Utterly Beguiling – the Cinque Terre

February 7, 201726 Comments

Italy’s Cinque Terre took my top spot in our power rankings and top three overall. While Spain has a firm grip on my soul, and I fell in love with Budapest, the Cinque Terre managed to claim a piece of me as well. My one and only journal entry, scribbled in brief, while exploring the coastal trails between the five villages:

I don’t know what to say. I am utterly in love. More in love than anywhere, ever. So much, it pains me. The sounds, sights, tastes, feel and smell…I can hardly stand it. This is my happy place – the happiest of happy. I could grow old here. I never want to leave.

Can you really blame me… Continue reading →

#Resist

January 29, 2017January 29, 2017

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

–Emma Lazarua Continue reading →

Reconciling with Post Sabbatical Life

December 10, 2016December 10, 201618 Comments

Where to start? Clearly I have no idea as it has been nearly four months since we set foot back stateside. I’ve started this post numerous times and each time, it’s proved challenging. As we anticipated the first few weeks were emotionally exhausting with balancing the excitement of seeing friends and family with the realization that our sabbatical adventure had come to an end.

The thought of sitting down to blog again, well, it’s hard. It’s not lost on us that when we set out cooking around the world our goal was to introduce Mr. N and Miss A to cultures and histories around the world. We did that – and then some. The lessons, experiences, friendships and memories that have resulted from our little space on the internet are immeasurable. But the trip is past, our lives are busy, the kids are growing…So now what? Where do we go from here?

Well, I suppose we should first start with where we’ve been….

Continue reading →

Final Power Rankings

November 9, 20168 Comments

By Mike

Time for some Power Rankings. Pick your favorite. OK, this should be easy. Let’s start with the MVP, ~~Kris Bryant~~. But what about the team leader. ~~Anthony Rizzo~~. Then why do I want someone else’s number on my jersey. ~~Addison Russell~~. How about the NLCS MVP? ~~Javy Baez, Jon Lester~~. No, can’t have a tie for the top spot. World Series MVP ~~Ben Zobrist~~? Ah, the heck with this, let’s rank something easier.

Continue reading →

Forever (And the Eternal City)

September 14, 201617 Comments

To complete our Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Forever posts we are all contributing to this entry – our closing (but certainly not final) thoughts on this seven-month sabbatical across much of Europe. And as a backdrop, photos from the Eternal City – Rome, Italy. Rome was our last stop and from where we departed for home. A fitting end if I do say so.

As for Forever, Mr. N will kick us off…. Continue reading →

Aching Hearts – Italy’s Earthquake

August 24, 2016

A place that was like a dream for us is now a nightmare for so many. After spending all of July in Umbria, we know this area well. While our friends are safe, many are not. I cannot begin to imagine the horrors of something so unexpected, tragic and out of anyone’s control. We are thankful for our safety, but wish we could be there to offer any kind of help possible. Obviously, there are many places in the world that are in need of assistance, but today we feel particularly heartbroken for a place we came to know and love.

We will soon write more on our post-sabbatical adjustment, as well as our reflections on our seven weeks in Italy. Until then…Italy – Umbria in particular – you are in our thoughts, hearts and above all, our souls.