Over the Hills & Across the Bridge ...

Got up at 6am and walked across my first covered bridge of the season.  The Smolen-Gulf Bridge is located about four miles away from my house.  It is the longest covered bridge in the USA.   Ohio is known for having many covered bridges,  ( we have 17 of them locally ).  There is a Covered Bridge Festival in the fall, I have yet to go to it.  It was a great walk today.  When I got up this morning it was like walking through the clouds.  At one point I could feel all the tiny water droplets on my face as I was walking.  It was a little creepy, as there were many spots I walked through were houses have been left, and now sit vacant, combine that with the mist/ fog and you have at least two parts to a creepy movie.  I had parts that had little to no shoulder to walk on and at one point had a good samaritan in a black blazer offer me a ride.  I politely declined the most generous offer and explained that I was on a training walk.  ( I think I lost him at that point ).  I finished up three hours later, safe at home and 8 miles completed.  I stopped a few times and took some pictures along the way, it was a really enjoyable walk.  More miles to come and new views to see.  In the afternoon, I went to the pistol range and shot a 22 rim fire ( ruger ).  It was the first time I have ever shot a pistol.  While in the Marines I got used to my riffle, so this was a different experience.  Never hurts to learn something new.  Spent three hours getting used to the pistol and firing off rounds.  Had a few nice groupings.  I'm sure with more time at the range, I could be quite proficient at shooting the pistol.  Home for a little down time then off to the gym to get in some more miles.  The 3-Day will be here before I know it!  Below are a few links if you would like to check out the covered bridge that I walked across today, and the festival that takes place here in the fall.


Smolen-Gulf Bridge - longest covered bridge in the USA is ...

Ashtabula County Ohio Covered Bridge Festival

Scurvy Pirates Land Ho!

Lakeshore Park, Ohio

Treasure Chest Cake Mom Made

Today it was all about the Pirates!  Ahoy, Ye Land Lubbers! Captain Tristin and his crew stormed Lakeshore Park as a bunch of scurvy pirates.  They hunted for buried treasure and founds lots of booty. 

Everyone enjoyed a game of safety island

( much like musical chairs, except we used hula hoops and you had to stand inside them, when the music got turned off.)  Then we had a relay race to see who could dress up the pirate first.  After that it was off to eat some good grub, afterwards we were off on an adventure to find the buried treasure.  When we got back from the treasure hunt we went to open up the presents and serve the cake, when a freak wind storm blew everything away!  Well, not everything...but it was bad... We really didn't get a chance to Thank our guests that came as everyone was  running to get out of there.  Well, we ended the party in true Pirate fashion with having to batten down the hatches.  We set sail for home where everyone was wiped out and took a three hour nap... Played hard and earned every wink we did!  Tomorrow back to the training...  It was fun to take a day to play in the sun with all the kids.  Every once and awhile you have to get in touch with your inner child...  They still want to come out and play, we just need to learn not to forget to let them, no matter how old we are or what our position in life is.  It is amazing to see life again through your child's eyes... Thank you for that gift, Tristin & Tyler... Happy 7th Birthday Tristin!  XoXo

Cake that Barb made  ( Thank You! )

All the Scurvy Pirates!

Fantastic Foodie Fridays Jerk-Spiced Tilapia with Asparagus & Rice Pilaf

Jerk-Spiced Tilapia with Asparagus & Rice Pilaf

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Shaking things up a little and giving you a light yet slightly spicy twist on Tilapia.

Get the taste of summer with Tosca's homemade jerk spice! The mix of spices in combination with tilapia will have you begging for more!

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp / 5 ml thyme
• 1 tsp / 5 ml chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 tsp / 5 ml ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml cinnamon
• 1 jalapeno pepper, cored, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 tsp / 5 ml freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 Tbsp / 15 ml lime juice
• 2 Tbsp / 30 ml olive oil
• 1/2 tsp / 2 1/2 ml ground cloves
• 4 tilapia fillets

Preparation:

1. Combine herbs and spices in a small bowl and mix well.
2. Coat tilapia fillets with olive oil. Pat both sides with spices.
3. Sauté each fillet until just cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Do not overcook!

Tip:

Serve this dish with Brown Rice Pilaf and steamed asparagus.

Recipe found in The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook

YIELD: 4 servings
PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes
COOKING TIME: 6 minutes

Final Days ...

Jungle Terry

My son's school is closing down, so we are busy packing, getting things all finished up.  Tomorrow will be their end of the year carnival/ fun day.  We borrowed my father in-law's old time popcorn machine which is a lot of fun.  Then we will have one of our local talents "Jungle Terry" bring in his animals so the kids can see them and learn about their habits and habitats.  Tristin is excited that for the first time ever, he will be in school to celebrate his birthday.  As we leave McKinsey, it will be a time of reflection .  There will be some sadness as we let go of the familiar and known.  As we go forward no knowing what lies ahead in the new schools and campus there is a little apprehension.  My two year stint of being the Vice President of the PTO is coming to an end.  I will miss some of the people that I have had the opportunity to work with and get to know over the last two years.   I am looking forward to summer, the 3-day walk in Cleveland and new fundraising opportunities to get ready for the walk in Arizona with my sister.  

Coming Soon...

To help me pay for essentials for participating in multiple 3-Day events, I will now allow for advertisements to appear on the side and below my blog.  I hope that this will not deter any of you from coming to read my blog.  I just need to find another way to help off set the growing costs to participate in many 3-Day events.  I am a stay at home Mom for the most part, ( except when I work in the fall at the Cleveland Brown's Stadium ).  I want to keep walking & getting out awareness about breast cancer.  I would love to be able to eventually go to every city and walk ( at least once ).  So, until I can figure out something else or get a company to sponsor me.  This is my new idea.  It gets pretty expensive paying for things such as getting from point A to point B or the cost of essentials ( such as shoes ), this will be a necessary step for me.  I hope you will understand and continue to come, read the blog and support me as I walk for a Cure...