Coming Home and Waking Up

Coffee and Cake.  

Last Thursday, Ben and I return from a holiday in Scotland. We were gone for two weeks. Two weeks of Sunday mornings – sleeping in, drinking good coffee, eating cake, riding bikes, sharing experiences with friends, and making new ones.

I lost track of the days, of the time of day, of the miles and the workouts and the agendas. We played and frolicked and smiled. I smiled a lot. I let myself go. Go from the have-to’s and expectations; the self-imposed expectations that seem to be unshakable at home. I was free from schedules and bills and chores.

Travel Tuesday - A quick look at our Scotland Adventure

Ben Riding McMoab

While Ben and I where in Scotland, we shared a bit of our adventure with the folks at Osprey Packs, and they posted our stories on the Osprey Blog as part of their Travel Tuesday Series.

You can read these snippets by clicking below:

Three Sure-Fire Ways to Recovery From Jetlag
Freedom to Roam..........in Scotland

A House Full of Smiles!

Photo: Andrew Keippela

Last weekend my sister, Kacy, her husband, Andrew, and their two dear sweet boys, Max and Jude, came to visit Ben and I in Bend.  We drank coffee, ate cake cupcakes, rode bikes, laughed, smiled and generally enjoyed one another’s company.  Our house is small; 845 square feet.  Last weekend it contained four adults, two kids, and one puppy.  It was a full and joyous house, to say the least!

Learning to Try Easier

A super rad, Bend-based website has just launched, Good Tiger Yoga; and I feel honored to be a part of it.

Check out my first post on the benefits of yoga; from the point of view of a cyclist... 

"Not only does my Yoga practice keep my hips, hamstrings, and lower back loose, strong, and mobile, which comes in handy when on my bike, yoga has taught me to keep my mind clear, focused and directed. I set an intention with each practice. I set goals, reach for dreams, find quiet. I have learned to Try Easier."

Read the whole article here.

Quick & Easy Deliciousness: Baked Kale Chips

Kale is one of my favorite foods. Hearty, delicious, grows well in Central Oregon, easily available in the winter months – and it is good for you!

I am ever on the hunt to find new methods of kale preparation, and when Ben brought home a bag of kale the size of a large pillow, I knew I needed to try a new trick. Baked Kale.

Happy March, Hello Snow.

My commute just got more interesting.

Four more inches of light, sugar-like snow greeted us this morning!  Coupled with the 8 inches that were already covering the back deck - we have some snow on our hands folks!

It is March 1st, and winter in Bend, Oregon has just set in.  While it makes for some pretty long indoor trainer rides, I am not complaining - not one bit.

The skate skiing has been fantastic, my morning bike commute is great practice for cyclocross racing, and the pace of life has seemed to low a bit.

Kale, Carrot & Avocado Salad

I have made this salad three times in the last week.  I have taken it to a dinner party, eaten the leftovers for lunch, and even paired with scrambled eggs for breakfast.  And, I am still not tired of it.  

Kale; rich, beautiful and good for you, paired with toasted sunflower seeds, carrots and avocado (which might be my favorite food of all time, behind chocolate, that is) – how can you go wrong?