Featured

Tis the Season–Filling theFood Pantry Non Perishable Food Drive–Siler City, N.C.

December 2, 2024May 13, 2025Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

The weather outside if frightful and the food bank could use some supplies and stocking up–an Amazon wish list is here!

There are many many items under $2-$3-$4 and $5-making giving super affordable! Each item also ships free if you have Prime and is sent directly to the food pantry!

There are also larger ticket items, like cases of soup that would go a bit further–also free shipping! And don’t forget, can openers (also on the list) help open those great items!

I hope we can help get their shelves stocked for those in need this winter season and afterwards! $5 in food donations can go a long way (several items can be purchased for a combined total of $5!)but you don’t have to stop at $5 if you wish to do more, Happy Shopping and Giving!

Here’s the Amazon wish link!

https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1UJX66V7NGWFI

*here is a thought, in lieu (or in addition to) doing an advent calender, you could send a canned/boxed food item a day to the food bank (or all at once) !!!

Homemade Dill Hummus-From Scratch

November 2, 2024December 4, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

Ingredients:

1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons dried dill
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 small onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2-3 tablespoons water
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until it’s smooth
Dish into small dishes for dipping/spreading
Paprika and olive oil for garnish
Chopped up raw veggies of your choice, spread out on a platter or plates

Blooming beauty at Parents home, NE Colorado

October 18, 2024December 4, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

It’s harvest time in Colorado but the flowers are still blooming! My parents house is abundant with color and beauty–and their dog, Gluwhein, is pretty darn cute too!

A windy day in Nairn–beaches, wandering the Maggot along the River

October 10, 2024December 4, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

A long bus ride from Inverness bus station to Nairn but totally worth it. I packed my throw blanket and off I headed–the bus driver instructed to me which stop to take to easily access downtown Nairn–which was just a mere few blocks to access the Maggot and East Beach, via the walk way along the River Nairn.

I purchased a “picnic” lunch for myself, a sandwich with a pack of crisps and a beverage and off I went to the sea!

Along the walking path, I spotted a pair of adult swans, white ones, and a small flock of what I assume were the teenage brood of the adult pair in the river, amongst the reeds and rushes.

A very windy, chilly awe inspiring day! The skies were crystal clear today and bundled up with my wool blended cardigan and scarf, the best was had all the way around–and even Nairn by evening sunset is beautiful (the photo is a bit fuzzy as it was taken from the bus!)

Brunch on the Harbor in Avoch, Highlands of Scotland

October 7, 2024December 4, 2024Anna--The Adventurer 2 Comments

A lovely, albeit windy and chilly, day on the Harbor–getting some local history and enjoying an “All Day Breakfast” kind of brunch–with a big coffee, of course, made a perfect day

The small village of Avoch dons a beautiful harbor and a fishing history. The sign provides some great information–

Where’s Waldo’s? Wall Murals–Playing a Postcard Game in Invergordan, Scotland

October 5, 2024December 4, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

A person, an experienced adventurer, several years ago shared a “game” with me. Hence, I play this game every chance I am able and even shared it with other. It’s a very basic concept but so fun!

The object is to buy a local postcard-literally a postcard of your current location-and find the objects or places on the postcard–it’s like playing where’s waldo but in your local geography of highlighted features. That is exactly what I did today.

Invergordon is a quaint town/village in the Highlands of Scotland, along the firth. The firth is oddly deep enough to hold/host a major sea liner, which surprises me. Scotland, especially the highlands, are mysterious that way.

I popped into the Post Office to purchase some stamps and found the Murals Postcard so off I went to find all the wall paintings. Success!!

I also found a beautiful church and, of course, I had to stop for a delicous coffee.

Don’t forget to check out my eBay! Every purchase benefits the Wildlife Sanctuary in Colorado as well as supports an an artist/adventurer..

Tapestries and Tea Time in Tain, Scotland

October 4, 2024November 12, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

A stop off to get a pot of tea and a pastry is always essential on an adventure, like the Hobbits–there is always time for such necessities.

While Kevin enjoyed a Cappuccino, I enjoyed a blended fusion pot of tea and some scones shared between us. What better way than to start of the daily adventure and tours?

We walked up Lamington Street in Tain, we stopped to read and admire the statue/monument and moved forward to the oldest royal burgh in Scotland.

The Tain Museum and Ross Center is free of admission but the volunteer on site gave Kevin and I the most amazing tour of the museum, the old church and the cemetary on site–so it’s a must!

King James visited Tain in the past and even attended this church, which has been historically maintained through the years. It is now on the historical registry.

The small painting in the photos below is part of the history musuem and I absolutely love it, noting that is worth sharing. It reminds me of Scotlands history as well as Ms. Price in Bed Knobs and Broomsticks (Disney Movie!)

Want more information?

Check out the history website. https://tainmuseum.org.uk/visitorinfo.php

Don’t forget to check out my eBay! Every purchase benefits the Wildlife Sanctuary in Colorado as well as supports an an artist/adventurer..

The Walk to Clava Cairns–and Kerbis Cairns–Gravesites of Old–with Standing Stones

October 4, 2024November 12, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

After visiting the moor and battlefield of Culloden, Kevin and I walked the 2 or so miles to the Cairns, through the countryside in the Highlands of Scotland–it was a mild, sunny day, perfect for walking outside.

We crossed over a small creek and meandered along the road to get there. Kevin was really enjoying the wondrous views. He was snapping many photos along the way–and I don’t blame him–the view is stunning and the early autumn is beyond lush and colorful. I love that he snaps photos–a great souvenir (for both of us.)

The site has been enclosed with a spring gate and fence, to aid in preservation and to help deter critters.

As seen by the photos, I attempted to go through the stones and back into time (or jump forward?) I obviously didn’t travel through the stones-despite my best efforts. I also didn’t have anything to offer for the ferryman for payment-a gem? A precious item? Or it is the wrong time of year?

Over the Sea to Sky-Portree on the Outer Hebrides via Eileen Donan Castle

October 3, 2024November 12, 2024Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

Celebrating Kevin’s Birthday was so much fun–while his birthday was technically at the beginning of September, we celebrated it in Scotland with a fully loaded, day long tour (via Timber Bush Tours--highly recommended!) I booked the tour some months in advance as I wanted to guarantee that we had seats on the special tour.

The Epic Tour included these stops (plus more!)

Highland Coo’s (no we couldn’t pet but they are still cute!)

We happened to see the infamous Highland Stags (Monarchs of the Glen Deer)

Old Man of Stor

We stopped in Portree for lunch. Kevin and I chose fish and chips, of course, and I purchased some postcards, naturally. We saw all the pretty rainbow colored houses on the harbor as well.

We stopped on the way back to Loch Carron and other Glenns and lochs. There was a famous one that had a dinosaur found on it! On the way there we saw the outlines of hte famous ruins of Urqhuart Castle and on the way back we saw another famous castle but I forget the name of it.

The Isle of Skye is famous, not just for being the major “hub” of the Outer Hebrides but also for being the primary escape route for Bonnie Prince Charlie, Charles Stuart, the last Kind of Scotland trying to regain the throne of Scotland.

The day was eventful and our driver/tour guide was absolutely amazing. Kevin’s favorite part was touring Eileen Donan Castle (which was built as a family estate in 1919). It was Kevin’s first castle.My favorite part? The lochs and glenns, of course, and getting to see the wildlife.

The Jacobite Rebellion-a Fight for Scottish Independence–Culloden Battlefield, Highlands, Scotland

October 2, 2024November 12, 2024Anna--The Adventurer 1 Comment

A visit to Culloden Battlefield–where markers in the field state where the Clans formed and fell and where the British came through–the field filled with blood, ankle deep, on both sides.

The farmers/crofters cottage remains on the battlefield, closed off from visitors going inside but it is still visible as a historical marker to the occurrence.

The Old High Church, in Inverness along the river, also bears marks of the post battle British Brutality, alive Jacobite “traitors”, were shot in the cemetery.

There are flags marking/denoting locations of each group, also, dotted along the battlefield; one can walk a marked path to see where the British troups and Clans were located during the battle-as well as a Monument dedicated on site.