piece of lake

On Wednesday mornings just after 6am you'll find me at Rigby Lake with my suit, goggles, cap and, just because I'm lucky like that, friends who are a little bit crazy, just like me.
And it is beginning to be my favorite part of the week.
Sure, biking on Monday morning out to the country, speeding past farms and cattle and cricks (yep. that's how they pronounce that word here.) was wonderful.
And yes, my new Asics (!!!lovesofmylife!!!) took me down to and around the greenbelt again on Tuesday morning.
But I think I am hooked on open water, freezing cold and a quite intimidating though it may be. There is just something about the quiet and calm contrasted with the power I feel slicing through the lake.
And you can't beat the scenery. Campers aren't awake yet. No families out swimming. No one but us. And nature-y critters, too. This morning I literally swam past a huge bald eagle perched on a tree on the lake's edge. It was like he was cheering me on.
Or maybe he was deciding what to eat for breakfast ("Hello Mr. Eagle. Please don't try to eat me.")

let me count the ways

Is there anything better than a backyard bbq? There seriously isn't, right?
Friends, food, drinks, games, laughs.
It's all there.

The menu:
Grilled Flank Steak
Green Salad
Baguette
Blue Cheese Soufflé**

...I don't know who makes soufflé for a bbq.
I mean, I do. I guess.
Anyway, it was delicious and lovely and I hope to repeat the experience again soon (the soufflé and the bbq-ing with friends.)
**If you are impressed (Shoot, I'm impressed!) and want to try this recipe, I implore you to watch this before you do. It is incredibly enlightening and will put you at ease. Julia is my hero.)

where's willy?

Confession: From ages 8 to 13 I wanted to be a marine biologist. But not just any marine biologist: I wanted to be a trainer with the killer whales at Sea World.
For real.
I went to sea camp and dissected fish and squid, I was a strong swimmer, I had a Free Willy poster in my bedroom: I was ready.

Although none of my riding-on-the-back-of-a-whale-while-waving-at-a-packed-crowd-of-Asian-tourists dreams came true, we still managed to have a great time at Sea World a few weeks ago. That is, except for when we waited in the hot sun for an hour for the Shamu Show, which is now super lame and touchy-feely (Save the Whales meets Beauty Pageant meets Haight-Ashbury) and totally bizarre. A few interesting facts:
+Intervention. Carter is terrified of big fuzzy characters who try to hug and kiss her. Go figure.
+Eight. That is how many coats of sunscreen it takes to keep K and C from turning into quite convincing lobster impersonators during a day at Sea World.
+36. That is Avery's current approximate height in inches.
+42. That is the height in inches that you must be in order to have any fun at Sea World that doesn't involve poking a mollusk.
I could have been best friends with a whale.

follow one simple rule

Just thought you should know that I had a hot date up to the Playmill Theater in West Yellowstone last month. The play was... well, it was High School Musical. We should have known better. But the company? Outstanding.

doe

I am hosting a dinner party tomorrow evening, and this morning I am wondering if my guests will ever know that

+This morning my kitchen looked like this because I had a Bloomsbury meeting last night, then I went to the 9:45 showing of Harry Potter with K, Camie and Wyatt instead of doing the dishes and picking up the house...+The flank steak I am going to marinate and grill is locally raised, free-range, grass-fed beef (mmmm)...
+I have been dying to try this Blue Cheese Souffle recipe for nearly a year now...
+They are going to be my souffle guinea pigs, since I have never attempted anything like this before...
+And however much I love cooking for friends, I would rather be here crying over this. Again.
I hope they don't suspect.

oh fudge!

Yesterday I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice cream. You know, to go along with this.
Okay, not really.
But I did make it because I promised my sister-in-law, Mandy, that I would bring a treat up to Rexburg yesterday to celebrate the end of my school year, and this is what I decided upon.
AND I made it because we are both PBChoc Enthusiasts. We get together often to talk about the heavenly combination of rich, creamy peanut butter with smooth, decadent chocolate. We discuss at length how it is a match made in heaven. How chocolate without peanut butter, and vice versa, only reaches a smidgen of its full potential. But together they can do no wrong...

Shoot. I did it, didn't I? I went to my happy place and creeped you out just a little bit, huh?
Sorry.
Anyway, this recipe is a bit too rich and almost ice cold chocolate-pudding like. When I make it again I will cut out some of the chocolate and sugar, and maybe cook it a little bit less (in the directions when she says the consistency will be like chocolate pudding, I think she means BEFORE choc pudding sets. Like when you are still cooking it. And not like the finished product pudding.) and I think it will be perfect. However, as is it definitely still did the trick.

Is there an ice cream recipe that you love? I have made ice cream four times since I acquired this beautiful machine (thanks mom!!), but I am always looking for the perfect recipe. My favorite so far has been this Buttermilk Ice Cream. Holy cow is it good! It is creamy and tangy and rich and... yeah. I am going to go make some right now. I think I have a new food obsession.

run, don't walk

Nothing makes pushing hard on that last mile easier than knowing that you are running home to this.Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread.
WHOLE WHEAT DCPBBB.
At 100 calories per slice.
Well, a teeny bit more if you eat it hot and covered in Smart Balance Spread, like someone I know.For real, you guys.I love this for breakfast after a run with a glass of milk and a piece of fruit. After all, dark chocolate is full of antioxidants, peanut butter has protein, bananas, potassium.
I also replace one cup of the whole wheat flour with some flax seed meal and ground wheat germ, which ups its protein and omega-3 quotient.
I dare you not to make this today.
Good luck with that.

alice cooper, eat your heart out

I finished my last final of the semester this morning! It feels amazing to be done until January!! Now I can finally say that School is indeed Out for the Summer.
But not forever. And I am okay with that.
Because I know after a few fun-filled months with these two I will be recharged and ready to delve back into classic literature and analytical essays. Until then, however, all I hope to delve into is a swimming pool and a box of Big Sticks.