Today I turned 40 years old with a bottle of champagne and my family on a summit overlooking the North Cascades. We kicked off the weekend on the Pacific Crest Trail at Harts Pass near Canada. The PCT was the first “big girl” trail I hiked after moving to Seattle in 2013. Spending time in complete silence (for hours) was a first for me. It truly changed my life. When I finally grew comfortable paying attention without immediately reacting, I was really able to listen and see life around me in a way I never had before. If someone asks what really led to the end of my career, it was an internal shift I have a hard time describing but ultimately resembles self-awareness, and it probably began on the PCT. I met several through hikers this weekend who started at the Mexico border and were almost done. I asked what they planned to do after such an accomplishment. “Go home and get back to work,” most said. At first it seems anticlimactic but I remember Trent Peterson, a young man whose story I told years ago, as he rode wild mustangs along the PCT. He used to say that the PCT is just a trail, what matters is that we slow down, pay attention and see clearly whatever path we’re on. I looked up a quote from that report to share with you all.
“This isn't to advocate for the PCT. The PCT is just a trail. Get out of the rat race and slow down. Pay attention to the little things, not just the big things, because it's the whole picture we need to be aware of," he said.
Our hens decided to take holiday break starting around Halloween. So today I gave them a pep talk and let them know that they may have made it to Thanksgiving but free-loader soup is on the menu for Christmas.
I got a real chuckle out of this one. A sweet 4H teen agreed to help milk our goat while we visit my parents for Thanksgiving. I noticed right away we’d have a bit of a challenge, given the 2 inch long acrylic nails. She just had them done and said, “I haven’t had nails in 3 years!” Perfect timing. 🤣We tested them out. This is why I never have nice nails and had one person comment, “you look like you play hockey.”
I can’t believe I’m 44 making marshmallows for the first time. It’s so easy and they taste great, not to mention they’re so much healthier than store bought marshmallows. Here’s how we made them.
++ In a mixing bowl, combine 22g grass-fed gelatin & 1/2 cup water. Mix. Set aside.
++ In a stove top safe pot, combine 1/2 cup water, 1 1/2 cups sugar (we used organic maple) and 1 1/4 cups syrup sweetener (we used organic maple syrup). Add a pinch of salt. Boil at 240 degrees for 5-6 minutes.
++ Start whisking your gelatin on low speed and add the hot syrup. Slowly bring speed up on mixer until it’s on high. It took about 6-8 minutes before our mixture looked like marshmallow goo.
++ Prep your pan for the goo by greasing it and sprinkling powdered sugar all over it.
++ Pour goo into pan, sprinkle powdered sugar on top, let sit for 12 hours.
++ Grease your knife and dip it into powdered sugar, then cut your marshmallows into whatever shape you want.
++ Sprinkle more sugar on all sides
++...
