Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover


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Haiku Moment: heart chewing bug

a random leaf i

think not, rather a love note

signed, heart chewing bug

heart chewing bug by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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Sunday Joy

Photo by Angie Quantrell

Assisi, Italy


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Sunday Joy

Photo by Angie Quantrell

La Strega, Siena, Italy


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Haiku Moment: out to dry

the rain is sopping

wet; must clip it on the rack,

hang it out to dry

out to dry by Angie Quantrell

photos by Angie Quantrell

Yakima Valley


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I Might Have a Problem.

Most people bring a variety of souvenirs home from their travels. Sure. I do that as well.

But also, when I travel, I am consumed with seeking out . . . tote bags! No matter the gift shop, museum, tourist trap venue, my eyes and fingers are drawn to the tote bag display. It might be a problem. Let’s call it a hobby. We’ll all feel better.

My recent travels to Ireland and Italy garnered me 7 tote bags. SEVEN. And I was practicing self-restraint.

And once I returned home, I had an email from my local library. “Mention this email and get a bag for your library books.”

I mentioned that email when I visited the library to pick up books they were holding for me. And received a lovely orange tote bag! That ups my total to 8 new tote bags for about one month of excitement.

I love using my tote bags for various purposes. Or just hanging them up as wall art, because, really, they are artfully designed and created with humor, purpose, reusability, delight, and beauty.

What do you collect as souvenirs when you explore new locations or favorite destinations?


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Haiku Moment: laundry day

rain shower spinning

jewels glisten to and fro

fairy laundry day

laundry day by Angie Quantrell

photo by Angie Quantrell

Kilkenny, Ireland

I was fascinated by the beautiful rain encrusted spider webs we discovered as we explored Kilkenny, Ireland. Our tour driver shared that he had learned as a young child that the webs were out when the fairies were doing laundry. Enchanting!


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Sunday Joy

Photo by Taylor Quantrell

Ocean Shores, WA


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Haiku Moment: cat eye stare

look into my soul

human prey, should i pounce, run?

beware cat eye stare

cat eye stare by Angie Quantrell

featuring Lily, the kitten


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Garden Joy

It is so true. The meme where one day, the zucchini is tiny but the next it is ginormous. I searched my garden 2-3 days before this day. Nothing. Maybe a tiny fingerling. One at the most. Then comes this day. BAM. Eight fully ready to eat zucchinis.

Also tomatoes, wax beans, and green beans. I wasn’t even planning on harvesting. But once I saw the zucchini, I knew I was overdue.

Lunch was this. So delicious. I would eat this every day if the tomatoes and rustic bread always tasted so good. A little butter, spicy brown mustard, tomato slices. Done.

And for dinner, we had a two-bean, fresh corn off the cob, red onion, cherry tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic salad. Yummy! Don’t you just love summer garden meals?

But I need some more recipe ideas for the beans. I can’t keep up with them. I give them away, eat a ton, freeze a few (not a great option since we live in the RV-storage space is at a premium). We’ve had stir fry, meat packets including beans, and potato bean onion ground turkey soup.

Ideas please! What is your favorite fresh green bean recipe?


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Haiku Moment: tasty bird

move! gotta see, look!

time for hunting, you’re blocking-

where’s that tasty bird?

tasty bird by Angie Quantrell

Monet, the hunter

Yakima Valley