Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Five new friends

We have five new friends. At least I thought they were friends. They seemed to be a bit miffed at me for taking their picture and haven't been back for several days. Imagine living in a reasonably large suburban area and having these sweeties in your back yard. I love it. While everyone else on our street has back yards, my neighbors and I have yards and wooded acreage. We have a very small crick that runs along the property line and since having so much rain and snow this winter, this little stream is supplying lots of critters with a cool drink. I've seen groundhogs and squirrels, but way too many bees for my tastes.

In addition to watching the wildlife, I have been doing a bit of spring cleaning. Yesterday I tackled one of my art storage areas.


Shower stall in extra bathroom used as storage

This is just the first area I'm working on. I'm planning on organizing the closets, the laundry room (where more of my polymer, lampwork and beading supplies are) and maybe getting new curtains or draperies for several rooms. Lofty aspirations I know, but that's what a little bit of sunshine and fresh air does to me. Right now I have the hubby toting heavy stuff out to the curb for the bulk pick up guys. Ahhh, springtime.

As most of you know I have a weight loss blog, so I usually don't post that sort of thing here. Recently though, I read several statements that really rang true with me. One of the things I read somewhere was "if hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution". This really hit home with me. How often do I eat when I'm not hungry? Only all my life. The other thing that I wanted to bring to your attention is the current post of Roy Cohen. He mentions how much time we spend doing daily activities and how we could borrow from those minutes to make time to work out. Really good article, I hope you have time to read it.

In Roy's profile he uses the word mindful several times. This is a word that I have often used and to me it means that you have thought something through. Being mindful of the way you live is a good thing. If we all just went through life willy-nilly, nothing would ever get done.

As we all know, life is like anything else... you have to think it through, figure out what is the best way to go about things and then do it. If at first, what you thought was best isn't, that doesn't mean that you just stop trying. Certainly it's ok to sit in a chair with binoculars and watch the deer for twenty minutes at a time, but you need to eventually get out of that chair and do something else. It doesn't have to be productive or mean something, but you do need to grab onto life and show it you're in it for the long haul.

Set aside an hour or so for blog reading and then get up and do some one minute exercises. Do some stretches or what ever you are physically capable of doing. Unless you aren't mindful and overdo it, you'll feel better.

With all this being said, it's time for me to hit the treadmill. Enjoy your day and if you'd rather, put on some peppy music and dance your way through life. At the very least... you'll be getting some exercise.

10 comments:

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Exercise??? Heeehehehe! I was just delivered a big dump truck load of mulch that I shovel into my wheelbarrow and shovel into my many flower gardens. I walk 30 min. a day W/weights. Yoga and chase wild~eyed cows. Sorry, I just had to laugh. I rarely am not movin'.

It was an excellent post which I truly enjoyed reading. Good luck on your 'spring cleanin'!

God bless and have a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Countryfolk Keepsakes said...

Ooooh!! Look at all the deer!!
I really need to do some spring cleaning and throw some things out. But every time I start, I start another project within that project and so on...
Ya know, I've been working out every day for the past 2 months and at first it was horrible!! But now, I'm gettin' into the groove! Not sure if I've lost a single lb. but I've noticed my extra body padding isn't gigglin' as much. That's a good sign. :> )
~Peanut

Peri said...

Nice photo of the new friends! Walking down to visit them must be more fun than your treadmill!Particularly if you wear a bee keeper's outfit!! Crick????
Well, I do like the idea of using the extra shower as a storage area..I might have to try that one. Spring cleaning on the other hand --not happening here if I have to do it!
I tried some one minute exercises as well and I agree that one minute is easy on some, but then you are supposed to add a second and then a third and then you are doing an entire workout...one minute or two minutes at a time I can manage, but when I extend it, I tend to fall by the wayside.
Being mindful of the need to actually do something artistic, I bought a loom and my exercise this week has been putting it together! One minute of work at a time....will that count?
Take care and keep moving!

Anonymous said...

Love the deer visitors. I have had some deer friends visit my yard from time to time. Good for you with the spring cleaning. I'm planning on doing some of that as well. It's on going for me. I'm always on the never ending quest to declutter and bless someone else with what I do not need. I hope you are having a great weekend Susan!

June said...

Oh boy, aren't those deer beautiful?

Getting up and doing something, anything is a skill that I'm still learning. Now that firewood-bringing-in season is ending, I'm segueing into picking up the garden tools! If I can accomplish some task, I do better than exercising just to exercise.

Artgalcrafts said...

Hi Susan, I love your thoughts on setting aside an hr for blog reading. Oh Yeah, once Im there I dont move, but I will take your comment to real heart and do something about my "addiction"LOl.
Isnt that something ,to be able to see the deer in your back yard, poor things wonder how they got on in the snow. Must be lovely to see them there even if only for a short time.
Love the spring cleaning idea, and a shower stall as a storage area, dont take a shower by mistake. LOL.
I am mindful in how I do things, but unfortunately know so many people who are not, some say I am too organised, but I like to know whats ahead and be prepared for it. Of course it leaves nothing to the spontenaity, so maybe those who are not so organised in life, have more fun than me, do you think?
Anyway we are what we are, and Im happy.
Thanks for the insight, anything is helpful. love
Elizabeth
XXXX

Kim said...

Ouch! That hurt and I totally needed it. Gosh, I think about this all the time...how much time I waste when I could be moving my body. Thanks for the reminder and I'll go look at that post.
We live in wooded acreage as well. I love to go out on my porch at night and watch the deer across the street in the field. I love to make very soft sounds just to see how well they can hear me...they hear very well. lol.

Sea Gypsy said...

The pic of the deer are beautiful! We have them here at the beach. I am usually drinking my morning coffee( still dark) and they walk right in front of my porch.
I need to do some of that spring cleaning myself! Good for you!

Fran said...

Great pic of the deers. I need to exercise more. I have to get rid of this unwanted fat hanging on my body. LOL Seems I'm always on a diet.
Spring house cleaning is fun. I always find things I haven't seen in a very long time. Some I keep some I giveaway.
Have fun Spring Cleaning. When you finish your house come to mine. :-)
Hugs
Fran

Anonymous said...

Wow, just now got to read this. Thank you very much for the nod. Yes, "mindfulness" is a synonym for improvement. Well, that;s my argument and I'm sticking' with it :-)