Yesterday morning...Mor...Ning! . . .

Was Mile #9!

🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊

I knew today, Saturday, my regular swim day, would be a wing-dinger, filled-to-the-rim kinda day and by saying "morning" yesterday...it was, ehm...8a.m...hardly a stretch (and hardly ever available to me)... but..it felt great, loved starting the day like that.

Not to Self...remember that!

(-:

This morning though, before the wing-dinger, I found a moment to sit, sip coffee from the birthday mug Lara gave me once and take in the incredible sunshine with Alli!

And now...dash...off to the next event.

Happy Leap Year!

Snow Day! . . .

Still making snow forts! 💗

And still clearing the driveway all these years later!💗
Awwww...https://pierceadventures.blogspot.com/2009/02/unbeknownst-to-william.html

Good bunch of snow, but I think our Minnesota counterparts would scoff at the school cancellations.

Light year for snow days, this is only our second one and the first one was in November!

Getting through a lot of paperwork today, awesome!

Losing a bunch of teaching $$ today, not awesome!

Trusting I will always have what I need in some way shape or form as I've been witness to again and again, all Thanks be to God, AWESOME!

😊💜

Is this so wrong? . . .

😏

So, as I'm walking to put the kids to bed tonight, my phone lights up and says...SNOW DAY TOMORROW, NO SCHOOL...Now, the kids have brushed their teeth, have finally settled down because we've known a snow day was a possibility, they are wearing their pajamas inside out, have already flushed an ice cube down the toilet, there's a teaspoon involved in some way (it showed up in Liv's bed during songs and prayers!) and I heard something about a wet crayon...So...after all that, I finally have them heading to bed, lights out...and the message pops up...

"SNOW DAY!"

And...

I Don't Say a Word.

Not a Word.

😴

😏

10th Annual President's Day weekend and Mile #8. . .

 No swimming last weekend cause I was sittin' around this beauty at our annual trek to the ol' sledding hill for President's Day weekend!

 I did however climb the largest dune in the state since I missed my swim!

 It was a sandy year this year, but not a total wash out.

Three fourths of the dune was solidly snow-covered and you got quite a zip going on just that much of it. Liv still made it almost to the parking lot. I even went down this year after asking some random guy, "Do you think I'll break my legs if I keep them straight like this?" . . . He said...no...(-:

 The crew of kids is both shrinking and growing.

Get it?

 Had a pretty coastline tour as we headed back from sledding.

Beautiful blue sky, nice moderate temps.

One of the dad's wanted to find some ice balls.

It didn't go un-noticed by me that no one, not one of the many teen boys on hand, none of the dads, no one...made one single joke about that...

Ice balls: https://www.mlive.com/weather/2020/02/thousands-of-ice-balls-are-washing-ashore-along-lake-michigan.html

 Lots and lots and lots of wood was used this year.

Perfect!

 This year, the three remaining girls in the kids crew made U of M fleece, tie blankets, one each. 

And yes, there was a bit of this going on by everyone, but there was also an adults ping pong tourney, Mexican fiesta night, a few games played, a few games watched, lots of air hockey played, a Finish roll in the snow after too much baking by the fire, lots of bacon, pizza night, lots of laughs, conversation and an overall blessed weekend yet again.

This weekend though, I was able to crank out mile #8. Mile # 9 likely has to wait until next Sunday unfortunately...unless I can get my sorry self to a morning swim...today was a volleyball tournament and hockey game all day...no swim...and next Saturday is packed with teaching and rehearsals.

Did a straight through mile yesterday though, no break downs of 12 laps and then do kicks or paddles or how I often mix up three sets of 12 laps, I just swam 36 laps straight. Did it in about 37 minutes. A mile is 35 laps but for the life of me I can not end on that odd number. Never have, been swimming for exercise since I was about 23...have never done 35 laps.

🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊

Seven and Some Pepperoni . . .

🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊

7 Miles Today

How long will I keep track?

Not sure.

But, it's kinda fun right now.

Current pattern, swimming 2 x's per week because despite my every bit of hope and dreams...I am just not a morning person and can't get to a 6a.m. swim for the life of me any more. My goal right now is to keep up with these weekend afternoon swims and then...try for those glorious, outdoor morning swims this summer.  We shall see.

Stumbled upon this in the kitchen and LOL'ed to myself.

(That may have been the second time in my life I've written one of those abbreviations, or whatever they're called, just seemed to fit. )

Someone is not a fan of pepperoni...big time!

So nice of them to have left them around for someone that is a fan I guess!

(-:

Six . . .

🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊

(-:

Today . . .

It was 49 degrees and sunny.

I dragged a comfy chair outside to read my paper and drink my coffee this afternoon.

I swam my fifth mile.

🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊 🏊

The last 200 of my mile was an IM.

Fly 

Back

Breast

Free

😮

I've swum (swam?) each weekend between mile #2 was posted on Jan 11 and now except one due to kid activities. Just didn't always have enough time in the pool to do a mile. 

I

Am

So

Grateful

February Cookin' & Football (maybe) . . .

The cookin' yes...will be happening.

The football, still a maybe until I hook the antenna up to the t.v. and see if we actually get the channel the big Superbowl is on. I don't watch much professional football but love making food and putting this annual game on if we don't have somewhere to go.

I'm especially excited to show the kids how to enjoy an artichoke!

I'll also make some guac.

And then, I'm making Turkey and white bean chili and chicken noodle soup to have a bit of today but to have throughout the week as well. I love stocking up on something on Sunday and eating it all week.  Last week were two spinach/sausage/cheese quiche that I whipped up Sunday night. When packages of pie crust are on sale for $1.00 and there are two crusts in the package, what ya gonna do but pound out a couple of quiche, right?

The Ultimate Chicken Soup: Recipe Below

Randalls Turkey and White Bean Chili: 
https://randallbeans.com/2013/10/10/randalls-turkey-chili/

Well...
The Ultimate Chicken Soup link wasn't working today so I'm removing it and through some computer shenanigans today was able to access it in a very round-a-bout way...here it is...(-:
Postscript: This recipe is FANTASTIC, loved the lemon at the end, did a tablespoon plus let four half lemon slices sit in the soup for a bit.  Make.This. (-:
Postcript II: Never got the tv channels working, but had great food!
(-:

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
• 1-1/4 teaspoons pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 10 cups chicken broth
• 4 celery ribs, chopped
• 4 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3 cups uncooked kluski or other egg noodles (about 8 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

• 1. Pat chicken dry with paper towels; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and salt. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken in batches, skin side down; cook until dark golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Remove chicken from pan; remove and discard skin. Discard drippings, reserving 2 tablespoons.
• 2. Add onion to drippings; cook and stir over medium-high heat until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add broth, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves and thyme. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until chicken is tender, 25-30 minutes.
• 3. Transfer chicken to a plate. Remove soup from heat. Add noodles; let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20-22 minutes.
• 4. Meanwhile, when chicken is cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones; discard bones. Shred meat into bite-sized pieces. Return meat to stockpot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and remaining 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Discard bay leaves.