Winter walks and festive bakes

Although it has not been that cold recently, so more like walks in the winter.

Since discovering the new route through the fields close to my house, I have been there for both runs and walks. I love walking but when I am at work might only squeeze in a short walk a couple of evenings, so I have been making the most of time off this week.

I have also been trying to keep my step count up, as I tend to walk around a lot at work, but our house is tiny so I don’t clock up that many steps. After a weekend of parkrun, walking around the shops, then a 10K run on the Sunday, my step goal for Monday was fairly high (it increases if you meet your goal). I had been out early on Monday to visit a friend and pop to the shops to collect a few bits, and later in the afternoon realised I needed to post something. I set off (in the rain), but as I got there the rain eased off, so I walked up to the supermarket, a mile from the post office (as Andy needed some bananas), and then decided to walk the long route home, through the fields.

Thankfully the rain stopped, and although it was muddy, it was great.

Very muddy in places!

I had a Starbucks offer for a free bakery item, so I had my bit of the cinnamon roll when I got home.

In the evening I made some of Laura’s peanut butter chocolate dipped dates (while listening to episode 2 of Serial). They are delicious!

Instead of using the microwave, I used my school trick of using a bowl of warm water, with the chocolate in sealable sandwich bags, to melt them.

On Tuesday I walked up to the local shopping centre (got some tracksuit bottoms to wear for PE lessons), and then made some gingerbread in the afternoon. Then we had our regular Tuesday evening club run, although by then the rain and wind had set in and, despite us singing Jingle Bells (helping our breathing as well as making it festive) it was not the most festive of runs. We did an out and back route, and as we turned the wind hit us and the rain was fogging up my glasses. I was glad of the company, but I was soaked through by the time I got home. I then decorated the gingerbread.

They puffed up a bit in the oven so they are rather chubby!

And look at my gingerbread house! I was very pleased with it.

Today I was visiting friends, and then after lunch had a walk with Andy, but as I had no run planned and the weather was good, I had a walk on my own across the fields again.

This time I listened to some podcasts as I walked.

So relaxing.

Now I just need to finish decorating the Christmas cakes- I can’t decide on a design for our cake. I have made some little gingerbread men and trees (using icing) for our parents cakes, but I have seen reindeer ones, and little Christmas owls, but they all seem a bit complicated so we shall see what I manage!

Tomorrow I plan on making some Christmas pudding fudge to take around on Christmas day too, and maybe some maple roasted nuts- I love how the house smells when all these foods are cooking.