Hike Plans -- Back to Basics

No problem finishing the hike. The hike leader took a shorter loop to cut a mile off the hike because of the heat and we took extra stop breaks. I forgot how much I enjoy hiking with this club. 

The picnic was really good. People made food from their countries, fresh fruit, garden veggies (me), wine, beer, sammies. It was a spread. 

Because I handled the heat well, I signed up for another hike tomorrow. 10 miler (might be shorter with the heat), but this trail is a lot easier. I've only hiked it once, and I'd like to get to know it. Same hike leader, a few of the same people from yesterday. Much, much lighter traffic on a Sunday so it's not a horrible drive. 

I'm hiking with a friend on Monday, but she'll want to hike more slowly and less mileage. It's also possible she'll cancel from the heat. For all those reasons, I decided to go for the hike on Sunday and push through whatever happens for Monday. 

This brings me to one of the elements of "back to basics" for this year. Remember I said I had drifted from some of my foundational work? This is an area where I've drifted. 

Ramble coming up ...

I can default my life to living into other people's lives instead of my own. Letting others take the reins for my life. Not the big things, but the day-to-day stuff. It's nuanced --- let me try to explain. 

I want to hike on Sunday, but was wondering if that's too much for the hike on Monday. Do I need fresher legs in this heat? I've had the Monday hike on the calendar since Asheville trip with this friend. There's a big part of me that feels I owe this hike my best. 

Yet, she is someone who has a history of canceling (not lately though). The weather is miserable and she's just building up her hiking stamina. Chances are she'll dictate an easier hike than I'd like to do. Chances are she'll not give it her biggest, best effort -- because why would she push herself that much??

Why don't I give that same grace to myself? Why can't this be a hike that I take a bit easier? Why can't I be the possible limiter? 

Now, I don't want to flake on her or the hike (and I don't plan to do either), but, I want to choose ME as the priority, not someone else. Give my best to myself. Give good enough to others. 

Of course, not always and not every situation, but in ordinary moments like this, I get the top billing. 

And, if she does cancel or the hike is blah, I still did what I wanted to do and there will not only be no resentment, but I'll be extra proud of myself for living my own life and not just fitting myself into someone else's decision.

This also affects Tuesday's hike. I'm available on Tuesday with the hiking group, but no hike has been mentioned yet. Holding off on MY choices to accommodate just a possibility is not putting myself first. I won't be able to hike Tuesday if Sunday and Monday's hikes are as expected. That's fine with me. I can always join for lunch if it's a place I want to go. 

It feels good to remember to be in the driver's seat of my life instead of passenger's seat of someone else's. 

There is ABSOLUTELY a possibility that there won't be a hike on Monday or Tuesday and that would leave me very disappointed I didn't hike on Sunday. Of course, both can happen too and that leaves ME with decisions on what to do. I'm not at the mercy of other's decisions. 

That was a ramble. I hope it made a little sense. 

I'm off to tend to my son's garden. We got massive rain yesterday afternoon, so I didn't have to go over too early today. I need to check their ceiling too. Roof was replaced 2 days ago. I hope no leaks. 

Happy 4th. 

I love this country. 

I hate our government. 

I love Mother Nature. Heat dome?? Hail too?? Where ever he goes. Nice work!!!!!!!

We'll take the little wins where we can.

Later gators.

Unicorn Morning

It WAS a good day. 

Having morning time that's not rushed and pushed makes such a difference. I don't need this every day, but at least a couple of times a week would be nice. 

Even hubby was complaining about early mornings. His golf and pickleball are starting super early in the heatwave and he's annoyed too -- that's a first hah. 

Youngest and DIL left for a 10 day vacation. Guess who's watering their garden?!?! I thought MY garden put pressure on my morning. This will add well over an hour to my mornings next week. 

This is the struggle. I know my schedule has been too much lately. I purposely designed July for quieter mornings and I'm already pushed through mid-month. How can I say no though? The entire garden would be dead. I hoped for cooler temps and/or rain, but the heatwave continues which means watering every day. Ugh. I might have to do a few evenings because there are 3 mornings I have no idea how I can make it work. 

This is why yesterday was a such a delightful unicorn, but not enough and I want MORE!!!!!!!

Guess I need to keep trying.

Anyway ...

I'm slightly nervous about the hike this morning. I've hiked these combined mountains many times and I know the trails well ... but it'll be almost 90 degrees when we finish. And it's ungodly humid. I'm not sure I can do it. 

I might have to sag out. I sort of regret registering for it. I can't believe this heat is hanging on so much. Lord knows I don't need to have heat exhaustion or worse.

Wish me luck -- I need it. Enjoy the start to the holiday weekend. Can't say I'm celebrating our country -- I'll celebrate when a better government prevails. For now it feels like mourning. 

On that cheerful note, later gators. 

A Birthday Surprise and It's Not My Birthday

Today is an unexpected surprise. It's hubby's birthday and I thought we'd spend the day together, so I didn't put anything on my calendar. I didn't connect that it's Thursday and his golf league. I'm on my own until 2:30 with NOTHING planned all day. 

Praise be to the Alone Gods. 

I've fussed around the kitchen pickling cucumbers and jalapeños. Baked a birthday treat. 

Fussed in the garden cleaning up a bunch of plants, etc. Not a rushed moment -- took about an hour. 

Now I'm in the craft room -- morning routine a bit later than usual. 

Quick arm workout to follow. I need a fresh body to handle the hike in the heat tomorrow. 

Longer meditation.

I have a few errands to run.

A walk to the library to do a return. 

It's a morning that I've been craving for too long and it surprised me. Couldn't seem to plan one to save my soul, and this morning it just popped up.

Yesterday my volunteer case ended after over 2.5 years. I'll get another one when I'm ready and a case that fits my availability. For now, it's training time and general education. NO court reports in the immediate future and that's a break I'm very pleased about. 

I had a lunch with a friend to exchange my veggies for her fruit. We had a great conversation about books and travel. Planning a day in Atlanta to see a play with her too.

I made blackberry sauce with her basket of blackberries. They were perfectly ripe, but tart and needed to be used for something other than just straight enjoyment. The sauce is DELICIOUS. 

Mixed with coconut yogurt.
Love those flavors together.

It's almost gone already.
So tasty.

Happily simmering.

This was the garden picking today. It looks cheerful and fresh with all the colors. 

Loads of cherry tomatoes
underneath. More veggies
than you'd think in the basket.

I still want to chat about birthday year reflections and such -- I haven't forgotten, but this morning is other plans. 2:30 will come more quickly than I'd like and I have loads of alone things to happen first hah!

Hope you have a good day. Later gators.

Pretty Trail Mushrooms

I hiked 7.5 miles in crazy humidity and heat. Drenched was an understatement. The hike on Friday will be warmer, longer, harder, faster  ... but I think I'll be okay. Good news is I know Friday's trail well so if I need to sag out I can do it -- basically two big connecting loops. 

Mushrooms on the hike. There aren't many flowers this time of summer on this trail, but always something to find. 

I have an emergency court hearing first thing this morning. My volunteer case is probably ending today -- it's been over 2.5 years. It's a sad moment, but the best in a hard situation. We'll see -- the judge may continue it for a few more months. I'll be starting a new case sometime soon. 

Have to get going -- long drive in traffic. 

Hope you have a good day. Later gators.

A HBD Surprise

BIG NEWS ... drumroll ...

I'm going to be a Granny again in January!!!!!!!!

Got the ultrasound picture wrapped for my birthday AGAIN. 

So much fun. 

As soon as I felt the frame, I knew. 

We'll know the gender in about a month. 

Shhhhh ... for now it's a secret. 

My other DIL gave me a color analysis and I'm super excited. That's totally her love language. 

Funny story -- the night I tested positive for COVID, my son went to CVS to get a test for him and also bought a pregnancy test. They were both positive. Missed opportunity to take a picture of the tests together. Thankfully, my DIL was and stayed negative for COVID. 

Also funny story, my DIL and younger son said they hit it out of the park with birthday gifts this year and the only way they could be out gifted if my eldest announced a pregnancy. Hahahaha. And I absolutely loved their gift -- they did knock it out of the park. 

I've been slightly MIA. Dang, I'm busy and I can't seem to un-busy myself. 

Am I managing my calendar horribly?

Am I managing my mind poorly?

Something needs to change and I can't seem to change it. 

Actually, if I'm narrowing it down, what needs to change is my mornings. Summer mornings are tough because things need to happen early in the morning. Outside workouts, gardening. Add plans or obligations and my mornings are too full and too rushed. 

I barely have time to chat this morning because I need to get moving for a hike and before the hike, I need to tend to the garden. It's going to be high 90s today and I can't let a day slide in this heat. 

Broken record. Can I move things to later in the day? Doesn't seem to work well. I get interrupted as the day moves on and the peaceful morning routine to start the day well is anything but peaceful.

Should I decide peak summer months have a different morning routine?

Lots of questions, no answers. 

If I can get a couple/few days a week for a full morning routine, that's enough, but something screws up every single morning lately. Issues that I can't deflect or say no. It's beyond frustrating. 

So much to chat about, but I have no time. I probably CAN move this journaling to later in the day or before bed. I might do that this week and just "publish" in the morning. 

Food for thought on my hike today. NOT hiking with the Tuesday group because they are starting later and hiking 90 minutes away. No thanks. Local trail so I can acclimate to this heat wave before a big hike on Friday. 

Hope you're having a good week. Later gators. 

Back to Basics

I have a rushed morning today ... of course I do. Geez. 

Summers are hard on mornings anyway. Lots needs to happened before the heat sets in -- outside workouts, gardening, Farmers Market (today). Add the rest of my morning routine and it feels like a push, too much.

Maybe I need to put some of my indoor morning on for early evening. A calming bedtime routine!?!? I've tried this before with a very limited-run success. Time for another try because I'm not enjoying or having enough time in the morning to get to it all. 

I'm heading back to some basics and just a couple of days worth and it feels SO MUCH BETTER. I drifted unknowingly and it's time to tighten it back up again. It makes such a big difference.

Drink more water.

Daily meditation -- even if some days are just a few minutes.

Speaking up about what works for me (I can't go that early, can we make it an hour later?)

Smaller portions.

Walk more.

Less snacking, less sugar.

Making morning time for outside workouts -- hiking, running.

DNFing books when they don't work -- unclogs my reading.

Enjoying some poetry sprinkled in my reading.

Strength and balance work. 

Finding fun, unusual things to do.

In my hiking.

In my thrifting.

In the creative arts.

In exploring towns. 

Saying yes to adventures

BECAUSE

I've left space in my calendar for quieter things.

(This one is huge.)

More calendar space for creativity. 

Painting. 

Journaling. 

Projects. 

Outfits.

New recipes. 

Garden planning and putzing. 

Big gist is SPACE (my word for this year ... I must have known before it actually registered). I think the juice is in the space between things. Probably more on this later. 

This feels like ME and I forgot it a little bit. 

I'll be chatting about all the birthday year stuff soon. This is a little preview, but in the name of the above list, time for a meditation. Then an outside run. Then a little garden time. Then a big Farmer's Market (not our local one this week). 

Have a great day. Later gators. 

It was HBD (!!)

I had a really nice birthday.

Run felt very hard since it's been a minute, but always feels great when I finish. Got the run in this week before temps climb again.

Lunch was fun with my son -- 2nd year in a row lunching with him on my birthday. Found a street spot, parallel parked -- that felt accomplished. Ceviche for lunch.

Atlanta is super high tech -- driverless cars and delivery robots. Still shocking to see. They were everywhere.

Finished my first watercolor painting for the picture wall. That's on my 26 for 2026 list. Also filled a few more picture frames. 

Not exactly a masterpiece, but it's whimsy and I like it. Here are a couple of other filled frames.

Picture from a children's book.

Pressed flower card from my friend.

I had a few birthday calls too. 

The scheduled call with an old friend was interesting. We've been friends for about 27 years. Had SO much in common. We were so often on the same wave length even not living near each other for well over half of our friendship. 

What's interesting to me is talking to her shows me how much I've changed in the last 6 or 7 years. She doubled down on the same trajectory and I took a left turn. This is probably a little judgmental of me, but it seems like she hasn't grown. Lots of diet and body image talk. Lots of brag-book chatter with rose colored reporting. Outdated thinking. 

It's been this way for a while and yesterday's conversation hit home how different we've become. Believe me or not, it's less about judging her, than being grateful I made changes. It's a feeling like THAT could be me and I'm glad it's not. I could have continued to grow those things, but instead I planted something different. 

What a relief to be over body image and diet crap. What a relief to not feel like I have to peacock to show my worth before I could ever admit anything vulnerable. What a relief that I don't need to give subtle jabs to cover for what I really want. What a relief to update my thinking and evolve with new ideas. 

We are still close friends who've shared a lot of life. I wonder what's in store for us in the future. It was kind of a cool revelation on my birthday. A reminder to keep building WHAT I want and WHO I want to be ... keep going. It makes a difference. 

Hubby got home in time to tuck me into bed.

Lovely birthday. I felt the love and friendship and really felt seen by the people in my life. Couldn't ask for more. Also, a few little accomplishments scattered in and that felt like the right foot to begin this next year. 

From my garden. Little flowers
around the center -- incredible. 

I have my Friday morning coffee and then I invited the group to try the new Lebanese cafe for lunch. 5 or 6 of us going -- it'll be a fun morning.

Have a happy Friday too. Later gators.