I love figs

"Like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked." ~The Bell Jar/ Silvia Plath "The fragility of the fig is also part of its attraction... Fig Preserves are some of the most luscious to be had..." ~Ripe/ Nigel Slater

Anatomy of a crash

 

I hit a tree with my head yesterday. With the impending snow storm scheduled to arrive today, I set out to do my favorite 20 mile mountain bike ride. It was intended to be a “Grand Finale” ride of sorts. I’ve ridden over 1500 miles this season…mostly on my mountain bike…and this is a ride I have done 9 times this season. A ride I love to do. A three hour tour complete with beautiful views, suffer session climbing, technical rocky sections and glide-y, berm-ed out downhills.  It takes you high above French Gulch…along a single track, back down across rocks and steams….down the roller coaster Wire Patch trail, up Sally Barber Climb, up Nightmare on Baldy, down True Romance and finally down the other side of Sallie Barber to the  switchbacks of Barney Ford and the lower “whoop section” (man-made rollers) to the super fun Barney Flow with features and bridges etc… and lastly to the berm-ed out switch backs of Carter Park, ending up in town and cruising back to the shop. The first part of the ride you only see a few riders, the end of the ride is on well-traveled and loved trails just above town. Generally, when I finish this ride, I feel somewhat depleted but exhilarated from a long, challenging, fun ride.

The particular section (the top of Barney Ford Descent) where I hit the tree, I have ridden 14 times this summer and fall. It is at the end of the ride…and it’s a section I know well. it’s not super technical. It’s pretty much a glide-y downhill with some easy switchbacks. I was cruising along and enjoying the last part of the ride… focusing on having my butt over the back of seat…my dropper post fully lowered…and grooving with the terrain. That was when my wide enduro handlebars clipped the tree on the right and flung me head first into it. I felt the impact on my head… and my neck and ear slam into the tree…I saw stars. It happened so fast. I didn’t lose consciousness…I sat on the ground for a moment and collected myself. I looked around. There were no other riders or hikers.  I picked myself up…straightened out my bike…clipped back into my pedals and rode down to town.

I’m pretty sure I have a mild concussion.  I have a headache, a sore head, scrapes on the side of my face, on and in my ear and a nice welt on my shin. My neck is stiff, my clavicle hurts…my helmet is cracked…but I am ok. It just started to snow.

Petit Dejeuner

Geography of Bliss

A Book by Eric Weiner.

Things I learned about happiness:

It needs to come from within.

External happenstance can be joyful, but you need to take flight yourself.

Maybe happiness is this:  not wanting to be anywhere else.  But, that too is fleeting.

Conjoyment: Contentment/ joyfulness…easy going without highs and lows.

Happiness is low expectations.

Attention/ not feeling invisible

Having connections

Feeling connected

Not needing a lot

Trust, friends, neighbors

Knowing there are good people out there

Feel like you are contributing

Stop chasing things that don’t make us happy.

Windfalls ultimately don’t make you happy…though they can relieve some stress.

Not getting what you want, getting what you want…neither make us happy.

Interesting work

Random joyful objects.

Religion, purpose, belief in something.

It is not what we believe, but the act of believing.

Happiness is a state of mind & how you pursue that state of mind.

Happiness is a choice.

Attitude that no matter how bad things are…they will work out.

Pride.

Staying busy and not thinking too much about be happy. Doing. Living. Breathing.

Live rather that question living.

Thinking about happiness makes us less happy.

The belief that the relationship is more important than the problem.

Not serious about anything.

Whatever it is we accept it.

If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing.

Happy/go-lightlies don’t get flustered.

If nothing you do matters, then life suddenly feels a lot less heavy. It’s just all a big game.

Friendship, sex, trust.

Relationships at work and with family.

We need identity to feel happy. Your dreams, your worth, your ideas.

Food is the mirror of the nation’s soul.

Pride. Identity. Culture. Tradition.

Envy = the enemy of happiness.

Powerlessness. People are not likely to be happy if they have no control over their lives.

Being useful = happiness.

Living a meaningful life is sometimes good enough.

Home is where the heart is. You come home because this is where you live.

To feel needed. People & dogs.

Count your blessings & be grateful for five things every day.

Appreciate the moment.

Socializing. Meeting people. Inspiration. New ideas and opportunities. Connection.

Spice!!!

Love.

More than one road to happiness.

Balance.

Rich, meaningful life.
Our relationships with other people are more important than you think.

100 Things:

Snow
Fog
Rain
Books
Lighthouses
Lobster Boats
Chamonix
Chambery
Beaufort
Annecy
Val d"Isere
Tignes
Lavigno
Bolzano...want to go!
La Thuile
La Rosiere
Courmayeur
The North End of Boston
Boylston Street
Paris
Portland, Maine
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Breckenridge, CO
Monhegan Island
Sottocenere
Lindt Chocolate
Nougat
Croix de Savoie
Vin de Savoie
Crepes
Bananas
Coffee
Muffins, cakes, breads
A Farewell to Arms
A Moveable Feast
Tender at the Bone
Weilier Bike
Santa Cruz Mtn bike
Santa Cruz
Creede
Clearwater Farms
Rotating Tram in Courmayeur
Lake City
Crested Butte
Durango
Brevent Tram
Macarons
Aguille di Midi
Vallee Blanche
Pain de Beaufort
La Pignatta Tignes
Le Caveau
Hotel de Marmottes
Frangipane
Galettes
Prince cookies
T-bar
Hintertux
Altenmarkt
La Clusaz
Zermatt
Euro Breakfasts
Breakfast
Oats, bananas, coffee, bread & jam
Chambery
Rose Hospital
Anthropologie
Coffee
RN74
Mendocino
Half Moon Bay
Big Sur
Camden
Alford Lake Camp
Belfast
Restaurant in Courmayeur
Pizza in Annecy, Val d'Isere & Courmayeur
Restaurant in Zermatt
Maison Carrel on Italian mtn
Red Burgundy Villages: Cote de Nuit, Gevry Chambertin, Morey St Denis, Ladoix, Nuit St Georges
White Burgundy villages:  Meursault, Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet
Beaune
Hotel Le Cep
Barolo
Alba
Barbera
Bread & Honey
Blueberry Cake
Cracked Apple Cookies/ Scratch bakery
Reds
Vignola
Piatti
Indian Food
IVF
Adoption
Termination   Septo Optic Dysplasia  heterscopy
Vaso Previa
World Cup
Jam  First Chair Jam
Colorado Palisade Peaches
Strawberry Pie
Lobster Roll
Fly Fishing
The "Art" of things
Buckwheat Pancakes
Cinnamon Twists
Ginergerbread House
Sugarloaf
The Rack
Gretchen's Ginger Cookies
Coq au Vin
Frank Llloyd Wright
Country Club
The Cove
Higgins Beach, Scarborough Beach, Casino Beach, Willard Beach, Cliff House Beach
Yoga
Meditation
Big Mtn Contests
Finn
Kenny
Mom
Dad
Tony
John
Chris
Jen
Kyle
Violaine
KB
Cathy
Kim
Elaine
Soni
Sam
Martha
Kent
Mary
Gretchen, Brinn, Courtney
Bookclub
Andy
Bill
Darren
Kevin
Scott
Brett
Franny
Alto
Love
Happiness
Journaling
Walking
skiing
mtn biking
road biking
Santa Fe
Cafe Pasquales
Georgia O'Keefe
NYC
Impressionist at the Met
Pasquale Jones
The Refinery Hotel
Central Park
Buvette
Europe
France, Italy, Switzerland
Baking
Cooking
Wine
Cheese
Chocolate
Passion
Desire
Life
Family
Surfers
Ocean
Mountains
Maine
Friends
Lovers

Maine Blueberry Cake!

I may not be able to be in Maine right now...but it is in my heart and in my thoughts.


Preheat over to 350*

1/4 cup applesauce
1/4cup vegetable oil
Just under 1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons  all purpose flour
1/2 cup spelt flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 or 2 tablespoons black chia seeds

2 cups of frozen Maine blueberries sprinkle w/ 2 tablespoons of flour

Fold batter into a prepared (I use pam baking spray) Springform pan.

Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar.

Bake for 50 minutes.

For Blueberry Almond Cake:
Cut Spelt flour to 1/4 cup. Add 1/4 cup Almond Flour.
Cut Vanilla to 1 teaspoon and add  & 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.

Yummmmmmm!! Yankee Mainer goodness. :)

Best Cookies Ever!!!

Peanut Butter, Oat & Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preheat Oven to 350*

Lightly Grease 2 cookie sheets

Ingredients:

1/3 cup unsalted butter

1/3 cup applesauce

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 & 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Cup Chocolate Chips



Beat together the butter, sugars, egg, applesauce, vanilla & peanut butter until smooth.

In a separate bowl whisk together flour, baking soda & salt.

Add 1/2 to the peanut butter mixture. Mix until incorperated.

Add oats.

Mix.

Add second 1/2 of flour mixture.

Mix until incorportated.

Add chocolate chips.

Drop by heaping teaspoons onto the prepared baking sheets. 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10-11 minutes until lightly browned.

Remove from oven & cool on rack.


Makes @  20 cookies.



Serve with a cold mug of milk. Dip & enjoy!! :)