Category: Southern California
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The Trigger Scent of Safari
I’ve been on many a safari. In English usage, the word ‘safari’ is used almost exclusively to describe an animal-viewing expedition in Africa. Having grown up on the continent, however, I like to use the word in the context of its native tongue. ‘Safari’ simply means journey in Swahili. Like many words in Swahili, it…
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The Journey Tree
“Time to take down the tree that smells like vomit and clean up the huge mess.” A friend posted something along those lines on social media recently. Indeed, rotting tree stump is an unpleasant aroma. And I know I’ll be finding needles under the couch at least until Memorial Day. As I carefully removed the…
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Love Where You Live – East Village, San Diego, California
As an obsessive, serial relocater, my heart is often pulled toward the next possibility. Will we live overseas? Global south? Middle East? Adventure awaits somewhere. But over the course of many relocations, I’ve also learned you must determine to love where you live. For the moment, that place is near East Village in downtown San Diego.…
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San Diego in Six Playgrounds
It happens to every parent or caregiver. You intend to visit the museum or library, but you get stuck for hours at the playground outside. The weather is sublime, birds are soaring overhead, the kids are having the time of their life. Why turn this idyllic moment into a battle of loading up the stroller…
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The Backyard We Didn’t Ask For
Our family recently relocated from rural Romania to urban San Diego, California, USA. The southern California climate is known for encouraging an element of indoor/outdoor living. Its outdoorsy culture cannot be overstated. I was not surprised, therefore, to discover that San Diego’s version of Central Park – Balboa Park – recently created a nature play…
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World Cup ready dessert OR Dessert fit for Berlin
It’s the little things that trigger happy memories – memories of family togetherness during travels or times living abroad (or in another state). Little things like dessert. World Market does it to me every time. For a minuscule obligatory donation, I return home with an edible item that will trigger smiles, laughter and stories of…
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Unexpected bit of Hollywood legend at the San Diego zoo
Meet Winston, a large Galapagos tortoise with a small “2b” painted on his shell. Does his face look familiar? Though you may not have met him in person, the first time you saw his likeness was probably in 1982, or whenever you finally watched the Spielberg film classic E.T. According to the zoo volunteer who was…
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The fruit of too much lemon – Moroccan preserved lemons
The dwarf lemon tree in my backyard bears too much fruit for its size. Doesn’t it have a season of not bearing fruit? It bears so much I can’t even give them all away. A few months ago I decided I couldn’t just let the fruit rot. I juiced some and froze the liquid…
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Looking beyond the “best” cup of coffee
I have more coffee paraphernalia than I need. Six stove top espresso makers (thank you estate sales and thrift stores), French presses, two different types of grinders, a roaster, canisters with various blends and grinds, frothers. . . We like our coffee and we like it good. I guess you can say we’re coffee snobs.…
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San Diego goat makes a tasty meal (yes, even you could make this at home)
{Warning: Graphic photos of raw goat meat contained in this article} We don’t try to recreate Grandma’s perfect holiday feast for our family festivities. We’re certainly not opposed to eating a traditional American feast, but we often just go with something we really like for a meal because we like it, not because it’s tradition. My youngest brother,…
will travel with kids 