious and diverse food choices available - from the latest and greatest to the traditional old ethnic selections - and I enjoy it all. So here is some of the great food we ate that I remembered to take pictures of to share with you all. You’re going to want a snack after this I’m pretty sure!

Hampton Social in the city on Grand. Famous for the Rosé wine and their slogan of Rosé All Day! We had a lovely table on the 2nd level which is outside and in addition to trying the Rosé of the day shared a delicious vegetable salad and fun pizza.

Brunch at the Blue Door Farm Stand in Lincoln Park on Halsted. Felt like being in France and the food was wonderful. Plus look at those sweet blue and white plates💙💙💙A Bloody Mary for Cheryl and Sangria for me. Two amazing egg dishes but I don’t think you can make a bad choice.

For some old school deliciousness you can’t beat Freddy’s Pizza and Grocery in Cicero. So many great choices to either eat outside or bring home. We bought the chicken Marsala, gnocchi with vodka sauce and caprese salad and brought it home to share. Tons of food, all made from scratch and very reasonable. They will probably know me by name soon.

Al’s Grill - a local staple and amazing food. Yes this was just for Cheryl and I. Our eggs came with pancakes AND delicious raisin toast. Needless to say we skipped lunch. And worth mentioning the staff was super friendly and they have a great outside setup too.

Our last night we went to a current favorite of mine - Hemingway’s Bistro. So cute and quaint it makes me feel like I’m in Paris. And the food is excellent. We both had one of the specials which was walleye with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. Also an excellent wine list even by the glass. And just doors away from Hemingway’s birthplace which is now a museum.

Thanks for visiting Cheryl and exploring Chicago with me. I can’t wait for you to return! And hopefully this might give someone reading a few ideas of fun things to see, do and eat when visiting the area😊

My Move Has Happened!

This blog post has been a long time coming. At least it feels that way to me. I decided to move back to the Chicago area to be closer to my family right around Thanksgiving - and finally this month it happened. Back in December when the first vaccines were approved I decided it was best to get a vaccine and then execute the move. Initially that appeared to be easier said than done with the way the were NOT rolling out, but I made getting a vaccine my full time job and successfully achieved that goal by the first of March. Waited the recommended two weeks for it to fully provide the protection studies have shown and headed to Chicago to find a place to live. And here I am in the cutest little apartment totally settled right when the US is making great progress in a return to somewhat normal. Yippee!

But first I had to say my goodbyes to Kansas City, and the amazing friends that became family to me over the almost 30 years I lived there. Kansas City is a beautiful friendly place with lots of wonderful things to do and see no matter what your interests. And incredible food!

Loved that I spent the last 8 years downtown in the amazing Western Auto Building!

It was so great but also so difficult to say goodbye to all the amazing friends I made there over the years. I appreciate each and every person and group that reached out to plan a brunch, happy hour, lunch, dinner, coffee and run to celebrate our friendship. I cherish each of you and know that we will stay in touch. Please come visit and I’ll be the best darn tour guide you’ll ever have! And I’m free!

Just a few of the gatherings - for many we were too busy talking and laughing (and sometimes crying) to remember to take a picture.

This is still going to be primarily a blog about my travels, as I still intend to keep checking off all the places on my list. I read 10 articles a day on what is happening around the world with Covid, and while I know there are places that either have opened for vaccinated Americans or planning to soon - I’m going to hold off on leaving the US until 2022. Even my idol Rick Steves is currently not planning for travel until 2022 - so I’m sticking with him. After cancelling all my plans for 2020 I’m going to be cautious and live to travel again. But I do have some travel plans for this year in the US that I’ll be blogging about, and so many fun things I’m looking forward to right here where I am and in the weekend driving area - so check back or sign up to be notified when I post by clicking on the subscribe tab on the home screen😊

This will never be a cooking blog - but it could at least temporarily turn into an architecture blog! I have always had a strong interest in architecture and when I’m in many beautiful art museums I spend nearly as much time examining the building as I do the art. So there might not be a better place for me to live than right where I currently am. Oak Park, IL is not just the home of Frank Lloyd Wright but quite a few other significant architects that worked in his studio. As I walk the town to familiarize myself with it I am captivated by the amazing homes and always looking for the little plaques crediting the architect and often times the historical designation. I’m learning as much as I can about Frank Lloyd Wright and have actually put together a walking tour to see all 24 of his homes here and Unity Temple which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 - putting it in the same category as the Taj Mahal. Wow! So if you’re in the area let me know and I will happily give you my tour. Depending on the time of day and your preference I can add a stop at an amazing ice cream parlor or glass of wine.

Frank!

Pleasant Home is another gorgeous home to tour. Designed by the architect George W Maher in 1897 it is now owned by the park district and open for tours on Thursday. It’s in Mills Park and is well worth checking out. I have included it on my walking tour🤗

Pleasant Home and also called the John Farsons House.

Another famous person from Oak Park is Ernest Hemingway and his birthplace has been turned into a museum.

Can easily be added to my tour.

So far I took the L (the subway) into the city once and it worked out great. Easy, fast and reasonable. Had to make a stop at The Bean in Millennium Park to say hello. Designed by another Frank - Frank Gehry. It is to Chicago what the arch is to St Louis - when you see it there is no doubt where you are.

It’s great to be back!

I will be posting food - I’m in the process of making a list of all the places I need to visit. What I’m doing extremely well on is visiting bakeries. The good old kind that have been around for 100 years and have so many delicious pastries, coffeecakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies and cakes that you have trouble deciding what to get. So I will definitely continue walking and running in order to consume them. I did manage to swing through the drive through of Portillo’s and pick up an Italian beef sandwich on moving day. Just as delicious as I remembered!

I like mine with sweet peppers😋

This reminds me of the flowers I see as I walk my new town.

The best is yet to be! The world is opening up. If you haven’t gotten your vaccine get one for yourself and everyone you know and love. Check back soon and welcome back to me🤗

Wishing you a Covid Free Holiday!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! And most important please continue to be vigilant and stay safe and healthy as best you can. 2020….the year we will never forget.

This pretty much sums it up wouldn’t you say?

I love lists so I made two. All the things I did less or zero of in 2020, and then all the things I did more of. Surprisingly the list of things I did more of was longer. And here they are:

Less or Zero List -

• Travel - cancelled 3 big fun trips. It’s definitely more fun to plan trips than to cancel them😣

• In person time with family and friends

• Happy hours

• In person church

• Working out at Orange Theory

• Attending theater, ballet, movies…..basically ANYTHING!

• Restaurants

• Shopping

More List-

• Sleep - usually a solid 8 hours a night

• Reading - my goal was 40 books and I’m at 45 and the month is young

• Cooking - think large pots of soup NOT sourdough starter😂

• Netflix - SO MUCH NETFLIX

• Zoom - before March who ever heard of it?

• Online church and Bible study

• Running and walking - trained and ran a half marathon in October in honor of RBG

• Talking on the phone - not texting…talking. Thanks to everyone that called to check on me💕

• Online classes, lectures, virtual art and architectural tours etc. I learned things!

• New friends - met so many wonderful people through these online activities that I now call friends.
  

Yes 2020 has not been what any of us planned. And it’s been very hard and terrible for so many people. It’s not over yet unfortunately but we do have some light at the end of the tunnel with the great news of vaccines coming. I never lose sight of how fortunate I am, and I have tried to do my best to help where and when I can. My kids remind me frequently that the best thing I can do is stay healthy since I am in the “at risk” group. When did that happen??

A few highlights of my year that do not include the pandemic are the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl in February for starters. The celebration parade went right by my building and our view could not have been more perfect and warm since it was a really cold day. Definitely didn’t stop the fans from camping out to get a good spot.

Top left is Patrick Mahomes on the back of the bus! Hosted a party for good friends that was a blast and Keeley came down for the game and parade making the whole thing even more special.

I left for a few weeks in Arizona the day after the parade and had a great time. Amazing weather, great hiking, excellent food and time with family and friends.

I finally made it to the Grand Canyon, conquered Camelback Mountain and Fat Man’s Pass at South Mountain Park.

In August I joined Tom and Anna and the Spence’s at their lovely beach home in South Carolina. It was heaven. We stayed very safe cooking all our meals and getting take out, but so wonderful to be able to sit and walk on the beach and pretend Covid didn’t exist for at least awhile.

My daily morning walk. Just me and the beach.

Then very recently I joined Tom and Anna for Thanksgiving on Sugar Mountain in North Carolina. Again super safe adventure with us cooking all our meals and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Such a beautiful area.

Not as scary as it looks but so fun!

A quick update on the kids. Tom and Anna left Manhattan in early March when Covid was taking off in NYC and thanks to the Spence’s stayed in South Carolina at the beach house. Originally they thought it would be just a few weeks but needless to say they stayed for months. Luckily they could work from anywhere. In June they decided not to go back to New York and made arrangements to pack up their stuff and put it in storage until they decided what their permanent residence would be. They are now in a beautiful home on Sugar Mountain and will eventually relocate to Chicago when Covid improves and both work out of Chicago offices.

From the city life of Manhattan to the Blue Ridge Mountains! These two are resilient!

Keeley and Matt are staying strong and healthy in Chicago. So proud of how they have been so responsible in taking the virus seriously and following all the guidelines. I got to see Keeley twice this year. She came down for the Super Bowl as I mentioned and then again for a week in Sept to keep me company. She also can work from anywhere so it was wonderful to have her here. She is a much better cook than I so that was a bonus! It’s been a year since I saw Matt so this is a picture of the two of them post Chicago Marathon that Keeley ran in 2019 - but they look the same😊

All 5 of us were at the Marathon and she did great! So proud!

My big news is that I am moving back to Chicago this spring! I’m excited about it but it’s also going to be hard to leave Kansas City. When we moved here in 1992 the plan was to move back in 2 years so I’m 27 years late, and in those years it has become a place I love. I have made terrific friends, raised the kids here, spent countless hours volunteering at places that matter to me and found a church I absolutely love. But with both kids being in Chicago in my heart I know it’s what I really want. Covid has been bad, but for me and many of you I think it has clarified what’s most important - so Chicago consider yourself warned! Probably late spring since I’m not crazy enough to move back in the winter🥶

While I am moving back to Chicago, my traveling days are definitely NOT over! When my group is up for the vaccine I will gladly get in the queue to receive it and then will feel confident that I can continue checking off all the places I still want to see, and revisit some of those I love so much. In the meantime stay safe and remind yourself that we can do hard things. We already have. Sending all best wishes for a holiday that connects you with those you love most either in person safely or virtually if that’s the best way to keep everyone safe.

Patti💕

Solo Travel…Why?

For me the better question is why not? And if you’re going to do it hopefully provide a few tips on how to be successful. My initial intention was not to make this post specific to women, but in seeing how my ideas compare with what is currently on the internet I uncovered some fairly startling statistics. The current numbers show that significantly more women travel for pleasure solo than men. I can think of some reasons why that might be - but nothing I can prove so I’ll let you just think of your own reasons, and stick to the facts and say yeah for women! I almost just wrote there’s never been a better time to try it out but then I remembered - oh yeah Covid😣 Well there’s never been a better time to start planning a trip - whether your first solo adventure or you’re 25th!

I took my first big solo trip in 1984. I was single and out of college for a few years, and really wanted to go to Europe. At the time none of my friends were in a position to go - mostly because of work obligations, so I decided to go alone. I had never been out of the US, so decided to book with a tour group. The trip was 18 days and 6 countries - a real whirlwind. We started and ended in Amsterdam, and in between saw parts of Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Luxembourg. I was the only solo traveler on the tour and had a wonderful time. I got special attention from the tour guide and just about everyone on the trip. In general I have found most people who take a tour are pretty friendly. Maybe they just felt sorry for me because I was alone, but someone was always inviting me to join them for a meal, drink or just to visit so I never felt lonely. Then long story short it was many years before I would have the opportunity to travel alone again.

Fast forward to 2014 and I got a case of the serious travel bug. All of a sudden it was all I could think about. So I reached down deep inside and rediscovered the person I was in 1984 who just booked a trip and went. But so much has changed in 30 years. We have so much access to information right at our fingertips making trip planning fun and relatively easy. I have traveled a lot since making that first big trip in 2014, and about half or a little less has been by myself - both internationally and domestically. People ask me often which I prefer, and my answer is that depends. If I had to choose between traveling with someone that has interests, habits or an energy level significantly different than mine I would pick solo 100% of the time. That is a recipe for disaster. I’m fortunate in that I have a few good friends that are like minded and similar enough that we’ve gone on some pretty lengthy trips and had a wonderful time together. But I would never let not having someone to travel with hold me back from making a trip I wanted to take. This past August I had planned a month long trip to Scandinavia that unfortunately due to Covid had to be cancelled. I was doing that on my own, and still am so disappointed it didn’t happen, although my fingers and toes are crossed that in 2021 I will finally get there.

Me - 2014 in Berlin at the Brandenburg Gate!

Reasons to travel solo:

• Do what you want when you want - sleep in or get up early, relax for hours in a coffee shop or see 3 museums in one day, eat snacks for all your meals so you can splurge on that beautiful purse you want! You’re the boss….always!

• Discover the you you used to be or the you you want to be - there are no expectations or responsibilities, no one judging you. You are and can be whoever you want to be. So freeing!

• A confidence builder - as much as you’ve planned your trip it won’t all go perfectly. You’ll need to think on your feet and you’ll be proud of yourself for what you accomplish. It will force you out of your comfort zone and help you grow.
  

Now for some tips - to keep you safe and confident:

• Pack light! You’re going to be on your own so make sure you can handle your luggage and personal items comfortably. A carryon and one personal item is best. You can do it! Check my blog post from August 8, 2018 in the archive for a detailed list.

• If this is your first solo trip it’s best to either pick a domestic destination, or somewhere that is culturally not a huge departure from what you’re used to. London or Paris yes. India maybe down the road.

• Plan to arrive at your destination in daylight. Most flights from the US to Europe arrive during the day which is perfect, but have a plan for getting to your accommodations in advance. If you fly through the night you’ll be tired so that’s not something you want to leave to chance. If you’re not planning part of your trip until you get there to be flexible make sure you have somewhere to stay at least your first night.

• Before you leave give a few family members and/or friends a copy of your itinerary, and a plan to check in with them periodically via email, text or phone calls. I usually text or email my kids a few pictures every day or two so that they know I’m doing fine. If your itinerary changes that’s fine - just make sure someone knows where you are headed.

• If you’re posting on social media don’t say specifically where you are as far as what hotel or address of an Airbnb. Since I’m typically blogging while I travel I post where I’ve stayed after I have moved to another location. It’s best to be cautious. In this day and age if someone knows your name they can google you and connect quickly to your social media and see what you’ve posted.

• One of the really fun things about traveling solo is talking to locals or other travelers. I have found it’s easier to meet people when you’re alone, but it’s best to be cautious and not reveal that you’re alone. Your safety is the most important, so I will typically not bring it up and if they ask I just say that my friend is somewhere else currently. Beware of offers from men or even women to do you favors, show you something or take you somewhere. Have a plan as to what you’re doing so you’re not tempted to make a bad decision you’ll regret later. The majority of people have good intentions but how do you really know?

• You don’t have to be alone all the time. It’s fun to take a day trip, cooking class, or museum tour to just name a few options. I have utilized a company called Viator and had good experiences. You typically don’t have to book far in advance. I have done just a day or two and been successful. I’ve usually been the only American so fun to meet other travelers from places all around the world.

• Security is very important. Please check out my currency post dated July 1, 2019 for tips on currency, credit cards, and keeping it all safe. I have a great travel purse I reference in that post that has worked out perfectly. A money belt is fine too if you prefer. Purchase an old fashioned rubber door stop and use it in your hotel or Airbnb to protect entry. Especially with an Airbnb you have no idea who has a key or the key code to enter, and by using the door stop no one is getting in. Don’t forget to take it with you when you leave.

• Research cultural norms like attire and physical body language. Many places are much more conservative in attire than the US, so you want to blend in and not stand out. Also Americans tend to be more outgoing with smiles and eye contact. In some places that can be taken as more than just friendliness and more of an invitation so something to be aware of.

• Stand up for yourself. If you are feeling uncomfortable for any reason don’t hesitate to ask for help or speak loudly to convey command of the situation. And always be aware of your surroundings. I always ask at the hotel or Airbnb if there are any areas I should steer clear of in terms of walking around by myself. In most European countries you will be a lot safer than in the US. Guns are not common for citizens to have so pickpocketing is usually the biggest risk.

• Dining alone is not something to dread. Practice locally before you travel. Bring a book or notebook to journal what a great day you just had. Talk to your waiter. Eat your main meal at lunch (which will save you money) and then eat light while sitting at a bar enjoying a glass of wine and chatting with the person sitting next to you.
  

A day trip I took when I was in Barcelona. Santa Maria de Montserrat is a Benedictine abbey which hosts the Virgin of Montserrat - a statue of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus which is one of the black Madonnas of Europe. It is believed to have been carved in Jerusalem in the late 12th century. Just kind of a spur of the moment decision to join a tour I read about. Worth it!

Travel makes me very happy💕

My Dad gave me great advice. He said “if you have things you want to do and you can afford it, then don’t wait because you never know how much time you have.” And my Mom always said “life is what you make it. You will be as happy as you want to be.” They were wonderful parents and I was listening💕 We are each responsible for our own happiness, and if Covid has taught me just one thing it’s that you never know what’s coming. I hope you find something in this post helpful!

Pandemic Update🤪

Still wearing masks. Still social distancing. Still washing hands. Not losing my mind. Not bored. What is wrong with me? I have created my own new normal structure to my day - which is very different from my previous structure which consisted of travel, volunteering and meeting up with friends. I’ve also just returned from a fun trip to South Carolina so feeling recharged and ready for a return to my new normal. So first some fun pictures from my trip and then a bit more about my new schedule.

A few clarifications on my recent trip. I am a believer in science and listening to the healthcare experts, so this was a decision I thought a lot about. My son and his lovely girlfriend Anna are currently sheltering in her parents beach house in North Myrtle Beach. They invited me to join them there for some very needed family time. We have all been super vigilant and following all guidelines. I am currently not comfortable flying. I have researched it carefully and my biggest concern is sitting right next to someone who might remove their mandatory mask after take-off or to eat or drink. It’s a 2 day drive so would require an overnight stay in a hotel. I get an email everyday from Marriott stating they are hospital grade cleaning and requiring masks so felt comfortable with that option. I scored hand sanitizer and plenty of wipes from Target. All in all it went well. I had plenty of snacks and just ate my least favorite food via drive through - but you gotta do what you gotta do. Gas stations and rest areas were quick stops where the majority of people were wearing masks - so that was a win. Thanks to Spotify and Audible the miles flew by - and for the most part it’s a pretty drive.

Once I was there it was so great! The beach house is just a block from the beach so I was there everyday. It’s in a residential area so the beach was not crowded making it super easy to have plenty of space between people. The ocean was so warm I actually got in and swam - not typical for me.

Lots of parasails everyday. That is definitely not me in the air!

Beautiful sandy beaches and dunes. Also Loggerhead Turtle nests! In about a half mile stretch I saw 6 nesting areas. The turtles lay nests from May through mid-August in that area with each nest having about 120 eggs. The eggs incubate for 55-60 days and the babies emerge from July through October.

I took these pics one morning at sunrise. An empty beach which I love💕

Great shelling! It is as if dump trucks have appeared and emptied their loads on the beach and in the shallow water. Anna’s mom Kim is an expert sheller. But even a novice like myself couldn’t fail. Everyday we came home each with a bag full. I brought them home and have little shell displays all over my loft and each one makes me smile.

That’s Kim out there in the shallows getting them before they hit the beach. Each shell a precious gift from the ocean.

No plans to eat in any restaurants and we adhered to that. We did get takeout some nights to sample the local cuisine which of course was heavy on delicious seafood and hush puppies. We also cooked a bit and as someone who has eaten most of my meals solo for going on 6 months that was a highlight. I botched my usual attention to taking food pictures but did get this one of the local favorite Bojangles. A local fast food place specializing in breakfast items especially that southern favorite biscuits. We got the Bo Box which is at least a dozen.

I love a good biscuit and these were pretty great😊

The time spent at the beach was very relaxing. No plans to do any big site-seeing but one night we did take a drive to Sunset Beach and over the state line to North Carolina to Bald Beach. Luckily didn’t see any of the local inhabitants at Sunset Beach. There was a sign warning of the ALLIGATORS! I was somewhat shocked but did a little research and found out there are roughly 100,000 alligators in SC and they can get up to 14 feet long and weigh 1000 pounds. They live in habitats along the Coastal Plain including tidal marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes. So I guess now I can call this an educational blog….turtle and alligator information abounds😂

Bald Beach at the top. Bottom photos all from Sunset Beach. Check out those cool porch swings!

Sunset on the dunes.

Never enough time with my favorite pooch Penny❤️ Her days consist of playing fetch and returning to this pose.

Such a fabulous time with some of my most favorite people. Thanks for being such wonderful hosts💕 I definitely feel re-energized and ready for whatever the next few Covid months bring.

So next up just some of the things that have been helping me survive and create my new normal. I like to think I’m a positive person so I am focusing on the silver linings from Covid. For one - I’m actually getting more and better sleep than I have in over 30 years. Almost without exception I’m getting a pretty solid 8 hours of sleep a night - and that feels great! Another silver lining is that it takes me way less time to get ready for the day. I’m not going anywhere that requires me to put much effort into my appearance, so a quick shower and then some shorts and a T-shirt and I’m good. It was the middle of June before I realized I hadn’t switched out my closet and brought out my summer clothes. And now I’ve barely worn any of them and certainly not had to buy anything new. One of my favorite things in the pre- Covid days was treating myself to a cappuccino or latte at one of the local coffee shops. For Christmas my kids bought me a Nespresso machine which I loved, but since Covid and the need to stay home it has brought me endless joy. At around 10 AM every morning I make myself a delicious drink using the espresso pods and my fabulous milk frother.

In my opinion as good or better then what I got in the coffee shops.

My cappuccino is coupled with usually a homemade blueberry muffin - something since Covid I have kept well supplied in my freezer. They are easy to make and fairly healthy because the recipe calls for rolled oats and just a small amount of sugar. In addition unlike purchased muffins that are often the size of your fist they are just normal muffin size - so no guilt involved. I have vowed often that this would NEVER be a cooking blog so I’m not going to post the recipe. But if you want it just reply to this post or email me at pattiparttwo@gmail.com and I will send it to you.

It tastes better on a beautiful plate. This is a souvenir from France made by Gien.

In addition to baking blueberry muffins I am definitely cooking more, but have returned to being a vegetarian for the most part. It is really what makes me feel best so buying lots of fruits and vegetables once or twice a week. I think at the age of 64 I have finally figured out how to relax. I’m reading a ton, and lots of times in the afternoon for a few hours after I go for a long walk or run. I set a reading goal at the beginning of each year and I already know that I will exceed that due to Covid. My goal was 40 books and I’m already on number 30. If you, like me love books I know you know that they can transport you all over the world. Since I can’t travel this year like I planned I am enjoying revisiting places I love and making plans to see new ones when we are able. So if you’re looking for suggestions here are some of my favorites in no particular order - other then that I read them this year:

• A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh

• Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

• A Man called Ove by Fredrik Backman

• City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

• White Fragility by Robin Diangelo

• The One and Only Street in Paris by Elaine Sciolino

• The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare

• A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

• Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan

• Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

• The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate

Set in Jaipur India - known as The Pink City. I visited Jaipur in the fall of 2018 and fell in love with it. Reading this fabulous book transported me back to relive that trip and if you’re interested you can click on the archive and read about my trip there.

Most evenings I find myself watching Netflix, Disney Plus or Amazon Prime. We are blessed with more shows then one can watch in a lifetime, and here are a few of my favorites:

• The World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji on Amazon Prime. 10 episodes and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time. I have never watched one minute of the show Survivor but I have to believe this is 1000 times harder. Watch it and maybe you will be inspired to become an Adventure Racer - which I didn’t even know existed.

• Hamilton, Moana, Mulan, Into the Grand Canyon and Free Solo on Disney Plus. When Disney bought the rights to Hamilton I was in - at least for a few months. It’s worth it just for Hamilton but so many other great things on it to see - especially the great documentaries.

• Schitt$ Creek on Netflix. Yes I already watched the 5 available seasons but it’s the funniest and best show when you just need to escape - so I’m watching the whole thing again and finding it even funnier the second time.

I love you Rose family💕

This is not exciting stuff. My heart breaks everyday for the millions of people in this country suffering with the loss of loved ones, lost jobs, possible evictions or loss of their homes, trying to feed their families and teach their kids through Zoom. I’m trying to help as much as possible while not becoming another bad statistic or worse yet spreading the virus to someone who could suffer a terrible outcome. These are trying times and from experience I know that losing hope is a very tough place to reside. So I’m focusing on this situation being a temporary one - and figuring out the small things that bring me joy helps a lot. Hang in there! The Best is Yet to Be💙