June in Photos

A Mobile Summer

While summer is still creeping closer, the season of sweat arrived a few weeks ago. Already I'm benefiting from the long hours of sunlight, though, as evidenced by a ride out to East Chattanooga last night at 8 p.m.

Even after a shower post-workout, I was drenched. Unlike this photo (<---) taken by a coworker for my company's facebook page for proof of our smug healthy workforce. Or something like that.

However, I started (gasp!) mountain biking this summer! It's given me a new level of confidence and provides GREAT cheap thrills and other sweat-soaked fun.

Chattanooga boasts loads of local trails, my current favorite being Enterprise South Nature Park. Thanks to SORBA-Chattanooga, Wild Trails and other supporting organizations, mountain bikers from around the region can enjoy and ride our trails. And we're always building more!

B and I have volunteered at 5 Points on Lookout Mountain, an old-school trail system that is getting a makeover (and loads of new trails) by dedicated SORBA-Chattanooga folks. The MTB camraderie and greater community impress me—and our local SORBA leaders have been great about creating more social opportunities for volunteers and riders. Last week we were able to take a FIRST ride on some of the trails. I did surprisingly well, given my skill level, though I wimped out on the last little ride, tuckered out after being rattled around on the nascent trails.

I hope to be comfortable enough on some trails to tackle them on my cross/commuter by the end of the summer. Because... wait for it... I'm going to attempt cyclocross this season! More info on that t/f. So much going on, just like a typical summer o fun.

The Growing Season

While I have yet to try my hand at gardening and growing my own vegetables, I do enjoy and regularly peruse local produce, whether from the Wednesday Farmers Market, Sunday's Chattanooga Market or that yuppie health food store on the Northshore.

Spring onion tart!

Last year I chronicled some of my adventures of eating my way through a half share of Community Supported Agriculture from Crabtree Farms. Kimchee, various slaws, incredible salads and GREENS. Lots of GREENS and other various fruits, veggies and herbs came through my kitchen, and I was sad when the challenge of cooking ended in October or so.

Over the season, though, I met different farmers at the market and was particularly impressed with Curtis and Letty at Circle S. I was MOST excited about the option to get a weekly egg share from them. Local eggs are hard to come by, and they're a dietary staple for me, not to mention a tasty, quick meal to pair with lots of veggies.

Enter the season's first two CSAs. Tonight, B crafted a onion tart with this week's green onions to pair with local pork chops. Delicious? I hope so. Tomorrow I'm going to battle the Sunday market to get a huge basket of berries for preserves, freezing and tasty additions to yogurt all week long.

Here's to many more months of adventurous use of local vegetables! Support our local farmers! It's worth every penny.

Only you, Suzie Q!

This weekend marked Mother's Day—a holiday I don't mind celebrating. I'm so blessed to be able to spend time with my MamaSooz who has passed on more than her good looks and great genes. She also raised three beautiful kids and taught me how to be a hospitable, loving, warm host—and a pretty decent cook.

(Though I can't leave out my sister, the other major female influence and kitchen whiz in my life!)

Regardless, the celebrating called for some local deliciousness! B and I drove up to M'boro to make strawberry ice cream with his mom on Saturday. Earlier in the week he scored some fresh milk from a friend in Ringgold. Of which we still have... practically two gallons! I've been devising delicious creamy things to make all week.

Sunday morning I got up early and collected the remaining ingredients for my quickee brunch prep. Using eggs, spinach and greens from my Circle S Farms CSA and mushrooms, goat cheese and spices, I made my favorite frittata, inspired by a Moosewood Cookbook recipe (and of course, the sister!).

My Mom's birthday conveniently falls right around Mother's Day, and no birthday is complete without birthday cake. Enter chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting (using what else but that heavenly local cream!) on top of toasted almond gelato and macerated strawberries. Big noms! I only regret not taking more photos.

Burn ass, not gas!

Happy Bike Month!

We've been celebrating with a variety of brews cruises. Yeehaw!

Back on the Cruiser!

That's right—it's cruiser season! My commuter is in the hands of a mechanic for the week getting what I refer to as her spring makeover. New chain, all new cables, a healthy cleaning and beautiful, celeste bar tape. Can't wait to zip around town when she's back!

In the meantime, I'm riding the cruiser for the first time in about four months. I forgot how FUN it is, too! Yesterday I rode in my wedges. Today I rode in and snapped a few panda shots along the way—with the college kids on spring break, my commute is mostly free and clear of pedestrians.

Ding ding!

Nothing like ringing in the new season, a full moon and a FRIDAY like a beautiful, warm bike ride! Cheers! 

Sweet Sunday

The familiarity of home just hit me—except it is missing my favorite golden fluff head.

Jazz, our family's golden retreiver, was put down a few weeks ago. I knew he hadn't been doing well in 2011. In fact, on our family snow run on Christmas, his feet were dragging all the way back home.

But this morning at my parents, when I woke up to only two squeaking pups, both eager to go on a morning walk, I couldn't help but think of Jazz's warm, kind puppy spirit. Damn that dog had a good life.

Yesterday's nearly all-day downpour left me excited about spring. B and I went on a quick trail run just as it was raining, and then I crumpled on the couch for the rest of the afternoon with the remote in my hand. Not many times I can say that! So I took full advantage of my evening of dogsitting at home.

I awoke to an absolutely haunting dream earlier this week. Vivid dreams are not out of the ordinary for me. In fact, they're quite the norm. I called my Mom to tell her about it—she has memorably weird dreams, too—and she helped calm me down. I think the action represented a distance between me and my family, namely my sister and my grandmother. One is another world away, one distanced by about 20 miles and a lack of transportation on both of our ends.

There are worldly rumblings today, if not outside on Crestwood then in my head and heart. Maybe once this rainy goop dries up and the temperature rises five degrees, I will take the puppies for a helluva run.