Heavenly day
I’ve started running again. It’s hard, but I get that old familiar feeling all through my body- it’s a rewarding ache that got me to love it before. My dad and I used to run together. He’d pull me out of my adolescent slump and get me moving. I remember feeling like I couldn’t go any longer, and he’d encourage me and push me further. I’d always end feeling accomplished and lifted. He’d trick me and tell me we’d only gone 2 miles, and I’d pant and say “Seriously? Only two?! I can’t do this!!!” In the end we’d have gone four miles, and I’d feel so proud of myself, and swat him on the arm for lying to me. He’d also point out wildflowers or birds and we’d look them up in his little pocket guides. I’ll always know the blue chickory– it’s one of my favorite wildflowers. Probably because I liked that day so much.
Vera continues to surprise and amaze me. She’s becoming pretty mobile using what tools she has. I’ve been setting her on the floor lots and lots, and I’ll frequently turn around and see that she’s on the other side of the room facing the opposite direction, with her pacifier in her mouth (which was out of it before). This happens in mere moments. I’m amazed by her. She’s also finding things funny (other than tickles), which is outright hilarious. Our friend who lives upstairs was out on his balcony and we were talking up to him from the backyard. She finally saw where his voice was coming from and would start laughing hysterically every time she looked back up at his face. I love love love love love my baby.
August 19th:
She had a fussy day- just one of those occasional bouts of discomfort or something. I rocked and shushed her and we laid together for a while. At one point I sat her up on my belly and she looked at me and cried. Then she folded forward and stuck her face between her feet and fell right asleep. These are the moments I hope I never forget. When I was a kid I was always folded up or upside down. My mom would frequently turn her head away only to turn back to a pair of feet flying in the air. I love that she’s my little monkey baby.
My friend asked how the “No-Poo” thing is going, and I am happy to report that it’s going very well! I did have some funky days, but now they are less frequent and, for the most part, my hair feels good. With the exception of using some baby shampoo on vacation (no conditioner though!) I am poo-free. It’s actually kind of a relief. I don’t have to worry about my hair much now, it stays clean for longer and looks good to me. Anyway. I did realize how crazy long my hair has gotten, and I think I’m gonna cut it and donate it soon. I love it, but it grows like weeds so if I don’t like it then it won’t be for long. It might be nice to mix it up some too.
August 21st:
My sprout. On this day I cried because I love her so much. Probably also because I was rocking her while listening to this. Recipe for disaster.
August 22nd:
One of my good friends went out of town for a couple of weeks and asked that I take all the ripe veggies from her garden and use them. She’s got a massive garden, and so I went out yesterday morning and got all these. I’m gonna be making spaghetti sauce today in this heat… This is only the half of it, too. I got a whole grocery bag full of peppers as well.
Update- I have spent some really nice time with the friend I mentioned last time, and I’m feeling less isolated and more like we are just in different places and that’s ok. I think I sometimes feel anxious about the changes that are happening in my life. It’s best, though, to just take it in stride and stay relaxed. I feel better about it already, and I prefer to see this as an opportunity to bond with other people in addition to utilizing my existing friendships. Yes yes. good.
Quote of the day:
“We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.” -Harrison Ford
Latest posts by Gracie (see all)
- Let the world be fed - October 21, 2024
- The Encounter - April 19, 2024
- On Practice - February 23, 2024
I know exactly how you feel about running. (Except I don’t really run, but I do other things) I love the endorphin rush. It’s natural happy drugs!
Cuteness overload in every dang entry.
Yes, there are those lovely endorphins… Yeehaw. Anyway, what do you do? I’m looking for new and fun ways to exercise!
I love to hike and climb, I love to ride my bike, and I love to dance!
Maybe this is a NNY thing, but I always call the blue chickory ‘cornflowers’. I don’t really know why.
Good for you to start running again! I love running; I kind of fell out of love with it this summer, but I’m hoping to get back into it again.
Cornflowers? Hmmm. Googling now. “So called because it is found in corn fields.” And now we know. I’m a google junky!
Yes you were running a lot, weren’t you? Any tips? Maybe we can check in with each other to help motivate. 🙂
My only tip: good shoes. You can’t run if you have bad shoes and your joints are hurting.
I think I need to make myself run in the evening once I get home… because I’m surely not getting up any earlier than this!
Your hair is sooo long!! and congrats on running again, that is something i’ve never been able to do very well. Between the pad knees and then as i got older becoming a smoker..i’m doomed for running only when necessary.
Jeeeeeez Vera is so dang cute!!!
I’m glad you had a chance to reconnect with your friend!! Being in different places is definitely okay and doesn’t have to change your friendship anymore then it should change as two people evolve as humans and then friends. Its always been my contention that people either change and grow together or don’t.
Yeah, I actually really appreciated your advice the other day. It was sound and wise and hopeful- exactly what I needed when I was feeling kind of “waah waah” about the situation. Nothing is doomed if I don’t want it to be, so why bother thinking about it that way? It’s important to work through things and keep growing, and you are right- she and I will either grow together or not. So, thanks. Something tells me you’ve been there before… 🙂
i just stuck in Lars and the Real Girl. Saw a preview for a movie i thought you might like – “music within”.
vera is getting so big!! i love the pic of her head between her feet, so cute. how much spaghetti sauce did you get canned?
How did you like it!? I’ll check out that movie soon- I never really see any previews anymore so I’m all about recommendations!
It was tooooo hot. 90 and humid with fussy baby just didn’t mix with spaghetti sauce. A girl can dream, right? Anyway, tomorrow should be lovely so I’m doing it then. I’m sure I’ll post about it, so I’ll keep you updated.
Well done for the running, I would love to start it back up again but I’m so unhealthy due to my smoking and love of all things chocolate, I may start it back up again though, a few minutes a day and I should be able to get my fitness back up again. Vera is soooo beautiful I can’t help but smile when I see her pictures, she looks so happy :]:]
Oh man, I remember working out when I was a smoker and lighting one up right after I was done. It was so bizarre that I tended to skip it all together, because when I was faced with that choice… well, smokes were going to win. You’ll do it when you’re ready! I do think that running and chocolate go nicely together, though…
You are so sweet! I want you to take more pictures! You take such good ones. More!
i just thought of you at work yesterday, because i guess two people i work with have taken up the no-poo bit, now, too. they do use conditioner, though…
i’m glad everything worked out ok with your friend–i was hoping that it was just a misunderstanding of sorts…
sorry i know this was not a reply to me…but i can’t help myself!
…have you mentioned to your co-workers that going no-poo and still using conditioner is totally counter productive??? the idea of going no poo and using conditioner confuses me immensely. the apple cider vinegar is supposed to act as the conditioning agent…heh sorry for butting in. 😀
Oh cool! Let me know how it works out for them. Tell them to just use the apple cider vinegar. It works fine, and the natural oils in their hair will, if anything, leave their hair TOO conditioned. I agree with Popples- it seems really counter productive. Although I did have conditioner anxiety because my hair relied on it so much before. Anyway, just pass it along if you feel like it. The idea is that your natural oils condition your hair on their own. Also, conditioner contains a lot of the crap you don’t want, so it doesn’t really make sense to use it.
🙂