Similar to the other PNW bloggers, we have been experiencing a lot of "frozen fog" over here, and let me tell you, it is not the best thing to ride in. On Friday, we went on a four hour ride, and it was only 20 degrees out. Thankfully, my layers of insulation helped to keep the cold at bay for the first three hours, but after that I froze to death!!!
At one point during the ride, Amber, who had on layers of clothing as well, decided to get off and walk a bit. She was hoping that it would warm her up, but it actually made her feet ache worse, because they were so cold. (If you look closely at Bo's ears(below), you can see that he was asking me why I didn't haul my fat a@# off of his back and walk...lol!!!!) 
You never realize just how many spiderwebs and cobwebs are floating around in the woods, until they are frozen, or until you are the first person to ride through a trail...lol!!! Sometimes we take dibs on who has to be first, and thus gets to be covered in webs and spiders.
On to part two of this mixed up post..... (or not so mixed up post, depending how you look at it!) I have a minor obsession with Mexican food, and I love, love, love ,pico de gallo. I have been buying freshly made pico de gallo by the tubful at the grocery store, but after watching my sister, Jen, (who also happens to be a sous chef) make her own the other day, I decided to do the same.
Have you ever seen what a kitchen counter looks like after a person with ADD makes pico de gallo... or anything for that matter??? Well take a look at the photo below!!! (How does that darn Pioneer Woman always make everything look so organized and clean?? LOL!!!)
So I chopped and I sliced, and I sliced and I chopped, and this was the end result.....
...And let me be the first to tell you that is is delicious!!! I had it for my snack, and for dinner!!! I love it so much that I just eat it by the spoonful...teeheehee!!! Is there such thing as eating too much pico de gallo??? I hope not!!! And eating it by the spoonful isn't bad for you right??? It's made out of vegetables...lol!!! (I am awfully giggly tonight, aren't I??)
(Speaking of random information...how about that inauguration this morning???? Can I just say that I love President Barack Obama???!!! I cried all the way to school, while I listened to his speech. I just hope that people remember that he is just one man, and that he alone cannot "fix" this mess that we have gotten ourselves into.)
26 comments:
That spiderweb photo is stunning, Mellie!
My teeth started chattering imaging riding for 4 hours in your freezing temps. As bad as I yearn to be back in the saddle, there's no way I'd ride when it's 20 degrees with frozen fog. Brrr! Call me a wimp. I'm ok with that.
LOL!
Ok, so promise me that when we get together, you'll make me some pico de gallo, too. And give me a spoon. It's one of my favorite things. Better than salsa, cause it's not runny.
Yummo! Margaritas and Mellie's pico de gallo! I'm wiping the drool off my chin, girlfriend!
~Lisa
Awsome post Melanie and that Salsa looks amazing! Fresh salsa is ALWAYS the best. You guys looked chilly out on your ride! Glad you had fun though!
Call us the "intrepid Riders" ..Good Job Mellie!
I wanted to canter up that trail and the spider web was neat! Yea...I carry a bat so I can look fabulously weird waving it in front of myself like I am conducting the Trail Orchastra!
I loved this post! Your Salsa looked awesome and now my mouth wants.
OKAY...you thinking of Beach with Equines Yet???
yea 20 degrees okay...all I can say is last may our trip was 90 degrees! WE HAD A BLAST.
lET ME KNOW...I AM CEREAL!
Kacy
LOL ADD pico de gallo! I hear you, my kitchen always looks like a poster for ADD.
I'm a big Obama mama too. Took the kids out of school and we had a party at the office.
I couldn't stop crying, laughing and trying to memorize every moment. It's like Christmas, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July.
and today's verification: alike! lol
oh, and e-mail me your e-mail address so I can forward you the questions for the "Interview Me" meme! my e-mail is kkowalik85@gmail.com
Wonderfully amazing that you would ride in these temps, much less four hours! The spider web beauty made it worth the trip.
What's wrong with your kitchen??? In the shows I have seen, the cooks tuck everything under the counter and the hidden assistants clean their messes.
Colorful and tasty looking dish.
I'm really jealous of all your riding!!
I love mexican food, too! In fact I was really craving it tonight, but was so exhausted when I got home from school I couldn't drag myself to the store, so I just whipped up some buttered noodles. Woo-hoo! ;)
Oh~ yes, great historical day. It was almost too overwhelming, or should I say emotional (?) for me to watch, really.
aaaagh! stop with the salsa, you and the pony people, and your mexican food blog posts!
i live in a cilantro-free land. can you believe it? it's true. you can get it dried (called "koriander") but that is it, nothing fresh. and i'm not makin' salsa without it. or my wonderful gaspacho soup, no way.
this is how bad it is. the other day i was reading a gardening magazine, and they had an article on herbs. they had a big chart with photos and descriptions of many herbs. cilantro was on the list! and get this, the description said, "many people find that it tastes odd."
what, why would you do that? why would you perpetuate this state of unavailability by proclaiming it "strange"?
agh. (but to be honest, american children and men are less likely to love it, i've noticed.)
i'm gonna get some seeds somehow, and grow it myself this year.
~lytha in the cilantro-free land
Your concoction looks delicious. The counters are as messy as mine after a meal preparation.
Even though I'm not a big fan of riding through spider webs, that frozen one looked really pretty. Can't believe you did that many hours in 20 degrees.
I think the whole country and the world for that matter just breathed a collective sigh of relief after the inauguration yesterday. Me too.
Brrrr, thinking about your ride just makes me cold! You need footwarmers in your boots next time.
I love that icy spiderweb!
Yummy, when's dinner?
Pass the chips! That salsa looks yummy. I can't do anything good in the kitchen...or right. I can't even read directions on a label-I bought some Campbell's Chicken soup for Matt a couple of weeks ago cuz he was sick and I popped open the can and dumped it in a bowl and heated it up and handed it to him. He said, aren't you supposed to add water to it?
Duh.
You guys are trooper trail women, wow, frozen fog and 20 degrees, lol count me OUT!
You are one tough cookie. Four hours? Brrrr.
Pico de Gallo-I will pass up the best salsa around for that. Love it!!
What a great ride! It did look rather chilly!! And cool spiderweb!!
And your Pico de gallo looks so yummy!! How dare you make it and not share the recipe!! I am now wanting some!!!
I have mixed feelings about the new president. You are right, he is only one man, and if he wants to do anything he has to get by Congress. It will be interesting to watch what happens.
You did make a total mess! Love that salsa though - of course I through in several Jalapenos - and cabbage, for some reason I really like the cabbage, and its good roughage.
You guys are so lucky to be riding! Our 4ft of snow reduced itself to 2.5ft over that brief warm period - but were due for another 6-8 inches this weekend - oh joy!
Lisa-Glad to hear you sounding like your old self!!! And of course I will make you some fresh pico de gallo!!! We'll walk over and share it with Val! :)
Natarojo-We did have a great time, and my salsa is yummy...lol!!
Kacy-Yes, we are intrepid rider's, aren't we??? Too bad we don't live closer to each other...
About that summer beach ride...it sounds like it would be an absolute blast! I would love to come down if finances and time allow. :)
Gail-Hah!! I knew those cooks/chefs all cheated somehow...lol!!!
Pony Girl-What??? A Pony Cousin making due without Mexican food??? LOL!!! Today was amazing, wasn't it? I get all teary eyed just thinking about it.
Lytha-What!!! No cilantro??? I could see were someone who was not used to the taste may think it rather different tasting, but not "strange??" Find those seeds and plant them in your new garden this spring. :)
Grey Horse-I am glad that your kitchen is a mess after you cook too...lol!!! Could you believe all of the people who were in DC to watch it?? Amazing!!!
Val-Yes, it was freezing, and just so you know, if you make the margaritas, I will make/bring the pico de gallo!!!
Denise-LOL!!! I am not the best cook either, but that is only because I don't try. One day, I would love to have a personal chef....
BEC-20 degrees would feel like summertime to you...lol!!!
Andrea-I didn't have a recipe. I just started chopping tomatoes, added enough chopped onions and cilantro to make it look "about right," chopped some jalapenos, and then squeezed lemon and lime juice over it until it tasted delish...oh and a little bit of salt and pepper. There!! Now go make some!!!
Stephanie-Mine had jalapenos in it as well, and I am thinking about adding the cabbage next time too. I have had it that way before, and I like it just as much. I just saw that you guys may be getting more snow this weekend...I am sorry! :)
Winter-I knew that I left one out!!! I think that it is great that you kept your kids out of school yesterday. If I didn't have to be there too, I may have. As it was, we listened to it on the radio, and then watched it again last night.
My kid's were freaked out, because they NEVER see me cry...lol!!! I told them it was because I was happy, and not sad, but they looked kind of doubtful. :)
All I can say is that yesterday was an amazing day in history, and we all got to be part of it.
Re the spider webs, if you happen to "lose" and are the person going through the webs just think of the person behind you... they're the ones getting smacked in the face with branches and the remaining spiders! lol
Maybe a dumb question, but what IS pico de gallo?
Cdncowgirl-I don't know, you tell me, you restaurateur you...lol!!! When you go to a Mexican restaurant, do you get two dishes of "salsa" to go along with your chips? One that looks like it is more of a sauce that is mashed together, and one looks like chopped, fresh stuff? The chopped,fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos etc...is the pico de gallo.
Honestly though, I am not 100% sure the difference between salsa and pico de gallo (I know that it looks and tastes different!). I have heard that salsa is used more as a sauce, and that in some instances, it is cooked/stewed, and that pico de gallo is fresh, uncooked tomatoes, onions, jalapenos etc...
Does anybody else out there know for sure???
WOW...those spider webs are crazy...and kind of pretty too!
Okay, woman, I LOVE the way that salsa looks...and it goes great with Margs!!!
By the way, when and if you go see Dr. Ray, I am right there with you!
Hugs!
crap!! lost my big old comment - will try again.
First, those trails look great, but too cold for this cowgirl!!
Your pico de gallo looks yummy!! and pair it with warm chips and a slushy margarita!!! Over the top!! My mouth is totally watering just thinking about it.
Thirdly, I am so relieved that Obama's speech has effected so many others like it effected me. Tears streaming...hope rising. Like I've said before, the man is either truly passionate and is the best speaker I've ever seen or heard...or he's the greatest liar I've ever encountered. I pray he will be good for our country and all of us.
Scare me away!? No way Jose' You know I love you like a stalker! haha I have been making pendants, and tryin to keep up on my chores. Oh and my computer has been at the fixer uppers. I was with out a computer gah! Ooh woo was me... Glad you missed me :) I want some salsa!! I have a great recipe with avacodos in it! mmmmmmm
Love your photos! Great blog....and good for you riding in such cold weather! I'm sure your mount enjoyed getting out and about for a while!
Ohhh! Spooky ride! With the fog and the frosty spider webs! Oh my! lol
Hope you're having a great week.
C
That salsa looks SO good! I love that stuff. I knew you guys would get a kick out of our camo jammies. HA!
OH! Mellie!
That Painting IS THE WASHASHE MARE!!! It is stunning( I Love it!) and truly Radiates her true personality. She is famously curious and friendly...does that= pull through the bit= to meet someone all the time! But, if THEY move towards her first..ooou watch out, she'll scream and maybe even strike!
Thank you sooo much for alerting me to it..nnow I have to deal with thinking I must own it to gaze upon it daily so!
Kac
LOVE the top photo, looks like it would make a gorgeous painting.
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