Hiking and a Dog Solution

I hiked a new-to-me trail near my house with the hiking club. This was the fastest I've ever paced and it was technical in parts. There was an enormous downed tree across the path and we had to CLIMB and descend around it. I didn't know if I could make it. Crazy, but so much fun.

Ducks in a row

Another hike leader was on this hike and said -- oh, you're on the hike on Friday. Turns out I had the wrong location in mind because another hike leader is co-hosting the hike. I would've completely shown up to the wrong trail. Geez, that was a lucky near-miss.

I have a journal book that I write down 10 things I want -- spans all things. Actual thing or some goal or some feeling. I've been writing "dog solution" for the last month. We need to have an option to let our dogs out when we're gone for a long day. I've been actively searching and asking since we moved in and no solution in sight. Hence, added it to the journal list. Wham. I met a dog service at the 5K and have an initial visit setup. It seems perfect. Looks like I found the "dog solution."

I swear the list feels magical. Only real things I really want go on the list. I don't put -- buy an airplane or become a billionaire. Practical things that I feel a pull toward. And the list reminds me (and the universe) to focus on those things. 

I have a new spot since the "dog solution" was filled. I usually meditate for the next things to add to the list. It's exciting when something completes and I get to add another thing. A few of the lines are never changing -- e.g. "do something for FS today." 

Heading out with my aunts today. I have mixed feelings. Super happy to spend the day with them. Bummed I'm driving (again). Bummed we're going to a crappy lunch. I suggested otherwise and I think it's a no-go. I kind of, sort of wish I wasn't going. I hate to say it. It feels like a waste of a day when I really could use home time. I said I'd drive myself because we're in opposite directions -- also got vetoed. I can't say no to driving them -- they're coming out of the way to my house. Neither wants to drive downtown. It'll probably be a great day and I'm going to focus on that mindset, but sitting here this morning, quiet time at home sounds so much better.

My active recovery week is getting a bit slim pickings on the recovery. I have a couple of things I needed to add on to the week for volunteering and it's taking a chunk out of my time. 

There is a little part of me that wants to drop the hike tomorrow. I'm sore today after the run and the very fast hike yesterday. The bathrooms are closed from the shutdown and that means up super early to give my body enough time to flush out so I don't need a bathroom. I could go either way. It's going to be beautiful hiking weather and I'll be glad I hiked, but not before I'm super bummed for the rushed morning. Is it worth it or do I need a peaceful morning more??? Hmmm, I need to think on it. The hike isn't full so dropping won't give me a ding.

UPDATE: I dropped and it feels like the right decision. I can enjoy an outside workout tomorrow at my own leisure. Maybe a park run with Duke if my legs feel rested enough. Something about hiking tomorrow didn't feel right and I'm trusting my gut. 

On that note, I'm going to grab a quick arm workout, meditation, and planting garlic from the garlic I grew last year before the aunties arrive. 

Have a good day. Later gators.

Weekend Recap and Active Recovery

The weekend was super fun and I'm wiped out. 

The family gathering was great -- nice to gather outside of a big event like a wedding. Living in Atlanta draws a lot of extended family since a few of us live here. Nothing like a room full of your people. 

Duke and I ran a dog charity 5K the next morning. It was all about dogs -- games, goodie bags, finisher prizes (he got a toy and a metal). Here are a few pictures before the race. He was in his glory and SO TIRED the rest of the day. The run was one thing, but the hour before with all the interactions completely wore him out. I had a happy dog.

Kids came over and we celebrated my DIL's birthday. Playing, cooking, football and a fantastic day. Dinner was a potato bar and it turned out really well. Lots and lots of toppings (hence the work), but it was so good. Leftovers today that'll do double duty in a salad. 

I'm looking at this week as an active recovery week. I have 3 big hikes, 2 social days, some volunteering, and a full weekend. BUT ... there's time in-between for me and just me (and dogs). Hubby leaves tomorrow for the rest of the week. I have a couple of chores this morning and then all clear for the rest of the week.

I'm not doing anything that requires advanced work. House is good. Plants are good. Dogs are good. No entertaining at the house. No volunteer work that requires extra work. This leaves my home time as ME time. Longer meditations, rock painting, day reading, etc. I'm extremely looking forward to filling up my cup AND having an active week.

I'm learning it's less about how active I am and more about finding recovery time. Here's an example. I'm out all day with friends socializing. Come home ready to be still and quiet for a minute and hubby wants to talk and go over house stuff, etc. No recovery. Or I come home and I have to do a bunch of things to get ready for the next thing. Creative, quiet time eaten up. 

The space between things is precious to me and I need to figure out how to have it more regularly. The space also lets me slow down. Take a breath. It makes a big difference. The space means the active time isn't overwhelming. 

Anyway -- hope you're set for a good week too. Later gators.

String of Bumps -- But It's Improving

Today isn't running smoothly so far. Hopefully, I got the bumps out of the way early.

My sister asked me to order and pickup GF bread from a local bakery today. They sent me an email that there's a festival all day and no parking in the area. I'll need to park and walk quite a way to pick it up. Ugh. I have a time crunch and this isn't ideal.

My espresso machine needed to be descaled immediately this morning. Never a warning, it just alerts. Fun thing just as I "stumbled to the kitchen to pour myself a cup of ambition."

Package was delivered last night except it wasn't. Such a bother now. As much as I wish I didn't use Amazon so much, problems get fixed easily and you get spoiled. Not as smooth to deal with an individual company. 

UPDATE: Already received a "person" response from the company so it looks like I was wrong and this will go smoothly to figure out. 

That's 3 things I woke up to this morning so maybe that's all. 

Anyway ...

Farm volunteering was very enjoyable. I picked peppers -- 8 varieties. Met a bunch of high schoolers on a school project. Gives hope for the world with smart, environmentally savvy young adults. 

The afternoon hike was really nice. The weather was perfect. I hiked a bit before and after. The hike leader normally goes really fast, but she had new people on the hike and slowed down a lot. It's like Goldilocks. I can't seem to find a hike that matches my speed preference. I'd rather too fast than too slow though.

Floating Pinestraw
cross on a web.
Can you see it?

Something odd going on
inside this tree. Looked cool.

Pretty day

Afternoon light hits differently

I feel a lot of rush today. I have a bunch of last minute errands to run (I did what I could ahead). I need to prepare for tomorrow too. Celebrating my DIL's birthday and I have the 5K in the morning. That means extremely little time on Sunday to prep before they come over. 

I'm tempted to forego the race, but I'll be glad we went because the weather will be so nice. Hmmm, just realizing I didn't get any information about the logistics. That's strange. Well, #4 troubleshooting this morning. UPDATE: Found the information so I'm all good.

Hope you have a good day. I need to go figure this out since I'm gone most of today. Wish my ears luck at the family gathering hah. Later gators.

No Complaining, Rant-Free

I had a fun day shopping with my aunties. We tried "the best" Goodwill in Atlanta and it was okay. I'm sure you need to go regularly to find the gems. I got a couple of things -- pottery base for a plant, little pottery pot, book for my grandson, sweater for my son, Christmas holder for a sponge. All for $11.  

We had lunch back in my town at a French bistro and it was a hit. Did a little shopping too (of course, my aunt LOVES to shop). Good day.

Today is an outside day and the weather is making me happy. I'm volunteering at the farm for a morning shift harvesting for the food bank. Then an easy hike this afternoon with the hiking club. 

The weekend is FULL and a lot of work and a lot of socializing. Hoping for a quiet-ish kind of day ahead of the weekend crazies. 

Our extended family gathers tomorrow with the heavy-hitter loud voiced peeps. Our family falls into 2 camps -- quiet speakers (like me) and EXTREMELY LOUD TALKERS (so many). The loud talkers will be all together on Saturday. Oh boy. We joke that my grandson will need noise-canceling headphones. A joke, yes ... but true. I can't get a word in because no one can hear me. It's funny and fun and deafening (!!) Fortunately, the weather is good tomorrow too so we will have an option to be outside with no echos. 

If you're ever around this group, you will comment on the decibel level. Hand to god. It's not often that ALL the loud talkers are gathered in one room. 

That's all this morning. Short and sweet (no complaining this morning -- you're welcome). Hope you have a great Friday. Later gators. 

Books

I had my gyn follow up after a hormone lab check. They're not good. She's upping the doses and we'll see if that helps. We think it was a bad batch of testosterone and my levels TANKED. That explains a lot about how I feel lately. Estrogen is coming up, but not enough to completely alleviate symptoms. Such a try and wait game.

Outing with my aunties today to go to the best rated Goodwill downtown. I'm driving because of the car situation -- I'm kind of sick of driving again, but it is what it is. Actually, I don't mind driving, but if I have to drive I want to do it alone. Strange, right?? My least favorite thing is chauffeuring people around. But it will be fun and it does make sense that I drive. 

Okay, books. 

First, I'm trying a library audio book. It's not bad, but I still don't really connect to audio books. I LOVE podcasts, but a narrative listen doesn't hold my attention the same way. If I have to sit and listen, then I'll read instead. The point (for me) with audio is I can do other things while I listen -- cook, drive, clean, etc. The question is should I push to see if I can get used to it or accept I don't like audio books -- hmmmm. Can't decide. 

 

Here are the books I read on vacation. I enjoyed them all. 

Setting in Maine.
Slow, reflective book.

Ghosts in an old
Victorian house in Maine.
1st in a trilogy.

Little suspense book

Bought at the bookstore in Maine.
Fantasy, but not about fantasy.
About feminism and relationships. 

I read the 2nd in the trilogy when I got home and I didn't like it. Too much of the same thing drawn out over 400 pages. I won't read the 3rd that comes out in November. Seems like the ending won't hold any surprises. Maybe I'll just get a spoiler summary if I remember to check. The first book was fun and more of a changing plot. If she combined both books into one and took out about 350 pages, it would be good.

I started this book. I love Defending Jacob (book ending very different from the series) -- recommended this as a favorite read or a bookclub pick for years. And also couldn't tell you who wrote it -- what?!?!  I NEVER thought to see if he wrote anything else either. Geez, brain do better. I've read about 30 pages, but I like the writing and style so far. 

Have to get going. Aunties will be early. Hope the GW doesn't disappoint. I love a good thrift moment. Hope you have a good one. Later gators.

Therapy Rant and Then Updates

I feel like I haven't had a "therapy" rant for a bit. Here's some (probably boring) thoughts this morning. 

This week is FULL of life stuff in the best way. Family, friends, hikes, 5K with Duke the Dog, great weather, etc. Here comes the "but" ...

I'm overwhelmed. Quiet time and quiet things have been missing for a few weeks. Sure, I HAVE time, but it's not when I can enjoy said things. Later in the evening -- too tired. Time in the afternoon -- interrupted by hubby, dogs, etc. I count on morning time and morning time is sorely missing.

I need a slow-role day or two. Not the sofa-slug kind, the productive in a quiet way kind. Long meditation (instead of 5 minutes, maybe), rock painting (hits that meditative creativity), daydreaming about future-self ideas -- you get the idea.

Some of the frustration comes when I set aside this time and it gets taken back. Hubby cancels golf and is home interrupting and interrupting. Cleaning crew changes day and time last minute. Friend asks a favor. I add something to the calendar because I think it's more important than this quiet space.

Another frustration is I don't have a private area in this house. When I'm painting rocks or whatever, interrupting that flow seems to cancel out the reparative feeling. I turn phone off, shut doors and it doesn't work. Hubby actually interrupted to give me my phone and tell me I got a text. I left the phone in another room on purpose so I got doubly interrupted by trying to not be interrupted. He doesn't seem to understand that I really, really need to be left alone at times. 

I guess I say this because I thought I'd get a little space after the trip -- this week was relatively wide open and, bam, it's full to the brim. As I said, all good (or mostly good). A lot of it by my own choice (family is in town this week). And I'm ready to scream. 

Where is the balance?? I can't seem to get it right. I know I need some restorative time after being "together" all week and I thought I could get it this week. This country is a shit-show and that stress needs some counteracting too. 

Remember I had coaching that said the byproduct of a well lived life is feeling overwhelmed at times. Maybe remembering this is the answer. Overwhelm isn't a problem, just a reminder to make a little adjustment. 

Hubby was suppose to be gone all morning playing pickle ball and it's pouring rain. Cleaning crew changed the time and day to this morning. I was suppose to have a chunk of time today and I don't. Hence the rant this morning.

Okay -- switching gears. Thanks for listening. Deep breath. 

I got a couple of new bracelets from Etsy. Pride and inclusion all the way!!

Here's my new window frog from a cute store in Ogunquit, ME.

Upper left window.
Maybe hard to see.

There used to be a "snake" rock display on the trail next to my house. Painted snake head and tail and a very long in-between with happy rocks. I think a storm took it out. I pass it regularly and someone from the hiking club usually comments about missing the rock display. "Someone should bring it back." Um, duh. I paint rocks. Why not me? I messaged the city and asked. They said yes. I have a plan ... stay tuned. It's going to be in the form of gatherings with a purpose -- double win. 

I have a lot of fun, meaningful, connection ideas -- just need to make time to execute them. The Priya Parker course is fantastic (Group Life) and motivates and inspires me at every turn.

I joined a local advocacy group and I signed up to attend 2 upcoming events. Getting involved, getting educated -- starts local. 

Hubby and I funded a bookclub for boys at a Title One elementary school. Great teacher with a great idea to get boys who struggle with reading excited about reading. I got a photo of their first meeting and the boys looked so happy. Reading and the joy of reading is a lifelong pleasure and necessity. Little things make a difference. It's such a rebound happiness to help a good people wanting to make a difference.

That's enough of a ramble this morning. It's plant watering day again, oh boy. Putting an audio library book on and getting to it. More on books soon. I have a lot to share. I'll do a full chat about it.

Have a good day. I'm grateful for the much needed rain this morning. Wish it watered my indoor plants too hah. Later gators.

Trip Recap

We're back. None of the worries came to pass -- even the government shutdown didn't affect us. The national park stayed open and the TSA lines were fine on our flight home. The flights couldn't have been smoother -- on time, 2 hours, no issues. 

Maine is wonderful. Bar Harbor and Ogunquit -- both happy, liberal areas, especially Ogunquit. Beautiful by the ocean. Bar Harbor was more touristy and 2 of the days had big cruise ships docked so hundreds of people in town all day. Not our cup of tea, but we spent our days at Acadia National Park. 

We managed a quick brunch in Boston for most excellent food in a little hole in the wall. Overall a great time. Here are some pictures. 

Market in Boston

Ogunquit ocean walk

Really good 00 IPA

Ogunqist speaking its mind

Beehive in Acadia

Ocean walk in Acadia

Beaver art

Jordon Pond, Acadia

Over a mile of plank walking
at Jordon Pond loop

Cadillac Mountain views

Hiked upper level

Our room at an Inn in Bar Harbor was incredible and charming. Gourmet breakfast served every day.

Dinning area

One of 3 sitting areas

Another sitting area

Each area was charming

Our room

We stopped for lunch heading up to Bar Harbor. Everything coastal, charming, cool weather.

Did shopping along the way. This is the oldest bookstore in Maine -- got a couple of books. I need to take pictures of my trip books -- read 4 books and all were good. Stay tuned. 

Our "Inn" in Ogunquit was actually a motel, but it was nice. Great location and just stayed one night (the night we were supposed to go to Canada to visit my aunt and uncle). We were able to meet them in Maine for a brunch before we drove south since they crossed the border for a doctor's appointment. Did I mention my uncle had 2 strokes a few weeks ago -- that's why our change of plans. 

Anyway -- this is long so I'll end it here. More to catch up on tomorrow. I'm up early for a hike with the club.

Have a good day. Later gators.