B Words

 

This past week has been full of the B word.  Yeah, thanks to all the worrying about LBM's school situation I did loads of B####ing.  But there were actually several other B words that seemed to be really prevalent in our week. 

 

 

 BUGS

LBM has been on a mission this week to discover all the bugs around the house.  Of course that is a fun science lesson but at this time of year those little critters have often grown!  We won't be catching this guy anymore.

 

 

BEGGING

With the approach of kindergarten LBM has started being responsible for certain chores around the house.  He earns a small allowance that he is practicing budgeting his money for his "wants".  But that hasn't stopped his previous behavior of using his puppy face to beg for things.  I didn't cave this time but darn he is so cute!

 

BLOOMS

My garden and flower beds have been a botanistic inspiration this week with beautiful blooms every morning.  If you follow me on FB or Instagram you are probably sick of the daily bloom bombs. 

 

But maybe you are also inspired for notice a few of the B words in your day too.

 

 



Four 4 Friday - What I've Learn in VA

In Virginia it really doesn't seem to matter what time of day or how many miles, my legs and every other spot on my body will appear to be melting after 10 minutes of running.  I also learned that sweating your weight in presprition does not equate to weighing nothing.  It can however result in wanting to passout if I don't jump in the pool fast enough.

For a while my hubbs worked in pest elimination.  Part of his job requirement was taking courses about various pests and elimination practices.  It may have been his requirement but I actually did them.  Okay we were young and dating and I was a pushover...

I do now enjoy a little extra usually useless knowledge thanks to those hours of courses. 

I found it helpful when I discovered that our new home in VA has an over abundance of assassins.  Fairly certain my little insect squatters are wheel bugs.  Their bite is very painful. 

If you are unfortunately enough to get bitten, a little Chlorox will help stop the stinging.

Since being in Va I have learned that my kids find fruit much more interesting if they get to pick it off a tree...or the ground....themselves.

Unlike previously thought, I not only like but I LOVE air conditioning!

But I usually like Bugs?

Four more sleeps until Race Day.

Day # 171

Last night the unseasonably mild weather drew me outside for a run with LBM.  I know that in the last week before a race nothing you do can really help your performance as much as what you do can hurt your performance.

Still I went out for a run telling myself that it wouldn't be a fast one - it was really windy, yeah I won't think about the effort.  We got all loaded up and we were off.

It was great to be outside.  We paused at the neighbor's to see their puppies.  We enjoyed the leaves falling as we ran.  We had the wind in our faces.

Yeah.  In.our.faces.

the whole time.

How is that even possible?

I told myself I still had really cut back my miles and a 10 mile day was no big deal for me to do this close to the race. 

I ran on.

Uneventful miles.  Running.  Breathing.  Talking.  Singing.  Picking up tossed toys.

The usual.

Ahhhh.  The turn back to "our" road.

Only about a mile and a half to go.

Pick up another toy.

What?

Why, Hello stomach. 

Did you say something when I bent down to pick up that toy?

Yes you did. 

Well there is no need to shout.

Oh!  Okay.

Now?

Right! Now??

okay

(thank goodness for the dark)

I usually like all Bugs.

But not that kind!

Taking Notice

Arigiope Aurantia ~ Garden spider

I love fall.  The cooler temperatures.  The foggy mornings. 

The increased chance of seeing critters of all kinds along my journey.

You don't have to be a very faithful follower to have picked up on the fact that I love all things nature.

I love trees.  I love creeks.  I love rocks.  I love wildlife.

That includes spiders.

Day 127 ~ a.m. run 3.5 miles / 28:08

I have been watching for them for a few weeks but it wasn't until this morning that their webs were filled with dew and I could more easily spot them.

The lovely garden spider.

She (and her many many friends) have been here all summer long however they we just too small for me to really see them until now. 

I just love how running provides me with the opportunity and perspective to see my little piece of the world in a different way.  Running give me the chance to see just how closely I share my world with so many other living things. 

There were about 20 spiders just along the road in front of my house. 

They all eat the many bugs that are so abundant this time of year.

So I will tread lightly as I run this fall.

And I'll say a few thank yous along the way.

Tread lightly please.

Tall Mom is hosting a Five Cherries Giveaway.

No!  You won't win fruit.

Five Cherries is the name of an Esty shop

run by a mom of Five, yes that is f.i.v.e. children.

Can we all say a prayer for her together?!
Stop by Tall Mom and see what it is all about.

Racing with Babes is hosting a Race Day Memories giveaway.
What is Race Day Memories?
It is exactly that.  A wonderful way to keep your race day memories from becoming unvisited files on your computer or dusty prints filed in a shoe box.
Tell TBM that I sent  you by.


Trish at Endurance isnt only physical is hosting (my favorite) CEP Compression socks giveaway!
We all know that my current pair are being put to some extereme use.
I am cheap so I need to win a new pair.
and I bet you could use some help recovering too! 
Stop by and let her know I sent you.

Welcome to Bug City

The scene on the trail after my run during the last full moon.

There are several things that happen that tell me summer is drawing to a close, some of them are probably the same for you. 

The days begin to get slowly shorter.

Back to school sales are everywhere.

I feel like I have finally adjusted to the kids being home.

If I had to eat another ear of corn, I might actually be sick.  That goes for any kind of squash too.

The garden spiders have grown big enough to notice.

The flying ants start to take flight.

Day #95 ~ p.m. run 6.5 miles

I am usually on the road by 6 p.m. and back between 6:45 and 7:15 early enough to avoid the majority of the little buggers but tonight S'ghetti girl had to go to the dentist to follow up on her accident.

Xrays confirm that no roots were broken and all damaged teeth were "baby teeth."
Following the appointment I had 6.5 more mile to run for the day.  I really wanted to skip.  During the day I tried to round up a running partner but everyone wanted to do the very thing I was trying to avoid:

be a couch potato!

Sorry for the close up of my bug covered waddle

Thanks mostly to habit, LBM and I got on the road solo. 

I gave the swarms of flying ants little thought until I hit the first one! 

Let's just say, it's never good to run with your mouth open.