Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Hello World i'm still here!

I know, I know, it's be like forever since I last posted.... But trust me, know one knows that more than me :-) So here's an update for you, because I know you all desperatly care.....

This Veggie garden picture was actually taken a few weeks ago-
 you can now longer see the soil today- potatoes and a plethera of other veggies have taken over.


The most beautiful Delphinium -- if I do say so myself :-)



The hike to Crested Butte over the West Maroon Pass
i'd say this was about  8:30 in the morning, this was one of the river crossings.


Heading up towards West Maroon Pass-


Still heading up,
Which by the way was the most leasurly and relaxed uphill, I have ever had to a
12,500 ft. Pass.

snow fields, the pass summit is just up to the right (out of the picture)



Top of West Maroon Pass, Looking towards Crested Butte


Apperently I took NO pictures on the descent down from the pass. whoops.
This picture is at the Parking lot where you end up- 14 miles from the Town of Crested Butte in the middle of nowhere, with a ton of mosquittos.
Thanks to a mother/daughter duo, I sprayed myself with deet,
which was great when you were outside....
(Jim was smart, he just put on all his extra layers- and covered up any exposed skin)
But while on the windy narrow dirt road, while being squished in a van and picking up random hitchhikers...
The Deet turned on me, and made me incredibly nautious and woozy- Ugh 
Next time remind me to skip the deet.  
~~~~~~~~~

On a brighter note- Here was another Adventure hike,
Tackling my first 14'er! with my Dad and Jim!!!
La Plata

As seen from the top of Independence pass. Yes, We will try and make it to the top of that! This was taken at about 5:45 in the am



it's onle 4.75 miles in- but trust me, it feels like more.


The pictures start pretty high, because we were on a break neck pace, and I didn't want to stop to take out my camera.



I know what your thinking, that mountains doesn't look like La Plata...

well that one isn't, La Plata is the massive hill that shoots up to the right.



I lost count of how many switch backs we actually did just to get up this little gully.
the were short and STEEP.

Another Shot of the switchbacks looking down.



A shot looking up from the switchbacks. And yes we are going up there.



But the flowers were beautiful!


from the top of the switchbacks and another traverse.
See those clouds in the distance (above independence pass)...
Keep watching them in the next photos..


All I remember from the guidebook is something about a square rock. Well here it is. Your welcome.
Still watching those clouds???


After another long gully- we reach a saddle- and you can start to see the summit!



yup, those clouds kept coming in.
And they were not going to stop..
We just had to figure out where we wanted to be when it hit us.


Jim's up there somewhere...
this was the trail heading up to the summit..
not a nice place to be in the rain- especially with the slippery rocks.
so....


we turned around.

We can always try again next week :-)


So now for pictures of the lower part of the trail, because I could finally stop and take some pictures :-)


Jim and the "steps"



Yes, these "steps" were more like deep lunges
and they went on for awhile!


No those logs are not there to support that hill, they are there to climb up. Mind you this was probably about a mile into the trail.


This was right near the trail head/end
Pretty, but don't drink the water!



Finally some food pics!!


The ultimate veggie grill feast @ my parents house.
and Yes those are grilled avocados.
we even grilled peaches :-) mmmmm.


Here they are, our ONLY two strawberries.
they were delicious :-)


Well that's it folks- I promise to bake or cook comehting this week, and try and post soon. If you have any recipes you would love to share, PLEASE e-mail me and let me post them for you! hope all your summers are going great! I can't believe it's almost August!!!!
have a wonderful day! Skal!!

Friday, July 2, 2010

In Bloom!

Hello All! I know it's been forever since i've updated, but I promise you, i've been busy :-) Hope everyones summer is in full bloom! I know ours is..... I've got a ton for you today, photo's, recipes, and occasional snark :-) so sit back, enjoy and have a wonderful, fantastic, superb, and outstanding day.


Hike to Cathedral lake....
They should update their guide books and let people know how long and hot it is! I don't think i'll ever get rid of the tans lines I recieved hiking that day! And poor Ragnar nearly fainted it was so hot!


But it was a beautiful hike....


Even though 90% of it was up hill!


The illusive lake....
We kept rounding corners hoping to find this little gem, but it never seemed to be there- for a long portion of the hike, we thought the whole catherdral lake thing was a myth. (I actually turned back at one point.)
But after 9 grueling swithbacks, and another 10 minute walk towards electric pass, we finally saw the lake!
and it's was as ice cold and freezing as only a viking could imagine.


GARDEN UPDATE!!!!!!!

The garden as of today. Peonies in bloom, Delphinum about to explode, Lupine, Lavender.... the list goes on. Jim and I actually tried to count how many different plants we have- I think we gave up counting around 60-


The ever expanding vegetable garden....
Some critter keeps eating our strawberries. Jim and I wait patiently for one to ripen....
and when we go back to pick it- it already has a huge bite out of it by another critter! Arrrg!


This picture of the potatoes was taken last week, Today is just looks like one huge plant!
Jim has already hilled them up twice!

The first garlic scape! I made it into a pesto (scroll down for recipe)


The gypsy dianthus, flax, wall flower and snow in summer.


The rock walls and side garden



The first peonie to bloom!


Ah,  but if you could only smell this one peonie......
it's scent is heavenly.



The flowers I order for a new house account... I ended up using every last one!


RECIPES!!!!!



Carrot salsa
(with fresh picked radishes)


1 medium carrot grated
1/4 onion diced
1 Serrano pepper minced
3 strawberries mined
2 radishes minced
2 Tbs chopped cilantro
Handful of Tomatoes diced
Half lime squeezed
1 tsp agave nectar

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl- adjust seasonings to liking.



Apple Oatmeal Muffins (gluten free)


1 Tbs ground flax seed mixed with 3 Tbs warm water
3/4 cup almond milk
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dried blueberries
1 apple diced
1/3 cup apple sauce
1 cup gluten free flour (bob's)
1 cup quick oats
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp xanthem gum
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon


Pre heat oven to 400. Grease muffin cups. Mix flax seed and water. Add remaining wet ingredients
Mix dry ingredients in separate bowl, and add to wet ingredients. Fill muffin cup 3/4 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes
Makes 12 muffins




Quick Corn Bread Muffins


3/4 cup corn meal
1 1/4 cup gluten free flour mix
1 tsp xanthum gum
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp ground flax seed
2 Tbs warm water
1 cup almond milk
1/3 cup grape seed oil
1 can rinsed and drained corn
1 tsp salt
Couple cranks of mixed seasoning & pepper


Mix all ingredients in bowl. Cook @ 375 for 25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins
(*these would be great with some added heat- serranno pepper etc.)



Polenta Pizza with Garlic Scape Pesto



2 Tbs olive oil (divided)
3/4 cup instant polenta
3 cups water (or vegetable broth)
Couple cranks of Italian seasoning
Salt & pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 red bell pepper sliced thinly
1 zucchini sliced thinly
1 medium tomato sliced


Preheat oven to 400. Oil 10" cast iron skillet. Mix polenta, water and salt in sauce pan- boil, whisking constantly until polenta is thick. Pour polenta into skillet and cook for 20-25 minutes or until edges are just beginning to brown. Take out, and top with pesto, bell pepper, zucchini, and tomatoes. Top with remaining oil, salt and pepper and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until tomatoes begin to roast. Let stand for 10 minutes. Then cut and enjoy!



Garlic Scape Pesto

1 lg garlic scape chopped
1/4 cup raw walnuts
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/2 piece of Serrano pepper
2 cups basil
1/2 lemon squeezed
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt & pepper



Combine all ingredients in food processor- adjust seasonings to taste
 
 
 

Well, that's it for now.... Hope your weekend is great!
Happy Fourth Everyone!!!!
And a Special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dear dear brother.
You are an absolute gift to this world.
Lots of love everyone!