27 April 2013

A Different Kind of Exercise...

I haven't been getting enough exercise lately
(lately being the last few years)...
In fact, I've been way too deficient about getting
the ole heart a pumpin' up in that target range...
So today I decided to do something about that...
and, of course, I talked my dear ole' Farmer Boy into doing it with me
(because that's just the kind of thoughtful person I am).
~
What I had in mind was to do a bit of climbing...
that would work, don't you think?
OK, OK our car did most almost all of the climbing,
but believe me,
 on some of the roads we drove today,
my heart did a WHOLE lot of pumping.
 You see there's nothing like meeting NON compact type vehicles
on one lane roads, located on the side of mountains,
 where there are no pullouts when you need them
(we did avoid meeting any logging trucks though).
And then there was that little drive on
a certain narrow, graveled, somewhat twisty, really gnarly forest road
that went UP
and UP;
was NEXT to at least one horrific drop off
with a beautiful
views of waterfalls and other things,
 but (gasp) no guardrails and
few places to get turned around to really give this heart a workout
(let's just say Aimee got OUT of the car while her sweet cliff loving hubby
got the car turned around)...
Aimee handles drop offs and cliffs MUCH better on foot than in vehicles.
 
Yep,
little Aimee's heart got quite the workout...
 
By the way, we saw snow...
laying on the side of the road, in a pile, in shade snow...
but REAL SNOW
(and shockingly we weren't in the Cascade Mountain range when we saw it),
Oh...I should say there were a few other things that got my heart a pumpin'...
like the gunshots we heard really, really close by
(gulp),
clambering down a steep slope to the river...
(yep, it looked pretty funny I'm sure but I did make it)...
you know the little things that make a d Saturday drive 
not just a drive but an adventure:)
Have I said how much I LOVE the PNW in springtime?
Have I said, that even with the handful of heart stopping moments
Aimee LOVED her Saturday adventure...
well except for that one gnarly forest service road:)
 
What are you doing for 'exercise' these days?
Blessings,
Aimee
 
PS: Don't you think cute, white dog needs a new leash?
Something a little (lot) less ratty?
(blush)
It was strong enough to prevent not afraid of water cute, white dog from being
carried away by the swift river current today
(thank God),
but still I think she is quite embarrassed about it.
 
Photos:
Oregon's Coast Range (highest point on drive/walk approx. 3,000 ft)
 
 

26 April 2013

April Showers?

No April showers here,
but lots of April
--almost May--
flowers
(and foliage too).
 
 
Daily I have been hanging out laundry to dry and enjoying the sound and sight of birds
and toads...
Yesterday I brought out the remainder of our adirondack chairs and placed them by the wildflower garden, the lower pond and bamboo grove...
and I placed a lace tablecloth (vinyl) on one of our patio tables--
inspired by the beautiful settings of Patty on her blog
(see below for her blog url...she has some amazing photos on today's post BTW)! 
 
 
My best friend and I transplanted Japanese irises earlier this week
(because we had no other choice NOT because it is the correct time of the year to do so),
planted a new red azalea my dear SIL bought me last year
(have I said in the last few minutes how incredibly blessed I am to have SO
many great brother and sister-in-laws?)  and other new plants.
 
 
I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the things that need to be done outside--
mostly because our weeds and bamboo are thriving as much as all the flowers:(
I definitely need to remind myself to breathe and take one thing at a time...
and maybe take a little time out by the pond. 
 
 
Well it's time to eat and get busy before I waste more time online
and miss out on all the beauty outside!
 
 
Wishing you a peaceful weekend...
Blessings,
Aimee
 
Photos, links, notes:
Cinnamon fern
(LOVE these--want more!)
Strawberries
Columbine
(thinking of you mom)
Water lily
(hardy type, flowers soon.
Also parrots feather and another water plant)

Armeria Maritima 'Rubrifolia'
(love, love, love)
 
Favorite Links today:
(for Patty's amazing photos today)


 

22 April 2013

Sunshine in the Garden

What a difference a sunny day makes...
residents of the Pacific NW rush to their local garden nursery
and
families play at nearby parks.
And at Aimee's place...
koi eagerly swim towards yours truly
(thinking she has come bearing a gift of food),
light shines through ready to eat lettuce leaves,
new fern fronds uncurl,
and a new plant settles in happily with its neighbors.
 
What an amazing day today was--
in our travels we saw a snow covered Mt Hood,
bought some new plants for the pond garden,
discussed all the work needing to be done this growing season,
discovered the irises and some of the minature roses have developed buds
and are not far from opening,
ate yummy Japanese food
(always a favorite with me)
and just enjoyed the beauty of the day.
And...
I hear we have a few more just like this one coming:)
 
How was your day?
Blessings,
Aimee

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