feeling lucky

looking forward to returning 

to our happy place this week

british columbia

If you have never been to British Columbia

you should go . . . 

View photos from our trip here

visitors

With spring around the corner we are expecting several sets of visitors.

A blog I enjoy summed it up well . . .

What I learned is that when family needs a place to stay they aren't looking for a luxury hotel, just a bed with clean sheets and a smiling face handing them a hot cup of coffee in the morning. When friends come to visit they don't expect a gourmet meal and a pinterest ready atmosphere, they just want a safe place to talk about the ups and downs of life. {Lemon Lane Cottage}

women peacemakers

[the view from their porch in Phnom Penh as a thunderstorm rolls in ]

For the past six years my daughter and her family

lived in Cambodia. 

Women Peacemakers is the organization she 

supported and advised.

We are so very proud of her 

and feel blessed to have had

two different month long visits with her in Cambodia.

Watching this takes me back both

in spirit and with cherished memories.

The Khmer language is music to my ears

but the suffering we saw breaks my heart.

Women Peacemakers

RISC is the organization her husband 

supported and advised.
The Returnee Integration Support Center exists to support
deported Cambodian-Americans; to ease their transition to a new life in Cambodia.

RISC

from cambodia to america {2}

Amanda says ;

. . . with 48 hours travel time, 2 bottles of baby tylenol, some hilarious vomiting episodes, a near quarantine from the CDC & one missed connection behind us, we are finally enjoying the land of Grandmas & race car shopping carts. [phew!]

The Taste of Venice Grand Gourmet Food Tour

We had a great time at this local event in Venice.

While learning more about the history of  our winter home

we stopped by one of our favorite restaurants

along with four restaurants new to us.

The Taste of Venice Grand Gourmet Food Tour will take "foodies" on a walking tour of historic Downtown Venice, FL restaurants and food shops. You will meet the chef's, taste their latest creations and learn their secrets. As we stroll the beautiful Italian Renaissance architecture, you will be immersed in the rich history of this unique slice of Paradise.

Our lovely hosts 

 {from their facebook page}

This tour is available every Tuesday and Thursday during the winter season.

If you get a chance we highly recommend it.

 The Soda Fountain

Cassariano

Café Venice

le Petit Bistrot

Ciao Gelato

Fellow guests on the tour with us

Taste of Venice Food Tour Website

{It is a bit pricey but lucky for us we had a Groupon}

where the magic happens

We recently discovered {thank you Jim and Cathy} that we qualify for 

Florida resident discounts on rooms and tickets at Disney World.

After a little help from AAA we will be off to Disney on Wednesday.

Wishing you could join us at . . . 

Epcot

Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

I don't think it really is the"happiest place on earth"

but it sure will be a fun filled three days.

Mark your calendars for next year  and come along !

winooski

Weekend in Vermont

{visiting Lindsay and Blaine}

more photos

{not for the faint of heart as there are many photos here}

photoshop

Sometimes if you close your eyes 

and use your imagination . . . 

you could be all alone on this beach . . . 

{photo by Leslie Bull}

grouping

Every Sunday after church we have been going out to breakfast

trying a new restaurant each week.

Two weeks in a row we have been offered a seating choice new to us . . .

"Good Morning.

I have a small table for two in the corner or . . . 

we are doing grouping at the round table"

We have met some very friendly people during these breakfasts.

I say - give grouping a try.

{by the way: There are a lot of Canadians spending the winter in Venice}

traveling with books-on-audio

On our trip to the sunny south we discovered a great way to

"Enjoy a little help making the miles go by"

Here's How it Works

1. Buy a Books-On-Audio CD at Cracker Barrel.

2. When you’re done, simply return it to any Cracker Barrel.
They’ll refund the purchase price, minus $3.49 for each week you've had it.

3. Do it again!

We had planned on bringing a book from our local library and then mailing it back but this turned out to be an even better option.

cracker barrel travel

trinity house

We just returned from a visit with our son and his fiancé in Philadelphia. They live about ½ mile from Old City (Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ House, etc) so we were able to do a lot of walking and exploring. They have recently moved to a Trinity House which has an interesting historical story.



Snippets from the internet . . .

What is a Trinity house?
A Trinity house is a three-story house with each floor containing one room. The Trinity house is believed to have originated in Philadelphia as early as the year 1720, and nearly 300 years later, Trinity houses are still found across the city of Philadelphia. Trinity houses are typically quite small.

bonus courtyard


street level kitchen




In the 18th century, the Trinity houses in Philadelphia contained an exterior door, no running water, community toilet, and treacherous winding staircases. In the centuries since the birth of the Trinity house, many improvements have been made to make living in cramped quarters much more pleasant.

second floor living room and bathroom




The modern Trinity
Trinity houses are still in use today, just with many modern updates. One of the most notable changes to the Trinity is the addition of running water and indoor facilities. The Trinity house still typically has one room on each floor, winding staircases, and one exterior door. Trinity houses can be found in many of Philadelphia's neighborhoods, including Center City and Society Hill. In today's society when houses are getting bigger and bigger, the Trinity house is a good alternative for “city seeking” couples or roommates.

third floor bedroom




basement leisure room, laundry and storage


Their trinity house was originally 3 homes.
One was torn down hence the courtyard.
The remaining two trinity houses were combined into one.

I am telling you those stairs between floors would keep you in shape!


{I will tell you the happy reason for our visit in the next post}