Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig
Posted on: September 24, 2017
- In: Family | Travel
- 52 Comments
After visiting six cities in BC and Alberta, travelling by car, train, metro, bus, large and small aircraft and ferry, I am back in Spain and back to blogging. It feels like such a long time since I wrote my last post. The trip was successful on so many levels. I was able to see many family members and friends. The time spent with my mom was precious and seeing my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was wonderful. I was treated to many amazing meals, picnics, a Monet Exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery, a remarkable production of Much Ado About Nothing at Bard on the Beach and a performance by my son’s new band who dedicated the first song to me! I launched Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind and sold out of books at a couple of the venues. Visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores is always a pleasure for me. A week as a workshop leader at the Vancouver Public Library´s Writers and Book Camp was a real treat as was presenting at the BC Association of Travel Writers.
It was a busy schedule and I am now catching up on sleep and chores but I wanted to share a few pictures with you. I’ll start with the most important, my family.
Mom with me and my great-granddaughter, Emma.
An Amanda Travel’s fan
With my handsome musician son and his daughter
Sharing Mexican food with grandson No. 1.
His first car!
Sharing Indian food with grandson No. 2
Grandson at his youth group’s garden produce stand.
Great granddaughter, Devin
Another Amanda Travels fan with a matching Day of the Dead bowl.
They are all growing up and becoming amazing young folks. I enjoyed every minute I spent with them. Then it was off to Vancouver Island.
Beautiful potter daughter showing off the skirt I brought her from Cordoba. I think she likes it!
Best buds
Cousins at the beach
Typical fabulous family meal, with daughter and cousins. I am so lucky!!
My new grand-puppy Petite Du Champs. Love him to bits.
Enjoyable lunch in Calgary with the younger brother who is also my clever website designer.
More to come. I missed blogging and was pleased to see my posts continued to be read and commented on while I was away. You folks rock!!
52 Responses to "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig"
September 24, 2017 at 6:45 am
I am so glad your trip was so successful and enjoyable! It is always wonderfully uplifting to share special moments with the family. Welcome back to Spain. We are in Valencia province now. 😃
September 24, 2017 at 7:59 am
Time with family is always special and even more so now that I live so far away. Your trip has been great as well. Will you get closer to Alicante?
September 24, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Yes, that’s where we hope to spend a month or so as part of our autumn/winter in the sun. We are in Gandía waiting for a new windscreen for the motorhome, as it developed a crack from top to bottom. It should arrive from Germany on Thursday and, hopefully, it will be fitted on Friday. I’ll let you know when we are settled there. ❤
September 24, 2017 at 7:45 am
Looks like you had a wonderful trip! Maybe you can give a presentation at more of the Vancouver Island Libraries next time. I’m sure you are well-received everywhere you go! Happy to see you are back to writing and sharing memories on your lovely Blog. I enjoy reading it.
September 24, 2017 at 8:00 am
Thanks, Jan. I will check with the Vancouver Island libraries next time as I would love to do a presentation at a few of them. It feels good to be writing and blogging again.
September 24, 2017 at 9:07 am
It is very evident you enjoyed your BC/AB visit immensely. Lovely family! And congrats on launching your latest Amanda!
September 24, 2017 at 5:32 pm
Spending quality time with family is the best! Where are you off to next, Irene?
September 24, 2017 at 11:33 am
How wonderful all the way around, Darlene!
September 24, 2017 at 4:24 pm
A fabulous post which beautiful photographic memories of your time with your family. Michael and I have read and reviewed two of the Amanda Travels books. This is the link if you would like to read them: https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/2017/09/23/book-reviews-the-amanda-travels-series/
September 24, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for stopping by and for the great reviews. I am so pleased Michael is enjoying the books.
September 25, 2017 at 4:11 am
It is lovely to see you again. Thank you for sharing all those great photographs and special memories. I love the Cordoba skirt. 🌼
September 25, 2017 at 4:54 am
Thanks so much. She was delighted with her new skirt. It is reversible and can be worn many ways. It is so her.
September 25, 2017 at 5:46 am
Welcome back This is a lovely retrospective of your book tour and family love. How wonderful to be adored by both family and book friends. It was especially touching that your musician son dedicated his first song to you. And I finally get to “meet” your web designer: How I envy you a guy you can trust and (probably) is available on the spot. Blessings, Darlene!
September 25, 2017 at 6:12 am
Nice to be back Marian. You, my web designer is the best! Good looking, smart, creative, funny and the best little bro around. I am truly blessed to have such a loving, supportive family.
September 25, 2017 at 7:53 am
It was such a joy to meet you in Calgary. Your trips seems as though it was packed full of wonderful visits and happenings. I hope our paths will cross again one day.
September 25, 2017 at 7:57 am
It was such a fabulous trip. Meeting you was so special and I am sure our paths will cross again. In the meantime, have fun chasing leprechauns!!
September 25, 2017 at 10:07 pm
Welcome home Darlene, you have been missed! I did keep up with some of your travels on Facebook, which was lovely.
The skirt you got for your daughter is beautiful as are all your photographs.
I’m really pleased you had such a successful trip.
September 25, 2017 at 11:36 pm
Thanks, Barbara. I tried to post a few pictures on facebook to keep those on Fb up to date. Glad you like the skirt. It was a hit. Nice to be back.
September 26, 2017 at 10:55 am
Welcome back. Sound like you had a really wonderful trip and time with family. Loved all of your photos! I loved the beautiful skirt you gave your daughter. Wow, you son reminds me of a country singer. Good looking family.
September 26, 2017 at 10:06 pm
Thanks, Patricia. Glad you enjoyed the pictures of my wonderful family. It was an amazing trip.
September 26, 2017 at 11:42 am
How wonderful to see all of your lovely pictures. I just can’t get over that you are a great grandma! The family and friends pictures are so wonderful and the love just shines through in all of them. I know they were so glad to have you visit but now you are back home and getting back to the routine and Dot. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
September 26, 2017 at 10:05 pm
I still can´t believe that I am a great grandmother too. But when we all have babies so young, it happens. Mom has a wonderful relationship with her great-great-grandchildren which is so special. Thanks for visiting my blog. Yes, I am happy to be back with my sweet Dot.
September 26, 2017 at 11:39 pm
It’s fun to meet your handsome/pretty family, Darlene, and I absolutely love your daughter’s new skirt!
September 27, 2017 at 12:02 am
I´m so pleased to show off my delightful family. They are the best!! The skirt seems to be a big hit with everyone. It was fun buying it as the vendor spent a lot of time showing me how it can be worn.
September 27, 2017 at 8:20 am
Looks like a great time was had by all, Darlene! Kudos on the book tour aspect of the trip…your success is well deserved!!
September 27, 2017 at 8:53 am
So wonderful to have you back here on the blogosphere, Darlene. But I was able to follow your trip a bit in different areas of social media. I really enjoyed seeing all of your family photos here. What a creative amazing group of people you belong to! No surprise.
September 27, 2017 at 5:33 pm
Great to be back. I did try to post a few things on social media as I went along. A month is a long time to be out of the loop. Glad you could follow along. I am very proud of my amazing family. Thanks.
October 6, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Lovely photos, and no doubt many happy memories for you. It must be hard living far away from so many loved ones, but it’s great that you can get back to visit regularly. You certainly seem to make the most of your trips.
October 6, 2017 at 11:08 pm
The trips are carefully planned out so that I can make the most of my time. I was fortunate to see many friends and family members this time around. I am glad to be able to get back from time to time because I do miss them all.
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October 12, 2017 at 6:28 am
Thank you for linking me across here. The pics of family are great and so much creativity in one brood. Envious? Moi? You bet. And so glad your mother remains up and at’em!
October 12, 2017 at 7:31 am
Thanks for dropping in! Glad you enjoyed the pics of my family. Your family seems pretty talented as well. Yes, we are very lucky to still have mom around.
October 15, 2017 at 5:30 am
Love the family pics! So glad you were able to spend time with so many loved ones. Had to smile at all those modes of transportation you utilized on your journey.
October 15, 2017 at 7:01 am
Glad you enjoyed the family pictures. Yes, there wasn’t much I didn’t travel by except maybe horse and buggy!
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September 24, 2017 at 6:36 am
Oh my goodness Mum and daughter look sooo alike. I love the skirt too. So happy you had a great time. Hubby and I so enjoyed our trip (only been home two weeks) we are thinking of a trip to Vancouver and across Canada in 2019.
September 24, 2017 at 7:57 am
Yes, we were traveling at the same time. Your trip was amazing. You saw and did so much. A trip across Canada would be fun for you two.