SIX WORD SATURDAY

"Washed up Olympian Want- A- Be's."

I think we shouldn't have waited til our 50's before starting
our Olympic training..
Perhaps we would have mastered the "ant hill"
and progressed on to the
"bunny hill"
by now.

For more SWS's join Cate at Show My Face.

UNEXPLORED TERRITORY

"Go West, Young Man, Go West"
-was an expression first used by
John Babsone Lane Soule
in the
Terre Haute Express in 1851.

and...

lets not forget that this advice also appeared on
a Tim Horton's "Roll Up The Rim" cup
in the wonderful independent Canadian film
"One Week", staring Joshua Jackson,
directed and written Michael McGowan.

For a good dose of "Canadianism", I recommend you see it.

Being creatures of habit, we seldom venture off the beaten path, choosing instead to stick to the familiar, but this weekend, hubby and I expanded our horizons and took a different direction. In the nineteen years we have lived here cradled between the north and south mountains, we have always headed north/ northeast through the orchards and past a series of irrigation ponds, or south through the woods and across the fields whenever we felt the urge to walk, ski or snowshoe, not once venturing west.

So, we headed west. Not only were we lucky enough to discover a freshly groomed trail, which proves that the early bird really does get the worm, we were undisturbed for well over an hour by any snow mobiles on the trail. It was a blast! I wanted to keep going and going but hubbies reminders that we do have to ski back, convinced me that I was not the Duracell bunny and it would be wise not to over reach my capabilities. We were gone for two and one half enjoyable hours, and yes, I am feeling it today.

For more Sunday Citars, pop over to Fresh Mommy and enjoy!

JUST DO IT

Determination gives you the resolve to keep going
in spite of the roadblocks that lay before you.
Denis Waitley

Over the nineteen years of caring for children in my home I must have developed a cast iron immune system as I seldom get sick, but when I do it usually falls on the weekend and almost never during the week. The last time I took off a "sick day" from work was probably seven or eight years ago. That's remarkable considering the number of times I am coughed, sneezed and snotted on in the run of a day.

But this latest cold bug did not pass me by. I started feeling it coming on on Friday and sure enough, I woke up Saturday morning at 6:00 feeling lousy and really pissed off...there was no way I was going let illness ruin my free time so I forced myself out of bed and went for my usual morning walk and then filled my day with baking and shopping. I made it to 5:00 before crashing for a two hour power nap after which hubby and I enjoyed a late supper while watching the movie, The Inglorious Bastards starring Brad Pit.

Sunday dawned snowy but considerably warmer than the frigid minus 20 - 30 below temperatures we've had all week. It was too fantastic of a day to pass up a chance to go cross country skiing. Not sure how far I was going to be able to make it, we set off for what turned out to be a two hour trip. It was beautiful and fun.

Happy now that the cold bug didn't steal my weekend, it can now have me ...well after I enjoy my Ginger Pork Stir fry with Rice...then it can have its way with me.

Join Fresh Mommy for more Sunday Citars.

AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

Expecting only two children today I was given a welcomed and unexpected gift of time when both parents called this morning to cancel out due to illness. It couldn't have come at a better time as I was suffering from a severe case of "post Christmas blues".

With time on my hands I was able to cook up an easy Pineapple Jelly from a recipe I found over the summer, give the house a quick clean and still had time to go out for my first cross country ski for the season before the after school kids arrived. I'm pleased with all I accomplished today, including the bruises on my butt from the first of many falls to come...must learn how to ski...
My one regret is that I didn't take my camera with me as I missed some great shots of two hawks soaring directly over my head.

EASY PINEAPPLE JELLY

4 c. Pineapple juice (use a good quality...I used Dole)
2 T. Lemon juice
7 c. Sugar
2 Pouches liquid Certo (170ml ea.)

Prepare jars and lids by washing well and sterilizing with boiling water.

Mix pineapple juice and lemon juice in large pot and heat until warm. Add sugar, mix well and heat on medium high, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Stir in Certo and boil for another minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam. Pour into hot jars to 1/4 inch from the top. Wipe rim with clean cloth and add lids and rings tightening to just hand snug. You can let them cool until you hear the lids pop meaning that they have sealed or to be extra safe, you can place them in a hot water bath and process them for 10 to 15 minutes.