Sun, Oil, Bison Steak, Bake Cake, Wrestling Practice

It took it's sweet time yesterday before the fog burned off and we got the sun shining. It was nearly noon and the temps finally started to warm. By mid afternoon we had hit 46F and the snow was all draining melt water everywhere.

I got about 40 minutes of practice on the mandolin and am slowly getting the first half of Whiskey Before Breakfast memorized. I am getting faster at playing it but have a long ways to go to make it sound good.

I ran my BHO but I think I should have used more as the extraction level was not that high. Live and learn.

I got my steaks into a maple bourbon marinade and set in the fridge to work its magic for grilling tonight.

I had enough time before practice in the afternoon that I decided to make myself a birthday cake. I popped open the trusty Betty Crocker Redbook and found the applesauce cake recipe. I had applesauce that we canned and 1.5 of the jars was perfect amount. I mixed everything up in the Kitchenaid and poured it into a well oiled baking dish. I set it to bake for 50 minutes while I got to work on dinner.

I pulled it out and the toothpick was a bit messy from the center so I let the cake sit in the turned off oven as it cooled and we went to practice.

The first little bit is always chaos as the kids run like hot molecules bouncing.

They got through the jog and were on the wall for other warmups when I went and drove across the highway to the grocery store so I could pick up M&Ms for J's Valentine's party.

It's nice since the store is kitty corner the intersection so it only took a few minutes and I was back to see them working on partner wrestling. J in the yellow and his classmate in red.

R was getting some one on one with one of the high school kids. He is still not quite grasping it fully but the exposure is good. His attention span is the greatest hurdle right now.

They all then worked on the trip take downs. Standing up from the bottom then the top person lowers, gable grips the waist, and sticks a foot against the bottom persons foot and pulls them down to the mat. J is getting it pretty well and he is able to pay attention pretty good through the whole practice.

For the last 5 minutes they got to play freeze tag with 3 kids it. It was again chaos in the room before suddenly the older kids were doing laps and their practice had started. We all gathered things and kids and headed home.

I pulled the cake out and set it on the rack and covered it in towels to sit overnight. It rose quite a bit in the center but who cares, it should taste great. Today I am going to make a maple butter frosting for it.

The boys and I soaked fora while after practice before I tucked them in to bed for the night. I then went back out to soak for a while longer but didn't make it to 9pm before I was inside ready to crash.

Today I am going to finish my cake, do dishes, get a fire in the pit for the whole afternoon, then grill the bison steaks, roast potatoes broccoli and cauliflower, and make a salad. I should probably go tromp around the property as I haven't all winter and it would be good to check the fence lines.