Bike Riding in Snow / Straight Cheddar Pie Inferno

Every day, I try to get some exercise outdoors. Most days, it's walking. When weather permits, I like to ride my bike. The days have passed, for now, where I can swim; I admit that begrudgingly.

It was about 26 degrees F when my husband asked if I'd like him to get my bike out of the shed, where it's been hibernating. I said Yes! So I hopped on my bike and took a little spin around the couple of blocks closest to us.

As you can see, there is snow here, but not a lot. It snows frequently, but mostly flurries and squalls. And lately, a cold pattern has dropped us right down deep into the freeze-box. It's to be in the teens the next few nights. (Do I see frozen bubbles in my future? Yes, I hope so!)

I took the bike across the road, and suddenly, it began to flurry. Gentle, sparkle-flakes landed on my skin, like I was being touched by angels. I laughed like a child when it happened. I'm not sure I've ever bicycled in snow before, but it was delightful! It was also mind-numbingly cold on that bike. The wind cut right through the not-enough-clothes that I had on!

I rode around as long as I could, which wasn't very long at all. And when I got back, there was my husband, standing in the driveway with my camera, asking to get some photos of happy me on my bike. (Yes, you've seen this girl and this bike before; here's a memory of one of my happiest days in 2024.)

So here's a candid moment, thanks to my husband, featuring me in the middle of our 100-foot driveway (go ahead and shovel THAT sucker, yeah baby, good luck!) after my fun little spin on the bike in fresh snow.

Later in the day, my husband asked me to make a pizza. We didn't have any mozzarella, but we did have some cheddar, which I shredded. We had a packet of pizza crust mix, so I made that with hot water, let it rise, baked the crust, added spaghetti sauce, then a lush amount of cheddar and some shakes of parmesan on top. Put it in the oven for about 10 minutes.

I really feared for that pizza. I've made hundreds of pizzas in my life (and you are talking to one of the original 80s "pizza girls" from Caesar's Pizza at Knoebel's, my friends). But I'd never made one with just cheddar and no mozzarella . . . until this day. I call this a straight cheddar pie.

While it was baking, I opened the oven and peered in, and I was greeted by the sight of a golden and molten inferno that you may see in the extras. Oh, it was fabulous and scary, like my oven had opened up a portal straight into the fiery pits of hell! Golden cheddar LAVA, baby! Let's all say it together, slowly, savoring each word: molten MAGMA.

Fortunately, the pizza . . . tasted delicious! "I think I can eat another piece," my husband kept saying, as I brought him slice after slice. It was very simple, and very nice, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Later that night, we felt peckish and devoured the final four slices, which were as delectable as you can imagine.

So here is my blip today: a happy girl riding through flurries on her bike, and the molten lava straight cheddar pie inferno that was my contribution to global pizza cuisine on this day!

I have to have songs to sing along with this story, and here they are. For my first photo, I've got Bryan Adams, with Cuts Like A Knife from the 1983 album of the same name (probably the first Bryan Adams I ever bought, on audiocassette), which is how the wind was while I was riding. Wow, that was COLD! Second is a song for that molten lava inferno. Here is a song that I have wanted forever, and I tried to buy it on a CD with my most recent Amazon orders, but they cancelled the item out on me. Rats, back to the drawing board. Can you believe I own NO Chris Rea at this point in life? Shame, oh SHAME on me! Hmm, I guess . . . I might . . . just need to place another order! Here is Chris Rea, with The Road To Hell.

Bonus: same girl, same hedge, but this time, with a red dress and butterflies!