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Storm in a Teacup: Emily’s Cheese Scones

The scent of warm cheese and freshly baked scones drifted down the main street of Middlemarch, sneaking through open windows, and luring locals toward the heart of town—Emily Mitchell’s café, Storm in a Teacup. Inside, the counter gleamed, the old timber floor creaked comfortingly, and sunlight slanted through sheer curtains. Locals packed the tables, sipping tea and coffee, chatting,...

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The Humble Scone: A Journey Through Time and Taste

Meet Emily Mitchell, the proud owner of Storm in a Teacup café in Middlemarch. While her menu features a wide range of delightful treats, it's her legendary cheese scones that have locals lining up each morning. By 10 AM, they're almost always sold out – a testament...

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Te Anau: The Gorgeous NZ Setting for Hunted Pack

Te Anau is a small New Zealand town known as the gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park. It’s a picturesque place with a beautiful alpine lake and snow-capped mountains. Mr. Munro and I visited and walked parted of the nearby Kepler Track. I fell in love...

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Celebrating St Patrick’s Day

Most people know about St. Patrick's Day. We might've attended a parade or lifted an Irish bevy in salute, but here's some background and a few fun facts. 1. St Patrick's Day, originally a day to honor St Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, has...

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Irish Blessings

Blessings are a part of Irish culture and express sentiments such as goodwill, joy, and hope. Some also contain sly humor that brings a grin to the face. Blessings are usually short and often in poem form, but there are some longer ones, too. They are a perfect...

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In Praise of Packing Cubes

For years, I’ve been hearing about the marvelous creation called packing cubes. Packing has never been a problem for me. I’m an experienced traveler and, therefore, have a lot of experience packing suitcases. Who needs packing cubes, I thought. Oh, how wrong I was....

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A Magical Visit to Hobbiton

We recently spent four days touring Matamata, the National Park, Taupo, and Rotorua before returning to Auckland and jumping on a cruise ship to Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Wellington, and Tauranga. Excellent weather, splendid company, and many...

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