Day 76

Of course the pictures never do a sunset justice, but the pure blue above and amazing green below were perfect bookends to the yellow in between.

Day 75

I completed my first virtual, quarantine 5K today.

Thanks C25K program for getting me there!

Day 74

Day 73

All I can muster for today's post...

Day 72

Given the climate of our nation, let this be a reminder...

Day 71

~ Irises in Bloom ~

Day 70

During the past 70 days of quarantine lock down I have...

Lost 20 pounds...

Completed 8 weeks (out of 10) of the Couch to 5K program...

Filled up my gas tank once...

Learned to identify (more of) the birds in my area by sight and sound...

Attended a social-distancing birthday parade/drive by celebration...

Participated in more Zoom calls then I ever thought imaginable...

Not eaten any fast food...

Helped keep Amazon in business (oh the packages!)... 

Learned to appreciate nature (and silence) more...

Continued to be grateful for the blessings I have...

Day 69

Great Blue Heron, seen on my run...

Day 68

As promised, my humble beginner's attempt at rock painting...

Day 67

Today I saw my first blue jay of the season while out for my morning run. With time, my runs have become more enjoyable and about being "in the moment". This means I get out of my own head and trade complaining to myself for the sounds of the birds and nature surrounding me. Running allows me to decompress and enjoy my time on the road. Today I slowed down to snap these pictures. The first is a fierce little blue jay I was excited to see, forging for freshly tossed out bread while the second shows a relaxed mallard waterside. 

What or who is out in your neighborhood? 

Day 66

I recently purchased acrylic paint markers to try my hand at painting rocks. I've seen a few decorated rocks around my neighborhood and thought I'd give it a whirl because, well what else is there to do during a pandemic lock down? I'll share my artistic results in a later post, but thought you might join me on this artistic expedition! Check out the "why" behind my desire to paint and share a few rocks at The Kindness Rocks Project website!

"The Kindness Rock Project is a viral trend where people, commonly children, paint pebbles or cobbles and leave them for others to find and collect. Photos of the painted rocks and hints of where to find them are commonly shared on Facebook groups..." - Wikipedia

Day 65

Wordless Wednesday

~ Great Egret ~

Day 64

Thanks to the TCM (Turner Classic Movie) channel I can now scratch the 1959 movie, "North by Northwest" off of my "to see" list. I had no idea this was a Hitchcock film and was happily surprised to see his trademark cameo in the opening scene wherein he misses the bus. I really liked that this "Top 100" film wasn't the typical romance movie and had a lot of suspense to it (of course, it's Hitchcock). While main lead Carey Grant is easy on the eyes, I can't say I enjoy his trademark manner of speech, but I'm sure that's part of what helped launch him to success. 

The things I enjoyed most about this movie was the suspenseful plot, the witty banter, arrogance and sarcasm of Grant's character and as a fellow train traveler, I could relate to the train scenes and reminisced of my own travels. Additionally, I enjoyed the views of the majestic Mount Rushmore. I found the story line a refreshing change of pace from the recent musicals I've watched, and have to say this movie is in my top favorites so far! 

What's on your "to view" list these days?

Day 63

New running shoes on the way! 

Happy Monday!

Day 62

It's a gloomy, rainy Sunday. I have the sliding deck door open a crack and can hear the birds singing joyfully among the pitter patter of the rain drops. It's actually quite peaceful and makes me less "angry" at the rain. Speaking of angry, I found the quote below and thought it fitting for me, and for those of you who might not embrace the rainy days as much as the sunny ones...

Day 61

Spring!

Day 60

Some days aren't great, but every day is a little better!
Hang in there!

Day 59

I'm guessing if you're like me, you're cooking at home a lot more these days. If so, you might understand why something so little makes me happy in the kitchen! I discovered these two little gems in the spice aisle during my last grocery trip and can't wait to try them both.

I've been using the "Everything..." seasoning in my breakfast meals every morning since I purchased it and can't wait to try it on salads, avocado toast and soup (if I ever make any). I absolutely love it! As for the Red Robin seasoning, I plan on making sweet potato fries soon. I love it's flavor at the restaurant and can't wait to have a taste of it at home!

What helps you to spice up your home cooked meals? Try anything new lately? I highly recommend both of these seasonings and can't wait to add them to more meals!

Day 58

This past weekend I watched "Singin' in the Rain" while relaxing on the couch. It was really a peaceful and fun experience. Sitting on the couch watching a movie might not seem exciting, I get it, but for me, it was. The house was quiet. There were no commercials or interruptions. The movie itself was nostalgic and innocent and got my mind off of the outside world. Also, this marks yet another film off of my "Top 100" list to see, only 40 more to go!

Day 57

Got these two sets of twins over the past weekend through a friend of a friend. Workout equipment of any type has become scarce in stores and online these days, so this was a great score for me! Can't wait to "feel the burn" and start incorporating more strength training into my at-home workouts. 

Day 56

Are you planning for the future yet? Beyond thinking about things like getting a professional  haircut or visiting your favorite bar, what are your thoughts about travel? When will it be "safe" to start planing major trips? This is what I find myself questioning today. When is it realistic to plan and take a trip without fears of health concerns or of it being cancelled due to ongoing COVID issues?

I'm currently eye-balling a hiking trip for May 2021 and while there's an urgency to book it due to the limited group size, I fear committing to it. Getting my hopes up for a new adventure with the unknown state of our future welfare causes much internal turmoil for me. Typically I don't worry about planning events and have faith that all will proceed as planned. COVID-19 has changed that for me. Having watched my current 2020 plans disappear one after another due to cancellations, I don't want to add more heartbreak to that list of "things I planned and didn't get to do".  So I ask, "To plan, or not to plan?". What would you do?

Day 55

Having a COVID break down? Not feeling "OK"? That's OK! 

Here are some things I've done to help myself out and I hope they work for you too! 

Day 54

Enjoy your weekend!

Day 53

It's day 53 of the COVID lock down for me. 

In the past 53 days my greatest, "top five" moments/accomplishments have been...

- Sending cheer mail to others and brightening their day...

- Not drinking pop (or soda - whatever you call it)...

- Down 16 pounds on the scale...

- Running...(despite a new knee issue, thanks for making me feel old!)

- Appreciating nature and all the "little moments" around me, daily...


And one to grow on...

- I read and finished a book (and have a second started)...

What are some of your best COVID moments?

Day 52

Day 51

 

Make the most of your quarantine time. Learn something new. Try a new recipe. Go for a run. Watch a documentary. Take a walk on a new path or trail. Send a letter. Mail a card. Join a virtual club. Partake in a virtual party of some type. Zoom call or video chat with a friend. Enjoy nature. Ride your bike. Take photos. Have a cup of coffee. Relax. Meditate. Read a book. Stretch. Play a board game.  

Day 50

It's Cinco De Mayo and Taco Tuesday! I'll be trying out a new stuffed poblano pepper recipe and fajitas in honor of today. While Americans have made May 5th into a cultural celebration of Mexican food and beer, the holiday goes far deeper than just food. Cinco De Mayo actually honors the Mexican Army's win over the French Empire in 1862. Take a look, Google it, educate yourself. I mean, what else are you going to do in quarantine?  Ole'!

Day 49

A little outdoor sidewalk chalk art for the weekend win...

Day 48

I just completed day 15 of the Couch to 5K (C25K) running program. I am finally at a point where I am no longer cursing the hills or internally thinking, "How much f*cking longer is this interval?". I can enjoy the run and listen to the birds around me, acknowledge people with a smile and wave instead of telling them I'm dying (yes, I did that once...or twice). It's becoming enjoyable. It's becoming a stress relief that I look forward to. It's becoming a fun challenge to complete the longer running portions and to go farther than I thought I could. Running is allowing me a time to get out of my head and to just enjoy what's around me. A lot of things have been cancelled during the COVID-19 outbreak but thankfully not this. Running is not cancelled. 

Day 47

~ Spring Blooms ~

Day 46

Newest, motivational arrivals...