Tag: photos

Homemade Bread

March 14, 2023

A month ago or so, I ordered a dutch oven from Amazon in hopes to try making my own bread. I watched a bunch of Youtubes on how to make bread. There were lots of videos that I got overwhelmed a bit. I then Googled a bread recipe and found this one. It sounded simple and easy so I went with it. I’m very happy to say, it turned out pretty good. The outside was super crunchy and the inside was soft and slightly chewy. I had it with butter and it was delicious.

You don’t need a dutch over to make bread. There are different ways and they can be found all over Youtube or the Internet. I personally wanted to try making it in a dutch oven. I’ve been eying bread bakers and bread makers and want to try them out but I just don’t have a lot of room in my kitchen. I’ve been thinking of turning part of the basement into a storage for cooking/baking items but that’s not going to happen. I’d rather convert it to scrapbooking room #2 because I love papers and colors more. Anyway, my next bread making goal is to make rye bread. I love rye bread especially with caraway seeds.

If you’ve made bread before, let me know your method or if you have a recipe you think I should try out.

Cozumel

November 8, 2022

Our last stop on the cruise was Cozumel. We sat by the beach, was served lunch, and relaxed. It was a nice end to our cruise. The water wasn’t as clear as we had expected, but we were still able to go in and swim.

This is the view of the ship docking. The lamps were still on because it was still pretty early in the morning. I wanted to see the sunrise and watch the docking, so while husband was still sleeping, I got up and made my way to the top floor. I realized I could only either watch the sunrise or the docking because the sunrise was on one side and the docking was on the other. I decided to watch the docking.

Once we got off the ship, we took a short bus ride to the beach resort and found a nice spot right by the water. In the photo, husband and I were in the water taking a photo of where we sat. I believe the third or fourth umbrella in the front there (right to left) was ours.

Here’s the view directly in front of where we sat. That’s an inflatable water slide. I believe you have to get on a jet ski to get over to it. We didn’t bother with that. It was nice relaxing by the water and that’s all we really wanted.

We had a great time on this cruise. The cruise members were super friendly and the food was pretty good. The best part, of course, was just getting away from the every day and relaxing.

One thing I always enjoy about cruising is how beautiful the cruise ships are. When we arrived at the Cozumel port, two Carnival ships also arrived. Husband and I were having breakfast when we saw the two ships.

We ate quickly and went to the top floor because I knew they were going to have to “spin” and I wanted to capture it. The first boat pulled in bow first but the second one spun around.

This was probably the most exciting part of our vacation for me…lol.

We’d love to go on another cruise next year. We don’t have anything set in stone yet but we’d really love to go again.

Costa Maya

October 25, 2022

Our second day on the cruise, we arrived in Costa Maya. We took the tour to see the Mayan Ruins. It was a one hour bus ride to the location and then about an hour walking around the ruins and listening to our tour guide.

We had a pretty large group of people on our tour but there were other tour groups there as well. The people in the photo were all from our group. Behind me was another tour group waiting for their turn.
Our tour guide said areas like this with overgrown trees on top of rocks were Mayan pyramids that have not been excavated but will be.

It was extremely humid on the tour. We were told that it was rain season and that it had just rained and that it was going to rain again. The roads were dry so it was hard to tell but there were moments when rain misted.

I learned so much about the Mayan people on this tour. Our tour guide was Mayan and it was interesting when he spoke Mayan to us. It sounded like he was speaking Chinese. He said the Mayans migrated from China and that’s why their language was very similar.

Costa Maya was enjoyable, aside from the humidity.

May’s Playlist 2022 and Ramblings

June 2, 2022

Last weekend, went to grab donuts and coffee and couldn’t resist taking a photo of the clouds. Aren’t they something? If you’re curious as to why the road looks rough and uneven, it’s because they are repaving it. May usually feels like a forever month because of that extra day, but it pretty much flew by this year. I guess I should accept that as I/we get older, time starts to feel as though it’s moving faster. I remember wishing for the time to pass quickly. Now, I’m always aware that I only have so much time in a day to get things done, and there’s never enough time.

I was so busy with writing and trying to get my hands at doing more crafting that I didn’t get a chance to listen to anything different other than my default playlist of Enigma and writing music. Husband and I did go see the movie, Top Gun: Maverick and we both enjoyed it. The soundtrack was nostalgic and excellent. Afterward, I told him that returning to civilian life felt a bit slow and boring, but that I enjoyed it. The speed of those jets was a serious adrenaline rush and I don’t think that kind of life would ever be for me. It’s very different for sure, but you know, maybe it’s just the age thing.

Anyway, the one song I did listen to a few times was Meet Me Halfway but Kenny Loggins. He’s also the singer of the song Danger Zone, which was played in the 1986 Top Gun movie as well as the new movie release. Meet Me Halfway was a song played in the 1987 movie called Over the Top, which I haven’t seen yet.

My daughter is on summer break now. She finished 9th grade and will be starting 10th grade come fall. She’ll be taking classes for her driver’s permit this summer. Once she passes, she’ll be able to drive with me or her dad in the car with her. Then come her 16th birthday next year and she’ll be able to test for her driver’s license. Strangely, she doesn’t want to drive.

Hope you all enjoy your summer.

Unboxing and Photos of the Lancaster Leather Notebook Cover

April 19, 2022

I don’t normally use the personal size leather covers because I just find that they don’t have enough room to write, but the Lancaster Traveler’s Notebook cover was so tempting that I had to get one. I already have a personal cover for my address book, etc., but went ahead and switched the notebooks out into the Lancaster. I really like the button closure and I think it works better for the address book.

Here’s the unboxing video if you want to watch it. It’s a no-talk video with music in the background. It’s just shy of two minutes.

Here are the photos of this gorgeous leather cover.

These photos were taken after I had put in the notebooks.

This leather scratches easily but it’s okay because sometimes I just want a very rugged scratched up leather. Right now because it’s still pretty new, it looks smooth and divine, but given time it will show all the wear and tear it’s meant for.

Photos of Sugarplum, January, and No. 8 Leather Notebook Covers

April 11, 2022

Earlier this year, I shared an unboxing on video on Youtube of the three full-grain leather notebook covers above but didn’t get the chance to share the photos (you can watch the video here >>> Unboxing 3 Notebook Covers), so here they are.

Sugarplum B6

January (this is the name of the leather) A5:

I’ve been using the January notebook cover the most and it’s one of my favorites. It hold just one notebook. I currently have a Wonderland 222 in there. I’m using it to track my writing but I think it will work better as a book review notebook, so next year that’s what I’ll be using it for.

No. 8 Standard Wide

I’ve got two more leather unboxings and photos to come so be ready! I’ve also finished reading three excellent books and will be reviewing them soon.

Favorite Greens

March 17, 2022

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I don’t always celebrate this day but once in awhile I’m reminded that I should. I’ve only gone to one St. Patrick’s Day parade and that was almost two decades ago. Today’s a snowy, cold day so we’re staying warm inside.

A few months back, I suddenly had this urge for the color green. Green has never been a big color favorite of mine, but now it is. It’s so strange how our thoughts and feelings can change like a switch. Above are a few of my favorite green colors. The only green I’m not a fan of at the moment is the muddy brownish green, but one day I might change my mind.

These are all my green notebooks and notebook covers. Clockwise from top left: Archer and Olive Blank A5 Notebook, Archer and Olive Dotted Lines B5 Notebook, Hobonichi A5 Cover from Etsy, Chic Sparrow B6 Glas Express Folio Leather Notebook Cover, 5×5 Watercolor Notebook from Etsy, and Chic Sparrow A5 Artist Gastaldi Leather Notebook.

I don’t have a lot of green-colored book covers, but here are the ones that were mostly green:

January 2022 Playlist

January 31, 2022

I was given this CD Walkman to try out and review and I’m really liking it. The sound is excellent. What I found super cool was that the walkman stores the songs somehow so the CD doesn’t continue spinning like the ones back in the day. It doesn’t store the music permanently. It seems to store just the CD I’m listening to. I haven’t tried the radio but I’ve heard it wasn’t that great. I’m not worried though. I mainly just listen to my CDs. While everyone probably got rid of all their CDs and went digital, I kept most all of mine. They’re in storage though, so I need to get them out. The two in the photo are what I kept out. I have no idea what I did with the Sarah McLauchlan insert/booklit but I’m pretty sure it’s somewhere around the house. It was nostalgic listening to her music and Adele’s first album as well.

Here’s my top three songs for the month:

  1. “Possessions” – Sarah McLauchlan
  2. “Someone Like You” – Adele
  3. “Dirty Laundry” – Don Henly

Currently, on repeat is “Beyond the Moon” by A.M.R. feat. Ai Takekawa while I’m writing.

A Closer Look at the Black Beauty Creme B6 Traveler’s Notebook Cover

January 26, 2022

The Creme line from Chic Sparrow is their thickest leather. It’s a soft and pliable, supple full-grain leather with a decent amount of structure so it’s not floppy. It feels so nice and sturdy in your hands. It also smells wonderful. I’m not advertising for them. I simply love this leather, and a few others, and so much so that I think I might have an addiction, and it’s not a good one either because they are expensive. I started out with one leather cover back in 2017, a Mr. Darcy Lemon Drop B6, and from then on, it’s been one notebook cover after another. I’m at the point where I have no use for them. I’m simply collecting them now. I guess if it makes me happy, it can’t be a bad thing, right?

Snow + Unboxing Video: Woodhouse Personal and Huckleberry B6

January 25, 2022

We got snow today. It’s beautiful but slippery. This is a view from the study, where I spend the majority of my time writing, recording, and crafting.

Here’s a video of my unboxing of the Austen Woodhouse Personal and Creme Huckleberry B6. They are both leather traveler’s notebook covers by Chic Sparrow.

I just love the feel of these leathers. They smell awesome too. Photos coming soon.