Normally we wouldn't let the rain bother us,just suit up in our rain pants and parkas and turn our face to the rain. But we were both just at the tail end of horrible colds so that didn't seem like the wisest thing to do. Instead,we snuggled up under a cuddly sheepskin (faux of course) blanket and while J read, I started daydreaming. Mainly about sunshine but then I started thinking I never completed the bucket list I started when I was struggling with my Lyme Disease. Yes, horrible diseases will do that to you, make you realize you might not have tomorrow and you should just grab for it now. That's why we've been doing so much camping lately. We don't want to just wait for J's retirement next Fall. So, even though we can't wander full time right now,we can wander and ramble with every free moment. And as far as I am concerned a little rambling and wandering vs none is a zillion times better.
So back to the window I was gazing out of. I love to travel-it's in my soul,don't know where it came from or how I got that way. J thinks its a sign that I'm a closet escapist-I don't see anything wrong with that-it's a great gig if you can get it. Anyway while I was snuggled in with my Bailey's and coffee I started daydreaming about places to visit and things I wanted to do while I'm still able to walk this glorious Earth. And I thought, perfect, now I will make my official bucket list. So Ta DA here it is. In no particular order, just a list of random things I would like to accomplish,complete,do in my lifetime. Anything catch your fancy? Anything we have in common ? What's at the top of your bucket list ?
MY BUCKET LIST
GO DANCING WITH J ANYWHERE IN PARIS WHILE WEARING A
DRESS LIKE THIS
DINE AT THE FRENCH LAUNDRY IN NAPA
EAT TAPAS IN SPAIN
DRIVE TO ALASKA AND SPEND 3 MONTHS CAMPING
CATCH HALIBUT AND CRAB IN ALASKA
BUY A PAIR OF CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK
CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE IN SYDNEY
SPEND VALENTINES DAY IN A CABIN IN THE SNOW ANYWHERE WITH J
RENT AN APARTMENT IN PARIS FOR A MONTH & DRINK CHAMPAGNE EVERY NIGHT
TAKE A TRIP TO BALI
RETURN TO PROVENCE
TAKE COOKING CLASSES IN PARIS, PROVENCE, SPAIN AND SAN FRANCISCO
SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ANYWHERE REMOTELY CLOSE TO THE ARTIC CIRCLE
TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH MY SWEETIE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR
BE IN NEW YORK DURING A HUGE SNOWFALL
VISIT NEW ENGLAND IN THE FALL
LEARN TO PLAY PIANO OR SAXOPHONE
LEARN TO SPEAK MUCH BETTER FRENCH
LEARN TO SPEAK SPANISH OR ITALIAN
LEARN TO PLAY CHESS
LEARN TO MAKE A PERFECT CROISSANT
LEARN TO PRACTICE YOGA
WINE AND DINE OUR WAY THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO
EAST AT CHEZ PANISSE
SEE JIMMY BUFFET IN CONCERT JUST ONE MORE TIME
VISIT FOLEGANDROS, GREECE AND SANTORINI
TAKE J TO NEW ORLEANS AND EAT BEIGNETS AT CAFÉ DU MONDE
EAT AT THE ZUNI CAFÉ IN SAN FRANCISCO
FIND THE PERFECT LITTLE BLACK DRESS , WEAR IT WHILE EATING CREPES IN PARIS
LAY DOWN IN A LAVENDER FIELD IN SOUTHERN FRANCE
DRINK BORDEAUX IN BORDEAUX
EAT CANALES IN BORDEAUX
HIKE PATAGONIA
HIKE MACHU PICHU
WATCH THE GLORIOUS SUNSETS WITH MY SWEETIE WHEREVER WE ARE
GO SNOWSHOEING WITH MY SWEETIE AND HAVE A PICNIC IN THE SNOW
LEARN TO HAND QUILT
SKYDIVE JUST ONE MORE TIME
BICYCLE THROUGH THE FRENCH WINE COUNTRY OR PROVENCE LIKE THIS : http://gourmetcyclingtravel.com/bike-tours/provence-luxury
VISIT CAPE BRETON ISLAND IN NOVA SCOTIA
VISIT ISTRIA IN CROATIA
STAY AT THE ROMANTIC CONRAD MALDIVES HOTEL ON RANGALI ISLAND
GO BACK TO TASMANIA
EAT A TON OF STONE CRAB CLAWS WITH CHAMPAGNE
DRINK GUINNESS IN IRELAND
VISIT THE ISLE OF MULL, SCOTLAND
EVERYWHERE WE VISIT, FIND THE BEST STREET FOOD VENDORS
SPEND THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS IN A CABIN IN THE WOODS WITH MY FAMILY
GET TO THE OCEAN AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
WATCH THE PLEIADES METEOR SHOWER FROM A REMOTE WILDERNESS AREA WITH MY SWEETIE
LIVE EACH DAY AS THOUGH IT WERE THE LAST
LEARN TO WATERCOLOR
VOLUNTEER
DRINK RED WINE, GOOD RED WINE AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK
LISTEN TO MUSIC AT EVERY MOMENT POSSIBLE
WATCH THE RISE OF EVERY FULL MOON NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE
DRIVE TO BAJA IN RUBY FOR AT LEAST A MONTH
VISIT THE GEORGIA OKEEFE MUSEUM
WATCH MORE FOREIGN FLICKS
LIVE ON A BEACH ANYWHERE
EAT AT ANY BOUCHON RESTAURANT
LEARN TO MAKE PERFECT FRENCH FRIES
SHOP MORE AT THE FARMERS MARKET
EAT ORANGES IN VALENCIA, SPAIN
LEARN TO FLY FISH
SEND MY SWEETIE ON A FISHING TRIP TO ALASKA
LEARN TO SURF AT LOS OLAS
LEARN TO KNIT
SWIM IN THE WATERS OF ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
DINE AT THE FRENCH LAUNDRY IN NAPA
EAT TAPAS IN SPAIN
DRIVE TO ALASKA AND SPEND 3 MONTHS CAMPING
CATCH HALIBUT AND CRAB IN ALASKA
BUY A PAIR OF CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK
CELEBRATE NEW YEARS EVE IN SYDNEY
SPEND VALENTINES DAY IN A CABIN IN THE SNOW ANYWHERE WITH J
RENT AN APARTMENT IN PARIS FOR A MONTH & DRINK CHAMPAGNE EVERY NIGHT
TAKE A TRIP TO BALI
RETURN TO PROVENCE
TAKE COOKING CLASSES IN PARIS, PROVENCE, SPAIN AND SAN FRANCISCO
SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ANYWHERE REMOTELY CLOSE TO THE ARTIC CIRCLE
TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH MY SWEETIE FOR AT LEAST A YEAR
BE IN NEW YORK DURING A HUGE SNOWFALL
VISIT NEW ENGLAND IN THE FALL
LEARN TO PLAY PIANO OR SAXOPHONE
LEARN TO SPEAK MUCH BETTER FRENCH
LEARN TO SPEAK SPANISH OR ITALIAN
LEARN TO PLAY CHESS
LEARN TO MAKE A PERFECT CROISSANT
LEARN TO PRACTICE YOGA
WINE AND DINE OUR WAY THROUGH SAN FRANCISCO
EAST AT CHEZ PANISSE
SEE JIMMY BUFFET IN CONCERT JUST ONE MORE TIME
VISIT FOLEGANDROS, GREECE AND SANTORINI
TAKE J TO NEW ORLEANS AND EAT BEIGNETS AT CAFÉ DU MONDE
EAT AT THE ZUNI CAFÉ IN SAN FRANCISCO
FIND THE PERFECT LITTLE BLACK DRESS , WEAR IT WHILE EATING CREPES IN PARIS
LAY DOWN IN A LAVENDER FIELD IN SOUTHERN FRANCE
DRINK BORDEAUX IN BORDEAUX
EAT CANALES IN BORDEAUX
HIKE PATAGONIA
HIKE MACHU PICHU
WATCH THE GLORIOUS SUNSETS WITH MY SWEETIE WHEREVER WE ARE
GO SNOWSHOEING WITH MY SWEETIE AND HAVE A PICNIC IN THE SNOW
LEARN TO HAND QUILT
SKYDIVE JUST ONE MORE TIME
BICYCLE THROUGH THE FRENCH WINE COUNTRY OR PROVENCE LIKE THIS : http://gourmetcyclingtravel.com/bike-tours/provence-luxury
VISIT CAPE BRETON ISLAND IN NOVA SCOTIA
VISIT ISTRIA IN CROATIA
STAY AT THE ROMANTIC CONRAD MALDIVES HOTEL ON RANGALI ISLAND
GO BACK TO TASMANIA
EAT A TON OF STONE CRAB CLAWS WITH CHAMPAGNE
DRINK GUINNESS IN IRELAND
VISIT THE ISLE OF MULL, SCOTLAND
EVERYWHERE WE VISIT, FIND THE BEST STREET FOOD VENDORS
SPEND THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS IN A CABIN IN THE WOODS WITH MY FAMILY
GET TO THE OCEAN AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
WATCH THE PLEIADES METEOR SHOWER FROM A REMOTE WILDERNESS AREA WITH MY SWEETIE
LIVE EACH DAY AS THOUGH IT WERE THE LAST
LEARN TO WATERCOLOR
VOLUNTEER
DRINK RED WINE, GOOD RED WINE AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK
LISTEN TO MUSIC AT EVERY MOMENT POSSIBLE
WATCH THE RISE OF EVERY FULL MOON NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE
DRIVE TO BAJA IN RUBY FOR AT LEAST A MONTH
VISIT THE GEORGIA OKEEFE MUSEUM
WATCH MORE FOREIGN FLICKS
LIVE ON A BEACH ANYWHERE
EAT AT ANY BOUCHON RESTAURANT
LEARN TO MAKE PERFECT FRENCH FRIES
SHOP MORE AT THE FARMERS MARKET
EAT ORANGES IN VALENCIA, SPAIN
LEARN TO FLY FISH
SEND MY SWEETIE ON A FISHING TRIP TO ALASKA
LEARN TO SURF AT LOS OLAS
LEARN TO KNIT
SWIM IN THE WATERS OF ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wow, that's a challenging bucket list 70+ items,but it's so much fun to put one together. It really starts to feel magical and it's such wonderful fodder for dreams. And then you start planning to make those dreams come true-what better way to spend a rainy day on the Washington Coast. I've decided to rename Grayland Beach State Park to Dreamland Beach State Park ! And all this Bucket List thinking has made me hungry; by the way , did you notice how many things on my list are food related ? With a hot Bailey's and coffee I think a beignet would be perfect .
I was very fortunate to have my very first beignet in New Orleans. I was down there about one year after Hurricane Katrina, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity-not building but tearing down the interior of the houses because of all the damage from the hurricane. That was one challenging time for me-J and I had just split and I was in search of myself. Cliche, right ? Working in the 9th ward , shoveling out mud and muck,tearing down water soaked and bug infested insulation-all that made me so grateful for the life I had. And fortunately for me,it only took me two years to find myself and my way back to J. Before I left New Orleans I wandered into the French Market and found Cafe Du Monde and had my first powdery bite of a warm sweet beignet. Someday I will take J there and enjoy a cafe au lait and beignet with my love.
Beignets
Adapted from Allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F
/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup shortening
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions:
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees F).
Add sugar, salt, eggs, evaporated milk, and blend well.
Mix in 4 cups of the flour and beat until smooth.
Add the shortening, and then the remaining 3 cups of flour.
Cover and chill for up to 24 hours.
Roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2 inch squares.
Fry in 360 degree F (180 degrees C) hot oil. Your beignets should float to the surface of the oil within 8-12 seconds as an indication your oil is hot enough.
Drain onto paper towels.
Shake confectioners' sugar on hot beignets. Serve warm.
This dough keeps very well, up to 1 week in the refrigerator. If you get tired of eating beignets (which I can't even imagine) you can roll the dough out and make cinnamon rolls from it !
I think I'll have another beignet ,Bailey's and coffee and a little more daydreaming......
I was very fortunate to have my very first beignet in New Orleans. I was down there about one year after Hurricane Katrina, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity-not building but tearing down the interior of the houses because of all the damage from the hurricane. That was one challenging time for me-J and I had just split and I was in search of myself. Cliche, right ? Working in the 9th ward , shoveling out mud and muck,tearing down water soaked and bug infested insulation-all that made me so grateful for the life I had. And fortunately for me,it only took me two years to find myself and my way back to J. Before I left New Orleans I wandered into the French Market and found Cafe Du Monde and had my first powdery bite of a warm sweet beignet. Someday I will take J there and enjoy a cafe au lait and beignet with my love.
Beignets
Adapted from Allrecipes.com
Ingredients:
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F
/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup shortening
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions:
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water (110 degrees F).
Add sugar, salt, eggs, evaporated milk, and blend well.
Mix in 4 cups of the flour and beat until smooth.
Add the shortening, and then the remaining 3 cups of flour.
Cover and chill for up to 24 hours.
Roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2 inch squares.
Fry in 360 degree F (180 degrees C) hot oil. Your beignets should float to the surface of the oil within 8-12 seconds as an indication your oil is hot enough.
Drain onto paper towels.
Shake confectioners' sugar on hot beignets. Serve warm.
This dough keeps very well, up to 1 week in the refrigerator. If you get tired of eating beignets (which I can't even imagine) you can roll the dough out and make cinnamon rolls from it !
I think I'll have another beignet ,Bailey's and coffee and a little more daydreaming......
Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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