Parlez Vous Francais?

We just got back from Quebec! Brad was going to the Adventure Travel World Summit for his job but I got to hang our for the first 4 days. We went on a canyoning and rappelling tour. Neither of us had done "canyoning" or rappelling for that matter. Canyoning is where rappel down waterfalls! It was pretty sweet!

We got there the first day and the guides gave us about a 5 minute lesson and before you knew it we were rappelling down 50 ft waterfalls. The water was cold but you work so hard that you barely notice. After canyoning for a couple of hours we dried off and then went to a little French restaurant and ate fantastic food! After lunch we went on a zip line tour across a deep canyon. The guide (Renee) then took us to a cute old bed and breakfast in the country in this little village where we ate dinner and stayed the night.

The next morning we had breakfast and then went off for more canyoning early in the morning. This day was super cold in the canyon because there was no sunlight...but we still had tons of fun! After drying off and warming up we headed off to our next journey to a place called Palisades in Charlevoix, Quebec. It's the tallest "Via Ferrata" (literally "iron way") in North America. It's a rock face that is over 3,000 feet tall that you scale while being strapped in the whole way. (For the Spokanites...imagine Minni-Ha-Ha Park times 300!) This climb would come later however because daylight was nearly gone. We did practice for a couple of hours on some smaller rock faces before the day was over. We went to bed excited for the next day's challenge!

So in the morning we headed out! We dressed for the cold but did not realize that we would be shedding clothes the rest of the day! It was tons of work but so much fun. Looking down and out to the country was absolutley amazing. At the top there is a wired bridge 3000 feet in the air that you cross while being strapped into a metal wire. Super scary! Then you strap in and repell down a 200 foot drop! After hiking back down they reward you with a long zip line over a lake. We then quickly ate lunch, went to a whale museum (which we could have done without) and then went to a "Sugar Shack Party" that Quebec threw for the group.

What's a "Sugar Shack Party"?....well, imagine beef, potatoes, macaroni salad...you know, all the helpings of an American meal...but WAIT...now pure maple syrup on ALL OF IT! That's right...smother the entire meal, including your drinks, in maple syrup. It was NOT good! But they did treat us to some traditional Quebec tap dancers who were very fun. That evening we went to where Brad was going to be staying for the next week at a Castle called Manior Rechilieu. It was beautiful! Brad would stay their for work for the next week...and finally came home last night but has the flu :( We'll be sure to post pictures of the trip soon!

THE Cookie Recipe

So we have received a TON of responses for the recipe...who would have known we have so many "sweet-tooth followers".

After seeing a variety of what people "claimed" were the best...we baked a bunch of them and took it to the test at a family party. In the end, this recipe was the overwhelming favorite BUT we added a few secret things to TAKE IT OVER THE TOP!!

THE chocolate chip cookie!!
Brad and Chewie Moss

1/3 c butter
1/3 c butter-flavored Crisco
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Mix above ingredients until creamy

1 1/2 c flour
1/4 c quick oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Mix these together separately and slowly add to "wet" ingredients.

Fold in handfuls (depending on your chip desire) of Jumbo MILK chocolate chips. (find them at your local Winco)

Bake for 8-10 min at 375. Until cookies are just turning golden brown. (if you wait until they are noticeably golden brown you went too far!) Use stone cookware...period!

Makes 2 dozen cookies!

Tell me how you like them! Love you guys!

A Surprise in the Shed!

So every year we have a bit of a bee problem in our shed. This year there was a small hornets nest we noticed in the back corner. We kind of, better yet "Brad" kind of ignored it. Bad idea! Check this thing out!

Before...

During...

After!

Luckily it was cold and there were no more bees....but this is just a warning for all those guys out there who procrastinate "around the house projects"...take care of them or you might get stung! :)

Other than that we were able to winterize everything around the house, sprinklers are blown out, hoses are put away, and patio furniture (that we never used) is put away. Fall/Halloween decorations are out and we are getting ready for our 4th annual Halloween Bash!

Memaw & Aunt Robin & Best Chocolate Cookies Ever!

So Brad's step-dad, Dan, had his 50th birthday a couple of weeks back and his Memaw and Aunt Robin came in from St. Louis. We had a lot of fun catching up and enjoying their company. Aunt Robin was only here for a couple of days but Memaw got to take part in the "finding the best chocolate chip cookie recipe"!

We had three recipes that people claimed to be the best. We cooked them all and one was victorious! Let me know if you want the recipe and I can post it!

Brad and Memaw!

A Few Days as a Bachlorette! (i dont think i spelled that right?)

So every year Brad and his buddies participate in golf tournaments throughout the year and one happens to fall on the 1st weekend of October, called appropriately Mr. October. It is apparently a tournament that enlists such pride and dignity to the winner who will win this title of Mr. October. It is the last tournament of the season when the boys go and face each other as opponents but the worst enemy to face is the gruesome wind, rain, and freezing conditions. They must be crazy because I was cold in my cozy house snuggling up in a blanket in front of the TV.

Luckily, I didn't have to face the bachlorette life alone. Noelle and Brynnley came over and we watched chick flicks and did the girl talk since she also has a crazy husband who wants to participate in this insanity.

Work was my next companion to keep me company. I worked this weekend and we were insanely busy. I am simply recovering from last night when we saw almost 100 patients in one day! Most of you may not think that is a lot but our average is about 1/2 that so you could imagine the chaos. I believe at one point there was 25 kids in the waiting room...waiting to be seen by myself and the other physician. It was a daunting task but we tried to keep our spirits up and kept cycling the kids through. I didn't see many thrilling cases...a lot of influenza, lacerations, and football injuries. So, a word to the wise....Wash your hands, wear your helmets, and watch out for sharp objects! =)