October 22, 2024
I wanted to treat myself to a gift for my birthday… one of my favorite things… a beautiful place. Olympic National Park on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsular has an abundance of all kinds of beauty. One can spend weeks in the range of landscape wonders in the park, but I Read more…
October 21, 2024
Yes, my birthday requires several rounds of cake! First, some cupcakes from the DMV’s Bakeshop from my guy. We got the pumpkin, red velvet, funfetti and chocolate-chocolate. We enjoyed the cakes more than the frosting. There was this pleasing Devil Dog flavor in the the chocolate-based cupcakes and great pumpkin Read more…
October 19, 2024
A birthday celebration in the great outdoors on Long Island was in the books for quite some time. But when it arrived, a cold snap made it slightly less comfortable. We made the best of it! Starting with a quick Panera sandwich because: quick and easy. My birthday vegan charcuterie Read more…
March 1, 2024
My guy’s son’s birthday is here, so I’d need to make his classroom cupcakes before heading to celebrate yet another awesome Pisces, my Mom! When I asked him what kind of cupcakes he wanted, he was torn between vanilla and chocolate… so it was marble cupcakes for the win. A Read more…
February 3, 2024
In the mad dash of awesome Aquarius celebrations is my brother’s and the reason for my visit to Long Island. I had two, count em, two birthday cakes chilling in my trunk on the 5.5 hour drive back. The cold chocolate ganache was made this layer cake very durable and Read more…
January 31, 2024
My guy just turned 50 and I suppose I will be soon-ish too! It is very surreal to me; the passage of time seems to pass in modules–chunks of years spent in specific mindset, followed by the next evolution of your perceptions. It is why I cannot remember my age Read more…
October 21, 2023
To celebrate my birth so long ago, we headed south to Pennsylvania’s Potter County for a stay in a cabin in the mountains. I chose this location for a few reasons. For one, it is very near to the dark sky park Cherry Springs State Park. In the unlikely event Read more…
October 15, 2023
So now the main reason for my visit downstate… My birthday celebration with family! Since I will be away for my actual birthday, it was an early start. Celebrity status at my parents’ 🤣 A vegan pizza delivered from True Food Kitchen, one of my favorite vegan pizzas. The Roasted Read more…
October 30, 2022
When I bring the cake, I try to go hard for its recipient… including myself! Wanting a lighter textured cake, this is my first attempt at a sponge cake. I will be trying again because I had some issues: mainly not having the seltzer at room temperature when I added Read more…
October 21, 2021
The goal was to get up on the roof of the brick factory I explored last time I was in Rochester… but half way up was just as good. With great city views, some hardcore machinery and impressive graffiti art, the prospect of going farther to tiptoe on a holy Read more…
October 17, 2021
I insist on making my own cupcakes when I visit my family for my birthday celebration. Because I greatly enjoy baking and am pretty critical of vegan baked goods, in general. And where can you get vegan s’mores cupcakes with a cookie bottom, chocolate ganache filling topped with chocolate buttercream Read more…
October 16, 2021
Right around my birthday you can sometimes find a farm with a pumpkin patch that is still got blooming sunflowers. These are the center of a Venn diagram of my love of summer and my love of fall. They are a festive find that I associate with my birthday… and Read more…
A special birthday weekend on Eastern Island meant some delicious vegan eats. Under a gorgeous, crisp autumn sky, a lunch at Westhampton Beach’s Flora, a space as pretty as its menu. Some vegan options marked, but I just wanted a small bite as my host was making me dinner soon Read more…
What a delight when your friend finds vegan treats you never heard of! When she waits in line for 30 minutes and buys everything that is vegan from the omni bakery! Yes, For Goodness Cakes has a slew of vegan items in their food truck. The perfect birthday kick-off. It’s Read more…
October 26, 2020
Some final Happy New Year to Me outtakes, starting with a Zoom birthday call from my motel in Kittatinny, PA! A surprise birthday card before my departure–when your classroom paraprofessional spends her free time making you stars… ❤️ My Mom scored some vegan cupcakes from Whole Foods for me, but Read more…
October 23, 2020
With a full afternoon on my own at Yellow Dog Village, I shot three memory cards full of pictures. I greatly appreciated the means to explore on my own in safety. But there was a heavy heartache in what remained, in the remnants of life preserved in each room.
I spent the afternoon exploring the deserted homes within Yellow Dog Village, a town stricken by many hardships. Many of the families of Yellow Dog left their belongings. And as the current owner of attempts to bring it new life as a historical village, he allows photographers beyond the electric Read more…
October 22, 2020
The Allegheny Cemetery has a beautiful set of angel wings on its grounds–enormous feather-brushed bronze. The striking Porter Angel marks the resting place of Henry Kirke Porter, a congressman and businessman who died in 1921. She’s long been on my list of must-sees. And she was worth it. Pretty face, Read more…
The Homewood Cemetery has got what I like in a cemetery–it was founded in the late 1800’s, its grounds are Lawn Park style, and it’s full of gorgeous trees in peak foliage. And when you enter bright and early you can watch the bright streams of sun penetrate the morning Read more…
October 21, 2020
This vegan stops at all eateries that use musical band puns! And before I settled in after a long day of driving, eating and adventure, it was one more–a drive to Onion Maiden for a final meal. Knowing you only get one meal at a place makes decisions pretty tough. Read more…
Of all the things that you might encounter lying about abandoned, a nuclear particle accelerator would be my last guess. And yet… the 65-foot Westinghouse Atom Smasher reclines on its side outside Pittsburgh, easily accessible for mind-blowing pictures. Once a symbol of pride for residents and the industrial science community Read more…
Passing through Pennsylvania’s capital city, I had to check out the new mural from another favorite, Stephen Powers. I’ve gone on about his cleverness before, yes. But this time maybe I’ll go on about the intent of community building. It’s such a worthy cause and he does it with a Read more…
Autumn is my favorite season for so many reasons. A short stop before holiday hoopla, the glorious seasonal transition brings the goods–by way of my favorite tones in the trees and rustling at my feet, tights weather, sweater weather, pumpkins, my birthday, Libra sun, Halloween, giving thanks to all the Read more…
As I am wont to do, I spent my birthday far away–far from obligations to others and doing exactly what brings me joy. This joy will be the subject matter of the next posts as I packed my itinerary so full of wonder–battling the year’s chaos, upheaval and misery. It’d Read more…
October 19, 2019
Arts & Crafts, Beautiful Places Far Away, Nature, These are a few of my favorite things., Wanderlust
{It’s My Party 🎉, Part 1} When I thought about where I’d whisk myself off to for (triple prepositions!) my birthday, I asked myself, “Self, what would make your special day enjoyable?” To which I responded, “Being far away and on my own, a national park, an old cemetery, lots Read more…
