Our typical Friday night routine is dinner out then home to watch a movie or one of our favorite series when it’s not a repeat.  Our typical Saturday is spent doing chores after a good workout. Sunday, a long workout, breakfast and chores, baking/cooking something special and/or relaxing ….depends on the weather.  This week, we broke from routine.

Friday:  We DID eat dinner out but went to Vernon Downs to see Ostrich and Camel races instead of the Standardbreds, (although they were racing as well).

The Ostrich went off before the Camels.  The birds pulled a buggy sort of contraption but were released shortly after the start so they could immediately run into the truck that transported them to the course.  Guess they’d get too stressed out if they were pulling something behind for too long.

Ostrich 3

Ostrich race2

cOstrich race 1

The Ostrich race lasted all of 30 seconds.  After the 6th horse race of the night, the camels made their appearance.  They weren’t too happy about it. They were kicking up, bucking, hopping…wouldn’t have liked to be on their back. When the rider finally mounted, the camel’s calmed down and were all racing business.

Camels

“You Lookin’ at ME?!!!”

Camel rider up

Camel rider on 

The camels were a bit slower but still only less than a minute to get to the finish line.

It was fun. It was different.  But I wonder…do you think it’s abusive to race these animals? I wondered???

Saturday:  We didn’t vary our usual early morning ritual:  easy run for me, coffee with the boys for Ted.  I had a massage then Ted had lunch with his grandkids. In the afternoon and after some quick cookin’ in the kitchen (brownies and pasta salad), we spent the late afternoon with friends.  It was a family gathering with friends invited.  A cookout, hence the quick brownies and pasta salad to share.  Fun day!

Sunday:  Got out of my comfort zone again after a 4 1/2 mile warm up run with the dogs. Ted went for a 55 mile bike ride while I drove to SUNY for a run with the Speterz group and a friend from Rome, NY.  Shirley and I ended up running together for 5 miles. It was a gorgeous morning, rolling hills, and we kept each other pushing the pace.   I finished my final 4 1/2 miles by myself by running the SUNY campus a second time.  Then it was time for a the spa

swim legs

85 degrees outside.  Swim Spa water 84 degrees. Just right for me.

If you caught the beginning of this post, you noted we typically enjoyed something different for Sunday snacking, lunch, or dinner.  This week it was:

Honey Mango & Avocado Salsa

Honey Mango Avocado Salsa2

Silky smooth texture from the Honey Mango and the Avocado. A sweet and hot argument on the tongue from the brown sugar and the jalapeno pepper.  A pop of citrus from the lime and lime zest.  This is such a good salsa for a summer meal. Use it on a burger. Use it on a steak. Use it on grilled tuna. Use it on fish taco’s. 

Honey Mango Avocado Salsa1

Makes 2 cups

  • 1 Honey Mango, peel and chop *Make sure to wash the mango as the skin, even though you will peel it, can adversely affect some people.  Then wash your hands a second time.
  • 2 plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 Avocado, peel and chop
  • 1/2 red onion, dice
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro OR mint, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced *Or you may use pickle ginger, minced.
  • zest from one lime.
  • juice from 2 limes.
  • 1/2 TBS brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Put the prepared mango, tomatoes, avocado, onion, cilantro, ginger, and jalapeno pepper in a medium bowl. 

In a separate bowl, mix the lime zest, juice, sugar, salt and pepper.  Pour over the mango salsa and mix until coated.  Refrigerate one hour until ready to use. Cover. Will stay fresh for about 1 – 2 days. 

Honey Mango Avocado Salsa3

Did you enjoy beautiful weather this weekend? 

What exercise did you enjoy outside?  Walking? Running? Cycling? Gardening?

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