Introducing: The Newly Released "The Travel Writer's Wife"

A wet blob of what I thought was saliva trailed down across my lower left cheek. Not being able to see what I was doing, I tried to wipe it off with the back of my hand. I continued to bicycle on my way home from the dentist.  

When I walked in the door, I looked in the mirror to see that my face and teeth were covered in blood. Apparently, going over a bump in the road, I unknowingly bit the inside of my lip. The Novocain from the dental work totally erased the feeling on the left side of my head, including my nose. A wheel spoke could have jabbed through my skin and I wouldn't have felt a thing.  

As I was cleaning my face in the mirror, I glanced down at the dining room table holding a box of my newly printed book, The Travel Writer's Wife. I smiled a red-tooth smile. It was such an accomplished feeling seeing it there; all finished with an official front and back cover.  

It was nearly a year of writing with interruptions of travels, family happenings, and just general day-to-day obligations. My book is a travel memoir about some of the adventures, (both big and small), that my travel-writer husband, Ron, and I took. He has also covered these trips on his website: www.globalgumshoe.com  

I've taught classes on how to keep a travel art journal (whether you are an artist or not). My journals were the catalyst for writing this book. As I looked back through the pages for writing ideas, I was amazed at how many details and events I had forgotten about. I'm so grateful I jotted them down. A chapter of instructions is included about recording your own personal adventures.    

Regarding some more travels, I wrote about the emerging East Berlin, where to purchase Turkish Delight candy in Paris, riding a reluctant horse on a Dude Ranch, and flying a multi-million dollar flight simulator. Along with: where to visit a zoo with no live animals, vintage train rides, blue corn onion rings, to eat horse meat or not to eat horse meat, and European Christmas Markets.    

One of the frequent questions I am asked is how I pack. After several years of trial and error, I've got it down. Some of those tips are in my chapter, The Art of Packing.  

I'm an avid reader myself and I don't mind at all when photos or sketches are placed in a book. So I drew more than 130 illustrations to add a touch more insight and a bit of humor.  

The Travel Writer's Wife is now available on Amazon and also on Kindle. Is this a plug for my book? You bet it is! 

Now, the lesson to be learned is: drive, don't bike home from a dentist visit.   

Farmer Girl Gourmet

Chocolate lovers please don't hate me.I do like my share of chocolate but I'll choose a piece of caramel over chocolate any day. A swirled dollop of caramel rested on top of creamy homemade butterscotch pudding, (butterscotch, being the "cousin" of caramel.) The thick sauce slowly cascaded with each spoonful of Farmer Girl's dessert: Butterscotch Pot de Creme. This dish was the last sweet comforting impression that I left with at the end of out farm-to-table meal.  

Ron and I visited the Farmer Girl Community Bistro located on the quaint Main Street of Lyons, Colorado. With only a 45 minute drive from our home, we found the small mountain town tucked in at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. 

The modern casual decor of hardwood floors and recycled barnwood covering the walls, composed into a warm and cozy place to share a dinner. The word, "LOCAL", is painted in a large white script on the wall to remind us what this cuisine is all about. All dishes are created from fresh seasonal fare obtained from locally sourced food businesses.  

I appreciated seeing the words, "Small Plates", on the menu. That means more food samplings without getting overstuffed. We shared the Sweet Potato Falafel plate that offered fritters, herbed yogurt, homemade pickles, hummus, and flatbread.  

The Chickpea Fritters are paired with a dipping sauce of homemade beet ketchup. I cannot resist freshly-made mozzarella. It was served alongside slices of grilled nectarines, Japanese turnips, cucumber, and a balsamic glace. I carefully assembled them neatly on the houses's crunchy crostini and popped the little tower in my mouth. Quite tasty and I didn't spill a drop. 

For a large plate entree, we shared the game hen with jalepano grits and a side of sunflower seed mole. Now, that's originality for you. Alas! The pudding arrived to crown our local agricultural cuisine. I left quite pleased with the last traces of creamy rich caramel lingering on my palette.