Does this image of the sun setting over a tropical beach affect you the way it does me? Whenever my thoughts turn to thinking of a needed break from the dreariness of winter, I envision a sandy beach, waves gently lapping at the shore, palm trees waving, and balmy sunny weather.

I’m not sure why, but I am always taken aback by how quickly December rolls around. Where did the year go?

November in the Northwest often brings rain for days on end. The skies are grey and much of the glory of the fall leaves has passed. Though this weather pattern has often affected my mood, my goal this month is to focus on thankfulness…

I know this may seen like the never ending trip, but I promise, the posts on Norway are almost finished! One more...

Upon leaving Bergen, our first stop on our cruise up the coast of Norway was the city of Alesund. Now when I say cruise, let me just say I'm using the word rather loosely.

Upon leaving Austevol, we traveled by ferry to Bergen, Norway's busiest port and second largest city. I hope you are enjoying traveling along with me as I relive this trip and share with you another peak into a beautiful Norwegian home

One of my favorite things about traveling to another country is visiting and staying at the home of someone who actually lives there. What fun to see the home design, the building materials used, the artwork and decor, and actually get a taste of the way your local host lives. When you couple all that with incredible hospitality, you have an enriching experience that you will never forget!

After checking into our airbnb, we drove to the wharf in Stavanger, Norway's 3rd largest city. Once again, we were charmed by the lovely shops and restaurants, all within walking distance of the port.

One of the places on our "bucket list" for Norway was to go to Preikestolen (aka Pulpit Rock). To be honest, I was a little fearful about hiking up to this famous vantage point, but still really wanted to do it.

One of the things I love about houses in Norway is the extra detail they put into finishing touches like window trim. Isn't this window just so charming?

One of the delights of traveling to the homeland of your grandparents is meeting relatives you never knew for the first time.

Hope you are staying warm during these cold January days! What a season of cold temperatures this has been across the country, even into the southern states...crazy! Want to cozy up by a fire and take a little visit with me to Norway? 

I never tire of looking at the mountains. I often go about my day, working around the house or in the office, when something causes me to look up and pause.  The sun shines through the grey skies and catches me by surprise. Unexpected...

One of our days in France we stopped by this charming restaurant called Le Caillau. Surrounded by vineyards on all sides, the restaurant just seems to fit right into the countryside. After taking a look around in the afternoon, going back for dinner the next night became imperative. 

Je vais au marche...I'm going to the market! One of the things I love about visiting other countries is shopping at a local outdoor market. Perhaps this is a throwback to my childhood growing up in Brasil, where my mother shopped at outdoor markets on a weekly basis.

Moving into a home over 200 years old in a French village requires a certain je ne sais quoi...hard to adequately describe it. One must be comfortable with imperfections like cracked tile, imperfect plumbing, wavy floors.

Traveling by train from Paris to south central France last month, I was struck by the charm of the houses with red tile roofs and warm stucco or stone walls

Have you ever experienced a time when you were hoping and waiting for something to happen, with great anticipation? Things seemed to be falling in place and there were signs that your dream would soon be realized...

Opening my Facebook feed the other day, Facebook reminded me of this event posted a year ago. Yes, our son graduated from the University of Washington. As I looked at the photo, I recalled that day...the day I was surprised by UW.

Are  you a list maker? I mean, a somewhat obsessive list maker...like me? One of those people who will actually add something to a daily task list that you've already done, just so you can mark it off and somehow feel better...truth, sigh.