Armchair Travel Tuesday: India and Italy

Secret Daughter by Shilipi Somaya Gowda

On the eve of the monsoons, in a remote Indian village, Kavita gives birth to a baby girl. But in a culture that favors sons, the only way for Kavita to save her newborn daughter's life is to give her away. It is a decision that will haunt her and her husband for the rest of their lives, even after the arrival of their cherished son.

Halfway around the globe, Somer, an American doctor, decides to adopt a child after making the wrenching discovery that she will never have one of her own. When she and her husband, Krishnan, see a photo of the baby with the gold-flecked eyes from a Mumbai orphanage, they are overwhelmed with emotion. Somer knows life will change with the adoption but is convinced that the love they already feel will overcome all obstacles. Interweaving the stories of Kavita, Somer, and the child that binds both of their destinies, Secret Daughter poignantly explores the emotional terrain of motherhood, loss, identity, and love, as witnessed through the lives of two families—one Indian, one American—and the child that indelibly connects them.(taken from back cover)
"Asha finds it difficult to keep up with Meena as she maneuvers the sidewalk, darting through its assorted population: men who spit carelessly on the ground, scrawny dogs without owner, children begging for change. And as hazardous as it is on the sidewalk, the roads seem infinitely worse: cars weave in and out of lanes and pay little attention to traffic signals, double-decker buses careen dangerously close to oblivious cows and goats. "There are one billion people living in India," Meena says, "and nearly ninety percent of them live outside major cities, that means small towns and villages..."
You can visit Shilpi Somaya Gowda's website here

Halfway to Each Other by Susan Pohlman

" Sometimes humans beg for battles to be taken away from them, not realizing that only in struggling with shadows is the Light made manifest."
W. Michael Gear

Halfway to Each Other follows the life of Susan and Tim as they and their two teenage children spend a year in Italy. Not knowing anyone in the country and not speaking much Italian, the family rebuilds their lives. This time though, they have to depend upon each other.
Instead of seeing each other for fleeting moments in the mornings and evenings, the family starts to spend their days together rediscovering the simple joys that bring texture and meaning to all our lives. Travel with them as they stumble upon new customs, explore medieval alleyways, browse street markets, befriend neighbors, learn to cook, and try a new language.... Amidst the chaos of daily life, we often forget to make time for each other. How wonderful would it be to just slow down and find out what's really important? (amazon review)
"Suddenly I had the deep sense that God was somehow involved in this as it went against all I knew to be safe and logical. This was one of those paths He wanted us to wander. Somewhere up ahead we would happen upon the treasure He was waiting for us to discover. I had lived long enough to know that the "treasure" often comes in packages one isn't expecting, and that treasure isn't necessarily monetary. Sometimes it is in a person to be met or a tough life lesson to be learned....
Sometimes this new guide to life is about good old-fashioned faith. When an unexpected opportunity or challenge lands in my lap, I now do my best to look at it with new eyes. Eyes that see possibility rather than the ones that used to see roadblocks and hazard warnings."
You can read more about Susan and her family's experience living in Italy over at her blog here
The descriptions in both of these books are detailed and exquisite as we journey with each family through the trials and challenges of life as they overcome obstacles. Each country comes alive, making me feel like I have travelled to India as well as to Italy.

Namaste and Arrivederci!

Christmas Around the World

Have you ever considered spending Christmas in another part of the world, not because of family there but just for interest and a unique cultural experience? I was discussing this with my friend and colleague at work on Saturday. She is an avid and adventurous traveler who would hop on a plane tomorrow if she could. She would love to experience Christmas in her favourite place, Italy, where she has been several times already, but she would be open to spending it pretty much in any European country. She has spent time near Lajatico, in the region of Tuscany, the birth place of Andrea Bocelli.
I admire her sense of adventure and her wonderful flexibility.
I have learned much from her love of travel and culture.
Our oldest daughter, K who is also very adventurous, is in India so we will be thinking of her and missing her this Christmas Season.
Another couple we know, dear friends H&M, have been to almost every continent in their travels, and have taken wonderful photos which they faithfully document in a book for each trip. It is always my pleasure to spend time reading the details of their trips, and to live vicariously through each adventure.

On the other hand, there is just no place like home for me...sigh...
I have truly become such a homebody and couldn't agree more with these sentiments:

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.
~ Jane Austen

One of the beauties of arm chair travels is that we can experience most parts of the world through books, documentaries, movies, music, and even online. It is so fascinating to me in this world of modern technology, that we truly can see the world from the comfort of our own home.
In the blogging world, there are also many people who document life via their blog.
There are well over one million bloggers out there in cyber world, so if one was curious about how others live, they are just a click away from their discoveries.
I thought I would share a few blogs that have given me inspiration over the course of the year and also during this season as we prepare for Christmas.

Although Delores is from California, she has been in Italy and has some great photos to share as well as design and decorating ideas on her blog:
Vignette Designs

Tina in the Scottish Countryside has a quiet, reflective blog filled with domestic goodness:
The Quiet Home

One of our family's favourite Provinces to visit in Canada was the lovely Prince Edward Island, visiting the places that best describe the settings in the Anne of Green Gables series. I have had the privilege of meeting Kathie and spending time with her in Charlottetown in a small Coffee Shoppe, where we shared our hearts and our time over a coffee.
Her blog has been both inspirational as well as visually beautiful.
You can pay her a visit over at Island Sparrow, where she shares Christmas Traditions in and around her home and beautiful Island.

My 'blogging friend' Nan shares the most beautiful photos of her rural setting in Northern New England, a place that reminds me of a favourite author of mine, Gladys Taber who shares about her life in a seemingly quiet more gentle time.
You can visit Nan's 'bookish' blog, Letters from a Hill Farm, and check out her beautiful study room, which is just so perfect.

If you ever had a desire to travel to New England, here is another blog that is just so festive at the moment:
I heart New England

Melissa's blog shares some wonderful and inspirational decorating ideas. You can visit her here: The Inspired Room

For great recipes, check out Coralie's blog:
Charming Vintage Recipes

And to spend some time in Staffordshire Moorlands, United Kingdom, visit Steph at Curlew Country for her beautiful British countryside.

My favourite Swedish artist is Carl Larsson, whose paintings depict charming home life with his family in Sweden.


This reminds me of Mia's blog, a lovely home in Norway, with many domestic scenes including her hens which I just love:)
My hens have been so faithful and as a result, we have enjoyed much baking over this holiday season with just a stroll away...such a blessing:)


Yesterday was a lovely stay-at-home day after a fairly busy past week, so I enjoyed catching up on my reading, making some phone calls, taking a walk with my dear hubby, playing a game as a family and doing some catch-up on blog reading.
There are many more beautiful blogs I could share with you, but I will leave you with this last blog, reading a post in which Brenda at Coffee Tea Books and Me, captured so well the meaning of Christmas for me. I share her sentiments of this season in her Sunday Afternoon Tea post which you can read here
It really spoke to my heart yesterday and was along the same lines as our Sunday morning series at church:
Jesus is the Light of the World
I will be in preparation for the Christmas Season this week, spending time with family and friends but hope to be back on Friday to share more.


The impact of the life of Jesus can be read in this essay entitled:
One Solitary Life, written by Dr James Allan in 1926.
You can also read what Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) emperor of the French, had to say about Jesus here.
Pause playlist to listen to One Solitary Life
(You might remember Johnny Cash singing this as well in his rendition:
Here was a Man)

Armchair Travel Tuesday: Buon Natale!

Traditions are very important to our family and we have many fond memories of past Christmas celebrations. One of the traditions we have developed and embraced over the years may not seem very traditional to some, but for us it has become a special part of our Christmas season. It began in part because we home-schooled the children when they were younger and used this approach to teach them about Christmas celebrations around the world. When our girls were older, they became involved with an organization called YWAM where they spent time in other countries.
We have studied and experienced countries such as China, India, Egypt, The Netherlands, Ireland, England and Wales, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and last year it was Indonesia,
all through arm chair travel from the comfort of our home.
This year when we were discussing which country to choose, two of our children suggested Italy in part because of their wonderful cuisine. Research was done and menus were discussed. Here is what we have learned so far:

In Italy, the Christmas season is filled with much music and singing. The streets, shops and homes are decorated with the presepe, Nativity scene or creche. Almost every church has a presepe and they are often found outdoors in a piazza or public area, too.
Italians take great pride in the creation of the manger, which was thought up in 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi, who wanted to involve the peasants in celebrating the life of Jesus.
Special prayers and church services called
"novena" last for nine days prior to Christmas
followed by Mass on Christmas morning.

"Bagpipes are the most common Italian Christmas sound. The zampognari, the shepherds who play the bagpipes, come down from their mountain homes at Christmas time and perform in the market squares. The playing of bagpipes is popular in the regions of Calabria and Abruzzo, and in the piazzas of Rome.
The melodies played are adapted from old hill tunes. Modern zampognari wear the traditional outfits of sheepskin vests, leather breeches, and a woolen cloak.
The tradition of bagpipes goes back to ancient Roman times. Legend says that the shepherds entertained the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem...."
You can read more about it here.


Although we haven't finalized our menu, we will be making the meatball soup as well as a variety of pasta dishes.
"When it comes to the Christmas season in Italy, there are three sweet treats that you’ll find popping up in every supermarket in town: Panettone, Pandoro, and Torrone. Panettone and Pandoro are typical Christmas cakes, while Torrone is a nougat bar made with egg whites, honey and sugar, and usually with hazelnuts or almonds as well. It generally comes out only around Christmas time and has both a crunchy and soft version, and can be white or chocolate, or other flavors, and sometimes is also covered in chocolate."
Tiramisu is one of the most popular Italian desserts which we plan to make and serve following our meal.
And biscotti, as referred to by Italians, is a twice-baked cookie served with a good strong coffee making for a great Italian treat.
You can read more about Italian Christmas celebrations here.


Andrea Bocelli, born in Tuscany in Italy, has become one of Italy's most-beloved tenor/opera performers. He is also the biggest-selling solo artist in the history of classical music.
We have been enjoying his new Christmas CD this season. You can listen to his rendition of Silent Night here:

Armchair Travel Tuesday: la vie française

As I mentioned in a previous post, my friend calls me the "quintessential armchair traveler" and she is right.
I really enjoy travelling the world over from the comfort of my own home.
A lovely cup of tea and a comfortable armchair are the perfect companions, although I always enjoy the company of my hubby and children as well:)
We have been to many countries together and all thanks to Rick Steves and his travelling videos. Curiosity about the world leads to discovery through both books and videos.
There is so much beauty and diversity in this world, fascinating culture of the people, along with ethnic foods, customs and traditions.
Arm chair travel is the perfect way to pass the cold winter months here in Ontario.
We can watch and dream, yet never having to leave the comforts of our home.
Recently a friend of mine, who was part of our dinner club which I shared about in a post here, lent me a beautiful book that she had acquired.
It is the story of a family who uprooted and moved from Melbourne in Australia, to Normandy in France. The author, Jane Webster, explains it this way:

"Our family trips to France became more frequent. We experienced more of the French countryside with each trip...
I was struck by the beauty of this region- its verdant farmlands, bustling markets and amazing regional produce-and by the generosity of its locals. Those château also started to catch my eye again. Over time I became preoccupied with the idea of château life, of immersing my young family in the culture, the language and cooking of the French countryside...."

At my French Table, is the result of the journey this family took to move to France, along with their experiences, stunning photos of the countryside and the château they brought back to life with much work and effort as well as expense. This book is also filled with many wonderful french recipes, including a favourite of mine called clafoutis, a cherry cake dessert. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and envisioning the details of the Webster family's life in France through the pages of this book.

I wanted to include a few more titles that I have taken out of the library and also enjoyed immensely. I won't write a review for each book as it is time-consuming, but you can review all these books at amazon, and they are also available at most libraries.
(all at our Wellington County library branches...we are so blessed:)





It was after watching this movie, that I was inspired
to host a french dinner in my home. You can read about it here.
If you have an interest in french life, you can check out these two blogs of writers who have moved their families to France and now share their journey and life experiences here:
A Writer's Life in France and French Essence

I also came across a great site to learn french online:
French Word-A-Day (slice of french life)


And if you would like to listen to french music while perusing the links I have included, you can go here.
(be sure to pause playlist below)

Merci beaucoup, mes amis!
Bien des choses à tous!
Bien amicalement and
Ciao!
Joanne

Armchair Travel Tuesday: “Síocháin agus Farisinge”

County
Sligo
in Ireland

To the Readers of this work,
I dedicate these words
from the Kavanagh family crest:

“Síocháin agus Farisinge”

Peace and Plenty

So begins the opening dedication lines of a novel that I eagerly awaited months ago, when I learned that
Jan Karon was in Ireland, writing another novel in the 'Father Tim' series. Be sure to visit her website here for more details on her research trip to the Emerald Isle including a slide show.
If you are familiar with Jan Karon's work, you will know that she has written the Mitford series, followed by Home to Holly Springs (2007)
In this novel, In the Company of Others, retired Episcopal priest Tim Kavanagh, is taking his wife Cynthia to the land of his Irish ancestors in County Sligo, Ireland after many years of promising and planning.
Although we are drawn into the countryside immediately with its narrow winding roads, torrential rains, beautiful landscape and the smell of turf fires, it becomes clear that this story will take us into the lives of families with secrets, guilt and pain followed by the liberating power of confession, forgiveness and redemption.
Father Tim is a listener and he does that well as he draws life stories out of the characters he encounters here, having a gift for reaching out to the hurting.
He has come to Ireland to have a clearer understanding of his history, while Cynthia has come for some rest and relaxation.
The question was asked by Father Tim to his lovely wife, Cynthia as they settled in for their first evening at the lodge:
"What would you like to have from this place?"
Her response:
"Time to enjoy being in my skin. There's something by Thomas à Kempis:
'Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a book.' I want to sleep in tomorrow-sit in that lovely old chair in the corner and read, and listen to the sounds of this place, and speculate."

If you are a Jan Karon fan, you may want to take a moment to read the following interview found here.
Just reading this interview reminds me of why I love Jan Karon's novels and admire her as a writer.

“Pick a life at random on the street,” Karon says of her method, “it could satisfy me to the end of my days because every life, no matter how seemingly obscure or uneventful, is utterly, deeply fascinating and consuming....
Well, I believe that everything is redeemable. I believe that God uses great, hard things for good. I believe, like a proper Yankee, he doesn’t waste anything. Everything is useful to God and will be made beautiful in the end by God. I think it’s important for us to believe that. He works these miracles all the time, whether we believe or not, simply because he loves us, he created us. And why did he create us? The most extraordinary thing is He created us because He wanted to be with us. He actually—this is really hard to believe, but it’s scriptural—enjoys our company. It’s like if you had a hobby of keeping bees, and you really loved your bees, watched how they performed, and their behavior, and enjoyed the honey. That’s God. He created us for Himself."

Welcome to Scheveningen!

My dear friends, H&M have arrived in Scheveningen from Ontario, and will be taking a journey down memory lane for M who was born in this seaside village.
Scheveningen is described by Wikipedia as a modern seaside resort with a long sandy beach, an esplanade, a pier and a lighthouse. Many famous dutch artists were drawn to this picturesque village over the centuries. It is also a very busy harbour for ships, fishing boats and tourists who enjoy windsurfing and kiteboarding.
This is my opportunity for some armchair travel as I think of my friends and what they might see and do while in Scheveningen. (all photos found online)

View the beautiful Steigenberger Kurhaus Hotel:
I do hope they take some time to eat at the Pannekoekenhuis De pier, overlooking the sea. They should sample the apple pancake with sugar and cinnamon (Appel Suiker Kaneel in Dutch) for Euro 6.95 and a hot tea for Euro 2.05.
The restaurant is located on a satellite of the pier in Scheveningen:
And of course they have to sample herring:
Walk the promenade at the piers:
Take photos of this tall and prominent lighthouse:
Stroll along the sandy beaches:
And enjoy romantic sunsets at the pier overlooking the North Sea:
Such beautiful sunsets:
As I was wishing my friends a safe and wonderful holiday, I referred to a book that I was reading. The authors of this book had visited Scheveningen and mentioned some places in the book that my friends will also be visiting and staying at.

The Occupied Garden takes us on a journey to Holland, back in time to the Second World War and the struggles of one family to survive. This story is told by their granddaughters years later as they piece together just what their grandparents had to endure with courage and resilience.
The authors travelled to The Netherlands to see the sights while writing their book. You can read about their travels here

Note to H&M: May the Lord bless your time in The Netherlands and may it be all that you planned and hoped for as you visit with friends and family, as you take that leisurely stroll down memory lane.
Blessings and Love from all of us here!

French Cuisine à la Julia Child

Last year my husband and I had the privilege of staying at a B&B called Mettawas End near Kingsville, so that we could visit Pelee Point and Pelee Island, places we had never been to before.
The host of the B&B had recently immigrated from France to settle with his wife here in Ontario. We were invited to join them and others for an evening of French cuisine, and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience as it truly felt like we were in France.
One of the items he placed on the table for us with each meal was this lovely Evian water bottle with its lace motif, which I just loved! When I spotted the discontinued designer bottles in a discount shop for a great deal, I snapped them up for a future event.
With french cuisine still on my mind, I ordered this book out of the library and enjoyed reading it along with becoming inspired to attempt french cooking in my home.
Then I watched this movie and I was convinced! I loved it! Meryl Streep does such a great job of playing the role of Julia Child. The movie was heartwarming and inspiring for me.
We have been part of a dinner club of international cuisine that has met every few months to celebrate different countries through their food. Talk about a perfect time for arm chair travels. Some of us have rented travel videos, listened to music, read both fiction and nonfiction according to the country we have chosen. We have 'travelled' to Ireland, Egypt, New Zealand and India all from the comfort of our homes. So when it was my turn for the grand finale, I knew it would be France!
My library had everything I needed to research for the event.
I found items that had been packed away and gave my home a french touch.
Both of these photos are actually canvas art hanging on my walls, a gift from my daughter.
Springtime in Paris:
Touches in the bathroom including lovely smelling french milled soaps, also gifts from friends:
French lavender:
I took a little trip over to Vincenzos, my favourite European shop, for their breads, cheeses and pastries. This was the display in their bakery section; so french, so pretty:
I came home with a wide assortment of french cheeses along with baguettes.
Love the french packaging: French Baguettes:
I prepared an elegant table setting with french napkins and information booklets on France and created a french playlist for background music just to set the 'stage':
Each of the couples arrived with a french item to contribute to the dinner.
J&S brought this fantastic Salade Niçoise (niˈswaz]).
"As suggested by the name, it is a specialty of the Côte d'Azur region of France, originating in and named for the city of Nice." This salad consisted of a lovely array of cooked sliced red potatoes, sliced eggs, tuna, green beans, cherry tomatoes, olives, anchovies and capers all served on a bed of lettuce: R&K brought this wonderful orange Fennel Salad; fresh and tasty:
Beef Bourguignon à la Julia created by moi, served along along with green peas (sugggested by Julia herself in her book), white asparagus, and roasted potatoes:
The dessert was truly the crème de la crème, with the creme caramel, as well as an array of sweets including french macarons (not to be confused with coconut macaroons), french cream pastries, french truffles and strawberries dipped in chocolate. I also baked a cherry clafoutis which was so easy and yet looked so 'french', n'est-ce pas?
J&N brought this elegant and decadent, yet light and creamy Creme Caramel, a flan, or caramel custard which is a rich custard dessert with a layer of caramel syrup on top. We were informed that this dessert was compliments of their 15 yo daughter, who is a connoisseur in the kitchen. Well done, A! We all enjoyed it thoroughly and thank you for all the work and time that went into it!
Although Farewells and Au Revoirs are difficult for me, all good things must come to an end and so it was with our evening as well as this international cuisine event. We have discovered that although we have thoroughly enjoyed our evenings, it does require much thought and effort and as we all lead such busy lives we have decided to take a break. I did want our friends to know how much we have appreciated all their efforts over the course of the past year~Merci Beaucoup and Très bien!
My hubby and I sent them home with a little gift, consisting of a lovely Evian bottle, a jar of Bonne Maman, as well as french chocolate for the guys:

"Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.
In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport"
~Quotes by Julia Child