Thank You Spring Break Wanderings!

Yesterday was too nice to stay inside after the swim, reading, errand running, and more, so I opted to visit one of my favorite places to run.  It'd been a while since I stopped, walked, and shot on a no-hurry basis.  Here's a pinch of what I saw.

A fallen tree. X-marks the spot? Near the overloook.

Low tide. 

The beauty of this trail is that you never know how high or low the water will be, nor how many animals will be playing here.

Another fallen comrade.  Beauty at all stages of life.

Sweet purple spark!

How many times have I clung to this rail during icey step repeats. 

Ah, not yesterday!

Lots of ferns!!

The green trail.  It reminds me of living in Mississippi.  Not sure why, but it does.

A trio of dogwood blossoms!

The return-to-car sight!

Thank you to Spring Break for the time to enjoy.  Thank you to the great weather for a compassionate afternoon of exploration and shooting! Thank you to the trail for always embracing me, and allowing me to sink into your wonders!

 

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Cotter Crunch!

Last Monday Lindsay at Cotter Crunch posted this amazing recipe.  I e-mailed her asking about possible substitutions, and she gave the okay and a pinch of encouragement.

Today after a good, relaxing (why-rush-it's-Spring-Break paced) swim, I headed to Wal Mart and just wandered.  On my wandering, I remembered the recipe and thought-needed ingredients, and fortunately they were all there.

Instead of darting out to hang on the water's edge, I opted to mix it up, and since it was sooo good I have to write this now!  The recipe tastes VERY similar to the chocolate-orange balls my Mom makes at Christmas, but I always have a hard time digesting (too much "stuff" in them).  I will be take the fixings for these to Mom and Dad's at Christmas this year, and might even do a blind taste test on them!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You Lindsay for sharing your recipes, your talents, your encouragement, and your example!  Thank You for responding to e-mails and for encouraging your readers to chime in!  Thank You for being humble, honest, real You!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

PS Recipe Tweaks a la Me:  1/2 cup of dried cranberries and 1/4 cup of dried pineapple; almond butter instead of sunflower butter; a bit extra orange zest; forgot the cinnamon; and I used a plastic bag and rolling pin as the "food processor" because I don't have one of those. 

Thank You Spring Break!

Oh, perhaps I should thank yoga teacher training for all that it is doing for me, but Spring Break has been the best gift since Friday afternoon when it began! 

On Saturday I went for a run in the cold rain through the bluebells with 3 friends and 2 new-to-me runners.  I learned, I listened, I followed, I splashed in mud, I made time for soaking in the vistas while keeping a steady pace, and most of all, I enjoyed each breath, slip, slide, suction-stuck step, and more!

Then I listened to my favorite CDs all day as the rain came a pouring down, before I chatted with Dad who had the most wonderful solution to my Easter dilemma!  (I love my Dad!)

Today I've worked on art project, wandered to the farmer's market, found apple sauce on sale, and baked until I cannot bake any more!  I still have another batch to go, but it may wait til later this week.  Afterall, Spring Break continues.

With all of this, I've reflected.  A lot!  Yoga teacher training has pushed me far and near, and this week is needed for me to make it further.  In being pushed, I've reached out to a few friends, and have found the comfort that is needed.  Thank you to them for knowing the kind words and the encouragement!

For all that will come, for all that will be rested, recharged, refocused, run, swum, cleaned, doodled, etc.... thank you Spring Break for your gift!  Thank you for comfy weather, dancing green trees, a crazy robbin that likes to wake me up at 615 in the morning, and more!  Thank you for coming at the right time, and for supporting me in ways seen and unseen!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Run-Hike!

The run started off strong today. Very strong. I ran up hills at a superb speed, and I was consistent with them. It was the best I'd ever run on that trail! Then a funny thing happened after the turn around: the valve on my hand-held bottle tore three-fourths off. I opted to hike the rest of the way instead.

There's a beauty to hiking that I enjoy. You can move at your own speed, look around, soak in the trail, and be grateful for all of life and the opportunity to move.

During the run I was thrilled with the improved fitness and joy that I felt when running. I was running for me, and because it felt right. The hike was just as magnificent. To marvel at the heights of the trees, the sounds of the high school crew teams on the river, and the silly squirrels was a blessing.

I'm glad I took these four days away from yoga teacher training to return to my base: swimming and trail running.

Thank you woods and weather for blessing me with today's adventures! Thank you for celebrating with me and for encouraging me each step and breath!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Catching Up!

No pics, just seven thank yous for all of the missed ones.

*yoga teacher training- you are kicking my heart and soul into a much, much better place, and I love you!

*the woods- there's nothing more magical than trail running in the Spring (except trail running in the summer, fall, winter, etc.).  Yesterday I shared my journey with one eagle, one singing gull, five munching deer, and a whole slew of wildflowers!

*my shoulders- thank you for supporting the swims!

*yoga activist- for showing me all of the possibilities, and helping me to play "dot to dot" by connecting them in my own life!

*my current principal- for allowing me to have moments of support on the day she announced her mega promotion! Congrats to her!

*A.- for all of the encouragning texts at "normal" (to her) hours :-)

*my parents- for spending a week with their grandson and sharing with him blessed memories- including his first trip to see the cherry blossons last night!

Oh, what would it be without a few more? :-)

*S.- for some excellent insight yesterday. Sometimes it's best to run late when someone fills you up with advice and personal wisdom!

*one of my APs- for listening today and for understanding.  There's nothing more profound than the gifts.

*change- while I thought I was crazy at times to embark on things, I"m grateful for each moment of the journey.

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Weights!

With a new routine in life, and a tremendous amount of homework on my plate, lifting has taken a back seat to yoga and learning.  After shooting some of the final pictures for the yearbook, I headed over to the gym and completed a decent trainer session before visiting my friends, the weights.

The combo was just what the body, mind, and spirit needed! The trainer session was a bit off pace due to not much cardio of late (which will be rectified in time...), and the weights challenged me a bit more.

I know the balance of life is key, and today was one of those steps to keep my life steadily afloat on the best path. 

Thank you weights for pushing me a bit further! Thank you for your friendly rhythm! Thank you bike for reminding me that I still have it in me, and I can combine all things successfully in my way!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Mom and Dad!

This is what I wrote to my parents today.  It says it all, on my day of life, and I pray that they know how much I am grateful!

Mom and Dad,

Thank you for the gift of life!  Thank you for sharing all that you have with me!  Thank you for helping me each step of the way!  Thank you for the laughter, the learning, the support, the love, the listening, the interesting food times, the long rides in a car, and more!

Thank you for doing the best that you could at a given moment!  Thank you for still being with me all these years!  Thank you for opening my horizons and heart to so much, more than what I dreamt of!

Thank you for the silly and serious times, and all in between!

I love you, and I am glad you are my parents!

Thank you for my birthday.

Love,

Me

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!