a lovely morning for a walk

its been so busy for the last couple weeks that i haven't had much opportunity to walk outside
but lacing up and getting back out there today
made me realize how much i've missed it
i'm truly blessed to live in such a beautiful place.
my driveway alone is beautiful... and the rest of the 4.4 miles i normally walk is equally great.

so even though the rest of this day was as hectic as i've been used to lately,
i figured i'd take a few minutes to remind myself why i love walking so much
and why its worth fitting into my schedule

welcome sights along the way

bright yellow tulips along a white picket fence

a big sister teaching her little sister to do kart-wheels on the front lawn (the younger sister equipped with a life preserver!)

neighborhood kids who'd set up a lemonade stand

dogs chilling in their yards

little league players who wave to me from their bench

a hot landscaper pushing a mower

friendly walkers, joggers and cyclists who say hello

birds landing on tree branches just beyond where i'm standing

gorgeous purple flowers growing wildly on a grassy decline leading down towards a stream

a cyclist who not so subtly checked me out

a gorgeous tulip peeking out from a sea of tiny purple flowers below it


and while there are some things that i look forward to seeing, or delight in their random occurance, some things are just the opposite... and i'd be remiss if i didn't mention those too....

the not-so welcome

1. litter ------ i find it hard to believe that anyone still litters. is it that hard to bring your trash/recyclables home with you?! there is trash everywhere in our beautiful neighborhood- including right in front of our house. one of these days i'll be bringing gloves and a plastic bag with me to pick up as much as i can find.... it really bothers me.

2. dog poop. need i say more?! ew!

3. horse poop. i kid you not! its not like i've ever seen a horse in my walks... don't even think there are any who live nearby... and yet what i saw today could almost be mistaken for elephant poop if i didn't know that there was zero chance that that had happened! weird! and really really ginormously gross.

4. dead birds. on the side of the road. ick. and so sad. i feel terrible seeing them lie there.


all in all, its a wonderful experience.
which is good
since i "officially" start training for the Breast Cancer 3 Day on Tuesday!! :)
look for me wearing pink walking around Scituate and Cohasset :)