 Hi, friends! Spring is in full swing over here in our part of the world, and I'm doing a bit of Spring cleaning. I admit that I forgot/lost my password to Goodreads and am a bit late in updating my book reviews. (So be prepared for weekly reviews until I am caught up.)  I read Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Book 1) way back in February 2019 and was hooked on the series. So before I review the entire 8 books in this series, and overload you, let's begin with book #1. Saturday Short Review: Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Book 1) By James S.A. Corey
 James S. A. Corey is the pen name of fantasy author Daniel Abraham, author of the critically acclaimed Long Price Quartet, and writer Ty Franck. They both live down the street from me in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I think I have seem them buying tacos, but I kept my cool and didn't fan girl out. lol.  More reviews shortly!  Morning Travel Fam! The gifts are wrapped, the cookies are in the oven and it’s officially feeling like Christmas! It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year—but this year I’m trying to take things a bit slower and soak everything in. Anyone else?  It's so easy to become overwhelmed with so much going on. I really want to slow down and enjoy this season. For my little family, is the time of year we celebrate our lives, family, and our many blessings! We also use this time to remember everyone who we have lost. We honor them with a traditional candle lighting ceremony and by preparing foods they loved. We also share stories about our loved ones and I feel this truly keeps their memory alive.   (Homemade Vegan Tomato Soup) Merry Christmas from my family to yours❤️
 Quick, catch up post-  How's your weekend going? I've been waiting for this one. No appointments scheduled and no work, just time to chill. #BIGWIN One of my goals for 2018 was to get back into a regular exercise routine and also carve more downtime out for myself. Running two full-time businesses keeps me very busy, but I have hired more folks to help me and I can finally start to relax again. The weekends are MINE! lol Don't get me wrong I did take off some in 2017, and I even managed to exercise and loose some weight. But everything was based on when I could find time, and that was not as often as it should have been. So Saturday I was up early for yoga, meditation and to enjoy the fiery sunrise. One thing about living in the southwest is the sky, it's rare to see the sunrise or sunset without being moved. It's usually very dramatic and will inspire you, (as it has done for countless artists), to be more creative. If you really take the time to be present, it will also foster an appreciation for nature and our place in it, too.  The sky looked like it was on fire Saturday morning. One of my friends in Paris sent me a picture this morning of his sunrise in comparison, I'm not gonna post it (because it's not mine) and because it was a dull, gray, overcast day complete with drizzle. Don't get me wrong I love Paris, and I also love rainy weather, *which I miss here. So it's a trade off. But I feel truly blessed to enjoy the best of both world. (Read between the lines: I will be returning to Europe soon.)  It was cold this a.m. but I braved it to snap these pictures.  So other than sunrise yoga, my weekend goals are to climb into my new books and practice the art of siestas, lol.  I'm reading the Bloody Baron now. This is the second and third book in the Anno series. I wrote a review here and told you how much I liked this authors writing style, yeah? Well, when I find an author I really like I proceed to buy everything in their catalogue, so far I'm three in and he hasn't disappointed.
I'll do a proper book review next week, but so far I'm enjoying the book and looking forward to reading more in the series. Now I'm off for a coffee with a friend in ABQ. I hope you are enjoying your weekend and find time to watch the sunrise/sunset. Speak soon- Bonjour! How is your long weekend progressing? I am working hard to delete all the old, never finished posts here on the website. (I keep finding more and more. Do I ever write anything? WTF?) I probably should have deleted this one as well, but I have been missing life in France so much lately that when I found this I knew I had to finish it. So lets return to the idyllic south of France. Where the food is fresh, the people are chill and time moves at an entirely different pace.  I suspect these pictures were taken with my older iphone. This was late September, 2014.  If we are to believe the date stamp on this...This was probably taken with my cannon before it crapped out.  Ahh tea and fresh food from the bakery, this is a true French life!  I have no idea why I took a picture of the sink?  Or the tile?  My older Mac took its last breath during our 3 months here. Luckily the flat came with its own PC. I just had to relearn how to operate it. #Fail  This was our 1st day...the move in day, as it was. The place is simple, clean and efficient. It always makes me consider why the Hell we insist on purchasing so much crap at home, you know? Do we really need so much? And couldn't that money be put to better use, like say living in France? Lol  The garden...we were there as the seasons changed. It was breathtaking watching the trees change day by day on the mountains.  (This must have been the 1st day too, lol)  I brought tea and some necessities, but mostly we ate and shopped locally. Okay, I will admit I did have a couple of Amazon orders delivered while we were there, but you know, mostly we shopped locally.   People in the USA ask me often if the food is as good as people say it is in France.  It is actually better.  Even simple treats are delicious!  I think the food is so good because it isn't rushed. The French do not rush preparing it and you are not expected to rush to eat it and race back to work. You are expected to take your time, slow down and enjoy eating, meeting up with friends or just sitting outside at the cafe. People watching and reading at outdoor cafes is an art form in France.  My God I'm so hungry looking at this picture!  But really life moves to a different rhythm.   I admit that the tap water in our flat tastes like Evian! I bought a bottle to see if it tasted differently there. It might somewhat, but overall no...it's the same.  Roaming around the village.   Local castle...It is a family owned restaurant and small hotel. It is a destination for weddings and other events. People are surprised when they turn up for their events and find that the Rugby pitch is in the front garden, lol. But such is life... The weather was perfect until right before we left. Three months of cool nights and warm days were irrupted by flash flooding and heavy winds as massive storms moved in. But all in all it was a great 3 months!  I love being in the mountains.  We rode the train about a bit and explored other villages over the course of this visit. And of course we always go to Paris, when in France. It's a rule, lol   (French trains)  Not unlike riding in the UK, but also not exactly the same...the French trains are much faster and newer!  Okay I am gonna go price flights to Paris now. sob, sob See you at (the French) airport-
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Author Welcome to my (I used to travel) blog, my healthy Vegan lifestyle blog and my life! It's a lot, but it's my passions and I just love to write about it. Here I share tips, stories and photos from my adventures and life. This is the place where people can find daily inspiration to travel and motivation to live healthier lives and laugh a bit too! 
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