Our First Backpacking Trip with Baby

We just returned from our first backpacking trip with Johann, and thought we would document a few notes for anyone who is interested. Spending time outdoors, in the heart of nature, recharges us in a way that not much else does. Not only does it provide some R & R, it lets the unimportant things and distractions of daily life fall away so we can fully appreciate God's creation all around us. For us, getting outside is a form of worship. And this is a key family value that we want to impart to our baby, Johann.

I had done some reading about backpacking with babies. We knew it was something we wanted to do as a family, and were happy to find that there are a lot of others who feel the same way. I gleaned some wisdom and got inspired by blogs and WTA trip reports I read about other families who backpacked with babies.

We chose a hike that we were familiar with and thought it would make an easy backpacking destination with baby. Barclay Lake is a small, quiet sub-alpine lake in the Mount Baker National Forest, reached by a 2.25 mile hike with an easy grade.

We had a bit of a bumpy start as Johann had a "blow out" while we were still at the trailhead, just getting our gear ready to go, forcing us to do an outfit change when we hadn't even left yet! Good timing, in hindsight.

When we reached the lake - being the only ones there - we had our pick of campsites. We chose a secluded, beautiful spot by the lake and set up camp.

Our private campsite by the lake

While hiking, Johann was happy to ride in the Ergo, either napping or enjoying the scenery. At camp he had more freedom, so it was a little more challenging with one of us watching him pretty closely at all times. He is not yet crawling, but still got into some mischief! He entertained himself with things like mugs, spoons, and dirt - of course. I was more relaxed when I realized he was going to keep finding the dirt, no matter what. He was especially fascinated by the inside of our tent.

Fascinated by the tent

But we had a few challenges.

Sleep was by far the biggest hurdle. He was content to stay up with us until 10 pm, when the light faded, and woke up EARLY, with the sunrise, ready to start the day at 5:05 am! The cold was another challenge, as overnight temps dropped into the low 40s. It was a bit warmer inside the tent and Johann was pretty bundled up inside Ryan's sleeping bag, but we were still worried. Tasks that went easier with two people, like setting up the tent and stringing up the bear bag, were also a bit of a challenge. Finding a way to keep Johann occupied was not the easiest, so we had to do things in short stretches of time.

Entertaining himself with a spoon while we cooked breakfast

Overall, he was kind to us and seemed to enjoy all facets of the experience - exploring with us (a lot!), sitting on the beach, gazing up at the mountains, stars, and the magnificent forest canopy, smiling sweetly at the few fellow backpackers who we ran into later, all the birds and various nature sounds.

Exploring with Daddy

The north face of Mt. Baring

Barclay Lake looking east

Ryan and I had distributed our pack weights so we each carried 38 lbs, including Johann whom I front-carried in the Ergo. We had definitely overpacked, but we figured that was safer than leaving an essential item behind the first time. We didn't end up needing more than half the diapers we had packed (we used disposables for the trip.) We did not skimp on diapers, clothes/extra layers, and food for ourselves. Johann is breastfed so nothing extra to carry there. We packed two thin burp cloths, but decided we can make do with our bandanas and washcloths next time. If the weather is dry, we can wash and dry them in time for reuse.

On the whole, we had a wonderful time, loved the sense of accomplishment since this was a big goal for us, and returned recharged! The lake and vistas were gorgeous, and we enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Mt. Baring at sunset

Barclay Lake at sunset

The reflection of Mt. Baring in the lake at sunrise

We are glad we did this before Johann started to crawl, and we will be doing it again soon. I'm sure a crawling baby will bring a host of new challenges so it will be interesting. We'll be sure to share anything new that we learn.

P.S.: Neither my husband nor I know anything about taking pictures, but we thought these turned out rather nicely. None of the images have been edited in any way.

Foraging: Stinging Nettles

Since moving to the state of Washington, I have been swept away by the foraging possibilities - both abundant and nearby. I have been devouring all kinds of information on the subject, learning about different things to look for by season. Winter is over here in the Pacific North West, and that means yummy stinging nettles are in their prime.

Stinging nettles - which lose their "sting" after being cooked for one minute - are easy to identify, and deliciously yummy. They remind me of spinach, but maybe a bit woodsier. I now substitute them for pretty much any dark leafy green veggie in recipes. Not only are stinging nettles pesticide-free gifts of nature, but according to my research, they are also a nutritional powerhouse, chock full of all the dark-leafy-green veggie benefits including iron, calcium, and folic acid.

In early spring, we donned long sleeves and pants, gloves, and boots, and ventured down to the nearest trails to pick our first lot. A modest half grocery bag's worth.

Never having cooked with Stinging Nettles before, I wanted to tread lightly. Even my husband (who generally does not get as excited about food) was all too eager to help me pick them, probably in large part for the fact that he got to jump into the weedy shrubs, thorns and brambles and be a little boy again. And we had two other adorable helpers.

You are supposed to harvest only the top two or three bracts of the plant while they're still young, so they have a chance to keep growing (at which point you can go back and pick more yumminess!) and snip off the leaves to cook with.

Unable to avoid curiosity, we cooked up that first batch immediately. Oh.So.Tasty! You cook them for a minute (which will disable the sting), then however your recipe calls for your leafy greens to be cooked.

It cooks down almost exactly like spinach, in the fact that it loses as much water.

Since then, we have gone back again and again and have picked many more bags full. Boy-oh-boy we have discovered a whole new world and have had so much fun experimenting with it in different dishes. Stinging nettle and garlic homemade deep dish stuffed crust pizza, anyone?

Or, simply tossed into boring old spaghetti sauce? Or, perhaps a semi-foraged version of delicious Indian Palak Paneer? The possibilities are endless. Thank God for these simple delights of nature.

Pumpkin Dumplings

Last Saturday, we visited this farm. They have all the lovely Fall-type activities including a big pumpkin patch, gigantic corn maze, apple orchard, and a petting zoo (for the child inside all of us). Bonus you get a stunning view of snow-capped Mount Baker towering in the horizon. So this is one of my new favorite places to visit seasonally in the state of Washington. We came away from the crisp autumn afternoon warmed with fresh hot apple cider, happily hugging our stash of fresh picked apples and pumpkins that will probably feed us until next year.

I have a love affair with pumpkins. I know I've shared some favorite pumpkin recipes before, but now I have a new one to add to the list, pumpkin dumplings! (By the way, the secret reason for all this experimentation is to get my husband to eat pumpkin in various forms, so I can continue to cook it. He hates pumpkin pie with a passion. I know, he's crazy right?) 

So, pumpkin dumplings...here we go! If you're a fan of pretty much anything mixed with pasta sauce, you'll love this.  This sort of looks and tastes like gnocchi, except it tastes a bit like pumpkin too. Making it is as easy as can be.

Pumpkin Dumplings

This portion serves 8, which makes about the equivalent of cooking up an entire box of pasta.

You will need:

2 eggs
2 cups pure pumpkin (pureed with a little water if its too firm)
3 1/4 cups flour
pinch of nutmeg

Mix everything together in a large bowl until well incorporated. I like my large spatula and wooden spoon for this. The dough will be sticky, that's okay. Bring a big pot of water to a boil, add salt when boiling, and drop the dumplings one teaspoon at a time into the boiling water. Let them rise to the surface and cook another minute like that. Should take about 2-3 minutes total. Scoop out with a slotted spoon when done. When all dumplings are cooked, you're all set. But, when you're ready to eat them, sauté them up with a teensy bit of olive oil and butter, mix with any kind of green leafy veggies that you like, top with plenty of freshly cracked black pepper, freshly grated parmesan, and serve hot. Enjoy!

Memories Of Potatoes And Marriage

We are just about halfway unpacked in our new home, after one full week. I had most of the kitchen unpacked within the first few days, therefore had few excuses not to start cooking right away. The only issue was, with not much more than a sack of potatoes in the pantry, I was at a loss for what to make for dinner (unless there was a harried rush to the grocery store involved - which is never a good idea where I'm concerned).

Then a memory came back to me about the first meal that my now husband (then boyfriend) ever made for me. We had been dating for about a month at the time, and he told me that one of his favorite foods was the mighty Potato. Ever the sassy one, I asked him to make me something with potatoes...and voila, he produced this amazing foil-wrapped roasted potato dish. Adding to the fact that this meal was prepared with care, I couldn't help but notice that this foil-wrapped method locked in all the yummy herbs and spices and infused the potatoes with their flavor in such a marvelous way. It is a stand-alone meal for us potato-lovers, but is probably better suited to being a side dish for normal folk!

I have since made my husband's special potatoes quite often and every time we enjoy this dish, those fond memories come rushing back. So, what better way to break in our new kitchen than to load it up right away with fond memories of our first meals together?

As an added bonus, I got to celebrate the fact that I finally have an oven that I can turn up to over 400 F without having to worry about an over sensitive smoke alarm!  :)

Foil Roasted Potatoes

You will need:

4-5 baking potatoes, cubed (we like skin on, but feel free to peel)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 tablespoon dried rosemary
1/4 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
salt to taste
Aluminum foil

Preheat oven to 425 F. Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Tear off enough aluminum foil to cover a cookie sheet twice. Pour the potatoes over this double layer, then cover with another double layer of aluminum foil. Fold the edges over tightly, to make a "packet". Put the cookie sheet in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then carefully flip the packet over and bake for another 20 minutes. That's it. Enjoy! 

Brief Goodbye...and Black Bean Tacos

Remember when I mentioned that we are moving again? Yep! We are moving into our new house later this week, and seriously looking forward to experiencing all the joys (and horrors) of home ownership once more. And, I'm excited about a more spacious kitchen. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed this apartment and it's closet-sized but nicely-outfitted tidy kitchen. However, I will NOT miss the over-sensitive smoke alarm that has caused our blood pressure to rise on many occasions. Still, this has been a terrific adventure so far, and we are so excited to move into our new home.

With the upcoming move, we have been making an effort to empty out the fridge and pantry of half-finished jars and bags of this and that. One very fruitful result of the purge was these wonderful Black Bean and Fish Tacos that we enjoyed for dinner last night. And they were so yummy! And so simple, you don't even need a recipe....as you can see for yourself :)

Black Bean and Fish Tacos

When you see me next I will be in my new kitchen. So, a brief goodbye, until next time!

Dreaming of Italy: Prosciutto e Melone (Prosciutto and Melon)

I want to go to Italy. I want to drink Italian wine. I want to eat fresh spaghetti with tomato and basil. I want to sit at a road side café and sip espresso that's as thick as melted chocolate. I want to visit Firenze and stand in awe of the art and architecture of the Renaissance. I want to go to Napoli, and eat authentic Napolitano pizza. I want to stand on a terrace and look out over Rome in all its past and present glory. In short, I want to be Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat Pray Love and do nothing but eat great food and experience "the sweetness of doing nothing”.

So, until this trip to Italy happens, for now, this will do. My homemade version of a classic Italian savory treat, Prosciutto e Melone. Cantaloupe wrapped in Prosciutto. I added just a touch of basil and balsamic vinegar. We enjoyed this treat tonight, and it was so filling, it was basically dinner!

I can practically hear the sounds of the street by the café. After all, in my head I’m in Italy anyway.

Prosciutto e Melone (Prosciutto and Melon)

Really simple to put together, and this can be made ahead of time. All you need is some Cantaloupe, sliced or balled, thinly sliced Prosciutto, a bit of balsamic vinegar, and some basil (optional). Assemble Prosciutto and Melon as shown, drizzle on some balsamic vinegar, and serve. Enjoy!

I'm back! And here's a "Welcome to Washington" recipe, too: Seared Sea Scallops with Satsuma Salsa

I am so happy to report that we are settling into life in Washington, and having a whole lot of fun exploring all that the area has to offer. Our new apartment is tiny, and we are very cozy in it with our two pups, but, the positive thing is that the location is terrific and the kitchen is fully equipped with a dishwasher. Yes, a DISHWASHER!!!! I didn't have one in the beautiful gourmet kitchen that I left behind so I will fully relish not having to wash and dry dishes by hand for at least the next ten months.

Now that my kitchen goods are about seventy-five percent unpacked, I decided that I would cook a nice meal for us to enjoy Friday night. It's been several weeks since I've really "cooked" anything and I just haven't felt like myself. So, the dish to inaugurate several things - our move to the Northwest, my new job, our new cozy little abode, new opportunities, and new adventures - Seared Sea Scallops with Satsuma Salsa. (Try saying that five times really fast.) But, really, I couldn't think of anything better to represent our (meaning my) excitement at the thought of having much better access to fresh seafood than we did in our little corner of Wisconsin - since we don't go fishing. And, who wouldn't like the idea of savoring short-lived spring goodies such as the Satsuma variety of mandarin orange? My husband picked me up a few - available aplenty in grocery stores here this week - since I had a bad cold and needed that C. Anyway, we thought it was really delicious. This is a really simple recipe for seared scallops and I urge you to give it a try.

Seared Sea Scallops with Satsuma Salsa

Serves 2

1 small shallot, minced

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon satsuma orange (or tangerine) zest

1 tablespoon fresh satsuma orange (or tangerine) juice

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon white vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, divided

1 satsuma orange (or tangerines) peeled and sectioned

8 fresh sea scallops, patted thoroughly dry.

Whisk together shallots, parsley, orange zest, juice, oil, vinegar, and half the salt and pepper in a small bowl. Add sectioned oranges, and set aside.

Heat a medium sized skillet over medium-heat, and add just enough oil to coat the bottom. Add scallops to skillet and cook until it gets that nice golden brown sear, about 2 minutes on each side, sprinkling with remaining salt and pepper when turning over. Do not overcook - or they will be rubbery and awful! Serve immediately, topped with the satsuma salsa. We ate this as an entree served over watercress and hot cooked jasmine rice, but it would make a terrific appetizer on its own too. Enjoy!

Hiatus

I know many of you are wondering why I haven't posted anything lately. There's a very good reason why...

Ramble On and its owners are moving! We are in the process of selling our house, packing up our belongings, and relocating to Washington state for new jobs and new adventures. I will get back to blogging regularly once we have settled in to our next abode. I have packed away most of my kitchen stuff already, but will try to squeeze out one more post before I move, within the next couple of days. I will miss the beautiful kitchen that has been my "foodie home" for the past four years, but look forward to discovering and settling into a new home and kitchen and a continued culinary journey. Thank you for reading! Until later.

International Cooking Club, And Chana Masala

A few months ago, a friend of a friend invited me to join an international cooking club that was just being formed in our town. That's right - a cooking club, right here in my little corner in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. Who knew my little town of about four thousand-ish could be so cosmopolitan? :) It is not easy to meet new people in this town, so this club was really a huge answer to prayer! Anyway, there are now about ten of us, representing as many countries, and we each take turns demonstrating recipes from our home country, and generally sharing our the food culture with the others. Such fun!

Our next meeting is this Saturday, and it will be my turn to showcase a little bit of India. But, where to even start? Indian food is so diverse. You step fifty or so miles this side or that side, and it's like you're in a whole other country..the language is different, customs are different, the food is different, the clothes can be different...you get the idea, right? I really hope to take more turns in the future, so I can at least skim the surface and show a few more dishes.

Now, there are a few rules so we can accommodate everyone's dietary needs...for instance, no meat, vegetarian stuff only, and limited dairy products. So, I could immediately kiss goodbye to the idea of showing off my beloved fried fish, or any of my favorite chicken curry recipes. The rules are probably a helpful thing for me, in any case, because I was having way too much trouble picking from among my favorite dishes. However, one of the four dishes I am choosing to show is this Chana Masala. This savory concoction of chick peas (garbanzo beans) and spices goes with just about any carbs you can get your hands on......rice, sliced bread, naan, whatever. It is a home favorite, and the ingredients are easily available. I can't wait to show it at cooking club on Saturday. Here is the recipe:

Chana Masala
(Chick Peas Simmered In Spicy Gravy)

You will need:

1 can Chick peas (Garbanzo beans)
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped tomato
2 tablespoons coriander powder
1 teaspoon red chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons veg oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon butter
1 1/2 cups of water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
cilantro leaves for garnish

Serves 4.

Rinse and drain chick peas and set aside. Heat oil in a saucepan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and allow them to 'pop'. Add the chopped onions and saute till translucent. Add the chopped tomato and saute. Add coriander powder and red chilli powder and mix well. Stir in the butter. Once the butter has melted in, add the water and let the whole thing come up to a boil. Then, add the chick peas and salt and mix well. Lower heat to medium and let cook for about 5 minutes. When it starts to thicken, add the lemon juice. Stir, and remove from heat. Enjoy!

and one year later...

I’m back because, useless as I feel this blog sometimes is, as it turned out I really missed writing.

A few significant things have happened since last September – significant being a relative term:

My dear mother came to visit me for two weeks.

I made a New Year’s resolution to cook one new dish a week...and far exceeded that goal, kicking it to the curb by February.

I turned 25.

We bought kayaks and had a few nice adventures paddling down large bodies of water in lower Wisconsin.

I planted a vegetable garden again this year.

I acquired a distinct lack of enthusiasm for someone/something.

I complained about the mild temperatures through most of this so-called “summer”.

I gained 5 lbs (which I have not yet bothered to lose).



And there it is. See you later this week.

when the eyes look tired

Yesterday, at about eight-thirty p.m., I was just wrapping up my work day (the longest and worst of the week), when one of my co-workers said "you look tired, your eyes are very red". When I heard that all I wanted to do was run home and go to bed. The work-week was the worst in a long time. Very busy and not nearly enough coffee to keep it all going at a hundred-miles per minute.
However, I did get a wonderful mid-week break on Tuesday night, Ryan surprised me by "kidnapping" me in the parking lot and driving me to Governor Dodge where we hiked up an outcropping of rocks that we are particularly fond of, to enjoy the sunset and a picnic dinner - which he had made, planned, and packed all by himself! So I am going to brag about it - turkey-tomato-and anaheim pepper whole-wheat sandwiches, with grape tomatoes freshly picked from the garden, and capri sun to drink! I love my husband dearly. More so when he does things like this :) He even brought me a change of clothes and the appropriate hiking shoes. :) :) It was a welcome break in an otherwise blurry, stressful week. Here is a picture of the sunset that we got to enjoy:



Today is Friday, and I am looking forward to a nice weekend. We are waking up early in the morning, packing up the dogs, some "road-food", and driving to central Illinois for the weekend, to attend Ryan's cousin's baby-shower. It is sure to be a fun but hectic trip, as it usually turns out to be when we travel with the doggies. But it will be great spending time with family! It will also allow me to engage in some rather strange "road-trip-only" behaviors, for example: eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos. This particular food has been a Ryan-Niha road-trip tradition ever since we met. Don't even remember how it started!

Well, I better get to bed soon.

We leave at daybreak!
(I have always wanted to say that)

a dreadful four days

It truly has been a dreadful past few days. Y'know how, sometimes, the difference between what you want to do and what you have to do is so vast that it just makes you sick to think about it? Well, I've been feeling pretty sick all week. I thought it would be a fairly mellow week and that I would actually be able to spend some time at my desk getting stuff done. But no, of course not. Murphy's Law.
On a brighter note, last weekend was very nice. We went camping, minus the dogs, and got some good quality time to ourselves with much-needed peace and quiet. And good weather! Very relaxing. Maybe that's why this week seems like it's pretty tough, because all that relaxation surely should have prepared me. I don't think so!
Ryan and I watched "Guru" (Abhishek Bachhan) a couple of days ago, and we both enjoyed it. It was well-made and well-written. I recommend it. I went through this exercise a few weeks ago, I actually took the time to rate and add a few movies to our netflix queue, so I won't have to look at it again for the next year or so!
I can't wait for tomorrow to come and go. To put this irritating week behind me. Saturday we are going on a long crazy bike ride with some fellow HVCC-ers, and I'm really looking forward to it!!!

a sigh of relaxation

It seems like it has been a long weekend. Friday I had to go to Milwaukee for a green card thing. Ryan very lovingly accompanied me. It gave us a chance to indulge in some terrible, but oh-so-good “road-behaviors”. That encompassed a rest-stop at Target, with a cheddar pretzel for me, and a ham-n-swiss sandwich for Ryan. The appointment went smoothly and we were on the road again in less than 15 minutes. On our way home, we had the urge to stop at the outlet mall...well, I had the urge, and Ryan glumly followed. But he got some clothes; in fact, he got way more clothes than I did! I was very good, in comparison.

Saturday and Sunday we made up for all the excesses, in many ways. We didn’t use the car at all, for starters, we didn’t spend any money, didn’t shop (even online), and we ate entirely home-cooked food! Talk about living efficiently.

We started Saturday right. Whole-wheat toast with butter and jam for breakfast, followed by a beautiful bike ride to Mineral Point and back…slightly over 20 miles. It was a very scenic trail, but no shade at all! Good thing we put on sunblock. When we got to Mineral Point, we stopped by the farmer’s market, and I got a “lavender eggplant”, and also some “Italian bottle onions”. The lady at the stand said that the bottle onions tasted really good when grilled, so I thought we would make a pizza that night and try them on it! We did take some pictures along the bike trail –

















Saturday afternoon and evening we primarily relaxed. We made sushi (second time last week!) for lunch, and it turned out very well. Ryan was happy that his rolls turned out much better the second time. We watched the movie version of “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. Figured it would be a good idea, since we just finished reading the book two weeks ago. The book is MUCH better. For dinner, I tried a new pizza dough recipe – which turned out very nicely – and our toppings were the eggplant and Italian bottle onions from the farmer’s market, and also some tomatoes and banana peppers from my garden. The whole thing turned out very well, and we decided that we will definitely use the dough recipe again. Here’s a picture –



Sunday, I had media duty all morning at church. Afterwards, those of us who had signed up for the praise band jam stayed on to rehearse. We needed to be there by 3, so we had from 1 to 3 to practice. It was a little sketchy, and we probably weren’t as prepared as we could have been. But the event itself was great! We couldn’t hear ourselves because the stage monitors sucked, and I guess I had gotten used to the in-ear monitors….but it was exciting, and we were there worshipping, and it was really cool to see all the area churches come together for one cause. I wish there were more concerts/events like that.

And today we are more than halfway through August. *sigh*

remedy drive and karaoke night

So, last night, we went to a concert in Richland Center. It was an indie rock/christian band out of Nebraska called Remedy Drive, and they were FANTASTIC! And also very loud. My entire head still hurts from the sound. But the concert was great! I even bought a t-shirt....after all, I want to support their cause. We had taken the Intern girl, Stephanie, with us as she doesn't have a car. We was kind enough to treat us to Dairy Queen after wards. I got fries (craving) and Ryan and Stephanie got Blizzards which looked very yummy, perfect for the hot day anyway. So, we were driving home through Lone Rock, when it occurred to me that it was the 3rd Friday of the month, and The Shed has Karaoke on the 3rd Friday of the month. So we took a small detour and headed to where the Karaoke was. It was fun! We got a couple beers and I worked up the nerve to sing a song. And it wasn't so bad!
In hindsight, heading from one incredibly loud music venue straight to another probably wasn't the best idea. But it was a very fun Friday night!

the last weekend in June

I got a bug-bite the size of a golf ball on my forearm this weekend. This happened while we were visiting yet another new baby, this time at our friends Jill and Jeremy’s house, on Friday after work. But I don’t blame them. I blame the rotten bug that bit me while I was standing in their Strawberry patch. I was helping Ryan and Jeremy pick strawberries for about three minutes. I felt an awful bite, looked over and saw the nasty bug sitting on my arm and promptly shooed it away. I didn’t get a good enough look at it for a proper identification. It wasn’t a very big bite on Friday evening. But it got bigger and bigger over the weekend, and when I woke up Sunday morning, several tiny bubbles had formed on the surface of the bite. Yuck. Anyway, it looks much better today, and the nasty-looking bubbles have subsided.
On a different note, we went on another enjoyable long bike ride on Saturday. We seem to have perfected the art of getting in our bike rides (mid-mornings), that is, well before the weather turns bad (afternoons, as has been the case). We rode to Ridgeway and back, with no dark clouds in sight for miles around. A pleasant 32 kms, or 20 miles, in 2 hours and 3 minutes. Not bad at all. It was a gorgeous day and I didn’t even complain once. We didn’t see any deer or snapping turtles on / around the trail like we did last weekend…but we did see pretty birds, and cows and horses, and interesting weeds, and some wild grapes growing along the trail by Ridgeway. We passed this old (very old) couple riding their bikes along the highway section of the trail. We were already sitting down in the park at Ridgeway when they arrived. They parked their bikes, took out their picnic lunch and made themselves comfortable on the park bench to enjoy it. I wonder if Ryan and I will be like that when we are in our sixties…or seventies….
And so, the first six months of the year are gone. Just like that.

escaping the ceremony

Recently, a lot of people have been talking about graduation – their grandchildren, children, nieces and nephews are all graduating – high-school, middle school, college, and even kindergarten. I heard about ceremonies at school, parties and open-houses being planned, gifts being given, and various other surprises for the graduates in their lives...and most of all, the stress that was being caused by all the activities related to these events.

All this talk of graduation made me think back to my own graduations. In India, since graduation is not something as widely celebrated, my own High School graduation was a very low-key affair. My grandparents, mom and I went out to a nice Chinese dinner. At school, a simple prayer was said for the entire 12th class, and we had the relief of knowing that we were done with those horrible government exams, and that was the extent of all celebration.

My College graduation, although still low-key on my part, was very different. There was a lot of excitement and activities put forth by the University; my peers were all very excited to walk across the stage in cap and gown and receive their diplomas from the Chancellor. I, however, was not too keen at the prospect of sweating in a polyester gown and awful scratchy cap for six hours. So, I skipped the ceremony entirely and spent the week in San Francisco with my boyfriend...which was a very smart move. I got more value out of the experiences and memories of that trip than I would have ever received from attending and participating in the graduation ceremony. I was not particularly interested in the ceremony itself, my family members weren’t here to enjoy it...so why should I have bothered?

My point is that graduating is an honor, and it should be a moment of pride, primarily for the graduate...no stress needed. It is a time to celebrate. Maybe the celebration involves walking across a stage to receive your cap and gown and having a party so your family and friends can honor you. Or maybe it comes with your own quiet recognition of knowing what you achieved, from the comfort of a cushy vacation spot far, far away.

I am glad I chose the latter.

when it really counts

It is Wednesday afternoon and you're at work. Your morning dose of caffeine has worn off and it is all you can do to stay focused. It is a sunny day, seventy-two degrees outside, and you feel like the birds are chirping your name. You are counting down the minutes to five o'clock. The week moves on at a snail's pace and Friday finally rolls around. You cannot be more thrilled as you exit the building and head
home.

You've been there. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Friday afternoon. No work looming ahead of you. A welcome Sabbath. You enjoy the rush of joy floating to your head.

We started our weekend on Friday afternoon by walking the dog, enjoying some time in
the garden, relaxing on the couch and watching funny things on television or just lounging and reading. For dinner, we made linguine with white clam sauce accompanied by a perfectly chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Then, we took the dog on a pre-bedtime walk, and played with the Border collie puppies one street over (they have gotten so big!) What a wonderful Friday.

Saturday was even better. I woke up, after a refreshing night's sleep to beautiful morning sunrays streaming in through our bedroom window. I put coffee on and then Lola and I took off on our morning walk. Upon returning, she collapsed in the middle of the kitchen floor while I made Cinnamon rolls. Then Lola and I spent a few minutes in the backyard. I pulled weeds out of my beautiful vegetable garden, lifting my head on and off to watch Lola eat grass and dandelions and subsequently throw up
(of course). I'll never cease to wonder why she doesn't learn :-) Ryan and I then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of coffee, cinnamon rolls, and scrumptious egg-white quesadillas while watching an episode of The Alaska Experiment (that is such an addictive show). And then...the highlight of the day - we geared up for an amazing two and a half-hour bike ride. We biked all the way to Ridgeway and back, stopping a few times to smell the wildflowers and admire the breathtaking scenery. We got home and topped off our sandwich lunch with Root-beer floats! Then, in the afternoon, we went bowling with the Flessners and smiled as two-year old Hannah rolled the eight-pound ball down the alley. For dinner, Ryan and I were both craving steak so we grilled sirloin and had baked potatoes and some wine with it. After dinner we went over to the Flessners to watch Spaceballs (I watched it for the first time, and man, was it funny!!), and play with the kids. I got to hold Samantha for the longest time and it was so much fun.

Sunday - another joy-filled day. Lola turned one year old! We got up at our own pace.... walked Lola, and then got ready for church. We waited until we got home from church to give Lola her present - a huge meaty knuckle bone - which she spent most of her day chewing down to barely anything! Ryan then ran errands, while I enjoyed some time alone at home doing laundry and picking up a few things around the house. Then I
headed over to the first of this summer's hvcc women's activities. I got to relax by the pool, met a few new people, and the lady did such great job organizing it, with fruits and cold drinks on hand. Then, more relaxation at home...a delicious dinner, lounging on the couch and reading, and the season premiere of The Food Network Star!!!

I could not have come up with a better way to end a tiresome work-week.
I knew that we had to have a special weekend. It had to count.

And ours certainly did.

a spontaneous ride

On the Memorial Day holiday, Ryan and I went bike riding on the trail that runs through town. It was a glorious warm day, and we were enjoying feeling the wind in our faces. In a moment of spontaneity, we (meaning I) decided to seize the opportunity for a mini-adventure. So, we veered off our usual trail route and decided to zip downhill into the back-entrance trail to Governor Dodge state park. This would also give me the opportunity to finally attempt a personal challenge to me from two years ago and make the dreaded Governor Dodge uphill climb that I kept saying I wasn't ready for.

The day was perfect and the ride was exhilarating. The trail into the park was mostly downhill. It led straight into the spillover of Cox Hollow Lake, right in the middle of the state park. The trail spit us out into the wide open space around the lake, and we stopped and de-biked for a couple of minutes to just enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Caught up in the thrill of the moment, we promptly made plans to bring our bathing suits the next time we decided to bike to the lake, and then got back on our bikes to make our way out of the park. The plan was to exit through the park's main entrance and take highway 23 south back to Dodgeville.

Of course, the only way to get out of the park was to go up. And, I had not anticipated the brutal climb uphill. A wretched ten minutes later and not even a quarter of the way up, muscles on fire, we stopped to rehydrate. Another thirty minutes later we were finally done with the torturous climb and back on level ground...out of the park and onto the highway.

It was a lovely trip, in all. I'm not sure if it was the trip I enjoyed more, or the fact that I finally conquered the route I had been pushing off for two years. Yay!