Flat land hiking for Arthritis

Last week my dear friend was over for an evening visit. We were discussing healthy eating, exercising and how it is a challenge to accomplish either one on a consistent basis. Making a plan that makes it easier achieves much greater success. She had heard/read somewhere that if one climbs stairs and does planks .. it might be all you need to do. At least it's a start!

That’s all it took. A quick walk through Google and I found I wasn’t the only one on planet Earth who was thinking of hiking mountains .. inside their own home. Check this one out! I guess we all can find different ways to deal with isolation!

We set a goal of completing a hike of Mt Everest by Labor Day because it sounded reasonable. Goals that are much too lofty just aren't going to happen. I'm only too aware of that!

Then my brain started its crazy again. What if I hiked volcanic summits in Alaska along the way?

I made a list, trying not to duplicate mountain ranges (although that was impossible!), made an Excel spreadsheet .. it calculated MY steps needed and I started. I chose to remove duplicate mountain ranges. Your science students might be overwhelmed.

I don’t have stairs in my home. What I have is a walking exercise video that at some points has you stepping high and walking forward and backward. So, in lieu of steps, I calculated my step height which is between 11 and 12 inches. This little activity does not include a quiet stroll around the outside of the house, rather it involves high stepping it the entire way .. my stair climb on flat earth. 

And then, because I have a close relationship with the not so lovely arthritis, I made the decision to summit my first peak in 4 days. After all ... today starts an entire month of arthritis business. 

This is not the peak I've chosen on this initial mission but it is the ultimate goal.

My hip might be doing a good job of playing along with me, but one of my knees decided it really wasn't crazy about it. 4 days didn't quite manage to happen.

I'll be back with my geography lesson real soon tho and I'm almost to my summit!

just an explore ...

STAY HOME does not include being out in nature where you're alone. 

Unless you're in Michigan ... sorry guys!

We headed out for the day last Sunday. In retrospect, we should have gone somewhere else, but so it goes. There's always next time.

Cheez Its for Jari and coffee for me …

nap time is over .. sort of

This blanket.

This blanket has been sitting in a trunk for a year waiting to give as a gift. Do you accumulate those kinds of things? I finally just gave in and took it out of the trunk. Took off that fancy ribbon and crawled in underneath.. Seriously delicious napping blanket.

The month of January for some reason I took an inordinate number of naps. Not 20 minute naps either. Rather long ones.

I’m one of those old fashioned people that has a VHS/CD player in my house. I purchased one when I went to transfer all of our home videos to DVD. I finally decided it needed to be hooked back up again and I needed to start getting some exercise. Napping is fabulous but when it becomes a lifestyle ...  it becomes a problem.

Like I could hide under this blanket for two hours straight no problem! For many days. That’s a lot of time getting nothing done. Not exactly my goal in this life.

So the equipment got hooked back up and on days when it works for me, I started working out to some kind of a program or another. I have to say that I sort of moaned and groaned going to bed last night. I found muscles I didn't remember existing from A&P class! A slow start for me because I'm still a bit nervous about this new hip thing, but it is time to get some blood moving and strengthening going on.

I still love the blanket. Don’t get me wrong. 20 minutes of shuteye I'm good with ... especially when my eyelids open really early for work. But really .. enough is enough.

On this week’s plan is another trip to this little mountain to see how far I can make it. It is a bunch of baby steps but at least they are steps. I have a goal in mind and I’m hoping to take some steps toward that before the middle of February. 

What is on your goal list?

Whew! I posted in time for at least one this week!

sunday afternoon drive

A week ago we took a drive down paths we haven't traveled for a spell.

It was a tad on the warm side, so we sat in air conditioning and gazed at water.

Maybe we even tested it with our fingers and toes, but never jumped in.

A stop at Saguaro Lake to check out boat ramps and parking availability.

A beautiful spot!

The blurred out sign says something about no picnics allowed.

However, it had a table with the pictures so figured it was legal to eat my sandwich in the truck.

I have never tubed the Salt River, nor do I have any plans to do so but we went to take a look.

I didn't get any pictures of that one.

Fast moving and cold was my opinion.

And ... from when Jari was romping out there years ago ... a whole different place.

Next stop was the Verde River.

Now this is my river.

I have personal experience with this deceptively calm piece of nature.

I could kayak here for days.

String a hammock from one side to the other and just chill.

The sunsets during monsoon season are divine.

Dust in the air mixed with clouds ... dreamy.

I still haven't seen more than a few drips of rain this year.

Hope springs eternal!

Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too.

week of simple joys

simple joy might just be using up scraps at the sewing machine

it might be the satisfaction of seeing paint leave a dresser as the temperature rises and the sweat pours

i find it in the blooming of cotton plants

joy is the falling of rain on fields that are so very dry

the joy of His promise to end a day and a week

where do you find simple joy?

family fishing

Two weeks ago today we were at this lovely fishing hole with the kids.

Two weeks?!! 

No wonder those birthdays creep up so fast and often ... if two weeks flies by so fast!

Who would think that almost in the middle of a town there lies this beautiful spot.

Could you just stroll out here and clear your mind?

This is me.

These are mine.

This would be my joy.

Anna & Tia were not able to do any fishing ... 

Hint: don't attempt to get a fishing license the same day you get your ND drivers license .. they won't let you.

Second Hint: if you purchase a non resident 3 day fishing license, check your expiration date. Our 3 day licenses expire in March of 2020. You just never know when you might win!

Should you have any hints on how to score a free airline ticket with Allegiant ... let me know!

I"ll go fishing.

We don't deep fry food at our house, but I might have to start.
Anna & Wylon have some marvelous deep fryer that I might need to look at someday.
Friday night fishing.
Saturday night dining.

I can still taste that walleye!

Now I'm hungry.

an early Sunday

Having a yen for the lake but not tolerating the temperatures during the afternoon this summer season. 

The alternative is getting up with the chickens.

If you don't have those critters ... that means early. 

Real early.

We live about an hour away from our favorite water hole. 

There must be a cool spot in that section of road 'cuz that 76 degrees didn't last more than a minute.

Little people joined us with their parents. 

Another reason to be out there early. 

Don't want this little guy overheating.

These guys like the water. A lot. Sebastian was my swimming partner today.
And ... they tolerate sitting on the back seat of the boat!!
Serious progress there!

I have stayed out on the water in the summertime and been croaking hot all nite long so am a wee bit nervous about doing it again.

This morning I was a bit bummed that we didn't stay out there last night.

The air this morning was delicious and the water absolutely perfect.

Kind of like my happy place.

the end of a weekend ...

The sun was shining and drying out all the miniature lakes. Jari was hatless and without sunscreen so we tried to find shade at every opportunity. Beautiful day!

A tour around the grounds with Grandpa and Grandma. What a beautiful way for the older folks to see how large everything was when the walking would have been impossible.

Two years from now I have high hopes of being camped on these grounds in an air conditioned camper. Going to keep the fingers crossed that it works out. If it does ... come over to my porch for coffee!

Homeward we went on Saturday evening. Although it was a bummer to end our time there sooner than the festivities ended, we had a very busy work week coming up. It was rather nice to spend some time at home on Sunday taking a nap before it all started. This getting older business is sometimes challenging for a crazy schedule.

Traveling again tomorrow ... almost before the sun rises. Going to find some little people snuggles this time.

Yes, we are very blessed to be able to do this.

Friday at services

Friday morning we went to Litchfield and Cokato.

Sometimes weekends can be a little hard on the heart strings.

Then to feed our hearts and souls. I have gone back and looked at pictures of my own and online about a million times or more. My heart just wants to be back there.

What a beautiful day. In between some rain drops. We did find an umbrella in Mummu's stuff that we went through so we were set!