One Step at a Time

First, I want to thank everyone for all the kind, supportive and encouraging words after my last post. It was difficult to write. Even though I have had second and even third thoughts about posting something so personal, I do not regret it. I know I am not the only one out there who is fighting for health and fitness amid all sorts of challenges - minor and major.

This will be a bit of a rambling post.  It might not be my best, but I am posting it anyway because it represents my efforts to get back on track after the emotional roller coaster that was my November. I would write and take pictures every day with the intention of actually finishing a post.  Sometimes, I was sidetracked and never made it back to the computer.  Sometimes, I was just not in the mood.  But overall, I am moving in the right direction.

The day before Thanksgiving I finally got back out walking. I walked less than two miles and I was in no hurry.  I just wanted to put myself back out there. I didn't even bother to change into "workout" wear.

I feel like I am starting over in a way.  I just couldn't break out my usual three miles at a 4 mph pace after doing nothing but feed my face for the past couple of weeks.  The important thing is that I am moving again and I am getting my mouth stapled shut.  Okay, not the second part - I am hoping to pull it together without  such drastic measures.

Now that I am back to walking, the neighborhood is once again under surveillance. This poor tree got a massive trim.  I wonder how long it will take to recover.

The first of the neighborhood Christmas decorations.  I am looking forward to next week...there should be much more decoration.  We are having a super mild weekend and I have see lots of people out working on their lights and decorations. I hope people leave them on all night so I can enjoy them in the wee hours of the morning.

The cold and the rain is taking a toll on the streets.  

Oh my, look at all this trash!!  Turns out I missed the trash man so I threw mine into the car and drove it to my sister's house. She lives a half mile away, but her trash man comes about 2 hours later than mine.

Taking pictures of geese flying overhead while you are walking is a bit of a challenge.

We got a little bit of snow Wednesday night. I didn't walk on Thanksgiving, but I did manage to get in 3 miles on Friday :)  My pace was better than Wednesday.  I honestly thought I might be the crazy lady walking around the neighborhood with tears frozen to her face. Turns out it just felt good to be out. In addition, to the obvious physical benefits the mental benefits just can not be measured.

This street runs east and west. The yards on the left have southern exposure and the snow had already melted.

Love this mailbox decoration.

Saturday afternoon, my niece and I took Millie out to the farm to visit and work off some of her energy.  She always has a great time playing with my in-laws' dogs. She plays hard and I think she was glad to get in the car to leave so she could take a break.  One of their dogs NEVER tires and poor Millie tries her best to keep up.

While we were out at the farm we took a little walk down the road to pick up some eggs from a nearby farm.

The farm has a bunch of chickens and recently acquired some turkeys and ducks.  I am not sure they want to keep the turkeys, but they didn't want to get rid of them around Thanksgiving.  This tom turkey seemed quite impressed with himself...lots of gobbling, puffing up his chest and feathers. The hens were less impressed with him :)

I could watch chickens for hours.  I would love to get a few. We have talked about it, but we don't have the best chicken situation at the moment.  I would have to name one Vernonica...and maybe Delores.

The turkey population grew when they let the first couple set on a batch of eggs.  There were 5 or 6 young birds...they too made it through Thanksgiving...WHEW!

Such a beautiful sunshiny day - almost 60 degrees.

Spent the majority of Sunday sitting in the bleachers watching my first ever cheerleading competition. We watched junior high and high school teams compete. It was entertaining and those are definitely some athletes out there. The stunts about gave me a heart attack several times. I am not that brave!

Of course, it was fun to see y niece's junior high squad qualify for state on their first attempt :)

And then it was December.  I am working out some specific and realistic goals to get myself back on track and stop the scale from going up.  More on that next time.