Zest & Aplomb

Travel

The Camino Frances: Stage 1

By Cheryl Ryan

I’m getting ready to hike the Camino Francis: Stage 1, a portion of the popular Camino de Santiago. A friend of mine, an organizer extraordinaire, has planned a trip for seven of us to meet up this May. We’re all coming via different routes to start our journey in St. Jean Pied de Port.

The Camino Francis de Santiago is walked by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims (which is what they call us walkers) each year. Our portion starts in St. Jean Pied de Port and continues for approximately eighty-eight miles, ending in Logrono, Spain. People doing the entire route will walk 490 miles ending in Santiago de Compostela.

A Camino is simply a path or route. There are 281 known Caminos spread across 29 countries. The route we have chosen will take nine days. We’re using The Natural Adventure tour group, but many options exist. They’ve arranged all of our accommodations and will transport our luggage from one medieval town to another as we trek through Spain’s Basque country.

April 27, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Relationships

When Old Friends Call – Answer

By Cheryl Ryan

Two old friends reached out in January. Both were unexpected, and both were inspired by a card. My very first roommate called on a recent Saturday morning. I met her while working at Bonanza Sirloin Pit on my falsified work permit – I wasn’t sixteen yet. She was the day manager, a whopping three years older than me. Our dress code was a black (ridiculously short) skirt, an orange plaid peasant blouse and black felt cowboy hat. It was my first and only waitressing job and it still looms large as my most memorable employment experience.

Probably because it was my first taste of independence and I interviewed and got the job myself. I felt very grown up. Eventually, I moved out with two of the girls I worked with. I went on to be a bridesmaid at their weddings, and as we moved apart we continued to share our growing families through holiday cards.

Written on the back of one of the last cards I’d sent, Linda, I included my cell number with a note to call sometime. This was probably ten years ago. Recently retired, she got organized at home, found my card, and took me up on my offer. I didn’t pick up. I thought it was junk. Luckily she left a message, and I called back the next day.

March 10, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

When Meeting A Stranger Is The Best…

By Cheryl Ryan

Lately, when traveling, I download a podcast or two, bring some writing to edit, and make sure my Kindle is charged. The goal being to mostly avoid people while I get to where I really want to be. Let’s face it present-day air travel isn’t what it used to be.

That was my intention as I boarded a bus in rural Arizona for a 2-plus hour ride to the airport, which would still leave four hours before my scheduled flight’s departure. At least the bus was clean, and most of the people boarding were happy since they were picked up from Sedona, Arizona, a popular vacation spot. There was some seat reshuffling with each stop, and once everyone was boarded, my final seat companion settled in.

I characteristically avoided her at first but decided I needed to engage a little so that the rest of the ride wouldn’t feel so awkward. I started making small talk. What brought you here? Where are you headed?

February 11, 2023 by Cheryl Ryan

Lifestyle

“All Hail” The Library: Much More Than Books

By Cheryl Ryan

I really love libraries. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until they reopened our local branch after being closed for two years. Just walking in feels like home.

I don’t remember going as a very young child. But my memories of the bookmobile (not quite a library but close) are vivid as an elementary school student. I remember when it pulled onto our street and I waited in line to climb the stairs of the retrofitted bus. And then it was my turn to select books from the shelves. I also loved taking my kids to story time and watching as they carefully selected the books they would borrow for the week.

I didn’t enjoy them nearly much as a teenager or while in college. There was always someone shushing me just when I had something extraordinary to tell my friends. And during college, it was usually under duress since I’d procrastinated far too long and had to spend countless hours trying to finish a huge paper making it look like I’d been working on it for months.

September 30, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Lifestyle

I’m Going To Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox This Year

By Cheryl Ryan

I’m not sure why I’m so intrigued by this. I haven’t thought about it since elementary school. But this year I feel like we should celebrate everything so here you go.

The autumnal equinox falls on Thursday, September 22nd this year. It’s almost always the 22nd or 23rd, unless it’s a leap year. It is the day of the year when day and night each last 12 hours because of the unique annual planetary alignment in North America. It’s obviously not to the minute, and depends on where in North America you live but it still signifies the beginning of fall.

It’s often associated with the large harvest moon which held ancient significance in that it gave farmers more light during their final harvests before the frosts destroyed what was left.

September 22, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

Lake Tahoe – Even Better After The Fires

By Cheryl Ryan

Lake Tahoe has been besieged by fires the last few years, with smoke levels so unsafe that we couldn’t go outside to many days that we couldn’t see much of the lake even when we were outside. I didn’t realize it, but I’d come to dread going. That’s why when the opportunity arose to take an impromptu trip in early July while I knew the air was clear, I jumped at the chance, just in case the smoke moved in during our scheduled August time slot.

Honestly, I’d almost forgotten how spectacular Lake Tahoe could be. The sky and water were vivid blues, and the air so crisp and fresh that I felt like gulping it in. It starkly contrasted the muddy gray – even red – air that persisted when the fires were their worst.

Sitting at 6,224 feet above sea level Lake Tahoe is surrounded by majestic granite cliffs and an alpine forest. The Tahoe basin is a natural lake formed long ago between parallel volcanic faults by glaciation and volcanic activity. Our first recent history of Lake Tahoe was that of Explorer John C. Fremont, who spotted the lake in 1844.

So Much To Do

If you live in California, you’ve probably visited. But for those who haven’t, you might ask what you can do in Lake Tahoe. I think a better question is what can’t you do. From hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, off-roading, biking, lazy beach lounging, camping, river rafting, golf, water skiing, snow skiing, or eating at any number of restaurants along its 72-mile circumference, there is something for everybody. It is a spectacular gem divided in two, with Nevada on one side and California on the other.

September 9, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Lifestyle

Labor Day: Fun & Food With Our People

By Cheryl Ryan

I took this summer off from blog writing to travel relax. I hope that you’ve all enjoyed some carefree summertime of your own.

It’s been a travel, go to concerts, BBQs and family reunions type of summer. Several friends of mine got Covid while traveling internationally and had to stay in their rooms, missing part of their vacation. I can’t think of anyone that complained. They would rather have gone on their trip and missed some travel than not gone at all.

And now we’ve all made it to Labor Day. I’m starting to hear talk about days getting shorter as we head into fall. I love it. I love that we’re here.

So how are you going to celebrate this year? We’ve got family coming into town and it’s supposed to be a hot one, so we’ll be planning our activities around that.

Since it’s going to be hot, I don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen. So all the things listed below are dishes that are either simple or do double duty!

August 31, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Lifestyle

Time for Some Saucy Father’s Day Talk

By Cheryl Ryan

It’s that time of year when all we need are some fresh in-season produce coupled with some great seasonal dressings or sauces to spice it all up. So I’ve been looking for some new recipes to whip up so that I can prepare them at the beginning of the week to use on anything and everything that we eat.

Green Goddess

Tahini

Cilantro Lime Dressing

Homemade Ceasar

And either this or this peanut sauce looks great for spring rolls.

I’m also loving this Lemony Spring Pasta.

And burrata cheese is making a splashy show again this summer. I will definitely be making this peach and burrata appetizer again and try this mixed green salad because yum! Using buratta cheese on pizzas looks amazing. And how about this chicken, peach and burrata main dish?

Father’s Day

And here comes Father’s Day again. Do you make a big deal at your house? Ours isn’t too big since not everyone can even drop on by for a BBQ. According to this poll, most dads want something simple. To be together, maybe a card or receive something homemade like food. So I just need a card and to make some delish recipes and we should be good. But if you want to be a Dad’s Day over achiever these activity gifts could go a long way!

Top Golf gift certificate

Most dads like concerts. Here is a list of newer artists and festivals but if your dad is into the old rockers’ tour we’ve got a list for that too.

June 12, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Older Posts