River Gazing and Forest Bathing

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Janette

At the end of August, I felt the summer slipping away and fall creeping in. It wasn’t a problem because I love both seasons. However, there is a change in the morning and evening air. This change lets me know that the seasons are upon us.

Since we enjoyed amazingly clear, comfortable weather, I took advantage of some local scenic spots. Gorgeous skies and limited wind let me appreciate local river parks, complete with squirrels, birds, and turtles nearby.

The water is always pretty this time of year, with the summer haze gone and diminished bug irritations!

Moving inland, I participated in a Forest Bathing event where we focused on mindfulness and grounding activities. During our time in the forest, we smelled different leaves, felt the textures of bark and other materials, and identified sounds of our surroundings.

After the event, I enjoyed the views of the waterfront. Guests were fishing, kayaking, and relaxing as they gazed upon the beautiful lake.

Time spent outside and unplugged is essential to good health and should be enjoyed when the weather cooperates!

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Forged in History

Posted on August 17, 2025 by Janette

About 20 miles outside Philadelphia, along the banks of the Schuylkill River, lies Valley Forge – best known as the site of General George Washington’s winter encampment during the Revolutionary War.

Although no battles took place here, the encampment played a crucial role between the winter months of 1777 and 1778. Thousands of Continental soldiers endured freezing temperatures, limited supplies, and disease while training, strategizing, and preparing for the next phase of the fight for independence.

During this time, Washington rented a modest home to serve as his headquarters. Within its few small rooms, he and up to 25 aides worked tirelessly to strengthen supply chains, refine training methods, and develop strategies to keep the army united through the harsh winter.

Today, visitors can explore both the encampment site and Washington’s headquarters, as well as many monuments and memorials across the grounds. The National Memorial Arch is a striking landmarks – perfect for reflection and framed views of the American flag. Nearby, the Anthony Wayne Monument stands as one of several bronze tributes honoring Revolutionary leaders.

Walking the grounds of Valley Forge offers more than just a history lesson. It provides a chance to step back in time. Visitors can learn from expert guides, imagine the resilience it took to withstand bitter cold, scarce resources, and uncertainty, while carrying the weight of a nation’s future.

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Back to Italy: Herculaneum

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Janette

In 79 AD one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions in history occurred in the Campania region of Italy. Mount Vesuvius, towering over the surrounding area, exploded. The eruption incinerated much of the city of Pompeii. It buried the ruins under almost 20 feet of ash and debris. However, another city was also destroyed during that eruption.

The city of Herculaneum sits closer to Mount Vesuvius than Pompeii. While Pompeii was buried under hot ash and pumice, Herculaneum was buried under slower-falling ash and volcanic mud. It was amazing to see the difference between the two cities. Parts of the city were buried under 75 feet of debris and mud. Visitors learn that the water’s edge used to be at the boat sheds. This illustrates the immense amount of debris that was piled on top of the city. Some townspeople took refuge there and lost their lives.

Visitors can see recovered items in the museum building. These include a 2,000-year-old boat and other finds. Afterward, they can descend into the old city.

Restoration work continues and professionals were working in a few locations within the site.

Something you won’t find in Pompeii is wooden structures, which would have burned. In Herculaneum, we saw remnants of charred wooden supports and door frames in many locations.

Similar to Pompeii, Herculaneum also had fast food locations, courtyards, and beautiful streets with street signs intact.

There was a great deal to see at this location. I stopped by the trinket stands before leaving. I purchased a pair of black lava rock earrings to commemorate the visit. If you are near Naples, this is a day trip that you should not miss.

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Back to Italy: Vietri sul Mare

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Janette

Vietri sul Mare is nestled into the curve of the Amalfi Coast. It is the easternmost town on this iconic section of seafront. This charming area is about 40 minutes Southeast of Naples. You should not miss it if you find yourself in the area.

We used the area as a short stop on the way back to Naples. It was the perfect location to grab some gelato. It was also a great place to shop for ceramics! Shop after shop lined the streets, filled with vibrant ceramics of every style. Some items were large and meant for a wall or table.

Some ceramics were very small. There was something for everyone in this little town.

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Back to Italy: Matera – The Cave City

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Janette

One hour West of Alberobello in the Puglia region, visitors can find Matera, known as the “cave city.” Matera may be the third-longest continuously inhabited human settlement in the world. It dates back to the Paleolithic period, more than 10,000 years ago!

We signed up for a tour that guided us around the city for about two hours. Along the way, we learned about how the original dwellers lived in caves carved into the rocky hillside. At one overlook, visitors can view original dwelling openings across the gorge that divides the city. At the bottom, a Tibetan-style bridge spans the water where hikers can cross.

Residents abandoned the cave dwellings on the old part of the gorge slopes. They moved across the gorge for more protection. Once there, they constructed new homes, a church, and other essential structures.

The last cave dwelling now stands as a museum for visitors to tour. It was amazing to see how simple the dwelling was. It was remarkable to see how few things were necessary to live a thriving life. We learned about the tradition of gifting rooster ceramics. This tradition symbolizes love and protection in this area.

Over time, the city was built up above ground. It continued to use an underground cistern and plumbing system (ahead of its time) that is still in use today. Beautiful buildings, neighborhoods, and churches were erected that overlook the gorge below.

Our tour was definitely worthwhile, and we learned amazing details of this city’s history. You simply must visit if you are in the area!

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Back to Italy: Alberobello

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Janette

About 3.5 hours East of Naples sits the iconic town of Alberobello in the Puglia region. Visiting the “heel of the boot” was a highlight of my trip. I’m glad we had two days to explore the area’s unique charm.

Alberobello is known for its beautiful building style. The town has over 1,000 trulli, or small stone houses painted white with gray, stone-covered, conical roofs.

Most of the town is only open to walking traffic, so the area has a slow, comfortable atmosphere. We saw cacti everywhere, suitable for a warm environment, completely covered in stone.

Little shops line the streets, creating local hustle and bustle. There were tourists, but this place never felt crowded, so it was easy to take pictures of the scenery.

If you travel to the area, visit the bar “Il Trulletto,” which serves pepper espresso. If you order a beverage, you can take it up the back stairs to the small roof deck. This is one of the few decks you can access for a view of the Trulli roofs.

The area has many handicrafts that visitors can purchase, including many different ceramic decorations. It was fun to see ceramic versions of cacti!

In almost every ceramic shop I saw, visitors can take home a Pumo. To be more precise, it is known as a Pumo di Fiore. A Pumo is the symbol of the Puglia region and stands for a flower bud before it blooms. These can come in all sizes, colors, and designs and represent abundance and fertility. Essentially, it’s a good luck charm for the house, so I had to purchase one.

Some varieties have three leaves around the bud, some have four, and some are intricately decorated, or very plain. I learned that years ago, the complexity of the Pumo signified family status. Mine is small and simple, but I’m glad I have my own piece of Puglia in my home.

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Back to Italy: A Local Dining Experience

Posted on May 11, 2025 by Janette

The luxury of staying with family allowed us to try something truly magical. We arranged for a local chef to come to the house and teach us how to make a full meal. We chose stuffed zucchini flowers, pumpkin ravioli, and strawberry and cream crepes. This experience was a highlight of the trip!

We started out learning about the fresh ingredients and how to choose the best items. We roasted the pumpkin in the oven while we prepared the filling and stuffed the zucchini flowers. Then, we made the light batter for the chef to fry them.

Next, we made our pasta dough. It took some time to get it just right. Then, we set it aside to rest.

Next, we scraped the roasted pumpkin and added other delicious ingredients to the bowl for the ravioli filling.

After the dough rested, we learned how to use the pasta machines. We also used a knife or simply our fingers to make multiple pasta shapes. We used plastic trays to make the ravioli, which we filled by hand.

We finished up the ravioli while our chef started cutting up the strawberries. We were tasked with making crepes using a crepe maker. We also mixed together the delicious cream recipe.

We learned so many tips and tricks. We ended with a delicious meal. It was one of the best I’ve ever eaten! Thankfully, we all received copies of the recipes to try recreating that masterpiece at home.

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Back to Italy: Royal Palace of Caserta

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Janette

Visiting Italy again was a true blessing. It was so soon after my last trip. I stayed with family this time, which made it even more special. Over the course of one week, I saw many locations. I never heard about these places before. Discovering them is my favorite part of traveling. Uncovering hidden gems farther away from the big-ticket items brings a different sense of joy.

The first stop was the Royal Palace of Caserta. This palace is located about 30 minutes north of Naples. It is amazingly huge and is the largest palace complex constructed during the 18th century in Europe. With over 1,000 rooms and 300 acres of land, visitors need plenty of time to visit this beautiful location. The entrance grounds were difficult to appreciate. I snapped a picture of the poster’s aerial shot to get a better view.

After walking through the main archway, I realized everything on ground level was basically a covered porch. The living space was one level above!

Before exploring the inside, we made our way through this huge porch to the back of the palace. We decided to take the tram all the way up the hill at the back of the palace grounds. Since rain was forecasted, we decided to explore outdoors first. This is the view looking back at the palace!

The grounds were spectacular. We saw man-made grottoes. We also saw items recovered from Pompeii that were relocated here a few hundred years ago.

After taking the tram back to the palace, it was time to go inside. This meant traveling up 2 flights of stairs to visit the livable portion.

There was so much to see in every room. Stunning stonework, beautiful paintings, and amazing geometrical designs were found everywhere.

This location did not disappoint. Tickets were very reasonable and visitors can easily spend most of the day here. The covered porch area had a cafe with drinks and snacks. Restaurants were just a few minutes away on foot. If you are in the area, consider stopping by!

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Diversity is Necessary.

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Janette

Diversity is nothing to fear. Although “diversity” is being negatively brought into conversations at all levels right now, it’s important to remember that diversity is necessary for growth, success, and life itself.

Biodiversity is needed for living organisms to survive. Species rely on each other so that every group succeeds, thrives, and builds resilience to fluctuations. Whether we refer to ecosystems or the economy, diversity of thought and experience fosters survival. This allows everyone to endure environmental fluctuations and times of uncertainty.

Diversity creates cultural understanding and promotes empathy. Opportunities to share different perspectives, traditions, and creative solutions offer everyone the chance to be heard. They also ensure individuals are understood and valued for the knowledge they carry.

Diversity is beautiful and educational. This is especially true for those fortunate enough to leave our comfort zones and travel beyond our immediate surroundings. Every time you travel, you learn, you grow, and you shed a one-perspective approach to the world. Realizing that everyone has something to offer is an amazing breakthrough to equity and fairness.

Don’t be afraid of diversity, be afraid of it disappearing and dismantling the balance of a healthy system.

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Fall Foliage

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Janette

Who doesn’t love to take a leisurely fall drive to admire the changing colors of the leaves? Well, this gal takes the opportunity to do so every year. I used to live abroad, in an area that does not have this magical occurrence. I look forward to this time of year and enjoy capturing the amazing colors nearby.

My favorite trees are the ones that turn bright red, and I was so glad to capture a few. A year ago, we experienced a great deal of rain and strong winds just as the leaves turned color. That unfortunate combination caused many leaves to fall prematurely. Safe to say that this year we had quite a show to admire!

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