Why are bikes so fun???????

This is my new favorite bike, I wanted to take it on the shootout and up mt lemmon this weekend but Kevin wouldn't let me:) There is a whole new perspective to riding when you can go to yoga and grocery shopping all in one trip. People probably think I am crazy because I am smiling the whole time. We are loving our bikes, riding has been like a new found love because we took alot of time off of them. Friends on the shootout made sure I made it around on Sat by them taking turns giving me pushes. I told Kevin not to push me so he was up front, so he was surprised to see me on sprint hill. I am getting closer and closer to making it on my own, hopefully soon.

Climbing has been awesome trying to hang with the guys. Everyone was chilling at Palisades
today 20 miles up in the nice cool weather. We are getting so excited for our trip to Idaho in 2 weeks to see family and live on our mt bikes for a while.

Welcome cute Noah

Jon & Jess had their baby on 19 Aug. He is seriously one of the cutest babies I have seen. After 10 days he is already so alert and strong, as he already holds his head up, that's what you get with two exceptional athletes. Kevin and I brought lasagna and brownies over last night so they would not have to cook, and of course to hold the baby. He loved Kevin!

New Machines

Yea, we needed more bikes!

Homemade pizza on the grill

What a great weekend, Kevin pushed me around the shootout, it was so much fun. At first I was telling him not to push me and then by the end, I was like "hey where's my push." :) Then today Kevin, Mel and I rode up Mt Lemmon again and dropped into bug springs. Primo single track. Finally feeling a little better on the bike after two weeks. I went vegetarian for the last month, well kind of, I am eating fish, eggs and milk. Especially after seeing that movie Food Inc. I don't really miss chicken or beef. I think I can handle eating like this for a while. I dropped a few pounds along with poor Kevin having to eat all these vegetarian meals. Back to work tomorrow!

If only I could do this for a living...

My first prickly pear jelly session turned out amazingly. Kevin even tried it on his english muffin and liked it, the true test. It has a unique flavor like lyche or dragon fruit from hawaii and it grows on you. I have heard it is really good for you also, bonus. Let me know if you want some, my mom and Kevin can only eat so much.

Organic Prickly Pear Jelly from Tucson

I have been eyeing the nice red bulbs on the prickly pears lately when I am riding my mountain bike. Aug/Sep is the season to pick them, they are falling off the cacti they are so fat and happy right now. So as usual I bit off way more then I could chew after work today. I researched online and went to get all the ingredients.
I even called the Pomona's Universal Pectin hotline to fine out how much pectin I should put in my jam/jelly. The lady was so nice, she even told me the difference between the prickly pears in Arizona compared to Florida. Ours are more red then purple.

I found some nice bulbs out in the middle of the desert where no one was around, I was glad to have tongs and gloves, but still got little fine cactus needles all over me some how. I probably should not of used my cloth grocery bags.

I washed and cut the fruit into quarters and filled the pan with water just up to the top of the fruit.

I boiled 10 min and then strained the juice from the fruit.

And then strained again with a cheese cloth.

Then warmed the jars and lids and then put the jelly into the jars, seeled them, and then boiled them for 10 min.

I did one batch with lemon juice and the other batch with lime and mint. I personally like the lime and mint with the prickly pear the best. I can't believe this bright fruit comes from a cacti. We will see in the morning if they all set up and seal. I will make labels tomorrow. Here is the recipe I used.

4 cups prickly pear juice

2 cups organic sugar

1/4 cup organic lemon or lime juice

4 tsp 100% pure citrus pectin powder

4 tsp calcium water (comes with the universal pectin)

fresh organic mint (optional)

Some of the best singletrack Tucson has to offer...

As the home improvement slows to a trickle and we have more time for naps and riding, I ended my first week back on the bike with the shootout yesterday and then Bug Spring's today. Poor Kevin had to work all weekend after having like 20 days off:) Temps are finally staying below 100 which makes the mornings really nice and cool. You have to hike the first part of the trail above and then it is all down hill through the trees and little creek crossings, seriously one of my favorite trails right now in Tucson. Now back to work and Kevin has three days off.

Full moon camping up on Mt Lemmon

Our days always seem longer when we venture up on the mountain. We got to mountain bike twice and choose the best campsite since we went up on Thursday. It was even a little cooler this time and we had to break out our jackets and hats. Awesome.

Rose Canyon Lake

Here's a few shots of the fruits of our labor. Only lights, trim and some more painting left for this phase. Time to relax and attempt to get back in shape for some fall racing.

After with wall removed.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

From 105 deg to 75 deg in about an hour!

We made a trip up Mt. Lemmon this weekend, we forgot how sweet it was! We found a new campsite at Mt. Bigelow and a new trail that goes from Bear Wallow to Summerhaven. We ate 12 lbs of cookies and drank a gallon of coffee at the Cookie Cabin, it's dangerous! We already have plans to do it again next weekend.

Remnants of the '03 fire.