Uncategorized – ROADS MORE TRAVELLED

2024

January 1, 2024roadsmoretravelledLeave a comment

January 1 ,2024, and 2023 already seems like a distant memory. The year went by so slow, and so fast, both at the same time. There were ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad. But they all seem so far gone.

2023 did not start out wonderfully with a baby in the hospital and myself with a major strep throat, then the resulting breakout as a result of medications, and then a long 5 months to recover from that. Only to develop shingles in one eye and have the other eye suffer a cornea scratch. So, a summer of healing from that.

Two months into 2023, our whole division found out we would be losing our jobs over the course of the year and, in October, after almost 23 years at my company, my time there ended. Fortunately I was able to find a new opportunity and move directly into that position with another company.

It was a bad year for vehicles, all around, but I’ll be starting the New Year with a new vehicle, hopefully to be doing some more of the travelling that was the purpose for this blog.

The first vacation of this year will be my upcoming cruise on the Carnival Jubilee, can’t wait to take pictures and video and share with everyone. Then will be a trip to Florida, with stops on the way back, which i will be chronicling.

One of my goals this year is a new state park every month, so that will be coming up. I’ll probably start local since this month is filled up already, but ready to start car camping, now that I’ll have an SUV, so i’ll be able to have somewhere to sleep that’s not a tent.

As my job allows me to work anywhere i have internet, I hope to travel and stay with friends and family and work from various places and get some sites in.

So, big plans coming up, hoping to share with everyone. Stay tuned.

Back to Blogging

October 17, 2023roadsmoretravelledLeave a comment

I had such good intentions when i started blogging, was going to do it every week. Of course, as we know, life happens, and I didn’t keep up with it. But, so many things have happened in the past year that i feel the need to start documenting again, so i need to go back to my last post and pick up where i left off. But, I’m back 🙂

Homemade Vanilla

October 3, 2022roadsmoretravelledLeave a comment

Holidays and baking go hand in hand and I find I use more vanilla at that time of year than any other. As we all know, however, real vanilla is pricy, and I don’t like the artificial ones. 10 or 15 years ago, I searched how to make homemade vanilla and I’ve never turned back to store bought. I always have a bottle prepared and I make more for Christmas Gifts.

There are many recipes on how to make vanilla, using different alcohols and different vanilla beans, in varying amounts of both vodka and vanilla. I’ve adapted my recipe over the years until I’ve come to a recipe I like.

To call it a recipe is really stretching it, there are only two ingredients: vanilla beans and vodka. While you can use any beans and vodka you prefer, I like Madagascar Vanilla beans and Skye Vodka. I don’t use the cheap vodka because, if I won’t drink it, I sure don’t want it in my food.

Since the intent is to use this batch as Christmas gifts, we bought two 1.75L bottles of Sky Vodka and a package of 26 Organic Madagascar vanilla beans.

13 Vanilla beans, about 4-5″ long each. Split each vanilla bean length wise. This allows all the vanilla bean goodness from inside to infuse into the vodka.

Vanilla bean, split, and the inner goodness.

Once all the vanilla beans are split, put 13 in each bottle, put the lid on and shake.

Store in a dark closet or pantry, shaking every week or so for 1-3 months, depending on how intense you want the flavor. The longer it sits, the more intense the flavor.

The great thing about homemade vanilla is, once this bottle is empty, there’s no need to throw away the bottle and beans. Simply refill with vodka and start the process again. You should be able to get at least two batches from each bottle.

Let the Holiday baking commence.

Saturday in the park

October 2, 2022roadsmoretravelledLeave a comment

October 1, 2022 was a glorious day. The sweltering heat and humidity of summer had dissipated, temperatures were hovering in the mid 80’s and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day to introduce Kangalulu to parks.

Bear Creek Pioneers Park is on the West side of Houston, Texas. Created in the 1940s bye the US Army Core of Engineering, , the 2,154+ acre park offers something for everyone, from soccer fields, ball parks, and tennis courts to equestrian trails, nature walks and picnic sites. There are several playgrounds, a small zoo and aviary, and the Harris County War Memorial.

The park is free to enter and use, picnic tables and grills are first come first serve. The pavilions do need to be reserved before use. We found no shortage of picnic sites available. As beautiful as the day was, not many people were utilizing the park, except on the main drag, where soccer and baseball games were happening.

The Harris County War Memorial was built in 1985 to honor residents who lost their lives in World War I and the wars since. It is located near the Eldridge entrance to the park, near the aviary.

We loved this park, there’s so much for a family to do with their kids, without any cost other than the gas to get there. There are no stores in the park, so food and drinks are carry in only. There are water fountains at the restrooms, which are multiple, and clean. Many of the picnic areas are in shady spots under old oak trees, so comfortable spots to spread out and picnic.

We took the Bear Creek to Langham Creek trail to go see the Hillendahl-Eggling (also known as Bluelight) cemetery. However, the only thing there is a chain linked area with warning signs to stay out. The actual cemetery wasa moved in 1902, so all that remains is an overgrown, fenced in area.

The nature trails were mostly in the sunny areas, as far as we could tell, so these are best left to the cooler months.

The zoo and aviary are small, the bison and emu were not out. We don’t know if they were just in their pens or if they’re even there anymore. But it was still a nice little walk around the area to see everything.

All in all, we’d recommend this as a great place for a family outing on a budget.

Welcome to Roads More Travelled

September 12, 2022September 12, 2022roadsmoretravelledLeave a comment

Hi,

Welcome to Roads More Travelled. Our goal is simple, to explore every “road” life takes us down and share the adventures with you. This could include our latest road trip, cruises, trying out a new recipe, or shopping for hidden treasures at the flea markets and antique shops. There is adventure in everything we do.

Recently, we were in Caprock Canyon State Park. Gorgeous tones of rust colored clay embed the cliffs and hills as you drive through the canyon. Whether driving through or hiking the many trails, the colors are breathtaking.

Caprock Canyon State Park is the official home of the Texas Bison Herd. This herd has a different DNA profile than any other bison in North America, it is the last herd of the Southern Plains Bison. They wander freely through the park and, if you go at the right time of day, or year, you might find yourself in the middle of a wandering herd, or face to face with one of these magnificent animals. Remember, though, these are wild animals, do keep your distance.

We are actually on the other side of a small ravine, it would not be wise to be this close to a bison.

This is just a sample of what we’ll be sharing. We may revisit old adventures in between the new adventures, and we hope you’ll join us on the Roads More Travelled!