Saturday, June 30, 2007

Saturday Wanderings

3 and 1/2 miles each morning since last Sunday so I've conquered another 21 miles.
I may walk again this afternoon after weeding by the patio - we'll see what I get done. Tonight I'm off to see "High School Musical" cast with our local high schools' students - best friend's daughter has a part. So it is an early off work outside day for me.

The mornings have been cool, but not without humidity. Yesterday and today were just perfect - very little humidity. The day lilies in the yards are just gorgeous - mine are yet to bloom and I think the moles decided the bulbs were good to eat.

Monday a small plane crashed in a soybean field, about a 1/4 mile from my home. No survivors with the crash being under investigation - it was very foggy at the time, visibility on my road was about a 1/4 of a mile.


Wednesday, June 27, 2007

walking at last


Only about a mile as I am suffering from terrible backache, but it was good to be moving! I went to the beach, and though it threatened to rain, it was quite lovely, I even saw seals close to the shore!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

I need to get back to walking


I need to get back to walking, having spent the last few months studying, I now find I have thyroid problems, and recurring bouts of depression- and though I know walking would help I find I am motivationally at a low ebb. The weather here is not helping....so I guess this post is a request for prayer and a statement to myself...I need to get back to walking; it might even help my bad back!!!


(poppies on the sea wall at Snettisham)

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Catching Up on Sunday

It has been rainy and cloudy since Thursday, but this week I managed 3 and 1/2 miles each day on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and then 3 and 1/2 miles today - 45.5 miles to my goal. God is gracious and has made my life so good. I realize now that even though I have a full load at work there is time for me to enjoy the Lord's Creation. The walk today was pretty brisk, but I stopped to talk to some teens fishing and to an acquaintance walking a daschund. The walking sticks are helping me to lengthen my stride - maybe I'll be close to a 13.5 minute mile by September.

Home is mostly now a peaceable kingdom, with the three Kit Cats really doing well together (only with a few spit spats). Lots of yardwork and housework to catch up on, but I am able now to do most things on my own (except for lifting real heavy stuff). I think that was the hardest part of this whole hip infection thing was not being able to do just simple things, like putting on socks and shoes. Especially when you are a "Thank you very much, I can do it myself person."


Friday, June 22, 2007

Walking the vineyards


I've walked almost 10 miles since we arrived at my dad's farm in the central California foothills. I've been walking down the dirt road that winds through fallow fields and lush vineyards. The wild artichokes are in bloom, and the violet spikes against the golden dried grass makes a rich contrast. Nearly the whole family is assembled now, and getting the 30 minutes alone is keeping me sane. Even on 10 acres, it's hard to hide. My introverted oldest was trying to find a few minutes peace, which I finally enforced by telling his brother and various cousins to beat it up the hill to their aunt's. They left, spitting out "introvert!" as if it were an epithet.

Watch out for ticks

It started to rain just as I readied for a walk, but we really, really needed it. If you're walking this summer check out my entry on ticks. There's a new tick disease (i.e., about 15 years old) in the southern states. I've got 56 miles of my 250 mile goal. We leave for the lake tomorrow, so hope to do a bit more up there.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Walking along the river

Two rivers go through Columbus--the Scioto and the Olentangy. Our condo streets are filled up with trucks resurfacing our asphalt, so while out on an errand today I stopped at the park along the Scioto and walked a very plesant mile along the river. I'm at 52 miles into my 250 miles by Labor Day.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Monday Miles

Today was another 3 and 1/2 miles, so with my Saturday and Sun day walks, I'm at 31.5 miles to my goal. The morning was cloudy and not so warm. I was walking earlier than the last two mornings - my route was filled with the early morning outside sounds. I met a groundhog who didn't quite know whether to stay or wander off. The rabbits were munching on new clover.

This afternoon we got some much needed rain - we could use more. The ground is so dry and the little flowers that were planted wilt fast in the hot weather.

We'll see what tomorrow morning brings with a little cooler temp.


Does this happen to you?


Usually I change my clothes when I go out for a walk. When I return, they've been taken over by Prettiest Kitty in the World who seems to think I've created a new bed for her.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Friday Follies

And here it is my new goal - hopefully by Labor Day - another 5K is on.
I have walked 3 and 1/2 miles each morning since Sunday. Still need to get it together to walk in the evening after work.




I also have plans of hitting the Nautilus machines on July 1. I need to fax my surgeons the name of the machines I use to see which ones I can still use after hip replacement.

The days really are hot by 10 AM, but walking in the real early AM is neat. I see the Blue Heron almost every morning and enjoy watching God's little creatures having their breakfast feasts - bunnies and squirrels all over the place. We could use less heat and some good gentle rains. The yards and flowers are not doing so well.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Walking hi tech style

I thought you all would find this interesting. this person has built a desk to fit on the treadmill and is "walking across American" while he works. Check it out at:

http://walking-desk.blogspot.com/

I walked 1.7 miles on the treadmill today - I'm a little frustrated because it is so hot here and I am using the treadmill inside. I think I enjoy walking outside more! I need to get my ticker to readjust also as I thought I might want to do minutes, but I like the mileage better.

You walkers are really inspiring me!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Sticking to the shady spots

I think I'm at 41 miles in my 250 mile walk. It got a little warmer than I expected, so I walked in the shade near the creek. Watched a family of 13 ducks.



It was at least 10 degrees cooler under the trees.

Walking and Praying

I'm delighted to find more walkers, thanks for asking me Cathy! I've been trying for 2 miles a day -- the exercise is one goal, more important is finding 30 minutes a day to be "off duty": not Mom, not the department chair, not the research advisor or teacher. Some days I end up going in circles around the block at 9:30 at night, but I go!

I've been walking with the British Jesuits' daily meditations. Calm music, one of the daily readings, an invitation to prayer and reflection.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Saturday and Sunday Walks

Race for the Cure 5K - 3.11 miles. I managed to knock 2 minutes a mile off my pace per mile - now am at 17.84 minutes per mile. Then home to work on flower planting. Worked so long that I just had time for one mile before it got dark so - I missed my goal for this time by a 1/2 mile.

Sunday after Church, I finished 3 and 1/2 miles and am out again to plant flowers. This flower planting takes longer than it used to since I am really slow and careful at kneeling down to plant and getting up to water what I just planted.

Time to re-up, set new goal through Labor Day, and make a brand new ticker.


Friday, June 08, 2007

Golden Friday

On Wednesday, 3 and 1/2 miles in the morning and 2 and 1/2 miles in the evening with a chocolate Dairy Queen cone as a reward. Thursday, too windy to walk in the morning. I moved the potted plants to a sheltered place - straight line winds of 30 mph with higher gusts were predicted. In the evening, stayed later at work and then stopped to pick up our Race for the Cure packets, so no walk.

This morning was beautiful - a day off and it just seemed golden outside. I walked a leisurely route and stopped to talk to some friends I hadn't seen since early last fall. God's creatures were certainly busy along the canal. I heard cardinals, orioles, blue jays, robins, wrens, and red-winged blackbirds. The fish are still jumping and there were squirrels scampering along eating their breakfast. The 3 and 1/2 miles went so fast. So, I'm at 95.5 miles. With the 5K tomorrow and a quick walk tomorrow evening, I will just meet my downsized goal of 100 miles and finsh planting my flowers tomorrow.


Thursday, June 07, 2007

93 degrees predicted for today

So I got 3 miles in--2 at the park and 1 around the condo sticking to the shady areas. I'll have to check the ticker but I think I'm at about 30 miles on my 250 mile walk to Lakeside and back.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

A Rethink of Goals

Have managed 3 and 1/2 miles Sunday, 7 miles on Monday, and 3 and 1/2 miles this morning bringing miles to 86. Kind of overdid last weekend and Monday and still have much yard work to do, as well as some work related crises to handle through the end of June. Would rather have flowers planted and shrubs trimmed, so I'm revising goal for Saturday to 100 miles total and having the flowers planted and some trimming and weeding done. Will re-up goal on Sunday. Saturday is the 5K Race for the Cure and I want to be able to complete that.

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Saturday Times Two

I finally quit procrastinating about the second 3 miles - even did 3 and 1/2 this afternoon! I really need to do this everyday I can - increases my energy level instead of just loafing around.




This morning's walk was filled with squirrels, rabbits, and robins everywhere. When I was returning around my driveway - I heard several parent birds calling to their young and was just in time to see a red tailed hawk fly out of the corner evergreens and across the field. I don't think he managed to catch any baby birds.

This afternoon's walk was at a faster pace. I was thinking about what I wanted to accomplish this June. On the way back - I was able to hear and see the Air Force Thunderbirds streak accross the sky several times. The Quad City Airshow is on this weekend and is performed about 20 miles from my house.

Working it in

I helped with my daughter's garage sale yesterday, but got there early and walked about 1.5 miles in her neighborhood and a near-by park. I walked past a house we had looked at when for sale in 1998. Still cute--backs up to a woods, which was the attraction for me. But we love where we are now. Then I walked another mile around the condo grounds when I got home. Check my regular site for my great garage sale finds. So that puts me at 16 for my 250 mile walk by Labor Day. It's back to the lake today so I should get some walking done there. I wonder what has happened to the feral kittens.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Frivelous Friday

Another 3 miles this morning. The canal was very quiet today, but the birds were truly singing. Lots of baby birds wanting to be fed. Some of the babies are now almost as big as mama bird.

I was going to do another 3 later today. We had storms move through this afternoon and then I procrastinated about the second walk. There was quite a bit of damage in southeastern Iowa. I am fortunate that we had the rain, but no tornadoes.




I had ordered a garden scooter to make the yard work easier. Of course there is some assembly required. I am challenged on"assembly required" because I don't want to take the time to assemble. But it arrived today so I am in the middle of assemblage. This added to the procrastination for the second walk. I will have to put a hustle on to meet my goal.