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Usually when I take the boys to soccer I bring either the dog or my bike. Last week, I don't know what came over me, I brought both. The bike trail is not paved for very long before it turns into a wooded one-track trail. I kept the dog on the leash on the black top because typically I pass very few people during that time. However on the wooded trail I've never encountered anyone so I took off the leash so Jake could run along beside me, freely. I took it down to second gear, still got a great workout, and gave Jake a fantastic workout as he kept a good 6-8 mile an hour cantor for nearly 4 miles total trip.

We've had some great warm fall days lately but they are getting colder, fast. Starting to make my last rounds around the property with the mower. At the moment it's rainning so that will have to be put on hold until things dry out again. Rob (and helpers) got a huge garage project finished, straightened it and repaired the roof. Still hoping to get a couple windows changed out before the snow falls. A deer jumped out and hit Rob's car last week, that was pretty exciting. He calls me semi-panicked, more concerned about me bringing the van and some tarps down to get the deer than the condition of his car! Unbelievable. It wasn't dead and was still moving around so he didn't mess with it. Thankfully. The car is drivable but the passenger window is toast and covered with plastic for the meanwhile.

The boys' soccer game for Saturday got rescheduled to Friday night so they were able to do another elementary open race in Reese. Usually this meet has a gorgeous sunny day for it but not so this year...it was chilly and super windy. The Dream Team ran like (with and against) the wind for another 2-mile course and everyone placed in the top 20, Dylan was 10th, Ben 12th and Ethan 13th all with times in the 16 minute range.

Permission slips are approved and copied, ready to be distributed next week. Music is ordered. Hoping for a great turnout during after school choir. I'm thinking of asking members of the community choir to help us out on a couple songs......

X + Y = Zen

We set out on a gorgeous day with perfect, end of the summer Michigan weather, what I technically refer to as not-to-hot-not-to-cold. The sky was clear, there was a slight breeze, the air was full of delicious smells; fresh cut grass, brush burning, wildflowers, grilling. Our goal was to forge the Paint Creek Trail, starting at the Rochester Hills Public Library and heading toward Lake Orion. If we made it all the way it would be 8.9 miles. Ben, Ethan and I were on bikes while Fox took the time to get his daily run in. We all started out together, Fox running along rhythmically, the rest of us cruising by the fields of Joe Pye Weed, Queen Anne's Lace, golden rod, and swamp bamboo (I don't know the real name, that's just what it looks like to me). There weren't many on the trail, we stayed together for a while, I gave Fox a 3-mile heads up (using my handy dandy odometer) and whizzed past him to catch up with the little guys. When biking with kids I try not to set any mile goals, on the Paint Creek you've got cross roads every mile or two so we can decide whether to continue or turn it back around.

First photo stop. Playing around with sun placement.

the teenager was too cool to be snapped today.
you may have noticed in the other photo i had to keep him in dappled shade so as not to be recognizable....







Second photo stop.

Victory is ours....let's go all the way was the concensus at every cross road so we kept the wheels a-rollin' except for to quench yer thirst, or just have a break to act like a big hambone!

We had several deer sightings throughout the ride, staying for a while to admire this one that was just helping itself in someone's backyard garden. A fairly large doe wandered right out onto the path and crossed between us and Fox.

Pulling into the CVS parking lot in Lake Orion the feeling of victory was in the air. The boys ate the rest of their lunch by the bikes while I ran in for some more cold water and an energy bar. Now that I'm in the flow of riding more I'm trying to resist rewarding myself with ice cream, it's really tough on beautiful days like these. But I was a good girl, energy bar only. I'm also limiting my Starbucks Peppermint Mochas: 1 every 3 weeks, instead of 3-4 a week! Yikes.

The boys groaned as we began to set off for the row back "now we have to ride all the way back." (add a little bit of whine when you say it). No worries, I assured them, "it's always faster going back." As we made the return we crossed paths with Fox again who was now just walking. He made it up to Adams Rd. and then had turned around. When we pedaled a while past him Ben realized how close we were to the park and exclaimed "man, it is faster going back!" "Didn't I tell ya!"

Fox was now moving at a far slower pace so we had time to rest those tootsies in a sweet shallow creek. Ethan made no hesitation, pulled his socks and shoes off and waded on in.

Ben, however, was a bit reserved about the whole experience. I knew he was dying to, but this is a kid who will not take his socks and shoes off if anyone is around because people might see his feet! Still haven't got a full explanation from him of why it bothers him so....

However with maturity comes boldness and when I turned around after oogling over some ducks and taking a few snaps, he threw caution to the wind and took the hard way (over the rocks instead of the sandy beach) in. Don't you love the umbrella in the background.

Pokey, McPokester finally meandered his way to the end of the trail and I loaded the bikes on the rack while the boys ran into the library for a pit stop and water refill. We made it. Over 20 miles logged, from trail to tooling around the park. Good times. Very relaxed, not on a schedule. We averaged about 8.2 miles an hour, I kept it on low gears the whole trip. It didn't feel like much of workout but my thigh muscles gave me what for later in the evening! I took an Aleve, put some Tiger Balm on, went to sleep; good as new in the morning. It must not have been too much of a push for the boys either, Fox went out for another walk on the property that evening plus Ben and Ethan had soccer practice and didn't miss a kick. Guess we'll just need to up the anti next time (nudge, nudge). I did get in a good ride around Imlay City while the boys were at practice last night. I only did 8 miles but for the start of the ride I kept it in a high hard gear and then toward the end of the ride I took some long incline stretches and finally had to pop it to lower gears. Felt like a good work out on that run.

Hhmmmm, where else can I venture with my beautiful blue bicycle........???

We've Got a Winner!

Greetings all, hope things are going according to plan in your neck of the woods. The vibe around here has seriously shifted to a more laid back, dare I say boring pace.

The mandala for this posting is Quiet Water Mandala by Janet Karam that I found on Daily Painter's Abstract. Click on the name to visit.


We spent several days up at the Eastern Michigan Fair last week, watching the swine happenings so the boys will know what to expect next year when we finally invest in the animals, and trust me it is definately an investment. Most kids barely break even at the auction but it is a great experience in many aspects. Benjamin received a Best in Show for his book that he entered and Ethan received one for a Lego helicopter he put in. For each 5 projects the kids entered they could put their name in a drawing for a FREE ride pass. Ben won!

It's been several years since we've been involved in 4H. My oldest daughter was into it big time when we were homeschooling, enrolling in a Rabbit club, Sheep club, recycled crafts club and others. They used to give premiums for the top picks in each category but now the only reason to enter projects is to get daily passes to get into the fair to take care of your animals everyday. Both my flower arrangements got Third Place, my paper item got First (I think it was the only one in the category), and the photo below took Second Place in Photography: Architectural.

Watching showmanship is always a blast for me, the accomplishment and execution of those young people out there is truly inspiring. Have you ever tried keeping a pig, a sheep, or a cow under control? Trust me, it isn't easy and some of these kids are naturals with it. The boys and I observed and discussed the various techniques the kids used, I prefer the kinder, gentler method as opposed to whapping the poor animal to death. Seeing the girls in their bling-bling cowgirl belts was kinda cool too.

Talk about some serious animal upkeep and maintainence....elephant baths, looks like you pretty much take a bath with them those hoses are so super-powered!

Fun times on the rides, for kids only this year. Ben and Ethan made the rounds with a buddy on their own this year since I can NOT do round and round rides any more. I can handle a roller coaster no problem but don't take me in circles. We set up various check in times during the day and they rode while I wandered around, bumped into friends and chatted, put bids in on some silent auctions for plants in the Master Gardener building and a Holland Lop in the Rabbit barn/tent. I even checked out some of the equestrian events as well which I hadn't done before. This is another amazing and inspiring group.....horse people.

Fox started cross-country practice this week. There really weren't many kids there at all, hopefully next week will host a better turn out or we may be in jeopardy of loosing the program all together. Ben and Ethan are playing U12 soccer together this year and had their first practice on Thursday. Francisco, who was on Ben's U10 team is on his team again. This kid is awesome, it's in his blood, no doubt, and both boys know they can learn a lot from him.

Me, I've been finally getting the scales to move in the opposite direction hitting the trails with my bike whenever possible, went on the Paint Creek Trail a couple weeks ago and will be going on it again this week, hit the Water Tower trail in Lapeer and cruised around town several times, and I've taken my wheels up to North Branch and rode throught the streets while Fox is at practice. Even tried taking the dog biking with me....it went ok but I won't do it regularly, too risky. Thankfully we didn't hurt each other, and I wore Jake out but good! Today I put a speedometer/odometer on my bike all by myself so I can keep better track of how many miles I do. Now that the weather is cooling down I really want to get in some serious trail time, some run - I ride.

Wordless Wednesday (the obsession continues)

Wordless Wednesday (somebody's been snooping again!)

Nothin' Much

"Michelle’s Made-up Meme from Monday"

(but I changed one)

What I'm wearing:

Pin striped Chino pants,

maroon long-sleeve thermal top,

white socks, no-back black leather shoes

The last thing I ate:

fresh baked banana walnut muffin

WITH

mini-chocolate chips and raisins
When I look right I see:

my art wall,

Fox’s very messy desk,

some relatively organized shelves
When I look left I see:

my calendar with two barely filled weeks coming up!

my bulletin board with copies of artwork by Anneke Kaai

school schedules

a wall folder of bills to be paid

too many random papers to sort through
My least favorite thing I did today:

laundry
My favorite thing I did today:

move some appliances and furniture around
What I think about Obama's Nobel Peace Prize:

Whaaatttt?? Did I miss something, what did he do?
Favorite joke lately:

last night Ben told me this one

Q: What did the square say to the circle?

A: Your life seems so pointless.
Something I learned today:

French toast doesn’t flip itself

when you’re trying to make lunches at the same time.
Pet peeve:

leaving your shoes/boots right in front of the doorway

so everyone can trip over them and kill themselves

(to coin an ancient motherly phrase)
Favorite Beatles song:

I gotta choose one?!

I'll go with ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Hard Day’s Night’
Something I cannot tolerate:

being barefoot
That said.... it's time to go pick the boys up from school.

Note: picture above is from one of my walks through the Water Tower Park, this stuff is just laying there outside the water plant. Surprised no one's tried to pilfer them.

picture thought [ ]

got a dryer!


the lovebirds have made ammends.


working on organizing school clothes for the boys


creating a new bulletin board @ church