Wow– It seems like FOREVER since I last blogged. Bad, bad, jen! In my defense, my father has been visiting us from Phoenix, Arizona (Avondale actually) and all my spare time has been spent with him. Sorry gang! He came to town because I conned invited him to do this awesome half marathon with my husband and me in Apalachicola, Florida. And yes, that is how i phrased the conversation to him months ago– an AWESOME half marathon! But in all seriousness: can a half marathon really be “awesome? 13.1 miles of running. Just running. And over a bridge. Twice. With views of the beautiful Apalachicola Bay, just harkening you to kick off your running shoes and take your tired body into the blue sparkling water…Or at least that’s what was running through my delirious mind when we hit mile 10-ish.

All in all it was a pretty good run…being I only really trained for about 4.2 miles. BUT I ended up running about 6.5 almost 7 miles so that was HUGE for me. The other 6+ miles weren’t pretty but I’m so thankful for my dad and James for keeping the atmosphere light and helping me through it. Yes gang– I am not a runner but I so do look the part! HAHA! I do think  I am more cut out for 5 and 10k’s!

we finished and we were all smiles! (knowing we won’t have to do another for a LOOOOONG time!)

Finishers!!                                                  Second time back over the bridge!

My father has been doing some “cooking” of his own by raiding my pepper garden. Of all the veggies I planted in the spring, my habanero, bell, and banana pepper plants are just thriving! So he decided to make LOTS of aji, which is a south American-style pico de gallo. YUM! OH– and he has also raided my lime tree, which bears an orange colored fruit that tastes like a Mandarin crossed with a lime.

Dad’s special aji recipe

Along with brutal half marathons and spicy as heck aji, we’ve also gone to the beach every weekend. It really is a treat living so close to the Gulf! And we always make it a point to make sure we are able to take my dad a few times when he’s here. And this past weekend was picture-perfect!

Mexico Beach/Port St. Joe. Husband trying his hand at net fishing.

So that’s pretty much what’s been going on with me. Unfortunately no Julia cooking has happened the last few weeks but I am channeling Julia heavily this week and I am planning on doing her stuffed leg of Lamb on Thursday. So stay tuned.

Tagged: Apalachicola Bay, Florida, half marathon, Julia Child