Do you want more info on affordable travel through help exchange? Did you follow my blog while I was in New Zealand? Did you not? All good reasons to buy my brand new eBook for the price of a venti Americano! Thanks, dear ones. Amazon eBook: Beth of Fresh Air: New Zealand Smashwords eBook: BethContinue reading “For one easy payment of 2.99…”
Category Archives: Help Exchange
derring-do.
[der-ing-doo] noun daring deeds. If you are to go walking, hiking, adventuring on your own in Estes Park, CO, you have to have a slice of derring-do. Over a foot of snow fell this weekend and it’s been serene. I’ve watched about 19 episodes of Hart of Dixie on Netflix, I’ve enjoyed about 12 cups ofContinue reading “derring-do.”
Three months traveling with help exchange vs. one week in Vail
On my drive from Moab, UT to Estes Park, CO, I saw a sign for Vail. I had seen photos of this town and had heard about the famous people who frequent it; I almost expected “Vail” to be written in diamonds on the road sign. I bipped my blinker and decided to use aContinue reading “Three months traveling with help exchange vs. one week in Vail”
winnow.
win-oh; verb: To separate or distinguish valuable from worthless parts. We must know how to winnow while working on this vineyard and garden in Napa. John, the host and vintner, has been doing the pruning as we clean up the vine full of tendrils. I said, “I should probably know, but what do you callContinue reading “winnow.”
indemnify.
\ in-DEM-nuh-fahy \ , verb; to compensate for damage or loss sustained, expense incurred, etc. to guard or secure against anticipated loss; give security against (future damage or liability). This one might be a stretch. But help exchange is sort of like being indemnified for the loss of our free time and the damage to our smooth hands that are now filled with blisters and calluses. In Napa Valley, we are compensated heartily. In mushroom risotto, homemadeContinue reading “indemnify.”
sodality.
\ soh-DAL-i-tee, suh- \ , noun; 1. fellowship; comradeship. 2. an association or society; Roman Catholic Church . a lay society for religious and charitable purposes. Dream catchers hang in the windows next to oranges with cloves stuck in them. The wood stove heats the three bedroom house and the three dogs compete for the spot right in front of it. The coffee is half caf so we all drink twice as much. Rachel makes herContinue reading “sodality.”
incunabula.
\ in-kyoo-NAB-yuh-luh, ing- \ , noun; the earliest stages or first traces of anything. extantcopies of books produced in the earliest stages (before 1501) of printing from movable Help exchange (working a few hours a day in exchange for housing and food) makes traveling so affordable. I wish I had known about it sooner. I spent less money monthly while I was working my way through New Zealand than I did while living in Asheville. Through help exchange, IContinue reading “incunabula.”
four alarms.
I have four different alarms set for the morning because a shuttle is picking me up at 4:20am for my 7:00am flight. It’d be awesome if I could get coffee with each and every one of you, while we split some NZ Whitaker’s chocolate (milk or dark or peanut butter or coconut, oh my!) andContinue reading “four alarms.”
fake cheese.
I went to watch the oldest blonde boy’s tennis match today in the charming town of Lincoln. On the court next to his, there was a blonde girl wearing a bright blue hat, a red hoody, and yellow shoes. She was at least a foot shorter than everyone else playing, including her opponent. She hardlyContinue reading “fake cheese.”
hugo.
The beautiful blonde boys piled on the couch with their sweet parents on this Friday evening after a quite nice green curry dish made by their blonde visitor. I sat on the neighboring couch and admired the sweet family moment. We watched Hugo. What a heartbreaking, yet equally inspiring movie. I’d highly recommend it. Hugo: MonsieurContinue reading “hugo.”
beth of fresh air 