Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say,
abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.
George Eliot
1819 – 1880
Inspiration
Autumn’s the mellow time.
William Allingham
1824-1889
Texas Hill Country: Don’t Miss These Four Towns
Welcoming hospitality, great food (not limited to delicious bar-b-que), a bounty of live music, rolling countryside and yes, longhorns, characterize Texas’ Hill Country.
Continue reading “Texas Hill Country: Don’t Miss These Four Towns”
Inspiration
There is a time in the last few days of summer when the ripeness of autumn fills the air.
Rudolfo Anaya
1937 –
Lee’s Fall Fashion Favorites
On a late summer trip to my local farm stand, bursting with luscious colors, I began to think about autumn…
It’s about days growing shorter, spectacular early sunsets, abundant red wine, and an opportunity to indulge in some fall shopping.
Inspiration
It is never too late to be what you might have been.
George Eliot
1819 – 1880
How to stay informed on the road: every traveler needs this app
National Public Radio (NPR) is, for many, the sine qua non of the well-informed. Now savvy travelers – globe-trotters to road warriors – can stay current with NPR’s new phone app, NPR One. It’s a treasure trove of real-time local and national news and analysis plus an array of NPR-produced podcasts. Available free on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, and Microsoft.
Sure, live streaming of public radio has been going on for some time – but this new on-demand app combines NPR’s flagship programming, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, with the latest updates of national and local newscasts. Further, from a choice of podcasts offered, the listener can curate a very personalized list, augmented by recommendations by NPR One.
Their tagline, “It’s public radio made personal” is right, and it is the app every traveler needs to stay in-the-know.
Continue reading “How to stay informed on the road: every traveler needs this app”
UPDATE: 7 Podcasts I Think You’ll Love
NOTE: This is an updated post from the original publication date of April 6, 2016.
I’m a big fan of podcasts. They are chock-full of interesting backstories behind the headlines; they provide a brief but deep look at topics I wouldn’t take the time to read about. Podcasts provide great fodder for dinner party conversation; they are helpful in working through mindless chores at home, and in the car on road trips when reading or watching videos don’t mix well with driving.
The following podcasts are my favorites and speak to an array of interests. In various formats, they explore that intersection where the profound meets our frail and imperfect humanity. I’ve updated this list to reflect two new entries: Hidden Brain and RadioLab. Enjoy! Continue reading “UPDATE: 7 Podcasts I Think You’ll Love”
Inspiration
My favourite poem is the one that starts ‘Thirty days hath September’ because it actually tells you something.
Groucho Marx
1890-1977
Five things I learned from birdwatching in Down East Maine
During a recent trip to Down East Maine, birdwatching per se was not top of mind. I set out to experience and get in tune with the natural splendor of the of the place, Acadia National Park in particular.
As so often happens, the most enlightening travel experiences come from unexpected quarters. My renewed appreciation of the region’s vast ecosystem came through birdwatching, with a pro, Michael Good, MS.
Oh, I recognize common “backyard” birds: brilliant male cardinals, squawky blue jays, blackbirds with flashy red trim (not a scientific term). I’ve got a bead on swans, geese, various ducks. In summer, I can spot a neon yellow finch, dazzling hummingbirds. Shorebirds, beyond majestic blue herons or elegant egrets, get lumped into one of two categories: “gulls” or “smaller-birds-that-live -at-the-beach.”
Beyond that, I am an ornithological black hole. But here’s what I learned….
Michael grounded this field trip in biology by sharing the Latin name, gender and approximate age for each bird, and weaving the geography and biodiversity of Mt. Desert Island into the bird narrative. His knowledge made it interesting; his passion made it fun.
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3 Score & More 