If we were having coffee: Road trip

Reflections: Back in the Bogs.

When I am in my mind,
My mind gives me what it has:
Sighs.
When I am in my heart
My heart gives me what it is:
Delight.
~Sri Chinmoy

Somewhere in Western Maryland.

Being connected to everything has disconnected us from ourselves and the preciousness of this present moment.

~ L. M. Browning, Vagabonds and Sundries

A glimpse of Sideling Hill (in Western Maryland).

If we were having coffee, I would be thrilled to see you again.  I’m sorry I missed last week’s coffee chat.  Not only did I unplug for a while, but I took a little road trip of 1,040 miles to visit with my grandson and his parents for a few days.  The combination of unplugging and spending time with family far outweighs the exhaustion of all that traveling.

A light dusting of snow in the valley.

Come on in and warm up!  It’s cold outside today.  Bright, sunny, and wonderful for people like me who love cold weather, but I know not everyone does.  Let’s have a seat in the kitchen today.  It’s nice and warm out there.  I’ve been doing some cooking and baking which always makes it feel warm and cozy.  There are plenty of snacks to go with the usual assortment of beverages, and if you want something more substantial, there will be gumbo (with shrimp and andouille) to help heat you from the inside out, and a Creole potato salad to go with it.  We’re having a late Mardi Gras celebration here on the ranch today.

The first encounter with snow on the way to Ohio. I think this is in western Maryland, but could be West Virginia.

How are you?  What have you been up to lately?  Have you traveled anywhere?  Seen or tried anything new?  Have you gone on any good walks or hikes?  Have you gone to any concerts or plays?  Read any good books or seen any good films?

Snowing and blowing in the mountains.

If we were having coffee, tea, or some other beverage, I would tell you that I finally finished reading The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson.  It was a good book, but slow going for me.  That’s why I’m reading something now that I know will be a quick read: Innocence by Dean Koontz.  It’s one of those books someone left behind when they came for a visit.  It’s been a long time since I read a Dean Koontz book.  I’m more than halfway through and should be finished with it soon.

Great power could be a beautiful thing when men and women who had it were inclined to use it wisely and with kindness.  But few were so inclined.  When a leader used his power over the ruled for the purpose of settling scores and inflating his self-esteem, for remaking society according to his own grand designs, class warfare and genocide ensued.

~ Dean Koontz, Innocence

As for films, I haven’t been home to watch anything lately.  I’ll have much more movie chat for you in April.  M and I are going to a film festival at the end of the month, and I’m sure we’ll see at least a few good movies.  Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen a bad film at a film festival.  I suppose it happens that there are bad films every now and then, but it seems to me they do a good job of picking which movies they will be showing.

Tucked in.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Little Wookie (my grandson).  Spending time with him was quite rejuvenating.  He’s growing by leaps and bounds, and mobile.  After a slow start, he finally began crawling.  He does this cute little crab-walk thing in which he puts one foot down as if to walk on it while he crawls with his other knee on the floor.  That child can move pretty quickly!  Little Wookie is a delight to be with and one of the happiest babies I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.  I do regret not being able to visit with my granddaughters as well.  Alas, there was no time to travel down their way (a 2.5 hour trip from where Little Wookie and his parents live), and the girls were busy with activities they couldn’t miss so they couldn’t come to me.

Music time!

If we were having coffee, tea, or something else to drink, I would tell you that the trip out to northeast Ohio was quite an adventure.  Normally I would take a northern route, but there was snow in the forecast and I do not like going through the mountains of Pennsylvania (particularly the Somerset, PA area) when there are snow squalls to contend with.  That meant taking a southern route through western Maryland and West Virginia, and then up to Pennsylvania and Ohio.  It’s a beautiful ride, and I like it better than the northern route.  Going north means the Pennsylvania Turnpike which is always a challenge.  There are fewer trucks on the southern route, too.  However.  It also means adding an hour to an already longish trip.

The snow squalls would come and go along with the clouds and sunshine.  (Somewhere in West Virginia.)

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I finished the boating course this week.  I’m going to miss the class, the folks in the class (including the instructors), and the visits to Cambridge.  M and I have been talking about spending a weekend in Cambridge sometime just so we can take our time and explore the area.

Trees and snow walking up the side of a mountain.

If we were having coffee, tea, or some other beverage, it would be time for me to turn this over to you.  I could ramble on all day, but I really should get to work on the potato salad.  I’ve never made a Creole potato salad.  I usually stick with my mother’s style because it is an old, tried and true, favorite.  Hopefully this will be just as good.  When I finish with that, I’m heading outside for a walk.  Bundle up if you want to join me.  If you’d rather not go back out into the cold, have a seat in the living room.  We’ve got the wood stove fired up and it’s cozy there, especially if you sit in the comfy chair.

Snowing sideways. (Somewhere in West Virginia.)

Thank you so much for stopping by for another coffee chat.  I always enjoy your company.  Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

Heading into another squall.

This post is in response to #WeekendCoffeeShare which now has a new home.  Thank you to Nerd In The Brain for taking on the job of hosting it, and to Diana for starting it. Put the kettle on, start the coffee maker, open a bottle of wine, or whatever your preference is, and join us.  I’d love to hear all about what you were up to this week.

Snow squall clouds.