The Noble Warrender

Welcome to Poland! This month's Yum Box had lots of good snacks to choose from, but our favorite was the caramel covered pretzels. Yum!! *The Universal Yums company did  not  pay me, or influence my opinions of their snacks and/or subscription box service. They likely don't even know of my little blog. Opinions are my own, just sharing the goodness and hoping to inspire people to branch out, enjoy traveling, and live outside the box... or in this case, at least look inside the box.  

A trip to the JFK presidential library should be fit into any itinerary you have for Boston. If you take the T leaving south out of the city, the stop closest has a bus shuttle right to the front entrance. No excuses. The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Presidential Library was opened in 1979, by then President Jimmy Carter, to honor the life and accomplishments of our 35th President. It appropriately sits right next to the water with a view of Boston. Although you could spend an entire afternoon wandering through the library, I'd say three hours is sufficient to have a really good experience.  The American Flag hangs in the pavilion of the library. "In 1989 the John F Kennedy Library Foundation created the Profile in Courage Award to honor the president's memory by recognizing acts of political courage by contemporary elected officials."  Recent recipients of the award: 2013 - Gabrielle Giffords for Gun Safety 2014 - George H.W. Bush for U.S. Economy...

San Fernando Cathedral was founded in 1731 by a group of 15 families who came from the Canary Islands at the invitation of King Phillip V of Spain and is the oldest, continuously functioning religious community in the State of Texas. On a rainy San Antonio day, we found it very warm and inviting. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1987. The remains of  Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, and many other defenders of the Alamo.

WeeBox January - Burns Supper Who is Robert Burns? Well this was the month to figure that out.  Robert Burns (1759-1796), who is also known by Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet - known as THE national poet of Scotland. He wrote mainly in Scots language, but also English for readers outside of Scotland. Most people know him as the author of the New Year's Eve song - Auld Lang Syne and as the pioneer of the Romantic Movement. A celebration of his life and poetry - Rabbie Burns Day - occurs each year on January 25th, his birthday. Burns Night supper can be formal or informal in style, but traditionally includes haggis and whisky, as well as someone reciting his poetry. January's WeeBox prepared us for Burns Night with a Burns Supper book (lots of great info in here), a candle inside an etched glass votive inscribed Auld Lang Syne, a beautiful piece of jewelry, some chocolates and assorted literature about the man of honor. Not the best photo, but it's...

Our first WeeBox arrived!! If you haven't noticed, we love everything to do with Scotland. You can guess how excited I was to find that there is a monthly subscription service to receive a box of curated items from Scotland.  Our first month of the subscription, December's WeeBox, was full of items to help celebrate Hogmanay. Scotland's last day of the year, is a time for celebrating, eating, and exchanging gifts. Hogmanay traditions include singing Auld Lang Syne and First Footing, where your first visitor in the home after midnight should bring gifts - including, but not limited to, a lump of coal, some shortbread,  and whisky (of course). WeeBox set us up properly for Hogmanay. They included a warm hat, a flask, yummy shortbread, a book, a bag with coal, and the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne so we don't stumble too much through the song. If you'd like to read more about Hogmanay, I'd suggest this online article .  If you'd like to c...

January's Universal Yums box took us to Greece!! Lots of goodness in this box! Totti's Bread Chips - Just like croutons! Yum! Sesame Pasteli with Almonds - they date back to 1450 BC!! Parthenon Green Olives with Fennel & Coriander - "Olives rule Greek life!" Bergamot Jelly Candies - Like Earl Grey tea, but in candy form. Serenata Dark Chocolate Wafer - The most popular wafer cookies in Greece! Totti's Oregano Chips - Potatoes, popular in Greece since 1829. Bliss Cocoa Toffee - Cacao is the "food of the gods". Derby Chocolate Bar - light, airy and better than most US brands of bars. Our picks for Best Yum - Serenata Dark Chocolate Wafer, Parthenon Green Olives with Fennel & Coriander, and Derby Chocolate Bar. So much to choose from! What else did we learn about Greece this month? Well, do you ever say "jinx!!' or "pinch, poke, you owe me a coke"? If you're in Greece an...

The Boston Public Library was established as the first large free library in the mid-1840s at a relatively small building (a schoolhouse) in Boston. But, impressively, it had outgrown itself before opening. Right away plans were made to move the collection to the current, massive, and amazing location in the 1890s, and it's kept growing to the twenty-six branch system it is today. The design is that of a palace surrounding a courtyard. It's one of those places where you think you've seen it all, but then you walk through a doorway to another wing or another study room. The library seems endless. This statue adorns the front steps of the main entrance. It is titled "Art" and was created by Bela Pratt (1867-1917).  Bates Hall is the perfect place to do research or just grab a book and read. The lamps, the busts, the ceiling and dome at the end. It's inspiring. Two lion sculptures greet visitors who pass between them on the staircase. Th...

Why do you travel? To get away. To spend time with friends or family. To see new places, meet new people, and learn about another culture besides your own. Yes, all that and, of course, to try new foods! With all the monthly subscription boxes out there, this one caught my eye. It's the Universal Yums  box and each month, we receive a box filled with snacks from another country. To feed the travel bug, we can try goodies from around the world regularly!  This month's box was a combination of several items from Czechoslovakia, Colombia, Germany, Australia, Jordan, Korea, and England. Look at all these goodies! Czechoslovakia - Garlic Straznicke Bramburky (chips) Colombia - Brevas con Arequipe (figs with sugary filling) Germany - Golden Flake Dill Pickle Chips Australia - Hillier's Mini Christmas Puddings Jordan - Jabri Baklava Korea - Yugwa Candy (rice and honey) England - Mince Pie Candy (meat and fruit candy) Also includ...