I am heading to the house my father built. It's an old tobacco barn, converted to a home. It was started in the sixties and originally housed my grandmother's art studio, grandma and grandpa. All the interior doors were made by Dad--rough cedar panel with diagonal cross framing. Mom and Dad moved in after my grandparents passed away. All the land was lovingly landscaped and mowed for so many years--by Dad--riding over a couple of acres of not-so-flat-land. Bamboo that overgrew and invaded the patio ...

First leg of our long trip to South Africa. Cincinnati to Atlanta (night before)

TSA: Do you have something in your bag that looks like mineral makeup--in a cosmetic bag?
kyshel : uh, well, yes; I know exactly where it is so I can take it out for you.
TSA: don't touch the bag, ma'am!!
ksyhel: Ok--the pouch is on the bottom. It's my mother's ashes--I'm taking them to Africa.
TSA: [totally freaking out and jumping back] Ummm, umm, umm--please take them out yourself ...

Packing for a trip is usually easy. It just requires using a method to prevent madness. I list the basics (pretty much the same garments with seasonal adjustmentslong sleeved or short sleeved, light sweater, heavy sweatershort or pants. We all know how hard it is to pack for transitional weatherwhich jacket or coat, umbrella or poncho, boots or walking shoes? There are few irregularities, like no camo clothing in many African nations, take a sarong for temples in Asia, modest attire for the Middle ...

We recently took a vacation--the kind where you just buy the pkg, get flights and go. No-brainer thing; and all-inclusive dream.
Hacienda Tres Rios offers some very dreamy beds, slick accommodations (lots of marble/tile, oceanview balcony/jacuzzi, internet, room service...)
The pools are lovely and inviting until you realize to get to the restaurant or banos, you have to wind around other pools, over a bridge or two...)
Our stay was in the midst of the swine-flu "nondemic" ...

love 'em or hate 'em?
to bid or not to bid?
I'm not sure how many auctions I've been involved in at LL--bid wars or single bids--that horrible feeling when the email is being delivered and you wonder if it will say, "you've been outbid" or "you are the highest bidder". That tension, that anxiety, it's, it's--that feeling!!
Then you receive the congratulatory email and the rush is over. The relief--"IT'S MINE" and the planning continues--of course, ...