Winter = yuck! Spring = yay!
I really detest winter :-) Anyone who had interaction with me between November and March probably heard me declare that. While I do enjoy a good snow day if I definitely do not have to leave the house, in general, winter and I are not friends. At all. I am moodier in winter, I am less active in winter, I hate driving home in the dark everyday, and I obsessively watch weather apps because I'm a petrified winter weather driver.You would think that my dislike of being OUTSIDE in the winter would mean that I am more productive INSIDE...but sadly that is an inaccurate assumption. I am sluggish and tend to watch lots of Netflix, read, and dream of springtime.
This year I did employ some tactics to make winter more bearable and strategically planned some self care days and I have to say that it really did make a difference and help me get through... still - I am so exited that it is SPRING! I'm seeing my favorite flower popping up all over the place (not in my yard sadly - I should make that happen!) and it makes me feel a big lighter... ahhhh
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| Click the pic to learn more about Daffodils :-) |
Springtime fun!
Yesterday for the first time in AGES I got out the trusty hiking boots and joined a friend for some time in the woods. We trekked most of the trails at Oregon Ridge Park . It was a really nice facility with some good trails, a nature center (with bathrooms - this is important to me before and after a hike!) and a really cute children's play area and story-walk (which is done by the Baltimore County Public Library - shout out to library neighbors!). We basically hiked this hike with a few other side trails thrown in as we were finding our way. This site lists it as easy - and we encountered lots of different types of hikers and casual walkers on the trail so that might be accurate...however, my body did not necessarily agree when we were hiking the hills. At home last night I was thinking about this a little more and realized that of course it wasn't easy because sadly, my body is now carrying probably about 40 extra pounds around that I wasn't when I was hiking and running regularly. So while it was certainly an eye opener - I'm also pretty proud to have lugged the extra weight up the hills. I'm also extremely thankful for my hiking partner waiting for me to rest a few times!! Bonus -- we crossed several water crossings and I didn't completely fall in - I have a history of sometimes falling in.. lol.
What I'm Reading and Listening to:
Podcasts:
I've been on a kick of adding podcasts to my driving routine and one I'm liking right now is:
Not Your Average Runner - I'd love to get back to a place where I can enjoy a run. I don't think I will ever be a fantastic runner or a runner of anything longer than a 5K and even then I'm likely to walk intervals - but the whole point of this podcast is to start where you are, that you don't have to wait to be thin, or have great endurance to start running. Even if you run in 30 second intervals, that makes you a runner. Lots of great tips and motivation found here.
Books:
I've read several books since I last updated this blog (because well, it's been a while...)... you can check out everything I've read on my goodreads 2019 challenge page but here are a few highlights...
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| This book has gotten lots of press so you've probably heard of it but if you haven't it's an amazing (and sometimes heart-breaking and hard to read) and powerful story. Click on the link or book pic to learn more! |
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| In a nutshell this is a great Children's Fiction Book (later Elementary) about an immigrant family who lives in a runs a motel. A great read for all ages though! Click the link or book pic to learn more. |
Let me know what you're reading, watching, or listening to - or your favorite springtime activity! I love recommendations!
Peace, Love, and Paw Prints,
Camping Librarian
Camping Librarian
PS - camping starts next weekend! yipppeeee!
