Annie & Abbey at Silverlake

Since I hardly ever go out and have fun.... and Annie never updates her blog..... I will live vicariously through her and post her updates. Today her and Abbey hiked to Silver Lake above Tibble Resevoir. She said they had the trail all to themselves..... and when she got to the top she had a message for the member of our family who should have been a meteroligist and maybe was one in a previous life.... he has prevented all of us from getting frostbite in blinding snowstorms..... perishing in hailstorms.... drowning in tsunamis... and in general, been around to update us every hour on the hour about what mother nature has in store for us next.

One happy dog...

Morning Glory Muffins

So Grandma has been talking to me all week about this great muffin recipe she got from Barbara and how I should make some.... yeah, yeah, I will. But apparently I didn't do it soon enough because yesterday she went to the store and got all of the ingredients..... and when Ken took her coffee this morning she told him about these awesome muffins I was going to make. Ken came home and told me.... it looks like you're making muffins today. And so I did. If any of you are persistant and stick with something until you get or achieve it.... you need wonder no longer.... it is Grandma Porter Erickson trait. Love ya, mom.

Morning Glory Muffins
Mix together:
1 Cup plain yogurt
1 Cup mashed ripe banana
1 egg

Mix together and add to above:
1 Cup whole wheat flour
½ Cup white flour
1 Cup regular oats
¾ Cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp. wheat bran
3 Tbsp. flaxseed meal
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt

Then add:
1 Cup chopped dates (or raisins)
½ Cup dried pineapple
¾ Cup walnuts
Bake at 350 for 20 min.

No wonder they are called Morning Glory…. they will make you wake up singing an aria. They are a rich muffin and very, very good. Next time I’m going to cut down on the brown sugar. Also I only cooked them for 15 min.

Summer Fun Challenge

So Jana has been making open invitations on facebook and even recruiting on the telephone to join her "Summer Fun Challenge" which works when you create a new heathy habit by doing it for 21 days in a row. Most of you know I am fundamentally opposed to trying to attain perfection.... somewhere along the line I think you need to find a balance between improving yourself and appreciating yourself for everything you've already accomplished. So, Jana, don't faint but I am joining your following. You will see the real gap between my generation and your generation of followers. I won't be doing your power 90 minute beach body workout.... or getting up at 5:00 am to do hardcore strength training or even a gentle yoga.....

HOWEVER.... I am committing to walk on the treadmill for 10 min. at a 3.0 speed which adds up to a 20 min. mile, which breaks down to walking a 1/2 mi. everyday. This is just my speed as I have bombed out on any exercise since I had that killer pnuemonia in July of 2007. In good faith I have posted my first day's time to show I think I am up to this task. Who knows where this may lead but I have had enough of my lazy little self, so I'll try it your way.....