Tag Archives: walking

Pedestrian Pictures Part 3

On this morning’s walk, I purposely walked by places I took pictures last Saturday, so I could use the last three in today’s post.  Of course it was dark when I walked today, but pictures don’t turn out so well in the dark.

Sometimes there are flowers.

Walking or running (Oh, WILL I ever run again?), I usually try to see the temperature on the sign in front of Trinity Lutheran Church.  That is how I know I can rock a run down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.  This morning was warmer than 59 degrees.  It was muggy too. I anxiously await a break in humidity.

It feels steeper when you are on it.

This is the infamous Hill By Valley Health.  I capitalize it, because I often refer to it when logging my runs and now walks. It is by no means as formidable as the hill up to Herkimer College (previously known as HCCC), but I found it took some effort to get up it this morning.

I LOVE the spring!

Every morning, I carry a small bottle of water, drink it while I walk, and refill it at the spring.  It is what I used to do one my longer runs, when I was getting up to 50 minutes, or mornings I felt particularly dehydrated.  I feel particularly dehydrated most of the time these days. I don’t know what that’s all about.

It was not a bad walk. Few of my walks are.  Of course, walking is much easier than running, and you don’t always need to shower afterwards.  I will have to start making some more interesting observations, though, if I want to continue making a lot of Pedestrian Posts.  For today, however, I’ll just bill this as a Tired Tuesday and drive on.  Once again, thank you for tuning in.

 

More Weekend Walking

Here is Day Two of Pictures Taken On My Walk.  I took another walk this morning but did not take any further pictures.  So under the heading Waste Not Want Not, I share a few more taken yesterday.

Is it the first or the last?

The lone Black-eyed Susan appealed to me.  I saw some other patches with more blooms, so I don’t know if this one is just getting started or just ending.  My own Black-eyed Susans have not done much this year, but my whole yard is kind of a lost cause.  Let us not dwell on such depressing topics.

Pretty!

I am try to be circumspect when taking pictures of other people’s yards.  You know, not include identifying things such as numbers or names. Therefore, I was happy to get this shot of just flowers.  Of course, Google Maps shows no such compunction, but I am no Google (cue jokes about my googly eyes).  But I love these colorful blooms.

Lots of flowers!

On the uncultivated side, we have these.  I first tried to get a shot of a lone Morning Glory but could not get a good angle so went for the profusion of… whatever these are.

I do enjoy my weekend walks, when the sun is up and I can admire flowers.  Additionally, sometimes people are walking their dogs.  I like to pet a dog.  Tomorrow I am back to walking in the dark.  However, I still have a few more unused pictures from Saturday.  As always, I hope you’ll tune in.

 

Garage Sales on My Mind

When I took my walk this morning,  I brought my phone and took pictures, thinking to do an illustrated Pedestrian Post.  In the course of a 40 minute walk, I took nine pictures.  That is too many for one post, so I will split things up.

A creative sign.

Today was Herkimer’s Village-Wide Garage Sales.  I have been seeing signs like this all over for the past few days.

Intriguing, yes?

I took my walk around six, well before garage sale time, even for early birds (and most of the garage sale ads I’ve ever seen say, “No early birds!” anyways).  But I did see a couple of yards already prepared.  I was certainly curious as to what the tarps were hiding.

As I walked, a runner who often exchanges greetings with me came up behind me.

“Good morning!” I said.

“It looks like everybody is getting ready for garage sales!” she said.

“I know, I’m making notes of where to go later!”  Full disclosure: I did not go to any garage sales.  I have too much stuff in my house as it is.  I ought to have a garage sale myself, only I am far too unorganized.

I did not try to buy it.

The little paper says, “For Sale.”  I took the picture, because the camper brought back memories of the pop-up camper we used to have when I was a kid.  We had some good trips, and my sisters and I had some fun nights in our back yard in that camper.

Thoughts of garage sales and camping added a little interest to my walk.  I hope to take another walk tomorrow.

 

Walk, Check. Blog Post, Check.

OK, it may be late blog posts all week, because here I am Wednesday morning making my Tired Tuesday post.  For anybody who read Monday’s post (made on Tuesday morning, of course) and was wondering: I did feel better as the day went on.  I went to rehearsal for Love’s Labour’s Lost (just to plug my upcoming play again) and did not do too badly (or perhaps I flatter myself).

I thought this morning instead of making another post lamenting my inability to make good posts on time (just ignore the preceding paragraph), I would attempt a Pedestrian Post.   This was one motivation to get me out the door and walking when the devil on one shoulder said, “Don’t walk today. You have to make a blog post and fix your lunch.”  I still don’t know what I’m going to bring for my lunch, but I will worry about that later.

I thought of using Map My Run on my phone to track my walk, because I was worried my Garmin would not have enough charge, but Garmin at least had a couple of bars.  That was good, since I intended to do a short-ish trek that I have mapped before.  It looks like Popeye’s arm.  I know this, because I usually share Map My Run on Facebook, for the entertainment of my friends.  Some of them like to say what the shape looks like.  Sometimes I tell them what it means about them psychologically or predicts for their future, adding the caveat that it is for entertainment purposes only.  Not that anybody takes anything I say seriously, but you never know.

The Garmin always says Wait when I hit Walk, but I don’t always do it.  Today I did not.  It seems to track the walk or run the same either way.  I headed towards German Street and turned left.  I had a bottle of water.  My intention was to drink it as I walked and refill it at the spring on Lou Ambers Drive.  This is what I have been doing on most of my walks, although it cuts down on the variety of my paths.  However, since I seem to be in a dehydrated state most of the time these days, I continue to do it.

The birds were singing loudly.  I do like to hear that. I noted with gratitude every light in someone’s window.  I especially like the ones that look like flickering candles.  I also like to see the ones where it seems somebody is up and about, not just leaving a light on for security or other reasons (I don’t purport to know people’s reasons for doing things).  It is nice to think I am not the only one out of bed prior to 5 a.m.  Obviously I am not, as the occasional car drives by.

I turned up Maple Grove, so I could go up a little hill then across I think it’s Johnson and come down Lou Ambers to the spring.  As I turned down Lou Ambers, I saw a couple on the opposite side of the street walking a dog.  I thought to myself, “Left side, facing traffic!”  That is what I was taught in kindergarten, but it seems others were not or perhaps did not internalize the lesson.  Or maybe they are being rebels.  Again, I do not purport to know others’ reasons.  I did not catch up to them so could not ask to pet the dog.  That is all I would have asked them.  I think people might get defensive if I asked them why they were not walking the way I was taught to in kindergarten.

I ended up walking a mile and a third in about 27 minutes.  I thought vaguely as I turned up my driveway about continuing for another three minutes to make a half hour but was disinclined to do so.  For one reason, I had a blog post to make.  And I see I have made it to the tune of over 650 words.  Wow!  I haven’t blathered on that much for a long time!  If you have read till the end, I thank you.

 

Is It Magic? Or Just Lame?

Three late posts in a row. I wonder what my record is. It would be far too much trouble to check. I can’t be bothered about these things. I am lounged on the couch, pecking in one letter at a time with the stylus on my Tablet, just to give you a picture. I just took a 2-mile walk, and I am contemplating my upcoming day. So much I need to do, so much I want to do, but first, my Lame Post Friday post.

I have very little in the way of brain power this morning (cue jokes about how that is always the case) (but, really, aren’t those jokes a little too easy and obvious and just a trifle beneath you?) (you know who you are). But I have been doing pretty well at posting every day (or do I mean pretty good? How mortifying not to know!) and wish to continue.

That brings up something I have been wondering about myself. I think it was about a week before Memorial Day when I re-started daily blog posts. I am pretty sure it was the Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend that I started my daily walks. I remember this, because I had been thinking about walking before work for a while but not done it. The Saturday of that weekend was when I did whatever I did and had to stop running for a while. So I started walking.

OK, that whole paragraph is not what I’ve been wondering. I have been wondering: What do I think is going to happen? Something magic? Is this going to make my life better? Is it going to make me better? Is it even going to help?

I put it under the heading, Couldn’t Hurt, Might Help. Sometimes that is the best we can hope for.

Still, I would like it if something magic would happen. I suppose it needs more than a daily walk and a daily blog. Any suggestions?

Wayback Walk after Wuss-Out?

So yesterday was a true Wuss-out Wednesday as I neglected to post at all. In my defense, shut up, explanations are tiresome. I am sitting at the dining-room-tabletop prior to five Thursday morning, and my main feeling is gratitude for coffee. I went for a half-hour walk so am torn between making a Pedestrian Post and a Way-back Wednesday Post. Since I would like to retain the option of making a Throwback Thursday Post later, I shall attempt the former.

I do love flowers.

Full disclosure: I still have not upgraded my WordPress account so cannot add new pictures. Here is one from a walk I took in July 2017, making this a Way-Back Wednesday as well as a Pedestrian Post. This is the extent of my ability to multi-task (unless cleaning my oven while I sleep is still a thing) (older readers get that). Fuller disclosure: I did not see this on this morning’s walk, although I did walk by this building. For one reason, it was still dark. However, if I had troubled to look, I could probably report on whether the purple flowers are there once again. I did not. Judge me if you are so inclined.

Teehee!

Here is a funny from a walk in July 2018. It was actually a cool-down walk after a run, just to make me feel a little sad to remember I have not been running since May. I found it on the sidewalk and took it home, taking this picture, because it amused me so much. I told my husband Steve it was probably for him, and his girlfriend had left it there for me to deliver.

I see I have not yet said anything about today’s walk. Oh well, it wasn’t such a much anyways, and I am almost at 300 words (that sentence put it over). I feel oddly pleased with this post, but perhaps I flatter myself. No matter. It’s time to get myself a little more coffee.

PS. Now it is 5 a.m.

Walking into a Blog Post

What did I say yesterday about posting at night so I could walk in the morning? Well, I didn’t do it on Monday. However, I took a walk this morning and am now sitting on my couch, icing my elbow and wielding the stylus with my left hand, attempting a long-promised Pedestrian Post.

I have been walking almost daily since Memorial Day weekend, when something bad happened to my hip. My hip doesn’t feel so bad these days, so a run may be in my future. Still, walking is way easier: no wrestling into sports bras before or shower necessary after. It is certainly more conveniently fitted into my morning routine.

I try to get up around four. I go for my walk right away, while the coffee perks. Today I was on my way at 4:15. I used my Garmin to track the walk and carried my cell phone for security proposes. I sometimes use Map My Run on the phone. I like to post the map on Facebook and let my friends interpret the shape.

I like to carry a bottle of water and hydrate as I go. Then I like to walk by the spring and refill the bottle. I do that on my longer runs (if I ever work my way back up to longer runs). I find it works well walks, too. It ensures that my walk lasts a little over twenty-minutes.

My favorite thing about early morning walks is hearing the birds sing. I also enjoy watching the sky brighten as the sun rises. For some reason I feel a little more nervous walking in the dark than I do running. Maybe it is the thought that I can just run away from anything untoward. Or perhaps it is because it takes less time to get from streetlight to streetlight. However, I do not allow any feelings of trepidation to stop me. I’m sure there is nothing to worry about in any case.

Today I only walked straight to the spring and back, just over a mile in 23 minutes. I am now stylus-typing with my right hand (must faster for me) and I see I am over 350 words. Time to get on with my Tuesday.

So I Slacked

I try to make a very quick post as I watch the charge on my Tablet go ever lower. It probably will not be be a very good post, although I am not the best judge of these things. I mostly want to make an apology for not posting on Saturday (since I counted the post I made yesterday morning for Friday). We’ll call it a Slacker Saturday Post.

I only wrote post cards to my weekly regulars, nobody extra, and I wrote them later than I usually do. As a matter of fact, shortly after I made the blog post, I went back to bed and took a morning nap. I enjoyed it.

When I took my walk, it started to rain. Just a little mist, really, so I kept going. For one reason, I had to mail my post cards. My Garmin (actually a friend’s Garmin which he nicely loaned me) told me I walked a faster mile than previously, 20:53 yesterday, 23:39 last Sunday. I have to be careful about walking fast, because I easily give myself shin splints. I try to concentrate on walking heel to toe. That is what an army friend told me she did.

And that was the extent of my usefulness yesterday. Today I am getting a jump on being at least marginally more useful by putting in laundry in before getting on the Tablet. I mention it here to remind myself to put the clothes in the drier soon.

Now I see I am over 250 words. Score! Regarding the depression I mentioned yesterday, I have found that sometimes completing a blog post is also an anti-depressant.

Snapped, Svengoolie, and Still Sluggish on Sunday

I also watched Columbo, but it would not have been alliterative to use in the title. I am looking at another episode of Columbo as I type this (one letter at a time with the stylus; I really must get a new laptop), but I am more concerned to get this posted and get to bed. I like to go to bed early on a Sunday.

“One more thing!”

I went for a walk instead of a run again this morning. It occurred to me I could start doing Pedestrian Posts instead of Running Commentaries. Had I but thought to do that earlier, I could be paying more attention to Columbo now. This episode features quite the clever plan.

It’s been a favorite for years.

I have been more into movies than Snapped on Sundays lately, but today true crime called to me. I took a break to enjoy a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie. The Monolith Monsters. I find those old horror movies so fun.

I’m also a sucker for his corny jokes.

As you may guess from the desultory nature of this post, I am still feeling sluggish today. Oddly enough, I have not taken any decongestants, just some ibuprofen for my hip. Perhaps my chronic insomnia is catching up with me. But just listen to me whine about my aches and pains! I mean, don’t listen to me! My problems are all of the first world variety, and I will shut up about them.

In the meantime, I am approaching 250. I consider that more than adequate for a Wrist to Forehead Sunday post.

Two Walks, a Few Pictures

I just took a short walk to the post office, to mail a letter to a friend but also to wake myself up. I had my phone with me and took a couple of pictures. I did a similar thing yesterday, so how about a Sunday Snapshot Post. I just made that category up. Do you like it?

I gotta plant a flowering tree in my yard.

I hadn’t meant to take pictures, but then I thought, blog post. Then I saw the flowering tree. I also tried to get a shot of the delicate green tree behind it.

I love trees.

It was on my way home that I went for a shot of a downed branch.

We have had a few windy days.

Further down the street I admired a magnolia tree.

I want one of these, too.

My other two pics are from yesterday’s walk. Again, I had not meant to take pictures, but the lone dandelion among the growing cultivated flowers caught my eye.

This guy has more peonies than I do.

Another flowering tree caught my eye too.

It’s pretty!

I like making these Pedestrian Posts with pictures. And I L9VE going for a walk. It certainly brightens my day.