It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like …. Hallow-mas?

Hello from Blizzard, CO!     What do ya know, the evil forecasters were right yesterday.  We got the SNOW SMACKDOWN!   The poor trick-or-treaters this weekend will be out in Christmas weather, not Halloween weather!

Yesterday morning:

This morning:

Riley LOVES to chase her ‘flying squirrel’ in the snow:

Pretty  much all schools were closed yesterday and a few more today.  And it’s still coming down.  But the thing that’s great today is that MSP gets to work from home, as they closed his office. 

Yesterday’s exercise consisted of two rounds of snowblowing and shoveling.  It was the first time I’d used the snowblower.  I thought it would be a piece of cake.  Alas, not so much.  I am kicking myself now for NOT wearing my heart rate monitor so that I could report back to you with some ‘official stats’.  Getting the thing started was a workout in itself, since it hadn’t been started since early spring.  I am not kidding when I say that my RIGHT OBLIQUE is actually sore today from that pull/twist you  have to do.  I think I pulled on that thing 25 times before it finally got going!  

The snow was really wet and heavy and the snowblower did not want to move forward through it.  So I would do a ‘wheelie’ first to take a pass at the snow over the top layer then another to get what was left underneath.  We live on a corner lot so we are responsible for the sidewalk in front of our house and also along one whole side of our lot. 

I was having such a good time (not really), I also did the sidewalk for the neighbor on the west of us.  Then I went across the street and did the sidewalk for our neighbor who has a corner lot just like ours.  Really I just felt bad for them knowing that they DON’T have snowblowers and trying shovel that amount of snow with how heavy it was is asking for a herniated disc. 

After being outside, adding in an extra cup of herbal tea per my post yesterday was easy!

And then another!  (Of COURSE I had to use my snowflake mug!!)

And you know if the word of FitFeat, not a day goes by without consuming a Larabar:

It must be the time of year for butternut squash soup.  I’ve been seeing it on a few foodie blogs, plus reader Joan very generously wrote out a full recipe for it in the comments section of a previous post for us.  By the power of suggestion, I figured that I’d open a can of Amy’s Organic version of said flavor, with a little garnish on top:

I confess this is the first of her soups that did not knock my socks off.  In Amy’s defense, there is a blurb on the can that says “or use as a base for your own creation”.  I think that’s the better option.  As a standalone soup it was just … blah.  When I’m feeling motivated, I will definitely try Joan’s recipe.  I can’t say that I’ve ever HAD butternut squash soup before, so maybe it’s supposed to be a little bland?  FitFeat readers, I’d love to hear of your squash soup experiences.

***

I had more that I wanted to post, but we have to go pick our dog up from the vet.  What was supposed to have been a quick follow-up on the eye has turned into something so much more (and therefore so much more expensive).   

See you next time!   If you are a reader in Colorado, STAY WARM!! 

– Shari B.