The ghostly monk attending to an abandoned monastery, church in Scotland Inspired by local legends of the ruins, nearby, Inverness Scotland, and the cairns. This monk still maintains his garden, even after death, and he hunts the abandoned monastery church that he wants to have added centuries ago
Item is framed, ready to hang. Original Size is 16 in by 20 in but is a bit larger due to the frame. Ready to hang on the way. Varnished with a UV glaze for protection and long lasting. Original oil on cotton canvas. Solid brush strokes and hand painted, one of a kind original. Stories of folklore legends and ghosts. #ruins #monks #ghosts #spiritis #hauntings #paintme #parati #painting #haunted #hauntingseason
My mother’s meal, shared, is as follow, and I quote:
“I made my salad with two different kinds of lettuce,
a little bit of tomato, cottage cheese, cheddar
cheese, egg, avocado, some little sprinkles
that were in a package and some dressing. It’s pretty good.”-My Mother
My mother had hard boiled a batch of eggs the day before. The eggs were nice and chilled before she peeled and put them on the salad. The cheese and vegetables also came out chilled from the produce basket in her fridge.
She chopped up the items and layered them into the bowls, topping with dressing. (I am paraphrasing for her as I couldn’t get it down fast enough to write it verbatim!)
Mother also chose tangerines as dessert, a favorite of hers!
The feature image photo isn’t the most flattering of myself. Still, I thought it was adorable of Pixie (my wee doggy). It captured the waterfalls well in the background.A kind walker snapped the photo upon asking and one won’t complain or belittle a thoughtful act.
The drive there was about 45 minutes from Clemson. (I am using Clemson University as a marking point for distance reference.) The drive was beautiful. The last 5 or so miles were back country roads. Thankfully, my Google Maps still worked even though I was out of cell-phone range. Yes, I recommend you use a mapping app to get there. It’s “out there” and the last bit is dirt roads. The track is often very narrow, so slow down, take your time and enjoy!
The parking area at the trail head is very spacious and it’s a hidden gem. There were other locals there whom obviously never spilled this great kept secret. There isn’t an entrance fee and it’s family, pet friendly, which makes it even more spectacular! The rules do state, on the information board, that visitors please keep pets leashed.It also asks to leave no trace behind that you were there. What you bring in, please take out with you!
This trail and gorgeous site are pet friendly. Nevertheless, horse back riding, bicycles,scooters and ATV/dirt bikes are not allowed. It’s not wheelchair accessible (in my opinion). Although, I believe, it is easily managed for even people like me whom aren’t the fittest and have joint damage. I would gladly take my 90 year old grandfather here. I would also bring my nieces and nephews, all under age 10. It’s a joy for all.
Pixie thoroughly exasperated herself while she was hiking. She sniffed all the wonders of the trail. She was quite popular with the other walkers and seekers. I don’t know which she enjoyed more. She loved socializing. She bubbled over the water splashing. She also notified me of critters and other crawlies she spotted. She tells me all kinds of things. She communicates without chase or barking. She talks in her own huffs and squeaks, with ear tips wiggling with delight.
There are 3 deck platforms along the trail’s length. They allow viewing of each section of the waterfalls’ multiple parts. Along the paths an abundance of flora, fauna grow prolifically.
The site is definitely worth the effort. Pixie and I walked, I estimate, about 1.2 miles total (round trip) and we both made it easily. I gave her a treat or two along the way (and always provided water for both of us, when needed.)
To quote Siskel and Ebert, 2 thumbs (and 4 paws) way up!
The paths are well maintained and serviced for ease of use The 2nd Set of FallsThe Third set of Falls Pixie giving me smooches Pixie sighted the first waterfall and was super curiousEnjoying the view and laughing at Pixie’s excitementA rock overhang of the path, watch out for creepy crawler critters! The first water falls on the trailSplish Splash the water goes over!
I admit, there are days when heating up the kitchen just isn’t in the cards; a quick but healthier choice is what I desire.
Ingredients (for 2 people)
4 slices of your favorite bread
Mayo or Miracle Whip (generic of either is fine)
1 Roma Tomato, sliced up
Yellow Mustard (or brown or spicy, whatever you have on hand)
Celery Stalk and a hand full of baby carrots (or a regular carrot, peeled and cut)
2 slices of Cheddar Cheese (or whatever real cheese you have on hand, sliced)
Layer the bread with mayo, mustard, one slice of cheese and half the tomato slices. Cut Sandwhich in half.
Plate the sandwich with half the celery stalk and carrots, garnish with a piece of dill pickle. All said and done in less than 8 minutes. Voila! A fiber rich meal with veggies and protein.
Don’t forget to shop on my eBay! Every purchase benefits the Wild Life Sanctuary in Keensburg, Colorado.
Cheap Homemade LunchDiabetic friendly mealQuick meals that are cheap and healthyMaking food for one person
Okay, so the holiday feasting and goodies have come to pass. We all have packed on the fudge, inhaled the cookies and overstuffed ourselves with turkey-and we hope now for easy meals that don’t give the kids the sugar zoomies or the adults a case of indigestion or overindulgence.
Ingredients:
4 pieces of chicken
1 pound bag of frozen Brussel Sprouts
a bit of olive oil
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
1 pint of fresh blackberries (or whatever is on special)
Simmer up the chicken until 90% cooked, toss in the frozen Brussels sprouts, season all with lemon pepper seasoning, simmer until chicken is 100% done and sprouts are al dente. Serve it up on a plate and put some fresh fruit with it and Voila! Quick healthy meal.
Serve it up, serves 2 adults (or 4 if you are using large chicken breasts)
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 lovely fun filled day that started off by my sweetheart booking a special, day long tour for me with the concierge desk man, after viewing through some pamphlets and books, everthing was arranged by Thursday evening–so all I had to do was take my receipt and hop on the tour bus at 7 a.m this morning-with promises of a bilingual/multilingual tour guide (English featured.)
To start off, the tour bus stopped at several locations to pick up other adventure goers–and I was blessed to have a nice accountant from Argentian lady set next to me, as it was a very full tour. She only spoke spanish, with a very limited smattering of English and with the multilingual tour guide speaking in Spanish, German adn French and a few words of English, my day was started and finished in Spanish, the most common language of the tourists and German, the other language spoken on the bus-for a day filled with history and exicitement.
First stop was a the Tres Ojos Caves, so aptly named for the three caves, each bearing natural water pools with a different eye color in each. Cynthia, the lovely Argentian lady, and I became travl buddies for the day and enjoy walking up and down the 500+ stairs of the caving system and she assisted in simplifying the spanish for me to understand–reading spanish is easier but listening is a bit hectic when it’s fast!
Las Damas Cave–the legend goes that if you put your feet in the fresh water, make a prayer and a wish and a splash, the prayer and wish comes true
The next few stops included the Christopher Columbus museuem and the Presidental house, neither which are view-able at present for various reasons but still a site to behold–and the seeds are from the palm trees and they are prevelant everywhere!
Eating lunch in the old part of the city inside of ruin walls
The group walked through the aldstatd, the older part of the city with the pantheon ruins, a museum that once was a fortress (see photos) and then the St. Marie De Menos Cathedral and then a free period of shopping and enjoying the plaza and live music!
My Argentianian companion described the day perfectly, lots of really informative venues, many cool sites and it’ was so hot outside, we were the butter on the stove (we were melting!)
And if any one has an opprotunity to try it. Mamanhuana is worth drinking! I also drank coffee and enjoyed the live music from an elderly musician on the Parque Colón, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
My siblings and I always love to watch the pigeons (which we say “PIE-GONES” beause my brother mispronounced when he was a kid) and so if I see pigeon in the plaza, i got to take photos Drinkingcoffee on the plaze
A day excursion first to Higuey for a bit of local shopping, and yes, I picked up some goodies, and then our chauffer drove us to one of his favorite locations to eat a late lunch–I never caught the name of the venue but it was amazing with fresh catch of the day–under a thatched dining area overlooking the “Goonies” style cove–absolutely stunning and lovely get away from the resort and it was tourist free (besides us) and my bilingual boyfriend was able to talk for all of us–what a splendid experience! Well worth the efforts to get there@
Boca De Yuma CoveMr. Horton and Ms. SandraOur GroupGoonies looking coveMs. Sandra and Mr. HortonMe and my SweetnessNatures Best at the coveThatch roofing is so common hereFresh Caught Shrimps in a creamy sauce in a Plantain bowl, a local favoriteFresh Catch of the dayFresh Caught Snapper
Listed below in the Gallery are just a few of the beautiful pieces for sale on my eBay, all kniited and painted by myself, Anna Potthoff. I am selling my art and knitted crafts (plus other odds and ends) on eBay to help support my adventures and 10% of each sale also goes to the Wild Life Sanctuary in Keensburg, Colorado!
I have a special trip to Scotland coming up in a few weeks and would love to have fun spending money while I am there–you get a great item to hang in your home, give as a gift for a friend or loved one or to simply treat yourself while it’s the gift that keeps on giving as it helps others in the process! Happy Shopping!
Hand Knitted scarfHand Knitted scarfHand Knitted scarfHand Knitted scarfHand Knitted scarfHand Knitted scarfHand Knitted scarfOriginal art, hand paintd canvas of autumn, halloween/withes Flower cake painting with original art by Anna PotthoffPotraits of ancient man at Rosemarkie Firth
Yes, it’s true! It has officially been 2 months since I have quit smoking–and yes, I am fully nicotine-free the whole time–sans the time it took for the residual nicotine to detox/leave my system–
Admittingly, the first week was extremely unpleasant, but as with all good things, it takes time, practice, effort and in my case, some assistance for a great thing to occur.
Often, the first question, well, the first two questions when I express to someone that I recently quit smoking, are the following– When did you start smoking (or why) and what prompted to you quit smoking?
I started smoking 20+ years ago in college (shame on me!) and I was simply ready to quit and was tired of smoking–which is odd to say as I still get an oral “hankering” for a smoke/cigarette (referring only to tobacco products here, I have never smoked the other stuff!).
I don’t know which was more difficult in the beginning, even now, training myself to know that I am a non smoker or telling/sharing/remdinging those whom are around me/know me that I don’t smoke anymore. There are people in my life whom have only known me as a smoker and a person whom gets a bit “tense” if she didn’t get her break at someone point to light up–now I can go an entire shift at work without even noticing that I didn’t smoke or have that quick fix break–which is kind of nice and an adjustment as well–and it works the same way at home, I work through a list of chores and more and realize when I sit to enjoy my cup of coffee/herbal tea that I knocked out a lot more because I didn’t want or need to stop for a fix.
A perk I didn’t see coming was that my parents sent me a treat/reward for quitting cigarrettes, which was super sweet of them–I used the reward to book a special tour in Octobeber when we are on vacation, which is awesome–quitting literally has its pay off and another perk? I won’t miss anything on the tour because I won’t have to find a “smokers hole” or other approved spot and to enjoy the tour without jonesing for nicotine–and if an oral craving does pop up? I will chew on a piece of my trusty spearmint gum and be minty fresh all day–something that hasn’t happened in 20 years, being fresh breathed all day!
Is it easy? Nope, but it has been worth it and the small benefits and perks just keep popping up everywhere! Everyone whom wants to quit and has quit has their own ways and reasons for doing it but it is possible, and while this is an adventure blog in food and travel, quitting smoking only allows me to enjoy both aspects more!
Also, especially in the beginning my knitting has also been an aid to quitting!
Success does come in many forms! Happy Quitting!
Quitting smoking concept. Hand is refusing cigarette offer.
My Travels 