Pushing Myself

This week has definitely been a struggle to keep up my morning walking routine.

Crawling out of bed and heading out 

in the dark is never easy, 

but the warm sticky weather all week has made it very tempting 

just skip the walk altogether 

and enjoy an hour extra sleep.

But I did  manage to push myself every day and hit the pavement, 

albeit a little slower heading out,

managing only 3k - 4k instead of my usual 5k

... but at least I moved which is better than nothing.

~Just Move!~

This morning, by the time I headed out the door wearing
just crop pants and a tank top 

under my reflective vest, 

it had already started to rain, the wind had picked up 

and it was actually quite cold for a change.

Being already late getting started I went back in the house
and hung my hat, ready to give my walk a pass due to the rain,
but I must be conditioned to walk...

In spite of the time,

I geared up in my rain clothes 

and headed out...

And I'm glad I did.

  Although I only had time to get in a 3k walk,

it was the best walk I've had all week. 

The air was fresh and wonderfully cool and the rain was

...well it was wet...

but 

quite

refreshing.

Happy walking,
Marisa

Through The Fog

"From now on we live in a world where man has walked on the Moon.

It's not a miracle; we just decided to go." 

Tom Hanks

I was greeted this morning as I headed out the door by a Waning Gibbous moon, 

large and bright in the western sky, 

before the fog over the north and south mountain 

settled in to blanket my path.

The sun tried to break through the fog in the east

as the moon continued to 

cast a rosy ring.

Usually, at this time of the year, wisp of fog can be seen touching the tree line on the horizon, giving the mountains a mysterious magical feel ,but this morning the fog was so thick I couldn't see the mountains.

...the mist through the orchard.

...my walking path.

Happy walking,
Marisa

"They Were Going Up" Sept. 11th, 2001

As I was going through the garage on my way out for my morning walk, 

a noise from the window caught my attention. 

This small bird was trapped between the panes and couldn't get out.

I was able to reach in, catch,

and release it outside. 

 ...so beautiful

 ...and now free!

Although I risked nothing but perhaps a fall from the work bench,

to this little guy, 

I was 

...a heroine.

Real courage is:

"knowing you're licked before you begin

but you begin anyway

and you see it through no matter what."

~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

I would like to share Tom Paxton's song about the real heroes of 9/11, the fire fighters who went up the stairs of the towers to help others escape while knowing the fate that awaited them.

"The Bravest"

Join Tabitha at Fresh Mommy for more Sunday Citars.

Bringing It In

"When autumn comes into the house!"

Acorn squash from the garden, ready to be popped into the oven.

One of my favorite and easiest ways to cook squash is to cut them in half, scoop out the seeds, add a tablespoon of butter, a tablespoon of brown sugar and a good sprinkling of cinnamon sugar, cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour. The best way to eat baked squash is with a spoon so you get every bit of the buttery sweetness.

Always, there's lots of swisschard...it just keeps coming and coming...

A nice bunch of kohlrabi and basil....

The basil  became pesto

...which ended up on Triscut crackers

along with tomatoes and goat cheese 

and baked in the oven until hot and crispy...hummmmm..

Another staple food for autumn

...steaming hot bowls of hearty soups

like this Chicken Veggie and Orzo Soup.

For more Six Word Saturdays, join Cate at Show My Face.