Today is Earth Day! The puppy and I did all the things you can do after throwing out your back sneezing because you are an old lady. We grounded and reconnected barefoot with the earth (Also known as earthing) We frolicked in the snow. We chased ducks at the lake. And one of us even learned how to swim! Yes, Luna the Catahoula is officially ready for summertime. Actually, she is ready for a lifetime of being an outdoor adventure dog. My little Catahoula is growing up! After a fun-filled outdoor earth day and a quick stop at a day spa the next day, I feel revitalized. Despite this lil bit ‘o back pain, I feel recharged and revigorated. I also feel ready to bake some oatmeal cookies!
But back to living with deliberating pain. I’m broken. Again. I don’t know why I can’t just have one month of my life when none of my body parts hurt. Why can’t I have one day that doesn’t start with me rubbing peppermint oil on something and shoving the heating sack in the microwave? How did I hurt myself this time? No, it wasn’t a great story like crashing on my mountain bike
I sneezed violently thanks to my second round of Covid and threw out my back. Of course, this happened while sitting on the toilet so then I had to manage somehow to put my pants back on and crawl on my hands and knees towards the peppermint oil in the kitchen. That’s where my boyfriend found me at 7 a.m. doing the cat camel, my favorite yoga pose that helps my back. It’s also the sexiest yoga stretch. Or most awkward if you do it in public. I would have rather been baking oatmeal cookies than doing early morning asanas in the kitchen.
Asanas or making an ass of myself
No rain nor hail nor searing lower back pain can keep me off my favorite hiking trails. Okay well, I also have work scheduled and my pop-up picnic with Jeep tour is gaining momentum every spring day. Who wouldn’t want to picnic by a seasonal creek while inhaling my delicious and healthy Chopped Kale salad?
On top of throwing my back out sneezing I also have the Covid rash from hell all over my body. With this Covid rash I basically feel like a mutant. So I can’t stand up straight, I’m covered in oozing red disgusting rash; I’m basically a cyclops. But an oozing cyclops who is bored and deserves some delicious ginger-studded cookies!
Some day my rash will clear up, dear Lord I hope and I can get back to what I love; Snowshoeing with the puppy. If I’m lucky enough to still be snowshoeing in May you better believe I am enjoying some delicious baked goods after burning two thousand calories snowshoeing. I snowshoe because I love baked goods.
Now that I am Big Bear Lake, California’s glorious pop-up picnic queen, I have the excuse to bake sweet pastries for my guest every single week. And sometimes I can’t help imbibing in an oatmeal ginger cookie or two. In all seriousness, my guests have ordered my oatmeal ginger cookies twice this week. That means a few hours in the kitchen, grinding oats to make my homemade oat flour and chopping up candied ginger. Do you love candied ginger like I love candied ginger? Then these moist and chewy oatmeal cookies might just 
be for you!
This recipe makes ten of the most delicious oatmeal cookies you have ever had in your life!
Oatmeal Cookies with Candied Ginger
1/2 a stick of butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar, plus 3 tablespoons
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 cup oats, ground
1cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup candied ginger, chopped
Whip the butter and sugars until smooth. Mix in your eggs and vanilla. Add in your flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon until smooth. By hand mix in the chopped ginger.
Bake for 16 minutes at 350. Cookies will look a bit underbaked.
