Jul
30
To Tether or not to Tether?
Filed Under World Travels | 5 Comments
My mother insisted that I purchase a harness while traveling alone with my little girl to France this year.
Now, it’s not like my daughter is still a young toddler, she’s 3 1/2 years old now, has been on many airplanes and certainly knows how to listen - (when she chooses.) I couldn’t see myself as one of those mother’s who ties up her child - after all, I have control. Right?
But you know how mothers are. Insistent. And I have one.
So I told my Mum I’d go shopping and see what I could find. - It was never my intent to actually use it, but just to bring it over to my parents house in France, and show them that yes, indeed, I had a harness.
So I found this cute little pink leash thing. I hate to call it a leash, but that gives you the visual. K was with me when I bought it (only $3.00!) and insisted that we try it right then, at home. So I looped one end around her belt and the the other around my wrist and K tugged and pulled and stayed and heeled and played doggie and loved the thing.
Surprise.
I still had no intention of actually walking through an airport with my little darling on a leash. That is until I got into line with my suitcase, passports, boarding passes, carry on and a problem with our ticket.
The agent never exactly told me what was wrong, but she was re-routing us through Africa to get to France or not, and making sure our luggage wouldn’t arrive in Portugal. K was fussy since it was 5:30 AM, and she decided her throat felt like the Sahara. I’d dumped all liquid in preparation for our top notch security clearances. Since she couldn’t have a drink that instant, she started to play that ‘hide behind the jumbo suitcase’ game with the man waiting behind us in line and out came that tether faster than you can say lost child.
K still fussed, but now I could concentrate on the tickets and the passports and taking my shoes off without the worry of K running to the water fountain on the other side of security without me.
So yea, I guess I am the kind of mom who tethers her child. Who knew.
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Want one?
Amazon tethers and harnesses:
Jul
5
Remember when you were a kid and the whole town came out for an old fashioned 4th of July? It still happens in Crested Butte Colorado.
We stayed at the always wonderful Cristiana Guesthaus, and walked around the old fashioned downtown where most of the locals ride their bicycles everywhere.
When we arrived in Crested Butte we didn’t even think about the 4th of July. We just wanted to go visit the town known for its wildflowers and take a break in the high country. Turns out the festivities start early with a pancake breakfast fundraiser for the fire department. The chamber offers a free (!) kids zone with face painting and ‘a bouncy house’ lots of food vendors and the best parade ever.
Why was it the best parade ever? The Water Zone.
Perfect on a hot day.
Unfortunately, we had to leave, but the games and free music went on all day ending with fireworks.
I’d live there in a heartbeat. The downside? Expensive real estate.
Jun
23
Orca Whales and Father’s Day
Filed Under World Travels | 3 Comments
Father’s Day came and went while we were vacationing on the San Juan islands. It must have been our lucky day as we managed to see a pod of Orca Whales while sitting on the rocks at Lime Kiln Point Sate Park.
The whales came close enough that our daughter K (aged three and one half thank you very much) could see them breech. A small crowd had gathered and the the kids were jumping up and down pointing to the whales. Those of you who live over on the Pacific are used to this type of activity. Those of us in the Colorado mountains get bears.
It makes me sad to hear about the toxic waste being dumped in Puget Sound. I hope they got that fixed now.
So anyway, my hubby got a nice Father’s day, but I was a bit out of touch with my own dad who has taken me on many a nice vacation over the years.
My favorite dad memory:
Renting a boat from a produce vendor on a back canal of Venice. The family poured in, almost capsizing the thing and proceeded down a one way canal, the wrong way of course. The Venetians yelled Italian at us and we didn’t need to learn a word of Italian to understand what they were saying.
Love you Dad, Happy Fathers Day - Every day.
Jun
20
Pigs on Parade
Filed Under World Travels | 1 Comment
I didn’t expect to see pigs in Seattle. No one told me there was even an unofficial guide to ’seeking swine on the Seattle city streets.’
Did you know there are pigs everywhere?
Over 100 pigs, sponsored by 100 piganthropists. It all started with Rachel, the Market’s bronze piggy bank – raising money for the Pike Market Medical Clinic.
How cool is that?
Here I’ve got a few photos of the Seattle Pigs
Jun
19
Just a Few Giant Pigs of Seattle
Filed Under World Travels | 6 Comments
Jun
9
I’m off to Seattle, Oregon and the San Juan Islands. Once up a time long ago, I made it to The Fish Market, but otherwise this is all new territory to me.
Apparently Oregon doesn’t have self service gas stations.
I think I remember Alaska being like that’ all the stations have a cute sixteen year old who runs out and cleans your windows while the tank fills. What luxury!
I am not taking my laptop. Ouch. This is a concerted effort to take a …v.a.c.a.t.i.o.n.
No e-mail. GASP
No Blog Fix I subscribe to over forty RSS feeds, and scan most of them daily. I miss you already!.
Oh gosh golly I’ll have to wade in tide pools, eat seafood, enjoy the coast.
See you in a week.
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Welcome! I'm Michelle, a 48+ (!) year old mom of a toddler,almost four, little girl, and in my spare time run a business and several blogs.If' you are inclined, you can read my resume, or 100 Things About Me. (both links take you to my other blog - Conscious Destiny)
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