Adventuring with Karen
Living in Each Moment and taking photos of it all
Bloganuary Day 6
If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?
Bloganuary Day 5
Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?
When your past tries to haunt you tell it you don’t believe in ghosts – Matshona Dhliwayo
I’m human and have a memory for a lot of random specific details so I tend to think about the past frequently. Usually at 4 am when I wake and think about all the dumb things I have said and done and would like to undo. I’d like to be the kind of person who can completely let go of the past but that is not really reasonable. There is trauma and selfishness and bad choices but there is also joy and love and friendship and marriage and kids and great adventures! The negative things I pray about and try to let go of. The great things I pray about and thank God for them.
As far as the future goes I think often about what adventures life holds for me and my family and friends. Recently I have been thinking a lot about a job and what that looks like for the next several years. Again I pray and ask for guidance in what is planned for me while attempting to take action in the moment.
Bloganuary Day 4
What is the greatest gift someone could give you?
The greatest gift anyone can give me is time. My hubs and I read the Love Languages book years ago and see ourselves in all the different languages. But, I feel like quality time is my biggest love language. I love to spend time with others getting coffee, chatting, hiking, and just being together.
Bloganuary day 3
What colleges have you attended?
I loved college! It is where I got my Mrs degree along with my degrees in music and education. I got to be in leadership positions, plan events, hang out with friends, and of course study.
I have been to lots of colleges to visit. I took my kids on a Gilmore Girls road trip where we toured Harvard and Yale. We stayed in Rhode Island and walked around Brown.
Today I took a tour at the University of Chicago. The campus is beautiful but the parking is horrendous.
I have visited many others and some I like a lot better than others. The most important thing to remember is that college is not for everyone and that memories can be made in all different ways!
Bloganuary January 2nd
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
Playtime in daily life. I had to sit and think for a few minutes to determine what playtime means to me. For me I think that playtime is taking moments to notice and find joy in small things. I know there are days when I am not as intentional as I would like to be but I am trying for sure. When I hike I stop frequently to pet moss, look at wildflowers, mushrooms, and fungus. I look for tiny animals and bugs and appreciate the details.
When I read I immerse myself in the world that rolls out in my head as I read. When I cook I measure garlic with my heart. 😂
Playtime looks different for everyone but that is what it looks like for me at the moment.
Bloguary January 1st
What are your biggest challenges?
Oof, right out of the gate I get a question about my biggest challenges. Staying consistent with writing, self doubt, imposter syndrome, sticking with something until it is completed. Healthy eating, cooking on a regular basis, wanting to bake delicious treats instead of planning meals. Staying away from See’s candy when it is available, drinking enough water.
I have lots of big challenges but I like to focus on the things I’m doing well. Last year I set some goals and I followed through! I am hoping the challenges above are some I can work on this coming year.
Adventures in Hiking: Charit Creek
Once again I have been lacking in the blogging department. Part of the reason for that is I have spent quite bit of time outside hiking the last few months. One of my goals for the year was to hike twice a month and I am meeting that goal!
Back in June a friend of mine and I booked an overnight stay at Charit Creek Lodge near Pickett State Park in Tennessee. There are no motorized ways to get to the lodge so you have to hike or ride a horse. You might also be able to ride a non motorized bike as well but I am not sure. We got to the trailhead bright and early in the morning hoping to beat the heat and possible rain. The hike to the lodge is about a mile and a half so it didn’t take us a super long time to get there.
The camp hosts allowed us to drop off some of our stuff so our packs weren’t quite as heavy and we headed back out on the trail. We did the Twin Arches Loop which is about five miles. We made it back to the lodge after check in time but with plenty of time to shower and take in the absolute lack of technological sounds before being summoned to dinner with the dinner bell.
Dinner is served family style with all of the guests. We met a mom and her two boys, a father in law with his two son in laws, and a couple with their little girl. Everyone was super friendly and the food was really good. The camp has propane but no electricity. I did bring a portable phone charger so I could still use my phone to take pictures. After dinner the family started a fire and made smore’s and we all chatted until a huge storm blew in and chased us all inside. For as hot as it was outside the cabin was very comfortable.
This lodge is in the backwoods. When you enter the trail to the lodge there is a sign that says you are entering bear and venomous snake territory so be aware of your surroundings. Once our lights were out and my friend and I were on the verge of sleep a huge thump made us leap out of our beds. We finally realized that the barn cats must be jumping in and out of the lofts above us. But, those initial moments in half sleep made us think a bear was certainly going to get in!
In the morning we were once again summoned to the dining room for breakfast with everyone. We had appointments to get to so after breakfast, and purchasing t-shirts, stickers, and cookbooks from the gift shop, we hit the trail for home.
The hike out takes a bit longer than the hike in because you are headed up the whole time. Also, I am a pretty slow hiker and tend to take plenty of breaks to take photos and enjoy the surroundings. At one point my hiking buddy and I got separated (not far, just around a corner). I heard what I thought was my name and yelled back “I’m here”. I rounded the corner and she said “BEAR!” Thankfully the bear was up the hill and busy so it didn’t bother with us. It was very exciting but also a little nerve wracking and we hiked a whole lot faster to get to the top of the trail and back to the car.
Way back in college I did a Walkabout, 10 day backpacking trip, with the other student leaders. I lived in Yosemite and hiked a ton but this was my first time doing a hike in to a lodge. 10/10 would recommend and would do again! We saw quite a few critters but I am glad we didn’t add any venomous snakes to the list. Check out Charit Creek and let me know if you are going to hike in and stay there!
(BWD) French Riviera Lemon Tart
“This is tart in all the right ways” – my hubs
This week’s Tuesday’s with Dorie recipe is this amazing lemon tart. The crust came together easily. The lemon filling was quick. It chilled. We ate it. If you have ever made lemon bars that is what this tart made me think of. I think next time I make this (because this is begging to be made again) I may sprinkle some sugar on top and brulee it.
Something I would do differently: check to make sure I have the correct size fluted tart pan. Mine was too big so the crust, while still delicious, didn’t go all the way up the sides of the pan.
Some people made tarts, some made biscuits. Check out Tuesdays with Dorie to see how other bakers did this week!
TWD: BWD Cottage Cheese Biscuits
Here’s the thing, cottage cheese is one of the few foods on my “ick, never passing my lips” list. However, I figured that baking cottage cheese into biscuits would probably be ok. I was still skeptical when I could see the curds in the dough. Thankfully, I couldn’t see them when they came out of the oven.
I snagged one of these fluffy biscuits right off the baking sheet and added butter and some Bonne Maman Strawberry Verbena jam. The cottage cheese adds some tang but is not overwhelming.
I called my hubs and son in to try them and attempted to not tell them about the cottage cheese but alas, hubs wasn’t having it. So I told him about the dreaded ingredient which came with the expected ew face. After a few minutes he popped out of his office hole to say that the biscuits were delicious.
These were super easy to make. I think it was 30 minutes from getting ingredients out to pulling them out of the oven. That’s my kind of recipe!
Oh yeah, I made the Glenorchy Flapjacks but forgot to take pictures. I took them to school with me and they were devoured! So, win!
Check out Tuesdays with Dorie to see how other bakers fared this week. And check out Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking with Dorie” for more delicious recipes!
BWD Swirled, Spiced, Sour Cream Bundt Cake
I love Bundt cake. It is so easy to whip up and have a tasty treat for the family.
This week’s Baking with Dorie recipe came together easily. There were a few extra steps and a few extra ingredients but they were pantry staples so no extra trips to the grocery for this one.
I used toffee pieces instead of nuts and just finished off with powdered sugar instead of frosting. No one was patient enough to wait for the cake to cool completely so there were a few burned tongues on the swirl. But, that didn’t matter. This was a win all the way around!
Make sure to check out Tuesday’s with Dorie to see how bakers around the world liked this cake!
Adventuring with Karen 
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