When my husband and I travel, we generally bring home gifts for our grandchildren.  But they’re not the kind we spend a great deal of money to purchase. 
They are rocks and seashells, seaglass, foods from the area, something a relative may have made, and stories of places we’ve visited.  The natural objects are typical of that area and may tell of the geology and history.  We bring home recipes to try and ingredients we might not find at home.  (I use these for my travel writing, but the grandchildren seem to look forward to them, too.)
he “gifts” include:

 Rocks of a …read more

This house is not technically a retreat, it’s an individual residence… But it is so nice that I’d retreat to it.
Talia Mana, an Offbeat Homes reader sent me pictures of one of her previous homes located in Whangarei New Zealand. Talia has since sold it but had a hard time doing so. Seemingly folks thought it was a little too wacky — I actually think it’s very approachable. But then, I see a lot of wacky homes.
Here’s a view of the front; notice the rocks incorporated into the outer wall — I love that look. You get rocks that …read more