Power of Pink

Flowers make me cheerful and happy.

Pink flowers make me even more giddy.

Can one have too many flowers or too much pink? I think not!

Happy Mother’s Day

Hope all of you that are Mothers had amazing days filled with love and joy. I have the best mom a girl could ever ask for – she isn’t just my mom she is also my best friend – so I wanted her to feel special on this day set aside just for her each year. I had cheese ready on the front porch to nibble on until brunch was ready.

Brunch was a mixture of fresh goodies from the farmers market or our garden (caprese salad, asparagus frittata, sage sausage, and blueberry/rhubarb crumble) served on the back patio.

The sun was shining but it wasn’t hot. The perfect day for dining al fresco! I even broke out my grandparents’ china for the occasion.

Complimented with pink peonies plucked from my yard. Happy Mother’s Day mom I love you so much and feel blessed and lucky to have you.

2012 Lincoln Half Marathon

This is the third or fourth time I have ran the Lincoln Half Marathon and it really is a great run. Tons of crowd support, decent scenery, and best of all the greatest group of running partners ever.

All that said I just wasn’t into this race. I had just ran the CB Half/The Gambler two weeks prior and wasn’t physically or mentally ready. I felt like skipping. Waking up to super stormy weather had me questioning my sanity even more. Somehow I did drag myself to the start line and ran.

Our fun running shirts = much cuter on the fast skinny girls

Sadly it was my slowest half marathon ever and I am not proud of my time. I am proud that I ran regardless of my attitude and that I finished without walking at all. My sister was running the full and realized right before the start her Garmin was almost dead so we switched Garmin’s. My time was decent enough the first 10k of the race, but once the Garmin died it was just the excuse I needed to run a comfortable and enjoyable pace and finish the race without killing myself. I no longer had any clue how fast I was running (how did we do this prior to technology??) and didn't really care.

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise as several of my running partners ended up quite sick after this race due to the crazy humidity that blanketed us during the race. One even needed several bags of fluids via IV! Scary. My turtle pace meant I felt great at the end. My time is embarrassing but I’ll put it on here anyway as a reminder to myself that I need to train harder after this. Overall finish time was 2:23:51 (a very pokey 10:59 average pace). Splits were 5k: 30:59 , 10K: 1:03:22, 15k: 1:39:07 (where it started to go downhill). One more race in the books – now it’s time for fun runs all summer.

An ideal Weekend

I found this lovely video on one of my favorite blogs – Kimberly who lives on a dreamy farm. Yesterday I signed up for a course at our local Iowa Western Community College called Dream to Farm. I am soooooo excited to take the course and learn all about farming on a small scale. Someday my weekends (or even better weeks) will resemble this video! Actually I am lucky in that some of my weekends are already idyllic due to our cabin in Niobrara surrounded by farms and great friends who let me visit and help on their farms and my little garden plots in the city. Anyone else dream of this life? Two more dreamy videos by Tiger in a Jar for good measure.

Remnants of the Flood

Last summer there was epic flooding up and down the Missouri River. It was a nightmare and extremely sad especially for those who lost homes.

Luckily the flood waters have (mostly) receded. Sadly many homes were beyond saving and portions of the landscape forever changed. Along the river near Niobrara, NE where we fished was evidence of the flood. Sand from the river covered the banks and surrounding land.

The flood line was easily visible on the many dead trees now lining the river banks.

Lots of driftwood and tree roots laying around.

Attempts at controlling the banks and washed away roads add a rustic touch to the otherwise natural landscape.

Just Fishing

I went fishing for the first time in years. I forgot how fun and relaxing it can be.

I think I might have to try it again quite soon and hopefully catch something a little larger.

Although my friend Rhonda catching this Gar has me very freaked out and it’s possible I may never swim in the Missouri River again – yikes.

Turns out it’s some alligator/fish…..

My First Hunting Guide Expedition

We have land in hunter’s paradise yet I never take advantage of it. I’m a pretty good shot but feel sad for the animals if I shoot them. I love going there to enjoy the scenery and fresh air!

Catch and release the tiny fish in our pond.

I just don’t go with the purpose of shooting something. For the first time I acted as a “Guide” this last weekend to show where the good spots are for Turkey, where our boundaries are, etc…

After undergoing a lil makeover I took a spot hiding in a tree being quiet until I heard a victory shot.

Must admit that shot brought a mix of excitement that a turkey was most likely secured but also sadness for the poor turkey who had just met his demise. I know I am a sap. Those turkeys do have gorgeous feathers though! I think my guide servies should be paid for in turkey feathers!

Turns out I must be a darn good Hunt Guide! Maybe I have a new career to fall back on when I retire?

Farm Auctions

Anyone else love farm auctions? There are always so many interesting people in attendance and a whole lot of “Junk” to be purchased. Bonus is you get to check out the landscape as well. I loved this farm with its barns and outbuildings in that perfect shade of red.

Corrales once used for horses or cattle.

I had my eye on this particular beauty the minute I saw it listed on the Auction flyer/website.

Guess what? I won it!! I am now poor but the proud owner of a vintage horse drawn wagon. Love this aged beauty and can’t wait to fill it with flowers, put it in front of my dream barn, and take all kinds of beautiful pictures. Or maybe I need a few Clydesdales and use it for rides?

Prettiness from my Yard

I love love love all the blooming flowers. My Peonies are almost ready to pop which will be heaven on earth. The smell is wonderful and they fancy up my yard and home. I really need to break out the real camera and take pictures.

I am slowly learning what I can and can’t plant due to these lovely creatures that essentially live in my yard and are the tamest deer ever. Roses, Lavender, and herbs may overtake my yard as turns out deer don’t eat these few plants….

Color Run

I have no idea how long these have been going on but I just heard abot the Color Run a few weeks. Then this lovely lady from Glitter and Grace blogged about her Color Run fun!

 

How cool is that? You run a nice leisurely 5k and blast yourself and others with bright colors. Yes please! I am already signed up – if you are in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area and need a team we are “Color us Baddd” .  This will be  a welcome change from this spring’s brutal Half Marathons!



*photo from Glitter & Grace



Snowballs from Grandpa

My Grandpa is the sweetest man ever. I have raved about him before I know but it’s my blog so I can brag right?

We all went to brunch over the weekend and he showed up with these pretty flowers for my mom and I.

Love fresh flowers and my grandpa! Thanks Gramps.

The Gambler 2012

I was dreading this race for the last several weeks. I am sadly about 10 lbs heavier than I should be right now, I slacked off the last month on training as let life and fun get in the way, the morning of the race was cold with gale force winds, and I just wasn’t motivated or excited. But it is a Council Bluffs race and I do love the nice flat course and all the amazing volunteers and cheerleaders so I bucked up and ran it.

Amazingly my time wasn’t quite as awful as I expected it to be. It was far from my best but at least I didn’t walk or run at a super slow snail pace (although sure my pace seems like a snail’s pace to many of you fast girlies!).

Most important I ran with a great group of family and friends and we were supported by even more family and friends which made all the pain and torture worth it! Thanks running and support crew!

My overall time was: 2:15:14, essentially a 10.20 minute mile. Blah. On a more positive note both my sister and my cousin finished second in their age groups! Congrats rock stars! And Curtis finished his first ever half marathon! My sister was the 7th girl overall to finish and my cousin the 10th! These girls are fast – I wish some of their speed could rub off on me.

I rewarded myself after the race with this lovely pile of goodies for my yard! Happiness.