These are a few pictures from the whirlwind Eastbound research & family road trip I took with my mom several weeks ago.  Yep, that’s the trip I made the granola for; behold! it was a snack lifesaver after two engine-smoking tows and one hazy and stormy Hudson River migraine.  We reconnected with family, made new friends along the way, and were introduced to new tastes like Scrapple, Water Ice & Custard, Reuben Egg Rolls, and fresh Sheep’s Milk Ricotta.

Little did I know the directions my life would be moving in when I took off in the car that May day.  I did not mean to abandon this blog, but I did mean to enjoy life’s moments as they unfolded.  For one reason or another, taking pictures and posting them in a blog article did not quite fit.

I am away from home again as I write, this time I’m in Chicago for a library conference.  During these two trips I have been struck by the feelings of home I have felt while being away, away from my fairly predictable home base.  These feelings are still difficult for me to articulate, but I am working on it.  I do know that having people in my life to share these moments with, big and small, at home and away, makes all the difference.

So, hello again! and I hope that all of you have experienced those tangible and intangible feelings of home since I’ve been away from the cozywalls blog.  I’ll be back sooner than later this time; I participated in my first-ever community food swap last weekend!