Visit with niece Lauren

My niece Lauren came to visit the Saturday

we got back from camping.

She had a new ride that she wanted to show off.

Here she is with Oscar.

Oscar and Fargo getting to know each other...

You don't look like me...what happened to you?

I couldn't figure out what they were looking at...

Cute picture however...

This is not the best picture for focus,

but I love my niece's eyes in this one.

After I took this picture and viewed it on the computer,

I had to laugh.. it looks like Lauren has been weeding..

NOT the case..

that wheelbarrow was filled before she got there by ME...

she was checking out the lambs ear plants...

Lauren loves the dogs,

here she is with her morning joe and the pups.

Oscar and Fargo again..they got along so well.

Lauren and Stephen after dinner on Saturday,

enjoying some time with our dogs.

Stephen is my dog sitter. He is so great with them..

Here the kids are waiting for dinner..

Actually because we were arriving late from our camping trip,

Lauren came with the preparations to fix dinner,

appetizers, wine and all!

This is Lauren's vanity plate....

my great niece Hannah had a hard time saying Lauren

when she was small and it came out like this???

• 

Lauren and Oscar heading home after a brief but very special visit..

What a good looking girl..

And Oscar's not bad looking either?

Hey if you look closely you can see Garland & I in Lauren's sunglasses..

One mile

Today I ran my first mile in probably 18 years and it felt GREAT!

When the kids were here last week I was inspired to get back into running. I used to run and bike almost every day when I lived in New York, but once I moved to Virginia I just got away from it.

I went out this week and purchased:

A pair of Foster Grant sunglasses $10

A Timex watch $34

And a pair of NIKE running shoes $70 (didn't want to spend too much on shoes until I know I'am committed). Garland informed me this morning as I was walking back up the driveway that NIKE resigned Michael Vicks...if I had known that I would not have brought a pair...Next time it won't be NIKE or anything with the NIKE symbol!!!

So I started out fine, thought I would run my mile out and walk it back. It is exactly 1 mile from the end of my driveway to the beginning of our road. I started my watch to time my mile, but did something wrong..so I had to estimate...then the neighbor's beagles followed me and barked all the way to the end of his property.... but I felt surprisingly good considering it has been so long. I do walk daily and do yoga so I am not in terrible shape and my job is very physically demanding.

So, my first mile run was about 19 minutes and that was taking it very conservatively...Now I just need a 5K run to motivate me even more.

I have 2 nieces that are runners that live within 4 hours so maybe I can hook up with them for a race.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

p.s. you can see a little grass on the back of my shoe..so I really did go out this morning....

Getting Started

Ok, since I have decided to get back into shape, there are a few items I will need to purchase if I want to do this right...
First, I will need a good pair of cross training shoes... I expect to walk, jog and eventually run. And since my feet pronate, a good pair of orthotic inserts to protect my knees and hips would certainly be a good idea.

Now I know that sunglasses are not really that important for running, but they sure are cool.. and will help prevent those wrinkles that appear around the eyes with squinting...

And every runner needs a watch that keeps track of those 7 minute miles, or in my case 15 minute miles...

Now there is some equipment I already have..

A pair of healthy lungs...needed for that O2 and CO2 exchange..

A heart that will get stronger every time I step out and hit the pavement.. and hopefully I can lower my cholesterol without those nasty drugs...

And last but not least legs... mine have gotten kind of whimpy looking, so I really can't wait to get that tone and strength back into them..

Extreme Exercise

Sean, Jessica and Jennifer are all very fit young people.

Sean works out with Crossfit Training,

Jessica runs and cycles and Jennifer runs,

many times pushing Reagan in a jogging stroller.

Sean planned some heavy duty workouts for the three of them

while they were visiting.

Here is Sean doing some extreme push up...

there is a name for it, but I forgot...

maybe he will comment so we know for sure.

A jog around the driveway as part of one of his routines for the morning.

Jessica doing a set of sit ups.

Some wicked jump roping.

Some wicked squats...

And well I am not sure what they were doing here...???

After watching these three and seeing what great shape they are in,

This 56 year old body is inspired to get back into shape herself...

so tomorrow it is off to buy some new cross training shoes..

so that when I visit Sean & Jess in November

I can get out and hit the pavement for a nice run...

maybe some sit-ups, a squat or two..

but NO handstands!

Quick visit with Sean & Jess

Sean & Jessica flew in from San Diego for the 4th of July holiday's.

They arrived Wednesday evening.

Jessica's twin sister Jennifer picked them up at RDU,

along with 11 month old Reagan and her pup Tommy.

I took Thursday off to spend the day with them all.

Sean & Jess had gotten used to the cooler San Diego climate

and found the Virginia hot & humid temps a little too much,

but not too bad for early morning extreme exercise workouts.

those photos will follow with next blog...

Fargo discovers the cow pasture and what it contains...yum!

the Lizard

Saturday morning I noticed our cat Wilhelmina looking down at the ground, so the curious person that I am, I went to investigate...

Down on the ground I saw this thing wiggling and it appeared to be a lizard. We have several around the cabin and I usual see one sunbathing on the front stone steps, well on further inspection this tail was detached from its owner...

now I am told that a lizard can lose their tail to escape from predators like my vicious kitty..

and so it may seem this was the case..so where was the lizard?

Garland found him close by... evidently this was a recent occurrence since the tail was still moving minus it's body.. if you look closely you can see these pointed parts coming from where it used to be attached to the body...YUK...

One tail, still fresh....
One lizard minus a fresh tail....
Garland put the lizard in the tree for safe keeping....see the back end, all red and minus that tail...GROSS....

Sadly, yesterday when I walked down to the garage I found same lizard in the grass..EXPIRED.

And Wilhelmina was no where around the crime scene...

Penne Pasta with Spinach

I get tired of preparing the same dinners every week, and so I look for new and healthier alternatives...

after church today, I stopped at my sister Carol's house to kill some time before going for a much needed manicure. Carol was downloading some new recipes herself and she had one from a magazine using whole wheat penne pasta, white beans and spinach... sounded good and quick to me, so on my way home I stopped at Wally World (YUK)..we do not have a nice Whole Foods or Harris Teeter..therefore Food Lion or Walmart have to do in a pinch.. Picked up regular penne pasta as Garland is not a big fan of WW. Spinach, white beans, fresh garlic, Jergens Healthy Glow self tan & firming lotion and headed to the cabin. The recipe does not call for self tanning products but my legs do!

It is a very easy recipe and takes no time to prepare... 2 very important conditions when cooking.. Don't get me wrong, I like a challenge with recipes, but not tonight...

So you can see that here are most of what is required to prepare this dish...The shiraz is for the chef.. I also marinated some boneless chicken breasts in olive oil and cooked in my George Forman..

Garland needs his MEAT....

And here is the finished product, above is Garland's plate.

And here is my plate, with picked beets added...love the beets...

I did not have enough spinach, only 1/2 of what the recipe called for, and it would have been better with more spinach, also some grated parm cheese was sprinkled on for taste. I also used 1 clove of garlic instead of 2 and I think I will go with 2 next time. I plan to make this meal again..maybe when we go camping. I know Jessica, my daughter in law would like this recipe, as she is a vegetarian and son Sean will enjoy it as well..

Bon Appetite!

Country Singer Alien

If I were a country singing alien, I would probably look like this.

Remembering Memorial Day

Back in the 60's we lived in Glen Head, NY

and every Memorial Day

there was the community parade

that passed right in front of our home.

Here I am with my twin Diane,

twins Toni & Laurie Rudolph,

and Paul Fulton.

I do not recognize the other boy.

And we were very

PATRIOTIC!

LOVE the PEPPER

Since I have been posting on how cute new puppy Fargo is, I thought it only fair to post Pepper's puppy pics. Pepper is such a beautiful and unusual looking border collie. I picked her from her litter mates for the black patch on the left side of her face. The pictures do not capture how adorable she was as a new pup.

The right eye is almost all blue and her left eye is just partial blue.


She loves to play with any type of ball, football, soccer, basketball, tennis...
she has actually become obsessed with balls!!
That seems to be a border collie problem.
But Garland has been working with her to become a SAR dog.
Border collies like to have jobs.



Do I have to wear this stupid scarf?
My first halloween party!

My first snow..See I love sports in any weather!


This is my first Christmas card picture. I think red shows off my coat very well!

Me and my Dad.

LOVE the FARGO

Fargo is changing daily...he is just so darn cute...

Why can't they stay puppies for a few more months.....

minus the chewing and peeing on everything!

Planting a river birch

I have been trying to post this blog for over a week now....

Garland gave me a river birch tree for Mother's Day to replace a cherry tree that dies last summer during our drought & heat wave..

I love the bark on the river birch..so much texture & interest.. the leaves are nothing to comment on, and the fall color is blah too...but the bark makes up for all that.

This is the dead tree we are replacing.

It sits at the end of the flower garden at the back of the yard.

We have 2 other river birch trees planted. Here you can see that really wonderful bark..

I have seen curtain rods made with mature branches in some of my log/cottage home magazines.

Maybe I will be able to do something like that in our home in a few years.


Garland cutting the dead tree down...

Wilhelmina finds refuge under the branches...

until we cart them to the brush pile to burn later...

the branches NOT the cat!

Garland digging the new hole for the birch tree... He is such a great husband!

And the tree is planted.. I had that bird feeder that i built many years ago...I put it on the dead tree stump for now, not sure if I like it there...needs painting and some repairs.