As much as we enjoyed having the bird feeders hanging from the porch rails, the squirrels were making a mess, so they needed to come down. We decided to try hanging them from a clothesline, instead. It's working like a charm!

It was too nice a day to mope around the house! So, we went exploring and found a waterfall, instead. This is Gonic Falls in Rochester, New Hampshire. 

His legs were tired, but he made it up Middle Mountain with me tonight!

They got in some mountain training today!

After the storm...

The peonies I dug up from my mother's garden bloomed in time for her birthday. ❤️ We weren't here for those initial blooms, but have been enjoying them ever since!

The first thing I thought of when I learned that I had developed a dairy allergy, (which explained the migraines I had every single morning for years) was pizza. It is my favorite food - whether it's a gourmet pie, or a greasy gas station slice, it always hits the spot! Fortunately, vegan cheeses are actually quite good, and I'm finding they are available at a lot of eateries. Thank goodness! I can still enjoy pizza!!

As an avid fisherman, I thought he might like this brook trout patterned shirt for his belated birthday present! It's either the ugliest or the coolest, we can't decide. Regardless, we'll be able to see him!

My son has a son! It's surreal and wonderful to think that I'm a Grammie now. I'm already so in love. We are going to have such grand adventures together!

It's been a hot minute since Ike ran a race with me, and 13 years since Chris did. When we picked up running again this spring, Chris suggested we run a 10k & Acadia came up. It turned out to be such a great idea! You can't find a much more picturesque place to spend the weekend. Mother Nature gave us a brief window between showers this morning and we took full advantage. Elvis even showed up, and a gentleman running his 650th race! Wow. Incredible! We also chatted with a woman who was running in her 30th state. I've got some catching up to do! This sport continues to inspire me every single day.

We started together, but then Chris took off and began chasing down the front runners. Ike and I were having fun chatting and laughing as we ran when all of a sudden we saw him coming back at us! He was flying! I texted Ed to let him know so that he could get to the finish line in time. Chris ended up 8th overall and 1st in his age group. Ike and I finished strong, and we were psyched to see our family at the finish line! Watching Ike sprint to the finish line like the good ol' days was heartwarming. He could hear Cait yelling for him and just took off! The best feeling. We can't wait for the next one!!

We wandered around Bar Harbor this evening. There are lots of shops and eateries to explore!

My friend gave me this because it reminded her of the places where I run. It's perfect. I will treasure it!

Nothing makes them happier than when I fill up their pool!

A li'l late to the party, but we made it! Happy Global Running Day!

Who would've guessed that all this was underneath that brown hair dye? People ask me why I stopped coloring my hair. I'll tell you. It was when I had to wear a hat while we were exploring in Alaska. I thought how foolish it was to have to worry about my roots showing when I should have just been enjoying myself! So much time was spent over the years rearranging my hair appointments based on when I had events coming up. So much energy spent thinking about my hair color. Not any more. It's so freeing!

I don't regret coloring my hair. I was born with brown hair and I loved it. I had fun experimenting with different shades and highlights and lowlights and everything in between black and red. I almost stopped coloring it during COVID when I couldn't get an appointment with a stylist. My dad handed me money to buy box color because I looked too much like my mother, and it made him sad. He said I could stop when he passed. But, I wasn't ready for that when it happened, so I continued. Finally, Alaska healed my heart and my priorities shifted.

It was a challenging transition, and I'll admit that in my mind's eye my hair is still brown. I sometimes don't recognize myself when I pass a mirror or see a picture. I'm learning to love it, though, and I never had as many compliments on my hair when it was brown as I get now that it's silver!

In case you were wondering, yes, Buffy did drag me up Mount Osceola with her yesterday! It was not the most pleasant of days, but we tend to just take the weather as it comes and not let it bother us. Besides, the wind blowing the fog around the mountaintops was actually kinda cool. Literally. Which is always better for a dog, anyway! The rain was never enough to soak us, and we brought plenty of extra clothing, just in case. Buffy was brave facing lots of strangers and their dogs on a narrow trail, leaping over BIG boulders, crossing waterfalls, and continuing to push onward. She's amazing!

Buffy climbed her first 4000 footer - Mount Osceola!

This wallpaper stopped me in my tracks! 

Happy Birthday to my brother!

Not a flowering shrub, but almost as pretty!

Rondy is staying with us for a bit. This morning she went for a run with me. Good girl Rondy!

It's been a long time since I've seen this view! I'm determined to continue pushing aside all my reasons/excuses/fears and getting back out on my bike this summer, too! Here we go...err...better ease back into it. My body isn't used to this position! Ouch 🤣

Definitely not a dog bed. I don't know what your taking about.

I know it's hard to believe, but I kept my phone in its pouch during yesterday's canicross race. Thankfully Ed was there to capture it for me! It's hard to explain the feeling of working together with your dog, when you're both focused on the same goal. It's just awesome. Ed commented that Buffy's line was tight the whole race. Coming from a musher, that's the highest praise that can be paid to a dog. ❤️ She knew Mama was on a mission and she was there for it!

I'm not out there trying to beat anyone but myself. My goal was to be faster than I was the night before. No real reason for it, other than the mark was there, and I decided I wanted it. I was afraid it was unattainable because that course is so hard, and there are so many things that can and did happen when dogs are introduced to the scenario.

Also - the Sunset 5k took a lot of effort after working a 9 hour day, and I didn't know what the price would be for that. I did what I could to make it happen. I made sure that I got up on Sunday morning early enough to prepare a protein filled breakfast, drink plenty of coffee, stretch, and warm up. The bright & colorful sunrise was a special reward for that effort, visiting with friends was the icing on the cake, and legs that felt fresh and full of energy were the cherry on top! We ran hard and met our goal. That finish line photo might be my favorite ever!

This race was my first introduction to canicross 15 years ago. We've missed it for one reason or another the last few years, but I was determined to get back this year. I'm so glad that we did. Thank you ALL for cheering us on, we could hear you! Thank you Nooksack Racing for the best gear, thank you Ed for the pictures, and most of all, thank you Buffy!!

Okay, so that was fun! Although I always forget how wicked hilly that course is. But, we persevered and laughed our way around it for the Sunset 5k at the Trail Festival at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, Maine. 

Somehow we even managed to place 2nd in each of our age groups!

This shells heavenly, from several feet away! So good. ❤️

3 miles down to the lake and back...but I forgot to wear my gloves...

The squirrels were taking over our porch, so we decided to put up a clothesline to hang the bird feeders on. Hopefully this will help!

You didn't think I was going to stop posting silly selfies & running pix, did you? No such luck! 🤣 I'm still happy to get outside, and if I can inspire just one other person by sharing my story, I will be overjoyed.

So, yeah. I got back out there this morning. I'll admit - it didn't go well. My legs felt good, but sluggish and I wasn't picking them up high enough. Needless to say, I took my first digger of the season! Nothing injured except my pride, thankfully. I was glad I remembered to wear my cycling gloves. They kept my hands from getting torn up. I always wear them when I run on the trails for that reason. Poor Buffy was so confused, though!

Anyway, it's a beautiful day in New England! Hopefully everyone has a chance to take a walk, or a ride, or a paddle, or golf, or a run, or climb on the playground with your kids, or a hike, or drag your yoga mat outside... whatever you prefer! Just enjoy it!!