We love taking long drives on the weekends and one of our favorite destinations is West Virginia. By freeway Harper's Ferry is only about an hour and a half's drive - very reasonable especially considering what you get when you arrive! An amazing trail network that runs along the rushing Shenandoah River, a charming historic town full of cute shops and used bookstores, gorgeous mountain backdrops.
We parked behind the main strip and ran about 4 miles along the river, out and back. The day was perfect - sunny and cool. I've run about 15 miles in three days, which is great. I always take advantage of the fall and winter to start adding some length to my distances.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Facebook is bad for my blog
I've noticed that when I have something to say I'm more inclined to go to Facebook than the good old blog. Part of this might be the give-and-take found in reply comments... which, I admit, are staisfying. And considering I have no idea whether anyone is reading this blog anymore it just seems more rewarding to use Facebook to record my observations.
But then, Facebook makes one lazy. In one sentence I feel I can adequately say what it probably ought to take a whole blog post to delve into.
Lately I have Facebooked on the following topics:
Food
Running
Travel
Random obsevations
Sports
Photography
I haven't blogged hardly at all.
I miss blogging and I want to revive IaJtbH... maybe that will be my resolution. We all know how much I love new year's resolutions!
But then, Facebook makes one lazy. In one sentence I feel I can adequately say what it probably ought to take a whole blog post to delve into.
Lately I have Facebooked on the following topics:
Food
Running
Travel
Random obsevations
Sports
Photography
I haven't blogged hardly at all.
I miss blogging and I want to revive IaJtbH... maybe that will be my resolution. We all know how much I love new year's resolutions!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Tentative Thanksgiving Menu!
Most people who know me know that I really dislike Thanksgiving food. Turkey, stuffing, bread, green beans, cranberry sauce... blech. One of the best Thanksgiving meals I ever had featured baked salmon as a main course with a quinoa and pumpkin seed salad and pumpkin soup to finish.
But J, being a Southern boy, really appreciates the more traditional menu and I'm very thankful that he's willing to depart in order to make me happy. This year our Thanksgiving menu will be inspired by our trip to Italy this past September. We fell in love with black truffles and brought some (in various forms) home with us.
So the first course will be fresh ravioli with black truffle pesto. For the main course we will roast a duck and make some wild rice on the side. We'll also crack open one of the bottles of wine we brought back from the Casanova winery. For dessert we're keeping it simple - hot brownie with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.
Yum! Now just to let the days tick by.
But J, being a Southern boy, really appreciates the more traditional menu and I'm very thankful that he's willing to depart in order to make me happy. This year our Thanksgiving menu will be inspired by our trip to Italy this past September. We fell in love with black truffles and brought some (in various forms) home with us.
So the first course will be fresh ravioli with black truffle pesto. For the main course we will roast a duck and make some wild rice on the side. We'll also crack open one of the bottles of wine we brought back from the Casanova winery. For dessert we're keeping it simple - hot brownie with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge.
Yum! Now just to let the days tick by.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Proud of myself
I haven't had much blogging inspiration lately but I pushed myself on a run today and it was well worth the effort. After a later-than-usual night last night and a tough day at work, I got myself dressed and out the door for a one but my motivation wavered after a block. It would have been so easy to just turn back, but I convinced myself to go just a bit further and ended up doing a full 35-minutes around the neighborhood.
At the time I suppose I just didn't feel like it but now that I'm finished I'm very glad I powered through. I have to constantly remind myself that I love how I feel when I'm finished running and hate how I feel when I quit.
It's starting to get dark really early (4:11pm and already dusky) but I like dark, cold winter evenings. I find it easier to get settled down and read when it's dark outside as opposed to when the sun is shining at 8pm.
Up next - J and I have begun discussing Thanksgiving... I don't like traditional food so it's always a challenge to figure out an interesting menu that will satisfy the both of us. But this year we have some provisions from our trip to Italy that should enhance the meal quite nicely.
Stay tuned!
At the time I suppose I just didn't feel like it but now that I'm finished I'm very glad I powered through. I have to constantly remind myself that I love how I feel when I'm finished running and hate how I feel when I quit.
It's starting to get dark really early (4:11pm and already dusky) but I like dark, cold winter evenings. I find it easier to get settled down and read when it's dark outside as opposed to when the sun is shining at 8pm.
Up next - J and I have begun discussing Thanksgiving... I don't like traditional food so it's always a challenge to figure out an interesting menu that will satisfy the both of us. But this year we have some provisions from our trip to Italy that should enhance the meal quite nicely.
Stay tuned!
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Catoctin Mountain
One of the things that we love about living in DC is how easy it is to get out of the city center and into almost total wilderness. In just an hour or two we can be at the bay, the moutains, deep woods, wineries, battlefields, and more.
We love to take long drives on the weekend and either explore areas by hiking or running. We've made our way through most of the national parks and forests in the tri-state area though by no means have we explored every trail.
Today we drove up to Catoctin Mountain to see the fall colors. Most people go to Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah but it can get crowded and there's plenty of countryside in Maryland and West Virigina to see the changing leaves.
Catoctin Mountain is in northern Maryland very close to Camp David. We took a short but hilly hike. The weather is perfect for being outside, and although I think we missed the real peak leaf color season, the landscape was still beautiful.
We love to take long drives on the weekend and either explore areas by hiking or running. We've made our way through most of the national parks and forests in the tri-state area though by no means have we explored every trail.
Today we drove up to Catoctin Mountain to see the fall colors. Most people go to Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah but it can get crowded and there's plenty of countryside in Maryland and West Virigina to see the changing leaves.
Catoctin Mountain is in northern Maryland very close to Camp David. We took a short but hilly hike. The weather is perfect for being outside, and although I think we missed the real peak leaf color season, the landscape was still beautiful.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Good Stock-Up Run!
This week Harris Teeter is having a "Super Double" promotion where they are doubling coupons under $2 in value. Usually HT only doubles a coupon if it's under a dollar but about every six weeks they do Super Doubles and I'm able to get some really rock-bottom prices.
Harris Teeter also has electronic coupons that come off when you scan your club card (in addition to whatever club card discount is being offered that week) - and those combine with paper coupons. So these prices are unusal but GREAT and I stocked up on some stuff.
(2) Blue Diamond almonds $3.49 (for both) - $1 coupon which doubled = $1.49 for two cans of almonds
(1) Celestial Seasonings tea on sale for $2.50 - $1 coupon which doubled = $0.50
(1) Satin Care shave gel on sale for $2.49 - $1 coupon which doubled = $0.49
(1) Tampax pearl tampons $3.99 - $1 coupon which doubled - $1 electronic coupon = $0.99
(3) Garnier Fructis shampoo/conditioner on sale for $2.99 - $1 coupons which doubled = $0.99 each
(2) Bayer Low Dose aspirin $5.98 for two - $1 coupons which doubled = $1.98 for two aspirins
(1) DayQuil $7.49 - $1 coupon which doubled - $1 electronic coupon = $3.49
------------------------------------------------
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS = $17.43
COUPONS TENDERED (store savings, store electronic coupons, paper coupons) = $29.66
As the cashier had started ringing up my stuff this guy started to get in line and saw me holding coupons and made an exasperated sigh and switched lines, well that line was apparently really slow because I zipped right through and was leaving register when I saw him jump back over to my line. Ha! Not all coupon users are crazy people! Trust me I want to get out of there as quickly and painlessly as you do!
Harris Teeter also has electronic coupons that come off when you scan your club card (in addition to whatever club card discount is being offered that week) - and those combine with paper coupons. So these prices are unusal but GREAT and I stocked up on some stuff.
(2) Blue Diamond almonds $3.49 (for both) - $1 coupon which doubled = $1.49 for two cans of almonds
(1) Celestial Seasonings tea on sale for $2.50 - $1 coupon which doubled = $0.50
(1) Satin Care shave gel on sale for $2.49 - $1 coupon which doubled = $0.49
(1) Tampax pearl tampons $3.99 - $1 coupon which doubled - $1 electronic coupon = $0.99
(3) Garnier Fructis shampoo/conditioner on sale for $2.99 - $1 coupons which doubled = $0.99 each
(2) Bayer Low Dose aspirin $5.98 for two - $1 coupons which doubled = $1.98 for two aspirins
(1) DayQuil $7.49 - $1 coupon which doubled - $1 electronic coupon = $3.49
------------------------------------------------
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS = $17.43
COUPONS TENDERED (store savings, store electronic coupons, paper coupons) = $29.66
As the cashier had started ringing up my stuff this guy started to get in line and saw me holding coupons and made an exasperated sigh and switched lines, well that line was apparently really slow because I zipped right through and was leaving register when I saw him jump back over to my line. Ha! Not all coupon users are crazy people! Trust me I want to get out of there as quickly and painlessly as you do!
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Pretentious Ice Cream!
As I try to wind down from a really hectic ten (plus) days, I decided to treat myself to a small carton of Haagen Dazs vanilla-chocolate chip. It's delicious, but the side panel is hysterically pretentious:
Flavor Top Notes: floral, deeply bourbon notes of fine Madagascar vanilla.
Flavor Finish Notes: dark and delicious chocolate chips
First - I didn't realize that 'notes' could be 'bourbon.' Silly me, I always thought that bourbon was a noun and not an adjective.
Second - finish notes? Doesn't that imply aftertaste? The chocolate chips are all mixed in, the chocolate taste is right there in each bite. This is ice cream, not wine people!
Flavor Top Notes: floral, deeply bourbon notes of fine Madagascar vanilla.
Flavor Finish Notes: dark and delicious chocolate chips
First - I didn't realize that 'notes' could be 'bourbon.' Silly me, I always thought that bourbon was a noun and not an adjective.
Second - finish notes? Doesn't that imply aftertaste? The chocolate chips are all mixed in, the chocolate taste is right there in each bite. This is ice cream, not wine people!
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