we survived

yes it's true, we survived. what trip to lava hot springs is complete without a float down the portneuf? {well, probably a trip with the olympic-pool-diving-platforms-giant-water-slides and/or the hot pools. or even the diy triathlon, the lava monster.} now this section of the river, the one that flows through town, is quite deceiving. I have seen many people come out bleeding and in need of urgent medical attention. this is why I like to affectionately refer to it as the river of death. so you will be glad to know that we all made it out alive. even my 85 year old grandpa. though we did see some tubers do some pretty stupid things and in turn get pretty beat up. this section of the portneuf is not to be taken lightly.

{click to enlarge}

so much goodness

we had our co-op pickup for the month yesterday. this time around we did the harvest share, meaning more produce and no meat (all the meat from last month's pickup has remained untouched in the freezer). we have so much goodness packed into our fridge right now between the csa and the co-op it's unreal. now I'm just worried that we won't be able to eat it fast enough.

but in an effort to use up some of the goodness, we've made a special little peach dessert for the family get-together tomorrow. so get excited.

god's country

there are forces that shape land: wind, water, pressure, time. they always seem to play out most beautifully in the desert. it is like reading the history of the earth on open pages. a story of rise and fall. a story that we are so caught up in the middle of we don't even realize it's going on around us. every day. we are, in terms of geoligical time, just a speck on the line. I find comfort in that. I find comfort in knowing that whatever we may do, the earth will reclaim herself as her own. eventually. someday. that is the beauty of ecological succession. the ability of the earth to heal. to regrow. to fight. the evidence is in every weed, every blade of grass pushing itself up through the cracks in the sidewalk.

things you might learn on a mini vacation to bryce canyon for your sister's half marathon:

01. patience is a virtue
don't try and pass the line of cars waiting to be let through on the half marathon course.
especially not the police car and ambulance. and the people in the line will shout either
obscenities or scripture to you as you try and get back into the line.

02. the navajo loop + wall street
this is amazing landscape which is worth the short hike (but relatively steep hike) down into the canyon.
you will never in your life be more engulfed in your surroundings.

03. red canyon
perfect for a rain soaked evening and a brilliant sunset. the colors of the canyon walls soak up the evening light. walking among the formations you are reminded of the circles: this is bryce canyon in it's earlier stages. and one day, when bryce canyon has fallen to the forces that once created it, this canyon will take its place for those who come after.

04. panguitch
not just a sleepy town on the way to bryce canyon, panguitch utah could someday be called home.
how we yearn for some small town living.

05. orange + green + blue
god is most definitely an artist. he has put together the most beautiful palate of colors
right here in canyon country. they are deep + rich + vibrant and I am in love.

csa: week four

corn
green beans
apricots
zucchini
yellow squash
cucumber

(I never really posted about last week's csa goodies... sorry. now I don't remember what we got, except for the special cheese from a local cheese company and the mini beets that I had originally thought were radishes... otherwise it was a lot of the same stuff we got the week before: cherries, peas, garlic, et cetera...)

telly without context

my spoon is too big! | I'm a banana!

if you're dying for some time-wasting fun, please hurry your little web browser over to neave.com. more specifically THIS page. you will not regret it. ever. neave television is bewildering, baffling fun. it takes random to the extreme. and I love random to the extreme.

csa: week two

I should really post what we get the day we get it. tomorrow is yet again csa pickup day. {note to self: don't forget that it's csa pickup day} let me try and remember what we got last week...

salad greens
peas
cherries
herbs
garlic

to be honest, I haven't really been cooking much these days. {but who is in this heat?} so if I can eat it with minimal prep, then that's good enough for me. I was just telling pete today that I am so over salad dressings, because I'm raw. it's true. I'm raw. okay, so I'm not really raw, but I like to pretend. I've been eating a lot of salads and raw veggies. so yes, I've been loving the csa. and the food co-op.

the freedom hike 2K8

I feel like every time peter and I go hiking lately I fear slightly for my life. it probably has something to do with rock scrambles and steep slopes. but in any case it's always a good view + a fun time.

I love where we live.

I love our mountains.

I love our new independence day tradition.

csa: week one

the players: salad greens, cherries, peas + anasazi beans

last monday we picked up our first CSA share off of some random porch on sherman avenue and I am in love.

building communities one bite at a time

can't wait to pick up our share from the community food co-op this saturday. it's not necessarily local nor organic, but it does build community through food. good, cheap food.

here is a little sneak-peak as to what we will be getting this month:


and if that wasn't enough food excitement, our first CSA goods are coming next monday! I can't wait to pick up those local (and organic!) delights!

from the farm to my tummy, it can't get any better than that.

who said donuts don't belong in endurance racing?

sad you missed
the doughnut run '08?

here's your chance
for the ride of a lifetime:

the tour de donut.

ride. eat. repeat.

the details, a la the website: {you know, just in case you actually want to participate}

confessions spelled out on a double word and triple letter score

scrabble sunday

anna 263 | peter 256
temp: 81.5

giving it a tri

the summer solstice.
the longest day of the year.
a day you should be out there,
trying something new + a little scary.

six years ago I braved the daylight
with my first marathon
in the land of endless light
(and consequently endless dark)
anchorage, alaska.

it seems fitting that I begin
another chapter of the journey
again on this day -- where
possibilities are as endless
as the day is long.

{click HERE for the full cache valley tri race report}

father/man's day

my dad is a pretty cool guy. he loves to travel; especially to places that don't exist, like north dakota. I think he's rad. happy father's day, dad!


andrew peter is a pretty cool guy too. he doesn't believe in father's day--well, for him anyway since he's not a dad and I'm not even with child--so I just wanted to tell him happy man's day. or maybe husband's day. because he is a very good man. and husband. and one day he will be a good father. {once he gets over his fear of babies and promises he won't teach our children how to make various explosives}

post script:

the batchelorette is kind of a stupid television show. but I think I am completely hooked. and she should totally pick jason. because that is who I would pick. and they probably look the cutest together. (and all the other guys are kind of retarded) the end.

{post post script: I just watched an episode that we had recorded for some reason. it aired a week ago. I missed this week's episode because I didn't know I loved it. I hope, hope hope jason is still on the show. I must find out! oh good, he made the cut.}

{post post post script: I can't believe this is what I've reduced myself too on a friday night when my husband is gone. maybe I need some bon bons now too.}

just start writing

I haven't done a finding friday in a while. maybe what I really need to find is myself. this is going to be a stream of conscious post. just whatever is in my head. we'll see what comes out, I guess.

my husband is out on a boys trip to a friend's cabin. I'm home alone, totally livin' it up. yeah, if sitting on my couch blogging counts. I was almost going to go to a movie by myself, but nothing good was at the dollar and that's all I really want to spend on a movie by myself. and let's be honest, I'll probably be asleep by ten o'clock anyway.

I went lap swimming tonight. even after I stuffed my face full of pizza only hours before. I must be dedicated. or crazy. probably just mostly stupid. why did I shove my face full of pizza? because I'm a social eater. and I can't be left out of a party. all my work peeps go out to the pie after our friday meeting is over. it's totally fun bonding with them outside of the work environment. so I can't just not go. and if I do go, I can't just not eat. I'll have to figure something out, though if I want to keep swimming friday masters.

but maybe I don't want to keep swimming friday masters. maybe after my triathlon next week, I'll cut it back to two swim workouts a week. I mean, friday should be hot date night, right? not be at the pool until 8 o'clock at night night.

speaking of my triathlon, it's in a week. who knows if I'm actually ready. I feel like I never run or bike. I mean, I know I do. but I feel like I don't. if that makes any sense. I'm doing the olympic distance, which is the longer of the two courses. I'm just jumping right into this sport and not looking back. it should be a fun trip. we'll see if I don't self destruct during the race next saturday.

so this was the first week of camp. besides the incident, it all went rather smoothly. and this incident I speak of was actually quite major. and very scary. it involves a swimming pool, a six year-old girl, my counselor rescuing said camper from the bottom of the pool and starting cpr, and a life guard who fled the scene. it makes me proud to know that my staff are well trained and qualified. it makes me horrified that the lifeguards at this pool don't even know the EAP. yeah, that would be the Emergency Action Plan. you know, what to do in case someone actually needs to be rescued. because otherwise what are you being trained and paid for? to get a nice tan?

it's 9:21pm and I'm already starting to get a little sleepy.

did you guys realize it's friday the 13th? that's slightly scary.

okay, it's 9:26pm and I'm going to fall asleep if I don't get up and do something. sorry this post wasn't overly exciting. I wish it could be deep and meaningful, but it's obvious I'm just way too tired for those types of thoughts.

peace out.

the best twice baked potato recipe ever

01. take advantage of your neighbors coals while they are barbecuing out on the lawn.
these neighbors will inevitably have crappy coals and your potatoes won't cook.

02. place tinfoil wrapped and partially (very partially) cooked potatoes in fridge.

03. wait approximately three days.

04. go up the canyon and prepare your cooking space.
if your area has open fire regulations, coals work fantastically.


05. make an "oven" using the grate and a rather large rock.
trust me, it will have the same effect. maybe.

06. play scrabble.
this is the key ingredient. you can even let your husband beat you for good measure.

07. use your potatoes as a base for steaming the brocoli.
the log cabin effect will increase the deliciousness of all foods.

08. sprinkle fixin's to taste.
toppings include: shredded cheese, broccoli, sour cream, salt 'n peppa (but not the late eighties rap duo)

09. enjoy the charred, crusty outer goodness of the two times baked potato.
at least the insides were soft and yummy!

10. next time just make sure you have proper coals in the first place.

sunday scrabble

peter 279 | anna 194

twilight series announcement

no, not the dumb books. the free concert series! the line-up has just been announced. can't wait for broken social scene {august 21} and yonder mountain string band {july 31}. also heard the roots and andrew bird are fabulous. really, you can't beat free, live music. can you? no, I thought not.

the twilight concert series
thursday evenings | seven o'clock | july 10 - august 28
galivan center | downtown salt lake city | free admission

beans are not a fruit

the black bean salad.

here is peter's famed black bean salad. it is full of fresh goodness. not only is it fabulous as a salad, but the leftovers are a perfect veggie burrito filling. or as a "dip" with corn chips. very versatile, this salad is. and very sought after. so go and make it today! you won't be disappointed.


red onion, chopped
tomato, chopped
cucumber, chopped
bell pepper, chopped
black beans. {you really should try soaking + cooking them yourself. not only is it easy (just think set it and forget it) but they taste so. much. better. than the canned variety. trust me.}
cotija cheese, crumbled
salt to taste
and a squeeze of lime if desired

stir together the chopped vegg before adding the beans and remaining ingredients. {peter says this is the key} then mix it all up and enjoy!

ingredient amounts have been left out as I feel they are personal preference. use as much or as little of whatever you want. experiment. give your food some self expression. if you feel you must have an exact idea of how much to put in, please contact me and I will be happy to give you a general idea. thank you, and happy eating.