She Is Responsible

... for my lack of posts :)

Thursday

Well,
I've been working on my challenge every day except yesterday:

I got a puppy.

I did not want to bother her with the camera, so it's not the best shot -
she appears to be settling in:)
I guess, she might qualify for nature appreciation?
My food awareness was lacking today, as I was running around gathering supplies for the above young lady... I ate breakfast at 3 p.m....

Monday Again

Blissology keeps me on track:
Yoga - part of Monday's Quickie
Meditation - from same (Somatic med.)
Nature Appreciation: I tied it together with Food Awareness:)

Aren't they pretty?
The first one is Bok Choi.
The second is Rapini.

Blissology, Running and French

It seems like I do this frequently:
I challenge myself on a number of levels:).

Today:

Running (jogging and walking) worked out as the temperature fell to normal level. We were out on the trail for almost 2 hours. :)

Yoga  did not happen... In theory, I could still do it but I won't.
Meditation: Instead of sitting down to meditate, I looked up Wikipaedia's entry on Meditation. Just as I suspected: there are so many types....

Nature Appreciation: Always...  I admired the green foliage over the trail, my Black-eyed Susans... the bees moving about from flower to flower.

Food Awareness:
Today was mostly leftovers but good leftovers: Rapini with Soba, Blueberries, Mango Lassi - delicious.

French is challenging my memory...  and I mean really challenging it.

AUJOURD'HUI

No, I don't speak French but that is about to change... I'm working on it in baby steps.

Today, (which is the title)
Yoga - minimal, did a few individual poses: Crescent Moon, Child's Pose, Forward bend etc.
Meditation - did not happen
Food Awareness - oh, yes. We ate dinner at a restaurant. It does not happen often:)
Multigrain Pizza with roasted Pear, Walnut, Gorgonzola, Arugula,
Banana Choc.  Cake - shared :)
Nature appreciation - during my walk I took notice of the Flowers and Trees, Robins and Doves on my way .

Nature Appreciation

and Gratitude:

I've been chasing this butterfly with my camera all week...
finally:

... and one for Food awareness:

Veggie Burger

Delicious:)

DAY 4 AND 5:

I did Blissology Thursday Quickie - partially. 

It is my favourite segment :)

Meditation is something I need to practice... It's not something that just comes to me...

DAY 3

YOGA: brief (15-20 min.) Wednesday Quickie
Meditation : from same DVD - still challenging
Food Awareness : Black Eye Pea Soup, Salad, Socca
Gratitude ; plenty
Nature Appreciation: Lilies in the garden, Heat

Day 2

... and another hot one.

My running is suffering:
I got out there today but had to alternate with walking as the heat proved to be too much even at 6:30 p.m.

Yoga: Blissology Tuesday Quickie
Meditation ; Yet to come
Nature Appreciation: a beautiful butterfly visiting my Echinacea and a young bunny hopping across the street:)
Gratitude: plenty:)
Food Awareness:
Socca with (fresh) Rosemary and Onion slices - Very delicious
Fresh salad with all the goodness from the Farmer's market - with Lemon Tahini dressing
Corn on the cob

and for dinner
more Salad
Mushroom Paprikash with steamed Green peas
and fruit, of course:)

And, since I ALWAYS appreciate a promising recipe:
Edamame Burger


Since neither bunny nor the butterfly waited for me to grab my camera, here is a photo of the beautiful (black) walnuts that will help sustain the local squirrel population:

Day 1 - Blissology Challenge

Sprinkler in the Sunset

Yoga - Monday Quickie from Blissology Project
I'm always reminded how good I feel after a few minutes morning yoga...

Meditation - from same
(needs a lot of work... the mind keeps wondering...:) )

Nature Appreciation -
I know, I promised pictures. I tried. Uncooperative flock of Crows took off before I raised my camera :)
It would have been a real cool shot... almost  Hitchcock-like.

Gratitude and Food Awareness:
It kind of went hand in hand today: I realized that I have access to such a variety of food...
I'm also aware that such an abundance is not always a blessing... We don't need cherries in January - but I surely enjoy them NOW!

Wild card:
I'm writing that card right now...
:)  It's so true - hand written cards matter so much more than e-cards, e-vites etc.
It's becoming a lost art.

Can't Slow Down - We Need Those Challenges

Bike riding attempts continue...  Not much improvement... I figure if I do it enough times something will sink in...

I admit:
I'm a Challenge-junkie, if there is such a thing...

I loved the Blissology project. I got up at the crack of dawn (oh, what am I saying: in total darkness) to do the workshop, in January. Eoin Finn has a wonderfully positive attitude and great yoga classes. When I found out about the current 28 Day Online Challenge, I just had to join. I have not decided on the starting date but I'm definitely going ahead with it.

Here is the list:
Yoga - I miss my regular practice. I need 20-25 minutes a day... it makes me feel better.
Meditation - a tough one. I am open to it, but find it difficult. However,  I'll keep trying.
Nature Appreciation - No Problem! - I'll just post my photos... :)
Food Awareness - :)
Gratitude - It's there, not always verbalized, but it is there.

Delicious!

Fridge cleaning makes for interesting dishes.

Today:
Frittata - with Shallots, Scapes, Potatoes, Rosemary, Nutritional Yeast
Now, when I make egg dishes, it's usually mostly whites with one or two yolks thrown in there for good measure.
(Did I mention that I LOVE Rosemary - the smell, the taste, the look... I have it growing on my front porch)
Roasted Beet Salad  - with green onions, corn, grapeseed oil, rice vinegar.  The dressing was really nice and light - very pleasant.

A Long Week

... and an emotional one: my two dogs are now gone forever.

It's strange how under stress we revert to old (not-so-good) habits. Thankfully, I only latched onto coffee once more... and  have managed to keep that to a one-a-day routine.  I don't start the day with it. I think that helps a lot.

No opportunity for bike practice but lots of walking with my spotted friend:

... and managed to go on a lovely hike in the woods:

This week, I hope to get back to my Running training... 

A new snack I invented :

Yogurt, with Carob powder and frozen banana slices... delicious!

Look - My Most Recent Challenge:)

Crazy, but it's true: this is my second attempt at learning how to ride a bike...

Not quite there yet...