A Walk Around Valley View

Sunday’s are our usual days for a group walk. By group, that would be Ted, Shane and myself.  It is typically a walk of 4 or more miles which will take us to the more scenic areas of Utica, whether we go right or left or straight from our home.  One of our favorite walks is around Valley View Golf Course.  Once there, we have the option of extending the distance and going through the Switchbacks (a very wooded area made walker/rider friendly by stone-dirt roads) or going up to the Eagle (the upper most point over looking Greater Utica). 

On this particular Sunday, Ted wouldn’t go through the Switchbacks even though it wasn’t muggy so there would be no horse fly attacks (they get pretty bad in there sometimes 😦  ), but he did want to walk up to the Eagle.  It was a beautiful morning for it as well.  I always think that I should bring my yoga mat because it is so peaceful and beautiful, I couldn’t think of a more relaxing place to practice some Asanas.

As we set out this particular morning, Shane needed something in his mouth..typical Shane…

It was cold..51 deg. so I wore my spring mittens

 

The best part about my Spring Mitts is that they turn into a more "Airy" glove when you warm up.

Can you see the deer at the top of the hill? There were 4 of them. Guess I need a telephoto lens.

 

Once at the Eagle, we always read the inscriptions even though we have read them umpteen times before.

The Boilermaker 4 mile marker... what is it? ... just over 5 miles to go?

 

Some wild flora

 

A view coming down the hill .. the golf course

 

It's a tough haul up that hill... these two opted to walk their bikes and I don't blame them.

Coming out of Valley View we saw this... the leaves already beginning to change. Fall is just around that corner.

Movie review:

State of Play with Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck…a really good movie. Not your typical story line. Both actors were spectacular.   Worth the watching.

“Academy Award®-winner Russell Crowe leads an all-star cast including Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams & Helen Mirren in the blistering thriller about deception, manipulation & corruption. When D.C. Reporter Cal McCaffrey (Crowe) is assigned to investigate the murder of an assistant to an up-and-coming politician (Affleck), he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens to bring down the nation’s power structures. In a town of spin-doctors and wealthy power brokers, he will discover one truth: when fortunes are at stake, no one’s integrity, love or life is safe. From director Kevin Macdonald of The Last King of Scotland, State of Play brings together gripping performances, riveting suspense and is “sophisticated, intelligent and powerful”

That’s all for now… another weight work out tomorrow morning. I’ll be following day 3 of this schedule:

It should take no more than 30 minutes.  We shall see.

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This and that and Double Chocolate Cookies

It’s back to work. No more play.  The daily grind.  So it began early-early in the gym but as I said yesterday, I have changed my workout for the next 6 weeks.  Today was simply aerobics.  It was 45 minutes of Elliptical and a 4.3 mile very easy run with the Shaner. 

I have this horrible pain in my upper back which was hounding me since Sunday.  It’s a little more concentrated today and therefore just a tad better but still hurts.  Amazingly, it goes away when I run. I just better keep those feet moving today, hadn’t I?

After that aerobic workout, cookies are in order..

The Ghirardelli Ultimate Double Chocolate Cookie – another recipe pocketed from the NY State Fair.

• 1 bag Ghirardelli 60% Bittersweet Chocolate chips
• 1 Stick Butter
• 3 whole eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 bag Ghirardelli Semi Sweet Chocolate chips
• 1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Using a double boiler over  hot water, melt the bittersweet chips with butter.  

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until thick and combined.

Stir in the melted chocolate-butter mixture.

In a small bowl, mix the flour and baking powder then stir it into the chocolate-sugar mix.  Stir in the chips and walnuts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dough will be very soft but separate it into two sections and form 2 logs with wax paper.  I use wax paper because it saves getting my hands too gooped up.  Is that a real word?

Wrap in plastic wrap for at least one hour.

 

Preheat oven to 375 F and cut the dough into slices about 3/4 ”  thick. Bake about 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheet for 12 – 14 minutes.  Yum!

 

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