Something for the Road

Weekly Madsen Cycle Giveaway

You know how much I love this bike . . . .now Madsen Cycles is giving away one bike a week.  You can have one for your very own instead of drooling over mine.  So, check it out . . . .

Ride – Marathon Training Support Group

I’m so lucky to have my own training support group while I’m trying so diligently to follow my schedule.  It hasn’t been easy, but Mike is HUGE in this endeavor – I don’t think he’d let me quit.

Today was particularly hard because I had to split my long run.  This is my biggest run before the Chelan Marathon.  We had somewhere important to be at 10am this morning, which didn’t leave much daylight to run 22 miles before that time.  So, I ran 16 miles before, came home and showered and dressed up. Then two hours later came home, put on a new set of running clothes and ran 6 more miles in order to meet my training goal. 

When I started getting ready for the second run, Mike knew I needed moral support and so he got out our Precious Cargo Bike, put the kids on their bikes and followed me on my run.  It made all the difference.

           

Jessamyne was the photographer today, thus the interesting shots.  By the way, it was raining – It wasn’t all sweat.

The Favorite Skirt Pattern

Grosgrain is offering another great giveaway.  Love September is giving away three skirt patterns this time.  This skirt is easy to make and easy to wear, and obviously adorable.  So, if you’re interested in entering this giveaway, visit Grosgrain soon.

Wealth is in the Mind

Grandma and Grandpa stopped on their way home from Banff this afternoon, to say hi to the grandkids.  As Grandpa was leaving, he emptied his pockets of Canadian Money.  He gave each of the older kids a $2 coin and then gave the remaining small Canadian change to Nora – probably around 8-10 coins, that added up to around 76 cents.  She giggled with an evil, greedy little squeal, and after Grandma and Grandpa went on their way, the conversation went something like this:

Nora:  Wooo- eeee!  I’m rich.  Grandpa gave me a lot of money.

Kids:  We got some, too.

Nora:  Yeah, but Grandpa gave me the most.

Kids:  Not really.

Nora:  Yes, he did, and it’s because he loves me more.

Kids:  (snickering)

Nora:  In fact he loves me more than anyone else.  That’s why he gave me so much money.  I’m the favorite.

Kids:  (eyes rolling) o.k. (obviously not convinced)

Hmmmm, I’m going to try that approach the next time I get a check in the mail – no matter how late or how little.  I’ll just jump up and down, “yee-hah!” and rejoice in my riches.  After all, it’s a state of mind, right?

Summer Boredom Buster #9 – Veggie Creatures

Fortunately for us, we still have 2 more weeks before school starts, so we’re still deep into play.  Our good friends invited us over to make veggie creatures out of leftover zucchini and vegetables to enter in the county fair.  (This is the friend who is throwing vegetables at people because she has so many).  So, we loaded up the Amazing Cargo Bike'>Madsen Cycle with Nora and Blueberry Buckle and headed over for some creative play.  We missed the deadline for the fair, but we ended up with some great creations.  Nora made several “bowls,” and was very proud.

     

 

     

I think I can

I’ve been thinking a lot about the words, “I can’t.”  I’ve heard them inside my mind too often, lately, and I have heard them from my children.  What is it that prevents us from, “I can?”

Last week, thanks to a good friend, we went waterskiing.  It was our first time this summer, and my first time in two years.  Every two years, I put on a slalom ski, get behind the boat, and prove to myself that I can still get up.  While I am sitting in the water, I am most focused on getting up – after that, I’m not that remarkable.  As the boat is pulling, and my hands are holding tight, and I’m struggling to steady the ski so I can reach success, there is a point where I think, “I can’t do this . . .I’m not going to be able to get up this time.”  When I push through that point, all of a sudden I’m on top of the water and I’ve proved to myself one more year that I still have it.

Gabi and Jessamyne have both water-skied before, but this time we tried a new technique.  They weren’t so fortunate at first, and both fell a few times.  By the end, they were crying and saying, “I can’t do this!”  They were very discouraged.  Gabi was not to be beaten though, and right before the last light of day, she made it.  She was elated to tell me that she made it up - she overcame something difficult for her.  The “can’t” became a definitive “can.”

This morning, I met my friend Erin for our bike ride up Schweitzer.  I dread this ride.  I think I am only doing it for the incredible exercise it gives me and to prove to myself that I can.  About 1 mile into it, my mind was crowded with, “I can’t.”  At Mile 2, I definitely thought it was time to quit.  Erin was a good distance in front of me and the only thing that kept me going was making sure she was always in sight.  By Mile 3, Erin turned around and asked if I needed to quit.  I have to admit it was really tempting, but I hate to be beaten.  Like the great friend that she is, she stayed by my side while we made it another 1 1/2 miles and I began to feel that “I could.”

What has caused this reflection?  There are many things in life, physical, spiritual, or mental, which will sometimes cause “I can’t” to creep into our minds.  Always when we push through, we are rewarded.  I re-acquainted myself with the NieNieDialogues, a blog by a courageous woman.  When I read about what she has overcome, I know that I have little room for “I can’t,” and I am committed to focus more on, “I can.”

Garden Envy

I have tried every year to be a gardener.  When I started my garden in Springville about 8 years ago, I was misled.  I must have had beginner’s luck because I had so many veggies I didn’t know what to do with them – all with little effort.  Also, it didn’t help that Utah has a great growing season, the soil we brought in was fantastic, and the position in my yard gave it the perfect ratio of afternoon sun and morning shade.

So, when we bought our darling little house in downtown Sandpoint almost 5 years ago, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the built up bed that used to hold a small swing-set.  After I recovered from Nora, I set to work making 3 raised beds – I even paid good money for organic garden soil.  And, even though it wasn’t a big area, I thought I would be able to grow something.  In 4 seasons, I have probably produced 3 zucchinis, 15 tomatoes, 5 green peppers, and a handful of grape tomatoes.

   

My friends are nice.  They say it’s because my yard is too shady, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t help to have a black thumb.  I have had a little more success since moving my tomatoes into pots on the deck where they get a little more sun.  They are still weak at best.

So, my confession is that I’m green with envy when I see Kirsten’s garden, or Shelli’s harvest, or hear that Jenny has so many vegetables, she’s throwing them at people.  And, when my friend saw my backyard and said that she loved the “woodland effect,” it probably meant that I have too many indigenous plants (a.k.a weeds) in the beds. Although it is green and grows without effort,  I do long for a beautiful and colorful yard like Kristi’s. 

But, I will try every year to produce something, and every year I will continue to admire all the beautiful gardens around me.  Some day I’m sure I will succeed, but in the meantime I will continue to be grateful for everyone who shares their wonderful bounties with us.  And, I do put it to good use.

By the way, my favorite tomato recipes include:

Jenni’s Marinara

15 medium-sized ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
6 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
2 large onions, finely chopped
3 large carrots, finely chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon pepper

Cook garlic, onions, and carrots in oil in large stock pot over medium.  Heat until tender.  Add tomatoes and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Lower heat and simmer 1 1/2 hours.  If you’d like it thicker, feel free to add tomato paste.  I like to let it cool a bit and then blend part of it in a blender to make it more uniform but not soupy.

 

Quick Panzanella with Chicken (Cooking Light)

4  (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3/4  teaspoon  salt, divided
1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper, divided
Cooking spray
2  cups  (1-inch) cubed tomato
2  cups  diced ciabatta bread (about 4 ounces)
1  cup  thinly sliced celery (2 stalks)
1/2  cup  fresh basil leaves, torn
2  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
2  tablespoons  red wine vinegar
1  small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2  English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced (about 1 cup)

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from heat, and chop.

Place tomato in a large bowl; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add chicken, bread, and the remaining ingredients to tomato mixture, tossing well to combine. Serve immediately.

 

Sweet Exchange

When I left to go running this morning . . . .

My Darling Children,

1.  Please have granola with blueberries for breakfast
2.  Please clean your rooms and make your beds.
3.  Please brush your teeth and hair.
4.  Gabi, please shower.
5.  Please tell each other, “I love you.”

I will be running the Dover trail and left about 7:10.  I will be back around 8:30, just in time to take Gabi.  I love you!  Mom

 

When I returned, there was this note on the door . . .

To our Darling Mother,

Everything went well.  Thank you for the note.  We ran out of granola!  Gabi showered and brushed her hair and teeth, Caleb told Jessamyne that he loved her.  So did Nora.  Jessamyne sang while she cleaned and was happy to be alive!  Jessamyne had blueberries and she can make you Malt-O-Meal if you want.  We love you!  Your darling children.

Blueberry Bounty

It seems like summer is slipping away.  The kids are counting down until the first day of school, but I have to admit that I’m not quite ready.  We have spent this week filling it with fun activities and one of today’s was picking blueberries at the Blueberry Farm in LaClede.  I agree with the kids . . . it was much easier than picking huckleberries.  We picked 13 pounds in an hour, and there’s nothing more satisfying to me than having fun while being productive . . . or is it being productive while having fun?

     

       

     

My favorite recipes involving blueberries include:

Blueberry Buckle or Triple Berry Jam (following basic directions, but mix blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries to equal total berry amount).

And, if this is making your mouth water, you probably have a U-Pick Berry Farm somewhere near you, so what’s that advice?  “You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, and you can pick your berries . . .” or something like that.

When in Doubt, Journal It

I started this blog, initially, as a way for me to document our family and write some of my feelings.  I have not been a good journal-writer for years, so I felt like this was a way for my kids to have something of me – of my perspective. This is my way of keeping a journal.

I am still running.  I have to admit I have missed writing about it.  When I look at everything I wrote while training for the Seattle Rock n’roll Marathon, I realized how important those entries were for my progress.  I haven’t written much lately for fear that I may be boring my small group of readers.

I am again training for a marathon, which will take place on September 19th.  My mileage has gone from about 30 miles per week, to 45 miles per week.  I am discouraged.  I am not as motivated.  I will be running the race alone.  I have had some good runs and some really bad runs.  I do have great friends and cheerleaders.  But I have realized that I have neglected a big part of my training – keeping a running journal.

So I now have a second page, which contains my training journal.  The link is on my front page, and instead of being subjected to weekly running updates, if you are interested, you can have a little look into my training schedule and my road to the Chelan Marathon.  I am really looking forward to fine-tuning my training the next few weeks.

If you are running or want to begin, Runner’s World has some great Training Tools for runners.  There are pace calculators, race finders, and even a training log.  Check it out.