Pickles

We had a few pickling cukes already matured.

Here's one being prepared for dill pickles.

Here they are! This is a quick ferment method.

They are made with a salt brine, mustard seeds, dill (we used regular dill becauase we could not find pickling dill. We should grow our own!) and some garlic.

Next time we will use a little less salt. They sit out for two days, and then go in the fridge and last for several months. Apparently if you add in a little whey they last for 6 months.

We are having major fun with all the veggies!

(My camera is broken:(, so I'm using the little camera, and it shows in the photo quality.)

My First Triathlon!

Isabelle and Joseph with me after the finish!

I have enjoyed fitness for a long time, but had a break for awhile because of the hypothryoid.

About two years ago, I got back into fitness, but this time with running.

I started with the Couch Potato to 5K program.

I enjoyed running a few 5k's, and then a running friend suggested we sign up for a triathlon!

I had to think about it for awhile, but I'm so glad I did it!

I found a 3 month training program on line that was specifically for sprint distance triathlon.

It was fun to do the training (well, most days it was fun), and then cross of the work for that specific day, and it felt like I was accomplishing something. It was really fun to train for something specific as well.

Also, my friend found a swim club that met each Friday morning, for a one hour pool workout. It was awesome! We ended up regularly swimming about 2000 meters. Having the swim coach and people to swim with made a huge difference in my swimming ability!

Our triathlon was a 400 meter swim, then a fairly long uphill run to transition. Followed by a 12 mile (20K) bike, and a 3 mile (5K) run.

My swim was 11 min (which included the run to transition)

My bike was 53 min (on Mom's mountain bike! I need a road bike at some point.)

My run was 26:57

It was great fun!
I can't wait to do another one!

Summer Happenings

I totally need to catch up around here!

Tonight I turned on my camera to take pictures of the latest garden yummies, and my camera did not work! I changed the battery, and it still did not work! I'm very concerned. I put the battery back in the charger and will try again in the morning. Oh, please please work tomorrow!
Then, I took pictures with Brendons little camera and I can't get the images to upload. Oh, well!
Phooey!

Someone in this house took this photo a few weeks ago, and it very well could have been a kid! I have my morning coffee and catch up on emails and blogs. Sort of like my version of reading the newspaper! Also that counter space right there is the designated drop zone in this house and nearly impossible to keep tidy. Nearly... Oh, and my brain definetly doesn't work before that first cup of coffee kicks in...I warn you not to talk to me before then!


We have been busy with swim team. Every morning we have practice and it takes up most of the morning. By the time we get home the kids are starving, so we do lunch and then we do a little math work. We have a couple of play dates each week, go to the library one day and have a swim meet on Thursday. It's been a very pleasant summer so far!

Hopefully my camera will start working and I can post some more pictures.

Chores..Bathtime!

The dogs needed a good washing, so on Saturday Brendon tackled the job!

Sarah, is shaking it off as quick as she can.

It's hilarious, because this dog actually loves to swim!

The bath is over and now she's rolling around to get dry and dirty!

Mavis had a bath before I could take a picture, but she's on alert and ready to sprint just in case we change our mind!

Garden Herbs

It was time to pick some herbs and dry them!

We have basil, shown here with Isabelle, Cilantro and mint right now.

Cilantro

Joseph with his bounty!