~morning walk~

After months (literally!) of daily high temperatures over 100 degrees,

this week has been a very nice reprieve. 

It has been in the low 60's at sunrise each morning this week

and that has been SO wonderful.

The heat has kept me from walks down our road recently,

and I have been missing a lot!

This week I discovered a new baby calf in the pasture across from our house.

It was so good to see the horses that live down the road. 

And the mourning doves.

"For what human ill 

does not dawn seem to be an alleviation?" 

~Thornton Wilder

Cub Scout Nature Walk

The cubscouts went on a nature walk this week.

To identify plants and trees.

And I got to tag along!

As the sun began to set,
they started to worry that they wouldn't find
the much anticipated sundew plant.





But at the very end of the walk,
they did!

"The carnivorous sundew plant, botanical name Drosera, has about 130 species. All of the species of the sundew plant are beautiful and many look like fireworks, but they are deadly to the insects that fly near to them. One thing that all carnivorous sundew plants have is the gel like substance at the tips of the tentacles that cover the leaves. This gel is a sticky substance that the insects that fly too near the plant get stuck on. The plant can then eat it. The many species of the sundew plant can be found all around the world, on every single continent. This is unusual for a plant because most carnivorous plants are found only in one or two regions of the world because of the different climates that they must live in. The plant is called sundew because of the gel like substance on the tentacles. The gel makes the plants look as if they have morning dew on them all day long, especially when it glistens in the sun."

from www.carnivorousplants.com

3rd 5K to participate in...

...and 1st 5K to run *most* of!

Hoping to run all of the next one! :-)

And, let's see, that would be when I'm NOT -

running in the rain, thunder and far away lightening

running through ankle deep water and mud

running with clothing stuck to my body

running while trying to not twist my ankle in a deep hole

running looking like a very drowned rat! ;-)

Finish line! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine...Prizes! :-)

Surprise! At the beginning of Walkin' On Sunshine I planned to give a prize away at the end, but...I didn't tell the participants! Aren't I sneaky? ;-)

The 15 participants were -

Heather at family forever

Jennifer at trading ashes for beauty

Kerri at 4 arrows farm

Mrs. H. at birthday cake for breakfast

Mama Hen at long days short years

Christa

Kelli at there is no place like home

Raeann, the "Lady Farmer" at lady farmer parables

Renee at count it pure joy

Giggles at life in my lane

Giggles' Mom

Linda C. at seasons of life

Canadian in the Country

Deb at welcome to my place

Regina

And so, without further ado, I present to you the "sunshine walking awards" - in three categories! :-)

The first award goes to the Sunshine Walker that posted the most days of exercising! The winner even started a few days behind the rest and she still posted 14 days of exercising! Way to go Deb!

The second award goes to the Sunshine Walker that posted her progress the most. With 19 comments, the winner is Giggles! Part of the walking habit is thinking about walking everyday and I know Giggles was thinking about it, since she posted almost every day!

And the last award goes to a randomly drawn name from all the participants. The winner is...Raeann, the Lady Farmer!

Deb, Giggles and Raeann will all be receiving pedometers from Heritage Schoolhouse, so they can track their progress as they continue walking on sunshine! :-) Deb and Raeann, if you will please leave an e-mail address in the comments of this post, I will contact you to find out where to send your pedometer. Giggles, I'll bring yours to you on Wednesday. :-)

I hope everyone enjoyed the challenge of Walking on Sunshine for 21 days! And, I hope many new healthy habits were formed. :-) Thank you all for walking with me. I had fun!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 21!

Yeah! 21 days of walking on sunshine! Who walked today?!

If you participated in Walkin' On Sunshine, please don't forget to check in at Heritage Schoolhouse tomorrow morning for a surprise! :-) Great job everyone! I know you all tried your very best. :-)

My results!

Days Walked - 18

Total Miles - 26.64

Average Miles Each Day - 1.48

What I learned - looking at my schedule and planning when I am going to walk the next day is essential for me to follow through!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 20

"How can you explain that you need to know that the trees are still there,

and the hills and the sky? Anyone knows they are.

How can you say it is time your pulse responded to another rhythm,

the rhythm of the day and the season instead of the hour and the minute?

No, you cannot explain. So you walk."

~Author unknown

from New York Times editorial,

"The Walk," 25 October 1967

Day 20! Wow! Who walked today? :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 19

I have a sick little boy at my house and wasn't able to get my walk in today. Was anyone else able to have a sunshine walk? We just have two more days left! I hope to work in two more walks this weekend. If you've been Sunshine Walking with me, be sure to check back in on Monday for a little surprise. :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 18

"In every walk with nature

one receives far more than he seeks."

~John Muir

Hi Sunshine Walkers! 18 days down - only 3 left! How are you doing?

Also, a very warm welcome to Deb! I realized today that I hadn't announced her as a new member - and she is doing a great job!!! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 17

Alrighty, we only have four days left! How did everyone do today?! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 16

"A vigorous five-mile walk

will do more good for an unhappy

but otherwise healthy adult

than all the medicine and psychology in the world."

~Paul Dudley White

Five days left! Anyone still walking on sunshine? :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 15

"After dinner sit awhile,

after supper walk a mile."

~English Proverb

How are the sunshine walkers doing? We only have six more days left! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 14

"Walking: the most ancient exercise

and still the best modern exercise."

~Carrie Latet

I unexpectedly had to leave town today right after worship and didn't return home until after dark, so I didn't get my walk in. I really missed it and am looking forward to a long one tomorrow! How did everyone else do? We're not done quite yet, but I am really feeling the habit setting in, are you?! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 13

"Thoughts come clearly while one walks."

~Thomas Mann

It was a busy day for my family today! Both children played two soccer games each, so we were at the fields for quite awhile. Then a special 85th birthday celebration for Giggle's grandmother. :-) Home for a steak dinner ;-) and then my walk! I had to walk tonight because...it's becoming a habit! :-) Yeah! Who else walked today? :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 12

"After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value."

~George Macauley Trevelyan

Day Number 12...who's walking on sunshine?! The weather outside my home is just beautiful today - during my walk I really did feel like I was walking on sunshine! ;-) Have a great weekend Sunshine Walkers! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 11

We had perfect walking weather today were I am! Fall is here. :-)
How did every one do? We're on the down-hill slide now!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 10

Sunshine Walkers I have failed you! :-( The weather and my schedule got me today and I didn't get my walk! I pledge to walk twice tomorrow...

Can you ever forgive me?! ;-)

If you walked today, please post your progress!

And welcome to one more sunshine walker - Regina! :-)

Guess what? Tomorrow we'll be half-way done! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 9

It was 2 miles for me today. How did everyone do?! :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 8

Who's out there walkin' on sunshine? I'm going to leave the doggie at home tomorrow and try to get 2 miles in. :-)

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 7

We're 1/3 of the way done! Didn't that go by quickly?! I only got in a token walk this evening - ran out of daylight. How did you do today? Please leave your progress in the comments! :-)

If anyone would like to be a "Sunshine Walker" for the last 2 weeks of Walkin' On Sunshine, please feel free to post a comment and let us know you're joining in! :-) Happy Walking!

Walkin' On Sunshine Day 6

We're one more day closer to the goal! How did everyone do today? Post your time and/or distance for Saturday. It's ok to miss a day or two. I'm just trying for the 21 days in a row to get that habit back in my mind - to feel like something is missing if I haven't walked. Happy Sunshine Walking! :-)