What's New in the Neighborhood?

The biggest news in the neighborhood is that I am again walking in it :) I seriously love walking around the neighborhood and how it always makes me feel. Then why is it so hard to get myself out there everyday??

The second biggest news in the neighborhood is that the house on my block that has been abandoned for about 10 years has finally been sold and is being flipped. As you can imagine, the house was a hot mess - broken windows, holes in roof, overgrown yard, etc.Apparently the inside was a disaster too. Everything has been taken down to the studs and shell now. It will be interesting to see it put back together. And on the fun side, we know one of the flipping partners so we've had an inside look at the progress and heard the final vision. Can't wait to see how it turns out and hopefully we will get get some great new neighbors.

My favorite part about morning walks is watching the world wake up.

This cozy little fire pit is new since I last walked. I want to love Adirondack chairs, but I can't quite get comfortable in them. 

I probably shouldn't say this, but who doesn't love a pink flamingo in the yard. I think I secretly wanted to have a flock of them put in my yard overnight, back when that was a thing. Don't get any ideas!

Pretty little summer flower bed. The petunias were super fragrant as I walked by.

And here is something I would NEVER be allowed to have in my yard. A nameless husband has an irrational hatred of all things mushroom. I, of course, love them...not being able to cook with them is the trial I must bear to share my life with my otherwise loving and wonderful husband.

I have always been attracted to this house. I am not sure why it draws me in. I remember years ago that they had a fire that destroyed the garage. I was just thinking while writing this that if it ever goes for sale I might have to take a peek at it. Then out of the corner of my eye I see a for sale sign in the picture. How did I miss that this morning??

At about the farthest point from my house is started to sprinkle. The humidity was at 88% so a little sprinkle actually good.

The problem with recycling...it is all out there for everyone to see what you ate :)

Time for a trim. I suspect it won't be long before the mail carrier refuses to deliver.

When you don't walk regularly you forget to charge your watch. Fortunately, I wasn't walking for time as much as I was for distance and I know my route is 2 miles.

Someone is growing pumpkins in their front yard. Actually, I think they might be tricking me with some vines and a fake pumpkin - it couldn't be ripe this early, could it??

By the final 1/2 mile it was raining pretty steadily. Our street is newly paved so the rain made it look extra shiny and new.

I understand not paving over the manhole, but several pavings later you have built up quite a crater in the middle of the road.

It feels great to be back out walking. Now remind me this is not a once and awhile event. I need some accountability for regular morning walking.

On to today's weigh-in. I am super happy to report I have two losing weeks in a row. This week I lost 1.2 pounds (I think). My scale was a little sketchy this morning, but I am going with that number to keep me extra motivated this week. If I didn't lose quite that much, I am going to have to work harder for a loss next week.

Weigh in day is always a challenge for me. I have to watch out for the my-next-weigh-in-is-so-far-away trap. I tend to make too many splurges and then stress the rest of the week trying to make up for it. I ate a normal breakfast (cereal with blueberries), packed my lunch (leftover grilled chicken and broccoli, zucchini pie and a peach). We are buying our trim tonight (if the rain stops) so there is a good possibility we will get dinner while we are out. If I stick to my plan, I will have a little wiggle room. I don't want to waste my "treat" on random calories throughout the day.

Linking up with Winter at No Drama Little Mama for Weigh-in Wednesday.