This weekend we did something that didn't require masks, we didn't have to worry about social distancing and finally got to exhale by doing something NORMAL after three months.
Despite the forecast literally changing to rain overnight, we were already packed and ready to roll. We changed an early morning paddle into an early afternoon road trip paddle. Although it was cool out, when the sun broke through the clouds, our black paddling pants retained so much heat it felt like our legs were going to catch fire. But it was a small price to pay for the peace it brought.
My usual lily pad patch looked like a mower had ripped through it. We're a month earlier than we usually go so I don't know if they haven't bloomed in that section or not but I was happy to find a pretty patch toward the back with flowers just coming up.
We paddled around a bend where I saw a heron and began to creep up on it. They can spook easy so I try to stay quiet. They eventually fly away and some are fine and others screech at you with an aviary version of "eff you" that makes me crack up laughing. (Don't worry, I'm not harassing them.) we have to enjoy this section while we can. When we first started paddling, we used to be able to paddle back to the arrow.
I suspect we only have 1-3 years before the patch around the island looks completely like this and will be a pain in the butt to try to navigate. But lily pad patches are my happy place and the paddles don't hurt them so I'm sure I'll still put in the effort. The Mr enjoyed it too.
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He suggested we break out the pic-a-nic basket and have our lunch there among the green, so we did.
It was heavenly; I felt like I was dreaming. For a few hours, we weren't worried about masks, diseases that could kill us, or staying a minimum of 6' away from everyone whose not in our own household. Cool breezes, fresh air and just feeling like we could truly breathe for the first time in months. Though note to selves, remember to put sunscreen in those gaps between your pant bottoms and water shoes because we've both got front of the ankle sunburns. Whoops.
We took a drive past another lake that my chiro talked about during some visits and while it was gorgeous, it was WAY too busy. We couldn't discern any no wake zones which is what we need to paddle peacefully. The public launches were overcrowded and no one was staying away from each other. Not for us so we headed home.
Our mint plant looked like I finally had enough product to make mint chocolate chip ice cream.
When we got home, I grabbed my ice cream cookbook and made the base for it and put it into the fridge to steep for 12 hours.
We unloaded the gear, got dinner then took blankets out to sit on the patio in the cool night air. We belly laughed about some stuff, which as an adult, seems harder and harder to do. Eventually, I got cold and covered up completely.
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| (Yes, those are reindeer...like you're surprised.) |
The next morning I grabbed the frozen container for my ice cream maker and strained the mint. It definitely wasn't going to cut it. Thankfully, I had this Frontier organic peppermint extract so I could flavor it properly. I also added a drop of this Kelly Green gel food coloring because I need my mint chocolate chip to be a wee bit green.
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| Churn baby churn! Minty inferno!! |
I used 2 ounces of Ghiradelli 60% chips and 2 1/2 ounces of Trader Joe's 72% Dark Chocolate bar melted down to make the chips. A few hours later, we were ready for a scoopy scoop.
It was so yummy! It actually reminded me of Baskin Robbins back in the day when it was good and full of chocolate flecks. It brought back a lot of good memories. Mom and I would swing by there and get a scoop of that and a scoop of chocolate.
We got in a good bit of the last season of Dexter before grabbing our grocery order for the night and that was about it.
How was your weekend?
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Perfect weekend. I needed that so bad and it delivered. I just feel renewed after getting out on the water (in the soul, the body didn't feel so renewed actually) and it really was the closest to normal we've had in months now. Thanks for making the picnic perfect and being the queen of ice cream!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice during the day and cold at night here by us. I got a ton of yardwork done Saturday after I fixed the mower. If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be able to accomplish that, I would never have believed it. I am surprised at the amount of personal satisfaction I got out of that! I got 21,000 steps in without leaving my house. I was in an Epsom salt bath by 6:30. Yesterday I took a bit slower. A couple of hours of catch up by phone with friends and a more leisurely day of puttering outside. Mom's friend came over for a marathon social distanced patio visit. I grilled Italian sausages for us. I drifted inside and let them visit. Pretty much slacked around, lazy Sunday.
Have a great week!
Saturday I was up super early to get to Safeway the minute they opened so I could get in and out before the crowds came. I was supposed to get together for a porch visit with a friend Saturday night, but her mom might be really sick (testing today) so she wasn't up for it. Sunday... I think I left the house. Maybe. Mostly I went down the youtube rabbit hole and wasted a lot of time.
ReplyDeleteToday I'm getting ready to head up to the mountains for some cabin camping. We should be able to stay a pretty good distance from other people up there, and I'm looking forward to the cooler temperatures.
I am SOOOOOO happy you had such a great outting! It sounds absolutely perfect and it carried over into a fantastic weekend in total! Yippee!!! Rejuvenation at its finest! My weekend was long with work stress and car stuff, but I could not have asked for better weather, so I focused on that! The breeze was just wonderful and I was able to sleep 3 hours in bed with the window open and not once did I have a hot flash...victory! I had all the laundry done on Friday and Saturday so yesterday was rest and relaxation until it was time to do the usual chores and get ready for the week. For two days we had the windows opened and that did so much for me mentally. The dogs were loving it on their walks with their dad, and slept like rocks afterwards. LOL Couldn't have asked for better.
ReplyDeleteHope your good vibes continue on this week!!