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Anyone Else?

I just wanted to share this photo (taken on my iphone). This is how I regularly find our local “megamart” grocery store. Where is all the “food” (these days I use that term loosely)? Not only is the quality of food a huge disappointment, but 

This Moment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/

One Year Ago

I got a good chuckle today going through the blogs posts from a year ago. I wanted to see what I was writing just before my first big race. Hope you enjoy…

“As I was running with my friend Mandy one day, she told me that the end of a marathon was similar to giving birth. It was all mental and you had to really focus.
As I get ready for this race, I feel as if I am preparing for birth. I’m resting. I’m pampering myself. I’m being very careful about what I eat. I’m hydrating. I’m nesting a bit, getting out all of my running gear, gazing lovingly at it, running my fingers across it and smiling. I’m packing my race over night bag…what shall I bring? The grey spandex shirt or the blue one? I’m putting together a running playlist to get me through the pushes. I’m talking about it a lot.
It’s my first big race. It’s a half marathon, which I know, is not a full marathon, but less than a year ago I couldn’t run a half a mile. This weekend I will run 13.1 together with my team and a marathon will soon follow, I’m already hooked.”IMG_1526

 

This photo is titled “Long Run”.

This Moment

I missed my This Moment on Friday, so here it is a little late! {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

Leach Farm Maple Syrup

Some of our near and dear friends have a sugar house down the road. Here is a glimpse inside.

Our Last Distance

Bittersweet. At this point my body is tired. Cranky with distance. It has been a long whirlwind winter. That is truly is how I feel. Winter in Vermont can only be described as long cold nights, short cold days and upon reflecting, over in the blink of an eye. This past weekend was our first warm weekend with temperatures in the 50’s. Paradise in VT. Adam joked that Vermonters come out of the woodwork on the first warm day, moving slowly to bask in the sun like turtles on a log. So true.

IMG_3114 (My apologizes for the selfy, but it was 50*F out and I was supposed to be moving a ton of pellets. See what I am lounging on, that is the ton of pellets).

Anyhow, my group gathered for our last distance run of 12 miles before the race. (We joke that next week is our “rest” week with a run of a mere 6 miles).

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We crossed town lines.

IMG_3116We loved the sun.

IMG_3117We saw surefire signs of spring!

And then we were done. But I wasn’t done with the sun, so we headed to our great friends sugarhouse. Spring is here!

IMG_3121 IMG_3113 IMG_3118 IMG_3119 IMG_3122

A Simple Day in my Kitchen

You will have to excuse my photographs, I’m still trying to figure out this whole blog thing. Frantically, snapping pictures as things bubble away on my stove. I am hoping to upgrade my camera, in due time! Anyhow, here is a little snippet of what 

This Moment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/

The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook : Book Review

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And I quote, “I have spent the good part of the last few years believing that the world would be a better place if we could all stop pretending that kale tastes good”. This is why I love Deb Perelman and have been following the Smitten Kitchen blog for quite some time. Tell me like it is. I want a cookbook that reads like you are having a fun conversation over a glass of wine with a good friend, and this book is exactly that. The recipes are really fresh takes on simple food that everyone wants to (and should) learn how to make centered around common, inexpensive ingredients and basic kitchen tools. Breakfast muffins that taste better the next day, blender Hollandaise in less than 5 minutes and Gnocchi in Tomato Broth? Yes, yes and yes please.

That being said, before I bought this cookbook and recently after several years of dragging my feet about it, I made kale chips. (Mind you, this is NOT a recipe in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook) I finally decided to see what all the rave was about. It was easy enough. I watched the little chips toast and crisp through the oven door.

IMG_2910And the result? Humph. I don’t get it. Still bitter. Not strong enough to be dipped. Not filling. Kale has a tiny place in my kitchen and it is not in the snack category. Thanks Deb, I’m sticking with you and your beautiful book. Follow her blog at http://smittenkitchen.com/.

This Moment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Idea borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/