Destination Solvang - America’s Danish TownIn planning our road trip to Pinnacles National Park, I didn’t originally plan on a stop in Solvang. The town actually became a stop on the trip for very practical reasons—lodging price, driving distance, and location for the next day’s travel. The truth is, neither Kathy nor I had done anything more than the typical tourist visit … [Read more...] about America’s Danish Town and Scarecrows
Scrivenings
Charitable giving scams come front and center
It’s hard for me to believe that I haven’t written about charity scams in nearly three years. A lot has changed, and a lot hasn’t, in the wide world of charitable giving scams. One thing that hasn’t changed is that charitable donations surge during these last three months of the year. The charities know this, and so do the scammers. That’s one reason October 17-21 was Charity … [Read more...] about Charitable giving scams come front and center
Submissions open for Killer Nashville awards
Killer Nashville. What writer doesn’t know the name of that conference? In a world filled with writers conferences, Killer Nashville and the sponsored awards have evolved into one of the world’s premier opportunities for writers to connect, learn, and change their careers. Lois Winston is a two-time Silver Falchion Finalist. She said, “Killer Nashville falls into that … [Read more...] about Submissions open for Killer Nashville awards
The High Peaks and the Great Reveal
We arrived at the Inn at the Pinnacles late Thursday afternoon. Our plan was to use the Inn, which is on the west side of the park, as our base. We’d explore the east side on Friday, the west on Saturday. We'd get to see the High Peaks from both sides. By evening, ground fog filled the valley. No worries. The Inn was well above that blanket of soft, fluffy … [Read more...] about The High Peaks and the Great Reveal
Auckland’s Fukuoka Garden and Lakeside Park
We’d taken a Hop-on/Hop-off tour that took us to the Fukuoka Garden, a Japanese Garden for Auckland’s, and Lakeside Park, a massive park that surrounds a lake. While both places involve a central body of water surrounded by landscaped grounds, they couldn’t be more different.Fukuoka GardenLike most Japanese gardens, the Fukuoka Garden is a study in precision. … [Read more...] about Auckland’s Fukuoka Garden and Lakeside Park