Week In Review

My favorite married couple, their adorable daughter and I went to Zoo Lights before the season ended. Their daughter wasn't much interested in the lights as much as she was with seeing animals. We kept telling her that it was the animals bed time and so, they were all asleep. She dealt with the disappointment pretty well, I have to say. No major tantrums. Here are a few of the light displays at the zoo.












Then, I headed home to officially kick off the weekend with these:



Peppermint Cosmos. They. Were. Delicious. It was like drinking a candy cane. If you want to give them a go, here's how to whip up your own:

1c. pomegranate juice
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
juice from one lime
1/4c. vodka

Shake with ice, strain into a martini glass & garnish with a spring of mint and/or a mini candy cane.

Then, an early morning bike ride. We're bad to the bone, I know.



This weekend started off with a bike ride, as well. However, it was frigid. The wind coming from the north east, cut through my clothing like ice cold knives. Fifteen miles was all that we could manage before admitting defeat and heading home. The weather was perfect for a hike, though. So we gave that a go. We drove about 30 minutes away to Meeman Shelby Forest. I've run many road races in Shelby Forest - the MRTC 10 miler (more times that any rational human should-it's 10 miles of hills) and the Hill & Dale race (once...only once and that was enough. It was something like 17 degrees the year I ran...no thanks). But I digress. I've not been on the trails since girl scouts in the late '80's. It's been a long time, is what I'm saying. Anyway, I was very impressed with how well the trails have been maintained. I see some trail running at Shelby Forest in my future. I will be walking up the steep bluffs though. Just saying.



This wasn't the most beautiful scene that we saw along the trail, but we had to stop and look at the bamboo stalks that really didn't look like bamboo, up close. It was pretty pliable, like green onions. Wonder what it was.

Then, we stumbled upon this...



I guess the Keebler Elves aren't as small as they're portrayed on T.V. This one wasn't a very good Elf. He had no cookies for us.

Post hike, while I waited for my soup and hot chocolate, I had these, pesto-tomato thingies. I saw them on cupcakes & cashmere's site. Say what you will about her style choices. She does have a bold style flava, but the girl knows good recipes!