Ox Tongue ---- yes, that's right

Konner and I had found samples to try at the grocery store a few days earlier just like you would find at Sam’s. We went by the deli twice to snag the olive dish. It was delicious. We tried different cheeses that we had not tried before.

On this particular day, there were more samples. Konner pointed them out to me and from his height he had eyed them and reminded me of our recent treasures from the Sainsbury. There were 2 different kinds of meat with cute little toothpicks sticking out of each small chunk. I handed one to Konner and took one for myself. Tanner took his own. One looked like a large hotdog. I didn’t try the hotdog looking thing but the boys did. They didn’t like it. The other piece of meat looked like a piece of pastrami. I put the whole thing in my mouth before looking at the little sign that tells you what you are eating…Ox Tongue…it read. I never told the boys but I swallowed quickly and tried to keep it down without throwing up. I was nauseated most of the day after that.

I did tell the boys later after we came home. Tanner never tried the Ox Tongue and he constantly reminds of our tasting adventure. He especially start laughing and reminding us during meal times.

Today I went for a run. I have run the past 3 days in a row. My first day out I was afraid to go far in fear of not finding my way back. Each day I have gotten a little bit more brave and have ventured out past my initial comfort zone. Today I ran with a map in my hand just in case I got lost. It gave me the confidence to go farther than I had before. I found a fabulous place to run. There are so many trails to take that connect to every neighborhood in this community. It is amazing. It is actually easier to get to places through the walking/biking trails then it is to drive.

There is an old quarry that used to mine chalk that was used for making cement. Now it is reserved as a nature area to have picnics, go for walks, ride bikes or observe wildlife. As I jogged through the underbrush, next to the random lakes (more like ponds) and crossed the valley to the other side of the gorge, I could not believe I was in a city. It was so isolated from manmade buildings. It was a beautiful way to start the day.

I took the boys back to that spot later in the day. We must have passed 20 minutes just watching a swan dive its head in the water to find food while it’s little babies swam around hunting for food as well. It was serene.

There are hidden jewels in this place called Chafford Hundred. I like it.

- Melia