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Fants Grove Baptist Church, Pendleton, South Carolina

Anna--The Adventurer 2 Comments

Once in a while, especially if wandering, one stumbles across a really unique name: Kirksey. A cemetary crawl this evening provided again the uniqueness of names, a first name.

A cemetary crawl, for those whom are curious, is very similar to a ghost walk or a or a garden tour. There are features to be enjoyed, such as the craftsmanship in the way the stones are cut, the history of the landscape or area to behold, the poetry and elegance in the inscriptions, the variety in the layout and landscaping. While I have I have had some mixed responses from poeple when I express that cemetary crawls are a hobby of mine, it’s not at all scary or frightening, it’s enchanting and beautiful

There are stories here, histories shared, and sometimes, very unique names that one doesn’t even find in good story books. While the photo of me of me looks like I am a bit of a spirit, it’s simply because I was using a timer on my phone and I moved in the moonlight.

Fant Grove cemetary is tucked off a lonely little road, attached to Fants Grove Baptist chch, just outside of Pendleton, South Carolina and is easily accessible.

Tilapia “Bowl”, Super Easy Homemade Meal

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Tilapia “Bowl”

Bottom Layer: Steamed White Rice (you can use a rice cooker, too)

Middle Layer: Open a Can of Turnip greens, warm on the stove with a pinch of salt and pepper

Top Layer: A Piece of Tilapia (I used frozen fillets) coated in flour (mixed with a dash of salt, cayenne pepper, ground cumin and lemon zest, shaken all together in a resealable zip lock baggie that I can put the fish into and shake about to coat the fillets). Fry the fish in a skillet with a bit of oil on the bottom to make it nice and crunchy.

Top of it all off with a little bit of butter and lemon juice drizzle for a super easy meal, inexpensive for a family.

Going Places, staying put–Exploring our surroundings

Anna--The Adventurer 2 Comments

Covid19. Corona Virus. Pandemic. Those dreaded words hold a lot of impact these days but it doesn’t mean that adventures stop. There are many options for adventures while still adhering to the rules and regulations in your area that won’t break the bank, too.

While regulations and quarantine regulations and public venue capabilities in areas vary from place to place, regional difference and country standards, there are some universal things that can still allow for fun adventures. While we could all like to say ” wake me up when it’s all over” (part of the lyrics from Avicii’s song, “Wake Me up”)

Activities don’t have to be limited, just altered. IF you can’t walk over the wall, we can learn to modify by walking around it!

Adventure ideas, of course, are not limited to the idea of physically having to go somewhere but can be done from the comfort of your kitchen table, your backyard, or any place you choose. While there have been a multitude off lists that have been made to help with this that and the other aspects of the pandemic, something fun can come of it.

Adventures in your yard to lead discovering a fun little resident turtle, bird watching in the park could provide a new tune, and more!!

Go to the park, feed the birds
Go on a Cemetary crawl in your area
Get a journal or notebook (the spiral school notebooks are cheap!) and write about the good in your life and the daily joys
the homemade picnic
Play with your pet or volunteer to pet sit
People watching, just don’t get creepy about it!
Try a new recipe from a culture you want to experience. The library and internet are full of free recipes
This works anywhere, get a postcard of your home town, region or state. a postcard will also some highlights of the town/area you might not otherwise known of previously and thus will discover awesome things while hunting the sites
Work on your yard, find inspiration for it by lookiing up famous estates or gardens that you could incorporate

A Walk of Blooms, Adventuring Outdoors

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Enjoying the fresh air and taking a lovely stroll is so nice!

I admit, marigolds are, by far, my most favorite of all flowers. In truth, though, is there such a thing as an ugly flower? I don’t believe so and they came in such beautiful varieties and colors, scents, and blooms.

An adventure easy in the making this time of the year and it doesn’t cost a penny to take a lovely stroll around such a beautiful place as here in upstate South Carolina, Anderson County.

Curbing the Cost of Meals on Trips: Creative tips from my Grandfather

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Recently, my grandfather and I were running errands together (and yes, we live relatively close together, making get togethers rather easy.) We got to talking, as naturally happens when two people are together and my grandfather brought up some very good points that I thought I would share, from his road trips, being a traveling salesmen for many decades and more.

My grandfather and Grandma Norma used to love to take road trips but being retired and being on a retirement income (both being remarried and so forth, combining incomes and responsibilities, he said, was something they discussed and worked on together.)

Here are some of Papa’s suggestions/tips to making a road-trip/travel more affordable, especially if funds are limited/tightly budgeted.

  1. Pack a snack basket for your vehicle occupants, things you like are often cheaper/more affordable if you purchase them at your local, regular grocery store or market (use coupons as often as possible.)
  2. Keeping snacks in your location, or helping to buy groceries when staying at someone’s house is not only courteous but it prevents “splurging” on take out.
  3. Stop off at a road side view to have a little picnic/stretching break, it will provide a chance for a great view and not cost you any extra time or money not be as tempted to pick up anything else along the way to your destination.
  4. When dining out, split a meal between yourself and someone else at your table. An “extra” side salad and one entre is cheaper than two whole meals.
  5. Groupon (okay, it’s my best friend Kevin who has used these and pointed this out). It’s a great deal to use and it provides a different take on an event and dining out and/or event tickets and so forth. I benefited from such a groupon where he treated us to a multi course meal during a Christmas event a couple years ago, both of us had a really nice multi course meal for a fraction of what other guests at our table dined for that evening.)
  6. There is an app to find the cheapest gas on your travels as well, something my grandfather notices all the time, hey a couple of bucks saved is still money saved.
  7. My friend Stacy also used an Ibotta app for groceries and other items picked up, while using her list to only get what she needs for the house and trip, earning money back (I am not sure how that works but she says it’s awesome!)
  8. Other’s in my family have “club memberships” (free rewards programs) to chain motels and hotels for discount rooms for repeat patronage, etc. There is also a way to get a percentage of returns on using certain hotel bookings etc. if you have the Acorns investment account, something I personally use, which means I can book a room online (after searching for the best price, I will get a kick back for investing!)

I believe what my grandfather was conveying is that a bit of preparation and forethought can be very beneficial in keeping the adventures going and doing it on a limited budget can be possible.

Super Easy–Semi Homemade (and inexpensive) Vodka Sauce Rotini

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Everyone needs a quick, easy meal from time-to-time and I am no exception.

The Ingredients are very simple.

1 box of vegetable rotini (16 oz size.) I used the Publix brand Tri Color Rotini ($0.95 per box)

1 jar of Classico Vodka Sauce (Buy one, get one free, so 2 for $3.20/$1.60 a jar.)

2 tablespoons of Kraft Grated Parmesan ($2.50 shaker can.

Cook/make the rotini according to the package directions, drain and return to the same pan you cooked it in, dump whole jar of Vodka sauce onto the pasta, cook on low for 2-3 until hot all the way through.

Serves 4-6 people, divide the parmesan on top of each serving.

It’s quite delicious!!!

St. Boniface, Ruins at Fotrose, Scotland

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Located across the street from a little pub in Fotrose, this historical charm is well worth visiting and a great place to stop and enjoy your lunch,

Getting to a Higher Place, Inverness, Scotland-the Highlands

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Adventures are under tow! I chose Inverness, in the Highlands of Scotland, as my hub. So far, the adventures are epic! More will come!

The Fighting Scotman, outside of the train station

Monastary/Convent Ruins, A Chillingly beautiful place

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Burse, Freiburg, Germany

Anna--The Adventurer

A great restaurant with outdoor seating in the plaza, offering wonderful food and traditional German cuisine, and, of course, I enjoyed the German hearty meal of Schnitzel, mixed salad, and potatoe salad. A wonderful meal in the plaza, a great way to fuel up on an adventure and a tasty way at that!!