Dilly beans!

Yesterday was canning day at my house! 

Sarah is addicted to all things pickled and convinced me join her in making dilly beans (which I also adore!)

First we picked some beans at Ma's house (thanks, Ma!) Then hit Bi-Mart and Winco for supplies. Then we created these beauties:

and these...

Twenty-nine pints and six 1.5 pints! And we only stopped when we ran out of beans. More to come :)

We borrowed Ma's canning kettle and had quite an assembly line going with two kettles and a stock pot. And Brad fixed us veggie burgers to keep up the stamina. Oh, and the caramels helped, too!

Now I can't wait to do apple and pear butters!!!!

:)

No. 41

This is one of the books read by English classes at THS, and I finally got around to reading it. WOW.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Even though the plot is totally too sad and bizarre to be believable, it's actually an autobiography. The abuse and neglect of this girl is heartbreaking. And the mandatory reporter in me was uncomfortable the entire time.

What a powerful story. Read it.

:)

Backward 11

Someone in my running forum recently told of doing her normal route backward. The idea stuck in my mind, and Brad and I decided to give it a try this morning.

It was actually a bit challenging. I had to think much more than usual - no autopilot. And small downhill sections that I never noticed became uphill sections that I really noticed ;) 

I ended up doing 11.28 miles at a 10:43 average:

Brad left home a bit after me and then ran much faster. He caught me when I was just 1.5 miles from home. Then he whizzed past. Fun to see him out there :)

Just a couple weeks until my race!

Morning miles with my Honey

Brad needed a short, slow run this morning, so he joined me for some pre-dawn miles. The clouds kept the sun - and heat - away a little longer.

We did a nice 3-mile loop:

I love clouds!!

Happy weekend, friends :)

A visit from Nana Fantz

Sunday when we sang Open My Eyes That I May See, I got a little visit from Nana Fantz.

I don't know exactly what it was, but I immediately "heard" my great grandmother playing her living room organ and singing right along. I leaned over and whispered to Brad, and he said he heard it, too.

I smiled through the rest of the song.

Plus, the words are beautiful:

 Open my eyes, that I may see 
 glimpses of truth you have for me; 
 place in my hands the wonderful key 
 that shall unlock and set me free. 
 Silently now I wait for you, 
 ready, my God, your will to do. 
 Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! 

 Open my ears, that I may hear 
 voices of truth so sharp and clear; 
 and while the messages sound in my ear, 
 everything else will disappear. 
 Silently now I wait for you, 
 ready, my God, your will to do. 
 Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! 

 Open my mouth, let me declare 
 words of assurance everywhere; 
 open my heart and let me prepare 
 your loving kindness to share. 
 Silently now I wait for you, 
 ready, my God, your will to do. 
 Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine! 

:) 

My kiddos

I'd like to introduce you to my CE2 kiddos:

These seniors are all working very hard to graduate!! :)

Post-run photo bomb

The sky was lighting up as I hit the pavement for a short morning run. It's gonna be a hot one, so I had to get it done early.

I wore my brand-new Saucony Guides.

3.01 miles - including a spin past THS to wave to my friends, Gus and Rick :)

Brad was making his breakfast in the kitchen and sneaked into my pic :)

Creeper!

Happy Hump Day :)