Love Taking Advantage of Beautiful Fall Days to Hike with the Pooch and to Get Away from the Computer Screen

Ah, Saturdays. The blessing that gives back as a reward to the work week. We graded for six hours and then we went out for the trails to take advantage of the crisp air and to refocus what is most important. 

Happy Birthday little sister: K. Dot. C Dot. My little "brother" with the beautiful family, humor, and silliness from our childhood. 

Phew. Pushing 50 and feeling the age in a way I've never felt before: sore, cramped, pained, and irritated. I keep thinking it should be more of the same, but it's definitely a different body than the previous 49 years.

I helped put up blinds, got a dinner out of it, and kept myself away from the tasks that needed attention. House needs to be cleaned, laundry needs to be put away, lawn needs to be mowed, and classes needed to be organized, but I got outdoors and that is most important. 

Karal collapsed early at night and I'm sore from being handyman Crandall - it shouldn't hurt so much to twist in screws, but it does.

Today is a day for refocusing, rest, and paying attention to what needs to be done around the house. I imagine aspirin will help the aches and pains from yesterday. I'm also thinking we might want to winterize the house, even though I keep hoping we'll have a few more weeks on the back porch and at the fire-pit. 

In the meantime, I'm thankful that I live so close to the water and can get afternoons along the shoreline for a 5 mile hike. The skies and waterway were beautiful. It really does calm the soul. It's what I carry with me into the week. 

I am thankful.