Such fun . . .

You know, we went to the Farmer's Market to get a couple seeded watermelon, a few tomatoes and a couple of cucumbers.  We didn't expect it to be a cultural outing that lasted the entire morning!  My goodness.  It's a veritable ethnic experience.  Yes, there were tons of really great fruits and vegetables that we went a little crazy about, but there were also home-made everything you can imagine.  And every third booth there was some artist performing.  There was a girl with a ukulele singing, a guy dressed to the nines in a kilt and plaid tam playing the bagpipes, a reggae  looking guy with dreadlocks playing a bongo while a girl danced with a hula hoop.  There was a large group of people that were singing in another language and playing these real primitive instruments and dancing like it was a war dance with karate moves and flips and stuff.  It was amazing.  Then, there was the food court.  Every kind of food imaginable.  Raw, organic, Thai,  Mexican, Peruvian, Italian, Indian,  you name it - they had it.  And soo good.  Really different stuff.   No elephant ears or fried onions.   No, this was way out there kind of stuff.  Like this - there was a guy riding a bike that was hooked up to a generator that was in turn hooked up to a power source that generated electricity that ran a juicer and a blender.  So you could get a bike-powered carrot/beet juice or a fruit smoothie all the while you're 'going green'!   Not a bad idea that.  Get your exercise in and then reward yourself with a smoothie!  HA.  Well, it would certainly cut down on your electric bill!

Anyway, it was quite fun.  The people were fantastic, the weather was great and we had a great time.

Then, we drove up to Park City and watched some Olympians training - practicing their arial jumps on skis.  They would fly down this ramp, do their twists and flips and land in a giant pool of water that bubbled right before they landed.  It was so interesting to watch.  It was a coolish day, and the wind was howling, so I bet they were a bit chilly, except they did have wet suits on.  They even had a ramp for the common folk.  You could pay to give it a try on the 'bunny ramp' and that was so funny to watch.  These people would barely make it off the end of the ramp and literally flop into the water, arms and skis flailing all over the place.  Not too pretty, but entertaining none-the-less.

Then everyone did the zip line.  Well, everyone but me.  NO THANK YOU.  The chair lift was too scary for me.  They all had fun on it though.  They we all did go do the alpine slide which was fun.  It kind of mimics a bobsled ride, only much safer.  It was fun to see where the Olympics were held and all the ski runs and jumps and stuff.  To see it all up close was wild.  I can only imagine what it would be like with all the snow.

We went and ate at this really wacky restaurant today.  The food was good, but different.  I got to satisfy my childhood treat of soy ice cream vanilla shake with french fries.  I know, sounds icky, but you can't knock it til you've tried it.  Way better than just ketchup or goop.  (goop is another childhood concoction of mayonaise, ketchup and mustard mixed just right)  But even goop, as good as it is, can not top a vanilla shake with fries.  MMM!   Hey, it's way better than vinegar that the Canadians and Brits use for their fries, let me tell you!

Then we went for a bike ride, as everyone was so excited because of their new purchases.  Noah bought his today, a really sweet British bike that is just exactly what he was looking for.  Spent a pretty penny on it, but he's happy.  I rode my old bike with the broken brake, broken gears and no water bottle holder (boo hoo)   :)  but I do hope to get a recumbent - sometime - soon - before we have to leave.

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Gary and Judah have yet to golf, so that's next on the agenda.  The trouble is deciding which course to play.  There are a ton of them and most are pretty cheap.  That's yet another positive about this place.  There are actually lots of positives - nice people, lots of great restaurants, lots of bike paths, great - no - super great library, lots of really great locally-grown produce including peaches that are fantastic, no mosquitoes, no humidity, and great views.

Um, why is it we don't live here again . . .

Well, better run.  Take care.  And if you're brave, try the fries dipped in a vanilla shake, and tell me what you think.

Later,

jill and all

 

Totally toxic but oh so good . . .

Okay, so we found a really cool bike for India and an even cooler bike for Ezra.  They are stoked.  Now we just need to get Noah a bike and try to find a nice recumbent for me.  That is proving harder than we thought.  Not too popular - those weird-looking things.  But the seat is soo comfortable and the nice back rest is so nice, and it is just so much better than a 'normal' bike.  And besides - how could I do 'normal' anyway??!

Ate at the Blue Plate cafe.  Total greasy spoon, but the dishes were all vegan and so so tasty!  Then we went to Hatch Family Chocolates.  I know, but hey, we ARE on vacation and that alone gives you license to do and eat things you wouldn't normally - right?!  So we all got frozen bananas dipped in dark chocolate.  Gary and I added nuts.  Oh.  My.   Goodness. Judah hates chocolate, so Noah ate all of it off and left Judah with the banana. I could not finish mine.  We are so so so not used to chocolate and sugar that it was about 5 times what our bodies could handle.  We'll all be up till 3 am no doubt, and then we'll crash and will want to sleep all day tomorrow.   I'm glad we don't vacation too often!

I should have just had a few fresh figs instead of the chocolate banana.  They have magnificent fresh figs from California that are in season now and they are decedent.  Pure and simple.  Forget the chocolate covered strawberries and Double Chocolate truffle cake - Fresh figs are almost to die for.  If you haven't had one, you must.  They are incredible.  Truly.  I am not kidding.  :)

Okay, this was the food post.  Now I'm off to bed to try to read myself to sleep - till the sugar/caffine high runs out that is.

Later -

jill and all

Vacation at last . . .

We are in the Bee Hive State and have yet to see an actual bee hive except on bill boards and the names of businesses.  You'd expect to see Utah honey sold everywhere, but that's not the case.  So why the name?  We do not know.  Oh, well, we're just glad to be here.  Cause our pickup is acting funny, chugging and sputtering and blowing black smoke.  I feared we wouldn't even make it.  Plus, we came upon a huge traffic jam that stopped up the entire interstate for almost 2 hours.  A truck with toxic something collided with a semi and blocked the road.  So, there we sat.  But, two days and about 18 hours of driving, 5 bags of almonds, 1 large container of raisins, 10 bunches of bananas, 1 jar of peanut butter, 1 jar of cashew butter and 1 quick stop for lunch on a side road by Safeway in Spearfish and lots of praying later - we pulled into the RV park, just before they were about to close.  Thank God.  We were glad to get out of Wyoming unscathed!  But we did get to stop at Independence Rock, on a fluke, cause Judah had to use the rest room.  :)  India screams - 'Mom!  This is THE Independence Rock.  You know, the Oregon Trail Independence Rock!'   And it was.  Cool.  Thanks Judah.  We got our history lesson in for the day.

So far we haven't done much.  Hung out at the world's best library ever, went walking/running/biking/rollerblading, searching for bikes to buy and we ate.  We hope to check out Park City and Sundance.  Park City is where the Olympics were held and Sundance is where Robert Redford's famous film festival is held.  They have a zip line and a trolley and a really cool cave that is a must see.  Or so I've been told.  We hope to get seeded watermelon at the farmers market and play a little golf too.  Well, some of us will play, some of us will be the gallery, and some of us will stay back at the trailer and surf the web.

Pictures will be forthcoming.  Hopefully.  If India is nice enough to share and put them on my blog for me.  India, are you listening?   :)

Well,  we're off to eat at City Dogs.  It's a vegan hot dog street vendor place and they have the best dogs ever.  Well, so the children say.  They put all kinds of wacky things on theirs like, jalapenos and saurcraut and chili and cheese (vegan of course), veganaise,  onions, and relish.  Me, I'm a ketchup and mustard gal.  Why mess up a good thing, I say.  Some say that's boring, I say, keep it simple.  Okay, yeah, it's boring as all get-out, but it's the way I like it.  The very best part of City Dogs is the veganaise in a squeeze bottle.  Yeah, I know.  I don't really get the appeal either, but the children swear by it.  Easily amused, or what??!

Hope you all are keeping cool.

Later everyone!

jill and all