I woke up (again at 4.45!!) to the sound of rain and I was so happy! 'Bout the rain. Not the time 
Between my plants desperately needing a good soaking and that I haven't cleaned my house in weeks, the rain is very welcome today. I was gearing up to clean this morning but if it was another gorgeous weather day, it wouldn't have taken much to twist my arm. I spent almost all of my day outside yesterday and it was HEAVEN!!!
The forest bathing hike was very different than how I usually hike. I am either full-steam ahead with Gary and the dogs or I am walking really fast to the areas where I want to see "stuff." The guide was Scott's very good friend and she was amazing. She is also the guide for the one I am attending next week. Forest bathing is a Japanese practice that engages the five senses as you hike. Lauren found some black birch trees and we even got a chance to smell and taste a strip of the wood. As long as I was on the trails I decided to keep on going by myself after the hike was over. I texted Scott at one point to ask "How many bugs inhaled through your nose is too many?" Reply: "Depends on the bug. Gnats? A few. Scorpions. Just one." 
I also found another almost full skeleton of what I believe to be an opossum. I was trying to be careful to not step in poison ivy so I am looking down at my feet and thought I saw a chicken drumstick. That made me aggravated -- who would dump their garbage in the woods? (BTW- the answer is way too many people.) As I kept looking, I saw more bones, vertebrae, a skull, and a mandible. That's the second full skeleton I have seen in that small area in the last couple of months. What would eat opossum? A fox or coyote? We have both in the woods here. Fox might be too small, probably coyote? I have no idea, I am guessing
Google says:
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After 2.5 hours in the woods, I came home and spent another 1.5 in my gardens. Then spent another half hour or so chatting with my friend on her patio. My kind of day
I am buckling down and cleaning the house since it desperately needs it. This afternoon is Coloring Crew and I think I am going to give that another try. Why not, right? I also need to get some scrapping done, I did one Oscraps page and one for Foxeysquirrel and we are already 1 week into the month. That can be my incentive to clean quickly.
That said-- I was hoping to be off the computer by 8 am but Cait and I spent the last 30 minutes looking at MoB dresses online. Neither of us ended up to crazy over the ones I shared yesterday. They are pretty but missing the Wow factor. We also think it might be good to try some on at home-- there is a website where you can order up to 3 dresses for $10/each. Try them on, and ship them back in seven days. And Amazon has the Prime Try for Free option too. I really went into a tailspin on Saturday and I can't keep doing that to myself.
Today I am grateful that I (usually!!) have the mental awareness of when I am self-sabotaging. I can also usually pull back and keep myself from spiraling dangerously. I'm grateful that even when I am unsuccessful in that, I eventually get myself together and get back on track.
Between my plants desperately needing a good soaking and that I haven't cleaned my house in weeks, the rain is very welcome today. I was gearing up to clean this morning but if it was another gorgeous weather day, it wouldn't have taken much to twist my arm. I spent almost all of my day outside yesterday and it was HEAVEN!!!
The forest bathing hike was very different than how I usually hike. I am either full-steam ahead with Gary and the dogs or I am walking really fast to the areas where I want to see "stuff." The guide was Scott's very good friend and she was amazing. She is also the guide for the one I am attending next week. Forest bathing is a Japanese practice that engages the five senses as you hike. Lauren found some black birch trees and we even got a chance to smell and taste a strip of the wood. As long as I was on the trails I decided to keep on going by myself after the hike was over. I texted Scott at one point to ask "How many bugs inhaled through your nose is too many?" Reply: "Depends on the bug. Gnats? A few. Scorpions. Just one." I also found another almost full skeleton of what I believe to be an opossum. I was trying to be careful to not step in poison ivy so I am looking down at my feet and thought I saw a chicken drumstick. That made me aggravated -- who would dump their garbage in the woods? (BTW- the answer is way too many people.) As I kept looking, I saw more bones, vertebrae, a skull, and a mandible. That's the second full skeleton I have seen in that small area in the last couple of months. What would eat opossum? A fox or coyote? We have both in the woods here. Fox might be too small, probably coyote? I have no idea, I am guessing
Google says:
I know that people have seen bobcats here, but don't know about wolves. There is always FB drama about people saying they see mountain lions. They really get going. Since I don't recall them fighting about wolves, it's possible there aren't any nearby
.After 2.5 hours in the woods, I came home and spent another 1.5 in my gardens. Then spent another half hour or so chatting with my friend on her patio. My kind of day
I am buckling down and cleaning the house since it desperately needs it. This afternoon is Coloring Crew and I think I am going to give that another try. Why not, right? I also need to get some scrapping done, I did one Oscraps page and one for Foxeysquirrel and we are already 1 week into the month. That can be my incentive to clean quickly.
That said-- I was hoping to be off the computer by 8 am but Cait and I spent the last 30 minutes looking at MoB dresses online. Neither of us ended up to crazy over the ones I shared yesterday. They are pretty but missing the Wow factor. We also think it might be good to try some on at home-- there is a website where you can order up to 3 dresses for $10/each. Try them on, and ship them back in seven days. And Amazon has the Prime Try for Free option too. I really went into a tailspin on Saturday and I can't keep doing that to myself.
Today I am grateful that I (usually!!) have the mental awareness of when I am self-sabotaging. I can also usually pull back and keep myself from spiraling dangerously. I'm grateful that even when I am unsuccessful in that, I eventually get myself together and get back on track.
I also noticed the days are getting shorter. Now if we get some rain, it would be wonderful!! The monthly forecast is for us to drop into the high 80's next week!!! 
