About Me
A little profile:
I’m Wendy Ellen Thomas, no relation to Dave Thomas or his square beef patty empire. And Wendy was actually only a nickname for his daughter.
Q. Where do you come from?
A. Originally, Winter Park FL. I stayed in Florida long enough to have an almost normal childhood and my own first child. I left permanently when I was 23 to move to the west coast.
Q. And you currently reside where and with whom?
A. After three years in Hamburg Germany, I’ve returned to Orcas Island, WA and live here with my fourteen year old daughter, Chloe and my husband (lovingly referred to as O). I’ve spent chapters in Saratoga Springs, NY,Virginia Beach, VA, Seattle WA and Paris, France.
Q. How would you describe yourself?
A. I’m a mostly moral, ethical person with a good heart and a good outlook on life. I don’t set a lot of boundaries and usually push hard to achieve what I want or need….sometimes for better or worse. I can be compulsive. I like people but not too many at one time.
Q. You mentioned you procreated?
A. Twice. An amazing son, 24 who lives in NYC and an inspiring daughter, 14 who unwillingly must still reside at home and not in her own apartment with a cat.
Q. Did you receive any further education past HS?
A. Yes! I did earn a BS in nutrition at Bastyr University in Seattle. This was a wonderful, eye-opening experience into the world of natural foods and living. I attended Ecole Superior de Cuisine Française in Paris and passed the CAP in cuisine (a little bit about that in English)
Q. How have you kept yourself busy the last 20 years?
A. Parented. Long, solitary road trips of self discovery. Moved to a fifteen acre organic farm on an island. Did Market gardening. Managed said fifteen acres of property. Worked in restaurants. Weaving. Moved to Paris to go to cooking school. Learned French. Catered. Owned a cafe. Owned a kitchen store. Moved to Northern Germany. Learned German. Started a blog.
Q. Was there a reason for starting this blog on the auspicious day of 11/11/11?
A. One day when we still lived on the farm on Orcas, I handed my dad (who still lives on the property) 3 eggs to take home . He said give me 2 or 4 but not 3. I stared at him blankly realizing where I inherited my freakish penchant for numbers. I prefer even ones like my birthdate – 4-8-68. Or cool symmetrical feeling ones like say 111111.
Let’s have some fun….
Hi Wendy
I just discovered your blog (your dad spilled the beans) so be careful what you say ——- this is a small island! Ha ha.
No really, it is nice to read you writing about you. Often you find things out about people at their obituaries and you ask yourself, why didn’t I ever ask them that question, or I never knew that etc.
Our garden is covered in about 5 inches of snow today. Soooo beautiful. We went sledding down your driveway.
Love Hannah
W ~
Hallelujah! You’ve done it, and from the little I’ve so far read, I LIKE YOUR BLOG!! Skype soon, please?
You go girl,
S
Beautiful, unique write up! Looking forward to exploring your blog!
Wendy, thanks for …. looking into my world – now it’s time for me to look into yours and I like what I see.
Have a great evening! Viveka
Thanks Viveka…
It’s a very interesting world and I look forward to reading more about it. And yes- more pleasure, less guilt makes for a good life!
Wendy …. you have been busy reading – fantastic !!!! Live aboard so many years and I don’t want to forget my “English” even if it’s not perfect. Have problems .. massive with off & of, but getting there. My writing is better the more I write. But don’t change the drafts – wrote about Athens a couple of hours ago. 21 times I had to change. *smile
Hamburg – great city … been there quite a bit. Spent a fantastic New Year there. I love the furry guy too. That’s what I miss most from my time on Ireland and in UK … the Spring with all the new born lambs.
You’re so welcome to my world – where it’s most about me.
Lot of pleasure .. very little guilty + plus some demons.
Lots … Wivi
Just checked out your blog. Love it!! Can’t wait to see more.
Maralee
throughmylens365.wordpress.com
Thank you… the feeling is mutual. Loved those tulips. I saw you from Viveka @ Guiltypleasures. wendy
Wendy, I forgotten to nominate your to The Vesatile blogger award ????
Here come the link with instructions http://mygulitypleasures.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/versatile-blogger-someone-think-so/
Good luck!
Can see you have the award logo on your profile.
Just learned about the HH Treppenviertel from your blog and had to reprimand my friends in Hamburg why they never told me about it. Looks beautiful, and next time I travel up north, I’ll make sure to go see it. Looking forward to visiting your blog more often.
We love it here. We are close to the beach but still have parking. Living off the side paths with all the stairs would be a real challenge. But you must visit Blankenese next time. Where are you? Enjoyed checking out your blog- will keep up with it too.
I live in Stuttgart but friends in Hamburg always urge me to come visit, so I’m sure I’ll be taking them up on it sometime this year!
Dear Wendy! You have most certainly crammed in a whole lot more into your 40 odd years than most people in twice a lifetime. That’s splendid! You obviously enjoy meeting challenges head on and it most certainly appears you’ve overcome any and all obstacles. I have traveled through Germany several times, love the bucolic and sometimes spectacular countryside, to mention a few keepers in my memory bank: the Schwarzwald, the Rhine and Moselle, Nuremberg, Wurzburg, Fussen, anywhere in Bavaria and on through lovely Passau to the Czech Republic. It’s a magnificent country on many levels, history, culture and an under-appreciated cuisine plus fabulous beers, not to mention some rather fine whites. I’ll surely keep an eye on your further exploits. Bonne chance, Jean-Michel Le Fabulist
Hi Wendy! Came across your blog in the Freshly Pressed and so so so loved it. It feels so fresh. We share similar interests in Food and travelling – hope to see our paths cross more often. We had lived in Frankfurt for 2 years – and had fallen in live with Germany. Cheers!
Hi …. can I call you Ishita? So where exactly are you living now? Maybe we should start a site for OCD clickers. My daughter thinks it’s getting a little out of hand. I have a set up in a corner of our kitchen near the window that I’m hovering around half the day. Will check out your world some more for sure. Tschüss!
Hi, Wendy, I really enjoy your blog, so I’ve nominated you for the “7×7 Link Award”. Congratulations!
http://assiaskaleidoscope.wordpress.com/2012/04/03/time-to-spread-the-blog-love-awards-and-nominations/
Thank you! So great to be recognized in the community of bloggers. I have really liked your site and love how we all end up connecting. I’ll get on this ASAP!
What a great yarn. I feel like I know you a little better now. Yes it does seem that blog your way to a self published cook book is the way.
Hi there… Thanks for checking it out. It’s a compilation of a lot of info!
I just discovered your blog… very interesting…
merçi bien..
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Wendy … I have nominated you to “The Adurna Blue Best Follower Award” – not many has it and it’s a real honor for me to pass it on to you. No rules you give to the followers you think support you best. http://wp.me/p293Pw-22q
Thanks for being you for me.
Viveka…
Thank you! My favorite award. One with no rules… god knows I’ve already divulged most of what I have to offer and would have to go deep and long to give more bits about my quirky personality!
Wendy … being Wendy … when ever … suits me just fine.
Good Morning, Hamburg …. you passed on this sweet award to you – Happy Blogger Award – and you just have to add it your page. Thanks for supporting me in this world. http://wp.me/p293Pw-2vj
Hi Viveka, Thank you. The recognition and support is always so appreciated. I also have not forgotten the Best Follower award. I think now that we are busier, it’s just getting harder to pass them on. I promise to at least get them on my page today. Thanks again for thinking of me…xo
Wendy .. I know the feeling and with the summer outside – today an other fantastic day. Always not everybody we pass the awards on to – pick them up – witch I think is okay … but I rather give it somebody that spread awards, so it’s getting a little harder. You’re so welcome. I put them on my page and then – forget about them. So bad. *smile
Hello Wendy
I just thought I would let you know that my blog has moved and is now bighungrygnomes.co.uk. Unfortunately, if you want to remain subscribed to my blog, you will have re-subscribe to this new address. I realise this is a little bit of a nuisance but I would really appreciate your continuing support and interest in my blog
Thanks
Fiona
So happy to have found your fabulous blog Wendy. Can’t wait to browse.
I just looked over at your book list and I’ve read two of the books listed and currently reading The Happiness Project… excellent by the way. Love, love Orcas Island and flitter between the three big islands much of the summer, attending the markets and soaking up the weather.
Wow Wendy… I just took a look at the picture of that road winding away in Blankenese above…I thought initially it was the Sullbergterrasse……..but now it just looks incredibly familiar but I realise I was mistaken…I still can’t place it though! Aaaah the Treppenviertel…..I love Blankenese so much.
Hi Wendy, I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger award because I love all the stuff that you share on your blog! Do with it what you will, the post featuring you is below. Hope you enjoy reading the other nominees’ blogs too
http://thisislemonade.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/frivolity-and-friendship-3-with-a-facelift/
I love it, you are a “mostly moral person!)
Your blog is great and I like many of your posts but my like button is not working. Please know I am liking them.
My husband is German. We have been to Germany many times. Love the small towns. I think the best food I have ever had is in Alsace, but I adore all German food. Snitzel, red cabbage, German fried potatoes…
Cheers and thanks for your interesting posts!
Cindy
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Hi, I have just nomimated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Hope you enjoy participating, find out what it’s all about here: http://lovelybuns.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Happy Holidays!
I love your history! Btw, my naturopath went to Bastyr! Love your blog!
oh, by the way, i’ve heard you sing – you have a great voice!