Day 365: Tues August 12th - The last run.

Day 365 -  

The last run.....for now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

best running partner

Day 364: Mon Aug 11th - A heel of a morning.

Day Three Hundred Sixty-four - A heel of a morning.


Next stop after tomorrow.... rest and then making a doctor appointment.
This mornings run was literally a massive pain in the butt heel! 

Seriously, besides the beautiful blue toes.... that is one ugly heel.

Day 363: Sun Aug 11th - Funky Fuzzy Caterpillars

funky caterpillar crawling on Justin's hand

Day Three Hundred Sixty-three -   Funky Fuzzy Caterpillars

Had a nice family day at the large dog park / historic Parleys area. I hobbled running through the dog park and then hiked around with Siena while we checked out some of the historic ruins of buildings that were once thriving in the area. The inn / aqueduct and wine / brewery cellar were completed around the 1850's. This area had an inn, brewery, saloon, stores etc... and was supposedly a pretty hoppin place to make a stop when traveling through the area at the time.
The wine cellar that was built underneath the inn (the inn burnt down in the 1950's) was seemingly in great shape, if a little creepy looking.  Also it appeared at first that my daughters first name was spray painted over the doorway entrance which caught our attention. Upon closer inspection it spelled something else. But we got a kick out of it anyway.

It was pretty breezy outside, but not enough to dissuade this cute little fuzzy caterpillar from attempting to travel across the busy hill climb to / from the entrance of the nature preserve dog park area. Justin rescued it from being trampled by the many paws and shoes marching towards it.

historic wine seller

Day 361 & 362: Sat Aug 9th - Tired mind, tired body.

Day 361 & 362 -Tired mind, tired body.

Made it through another week. The past two mornings were a bit of a struggle to put one foot in front of the other and actually mean it. After the first mile or two my mind woke up, however my feet dragged (or rather shuffled). On a positive note, the sunrise was stunning early Friday morning. The clouds were heavenly colors ranging from dark blue to golden light yellow. Made me wish I could become weightless and float around high in the sky, away from the upcoming busy day.

Day 360: Thurs Aug 7th - Black Widows

Day Three Hundred Sixty - Black Widows

Black Widow invasion along an Eastern cement wall.  Such beautiful and creepy looking spiders.

Day 359: Wed Aug 6th - First Sunflowers of August

Day Three Hundred Fifty-nine

 - First Sunflowers of August

 

Day 358: Tues Aug 6th - Just

Day Three Hundred Fifty-Eight  - Just

'Just' seven days left. SEVEN?!  I can hardly believe it. 
 However I must share how I feel about the word 'Just'. Because, it's not 'just' another 7 days. They are 7 days full of potential, wonder and happy moments. 7 days to complete an idea that 'just' happened to pop into my head last year on my 39th birthday. But really it was not 'just' an idea, but rather something I felt compelled to do, to complete and to make my own. Now with 7 days left, I want each of these 'just' 7 days to count.

Just falls into the same category of words that for me feel limiting.  Similar to 'maybe', 'sort of', 'tried', 'trying' 'impossible', 'can't'  etc...  you get the idea.
As for 'Just'. It's not every use of the word 'just', but when paired with a phrase such as "just a dog", "just an idea", "just a goal', 'just a another day'.  Such a limiting perspective on something that can be great, powerful, personal and  positive, no matter what the 'just' precedes.

So for these next 7 days, I plan to celebrate each footfall, each photo and afterwards feel gratitude as I look back on the journey that 'just' a few steps out the door has led me. 

 

 

Day 357: Mon Aug 4th - Missing the snow

Day Three Hundred Fifty-seven -Missing the snow

Call me crazy, but today, running in the somewhat cooler (and humid) morning, I thought about running in the snow.  I thought of holly berries and icicles. Lights and the smell of an impending snow storm.
Quiet roads and sleepy fireplaces.
I came across this beautiful tree, with it's bright red bell type berries and for a minute....
I missed the snow.

Day 355 and 356: Sat/Sun Aug 3rd - The River...

Day 355 and 356:  The River.....

runs....

dances across the ground ....

and plays.

Day 354: Aug 1st - Angels among us.

Day Three Hundred Fifty-four - Angels among us.

There were several cool photo shots this morning.
 

Angel shaped cloud, or dove. I couldn't decide which. 

Alien eyeball forms in the flash of the lens.  Pretty cool.
 

Day 353: Thurs July 31st - it's a Thursday Selfie

Day Three Hundred Fifty-three - it's a Thursday Selfie :)

Went on a nice morning run with Izzy.  We decided to stop at the park and swing for a bit.
Though the sun started coming up, it wasn't too hot out. A great start to a beautiful morning.

Day 352: Wed July 30th - Burn

Day Three Hundred Fifty-two - Burn

Day 349, 350 & 351: Tues July 29th - The Path Ahead

Day 349, 350 & 351 -

The Path Ahead 

Living for today while looking ahead towards the future is a back and forth balancing act that again my brain struggles with, but in a good way.  Staying present moment focused can be so dang hard!  Especially when fun ideas, future possibilities and adventures fill me with excitement and hope. 

But alas, I cannot stay in the what-if places...  instead I must be at peace with life happening in the here and now, that is the best place to be.

 

 

 

Day 348: Sat July 26th - Dirt

Day 348 - Dirt

Day 347: Friday July 25th - My must have for summer.

New to my must haves list. Much needed for long and especially hot days.

Day 347 - 

My <new> must have

for summer

Anyone who knows me, has heard me complain that I do NOT do heat well. After much research I came across these saltstick tabs. They are now on my must have for summer running and other outdoor activities.  I have noticed I feel much better during and after running, though I still have to remind myself to properly hydrate.
Is summer over yet??  :) 
Where's my dang water bottle....

Day 346: Thurs July 24th - Happy State Holiday

Day 346 - Happy State Holiday

 

Izzy here helping Jax to chill out on a hot day. He was mostly down with the idea, though understandably didn't love the late night fireworks close by, repeatedly growling and sometimes a startled BARK! when the blast was especially loud.  He doesn't seem particularly scared of them, just cautious, confused and sometimes alarmed, giving us the "what the hell is THAT' look from his bead.

 Overall the holiday was a fun, productive, and even at times, relaxing day off. 

Made some delicious B.L.T sandwiches and for dinner tried a new recipe - a healthy avocado cream sauce, fresh tomato, basil and garlic tossed with pasta. It was delicious!  A BIG thanks Runners World magazine for the recipe. We loved it.

Day 345: Wed July 23rd - Holy Shoes

Day Three Hundred Forty-five: Holy Shoes

Growing several holes in the mesh on my favorite shoes, including some peeling on the bottom and sides. 
<grabs the duct tape>  20 more days to go!

 

Day 340, 341, 342, 343, and 344 - Tues July 22nd - There and Back Again

Day 340-344 - 

There and Back Again

I'm back. It was a nice being away. I loved being in nature, camping for the most part, fishing, swimming in the lake, light days of running, cooking good food, but most of all, hanging out with Justin and the girls without work or worries of time getting in the way.
Sunday was especially fun, we got up super early and went fishing (though we didn't catch anything), swimming in the lake, playing fetch with Jax and a stick in the water and watching our girls having fun splashing around and being adventurous. None of us wanted the day to end.
 

 

Day 338 and 339: Thurs July 17th - Going off the grid.

Going off the grid for a few days.  Looking forward to some R & R & R.

Running & Rest & Relaxation + some hiking, fishing and star gazing.

Day 337: Tues July 15th - Between a Rock...

Day Three Thirty-seven - 

Between a Rock...

And a hard place.