Show of hands: who’s ready to talk about another week of walks?
(Not Belle. She always asks if the most recent blog post is one she’ll enjoy reading and usually follows that up by saying: “I hope it’s not about walking or books.“)
Well today’s post is all about walking/running/general movement (and not about books). That said, we did have a woman in our small town who for YEARS would be seen regularly walking while reading a book. In fact, I don’t think I ever saw her walking without a book in front of her face. It always struck me as a habit that seemed destined to end very badly, but she appears to have emerged unscathed (though she has now moved away, so I very much hope she is not lying in traction in a hospital somewhere because she tripped over a curb while engrossed in the latest page-turner).
BACK TO WALKING.
:::Week 1 Recap:::
:::Week 2 Recap:::
BLOG FRIEND WALKS
Catrina is back in South Africa. She writes:
It gets me every time and I will never get used to it: going from Zurich’s dark, cosy autumn evenings to Cape Town’s bright, energetic spring vibes one flight later. It always feels a little surreal. But a few walks and runs help to adjust!
Just look at those warm, sunny views!
It’s decidedly chillier in Wisconsin, where Engie and Hannah continue with their daily walks.
I’ve attached a collage from my Week 2 efforts. As usual, Hannah and I were out and about. We experienced hot weather, chilly weather, rain, clouds, and sun this week. She’s a good sport and sometimes lets me take her photo. Here’s the link to my weekly roundup.
Friends, do yourself a GIANT favour and go read all about Kyria’s EPIC back-country hiking adventures on the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. Let’s just say she had no trouble squeezing in ten minutes of walking each day.
Jacquie continues to take in a wide range of nature and culture in her daily walks in British Columbia.
Can’t believe we’re already into week 3 of the walking club! We’ve had such gorgeous weather it’s been easy to get out…
Photos attached are from our visit to Fibre and Forge, a small wool-producing farm in Abbotsford, BC. There was a band, a vintage 1951 car, chickens, Harley the sheep, Brody the horse and Carmen the donkey, who liked to get up close and personal, pressed apples that made the best apple juice I’ve ever tasted, and a dog enjoying treats from my husband.
What a delightful fall day. Nothing screams autumn in Canada like beautiful foliage and All Things Apple.
Nicole doesn’t let switching continents get in the way of her daily walks. She’s continued on with the Cool Bloggers Walking Club from… SPAIN! These pictures are from adventures with her husband in Madrid and Toledo.
Sarah sent me this picture from Wisconsin with the caption: “Best friends selfie ❤️.” Minnie and Annabel are VERY precious walking companions indeed.
Elinoora is walking (and cycling!) in the Netherlands.
I’m glad to report that most days I managed a walk, yoga or cycling (life in NL makes it easy to cycle, it’s frequently faster for stuff in the near neighborhood, and it’s an easy way to get some fresh air and exercise on the way to work). So this time I’ve included a picture of my bike! And I’ve tried to capture the lovely autumn colours that are appearing in the neighbourhood as well 🙂
She followed up her first e-mail with this note:
1 additional collage, if I’m allowed: we went to the Efteling today, a fairytale theme park. So no specific walk, but walking all over and more than 18000 steps clocked. My daughter practiced her tree pose while we were waiting. And we finished the evening with a great water and light show! Would recommend if you like theme parks and/or fairytales 🙂
A tree pose!!! A fairytale theme park!!! You are most certainly allowed, and a giant barrel full of gold stars for creating two fabulous collages!
Katy has continued on with daily walks in Texas, and you can read all about them here!
mbmom11 writes: I haven’t walked at all this week until today. I saw some defiant snapdragons – a little summer left! – and Halloween decor that made me think of the Frugal Girl.
What a fun Halloween inflatable. “Defiant snapdragons!” Love it.
Julie sent some photos from walks from her home in Florida… and others from Connecticut, where she was visiting for a wedding.
Sophie saw lots of creatures on her walks in Australia this week!
This was a bit of a rainy one at times. But I still made it out. Definitely fitted in a couple of extra walks than I would have done otherwise. All local walks close to home and work this time. Came across an Orb Weaver spider, an Australian Bush Turkey, and lots of baby birds getting fed by their parents. No kangaroos this time- will keep an eye out for the final week!
ELISABETH’S WALKS
DAY 15: THURSDAY
A quick walk with Joy!
DAY 16: FRIDAY
A walk with John on a local trail system on an overcast, chilly day. I think this was my first time wearing finger gloves this fall.
DAY 17: SATURDAY
Another short adventure; John and I walked with Belle and a friend to fit in my mandatory 10 minutes! We saw a gorgeous sunset (by the time we walked to a good place to take a picture, it was gone, so I guess it was a beauty emergency which I saw with my own eyes but have no digital proof of).
I needed a photo, so Belle happily showed off a new-to-her phone case ($2 at a thrift store!)
This girl is all in on Christmas; in fact, she left for school today wearing wreath earrings.
DAY 18: SUNDAY
A late-afternoon walk with John after he dropped my father-in-law off at the airport.
I was inspired by Diane’s weekly walking theme of looking for Little Free Libraries, so snapped a picture of one we passed (John and I did some mental arithmetic and there are at least 7 little libraries in our town!).
DAY 19: MONDAY
I knew I’d be getting in some moderate-intensity exercise at pickleball, so it was a relatively short (~3.5 km) walk with John on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.
I continue to feel inspired by Diane’s theme of Little Libraries, so I picked a route that took us by two more.
I picked up a few books, and we got to say hello to a very friendly cat!
DAY 20: TUESDAY
Ugh. I woke up early (too early!) in the morning with a head cold.
I was achey and had a runny nose and was sneezing, but I also knew a short walk and some fresh air would feel good. John and I walked about 1.5 km, and I snapped a few pictures of funny Halloween signs out on someone’s lawn.
DAY 21: WEDNESDAY
My cold symptoms weren’t completely gone, but overall I was feeling decent, so we converted some necessary errands into intentional walking time.
First stop: the grocery store for a bag of buns for our dinner BBQ.
I repeat, we went in for a single item that costs about about $3.
And we walked out having spent just over $113.
To be fair, our larder was looking bare and we got some great deals AND I redeemed $100 worth of points so it only cost $13 out of pocket. Still.
Next up: the library. I thought this painted pumpkin outside the entrance was adorable.
And I have another book to read ahead of the winter season.
If you have walking recaps you’d like included next week, send me an e-mail: optimisticmusings {at} gmail {dot} com.
Your turn.
- Have you carved—or painted—a pumpkin this year?
- Anyone else pop into a store this week for one item and walk out having spent $100+?
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Comment eaten again! I think my phone hates me.
Love the photos- so much beauty!
I always spend too much at the store- I go in meaning to grab one or two things midweek, and I pass by good sales, things I forgot last week, a special treat for a kid going on a field trip… then I’m stumbling up front, arms full, trying to get a cart , giving in to the inevitable.
My town went all in on little free libraries. I can think of 2 just within a block of me. Also several little free pantries.
Pumpkins on my list for this weekend. I didnt carve any last year- I think I just used tea lights and jars to get flickering light on the porch.
Argh. I am so sorry about the disappearing comments.
We have… zero outside decorations. I’m fine with it. Saves money and I’m not a big fan of Halloween to begin with. I do love the look of pumpkins and mums outside houses but wow it really adds up and they don’t last long at all. So in the grand scheme of things, I just skip it entirely. What a Scrooge I am!
Ah, so that explains why you were up so early on Tuesday morning! Good to know that you’re feeling better!
And Nicole is in Spain! How cool is that! She chose a good time for travelling Southern Europe.
Diane’s Little Free Library theme is such a lovely idea! I haven’t seen any of these, neither in Zurich nor in Cape Town. Maybe I should start one, ha!
Going in for a CAD 3 bag of buns and then coming out at CAD 113 is hilarious! At least you had those points to soften the blow AND you got some good deals. It’s mind-boggling to me that in the end, you only spent CAD 13. Not bad at all!!
Ohhh! You absolutely should start a Free Little Library. We have a lot of them in North America! I love the concept (you can take a book/leave a book).
Groceries. We are forever in need of more groceries! When the kids were little it didn’t seem nearly so constant, but now the food just flies off the shelves of our home!
I feel like every time I go into the store for “one item” I spend $100, ha. Anyway…
So many different countries represented here!!! This is amazing. I’m proud to say that now that our weather has cooled down (a little- nothing to get TOO excited about) I’ve walked every day this week! I’ll have to start taking some photos and maybe I can join the cool kids next week for the recap.
I love that Belle is fully into Christmas mode! I just bought our Christmas hand soaps yesterday- still finishing off the last of the fall soaps, but peppermint and frosted cranberry are coming up next!!!
Those soap scents sound… AMAZING. I need to up my festive soap game this year, which won’t be hard because I generally don’t even do it. But what a little burst of joy multiple times a day (plus, I work from home, so even more frequent for me).
YES! You are the GOAT of cool exercisers, Jenny. And I’m glad you’re getting some cooler weather. I know the heat can still be oppressive this time of year in Florida.
I rarely—RARELY!—leave a grocery store without spending $100 now.
Love those headstones! My husband just said the other day he’d like to pick up a pumpkin, so maybe this weekend. Yesterday we went into the grocery store for one item and came out with a full bag. It was needed so I’m okay with it but the price sure adds up fast!
We’re in good company with each other. One item rarely ends up being just one item. Thankfully, nothing was really “impulse”… we needed food and shopped sales. Even still, I had to chuckle.
So many beautiful international walks! I hope you’re proud of the worldwide movement you’ve started, Elisabeth.
I want to carve pumpkins this weekend. It’s on the agenda, but we’ll need to obtain pumpkins AND carve them, so that seems ambitious.
I am not much of an impulse shopper, but generally any trip to Costco I think will cost about $100 quickly spirals out of control.
Worldwide movement. I AM BLUSHING, Engie.
I don’t really pause to think about it, but when I do, it just makes me so happy!!!
Costco. I don’t think it’s possible to spend less than $200. A family of 5 (kids) + 2 (adults) said it’s a good day if they can spend less than $1000 in a visit. Egads.
Teehee, we are twinning again. I am cheap and don’t much like Halloween. I put out a pumpkin that I took from a patch by a friend’s house that was finished with harvesting and planted 2 chrysanthemums by the front door. First I drowned the mums, then after I bought replacements, the deer destroyed them. At least the pumpkin was free. I am cheap and don’t much like Halloween.
Same and same!
What fun to see Kyria’s photos! I instantly recognized the Muir Hut, atop Muir Pass. Never been there, but I drew it many years ago for a set of notecards called Sequoia and Kings Canyon Backcountry Structures. So of course I went to Kyria’s blog and read about her John Muir Trail trip. Very impressive, both in the planning and the actuality.
Yes, Kyria is an inspiration when it comes to adventures outdoors!
I love all the wonderful photos from walkers all over the world! I haven’t seen many Halloween decorations this year, and I only got out a few in our house. I’m just enjoying “general fall” so much! It’s so easy to spend more money than intended when shopping. The prices! Belle’s phone case is so cute! She really is ready for Christmas!
She is bereft I won’t let her put up Christmas decorations yet. It’s not even Halloween yet, for Heaven’s sake. But I know the instant Halloween is over, her room at least will look like the North Pole 🙂
I love seeing how everyone is approaching their 10-minute daily activity minimum, and all the lovely photos. Thanks again for organising Elisabeth.
It’s so much fun to receive e-mail updates during the week!
Great photos! I love all of the fall colors, animals and naturally I love a good Little Free Library! I have quite a collection of those myself, from everywhere, but specifically from Portland. They are EVERYWHERE! I have definitely walked into a store, mostly Costco to be honest, with the intention of spending only a few dollars or buying only one thing and walked out a lot more poor. The issue with Costco is that each snack or item is at least $10 for the most part, so even when I only get a handful of things I can easily spend over $100!
Costco. Is it possible to leave there without spending at least $100?? I know someone who said she thinks it’s a good day when she walks out and the bill is under $1,000. YIKES!!!
I’m laughing at Belle’s mild critique of walking and books posts. She’s a funny one!
Love the photos from around the globe of everyone getting out and enjoying the fresh air and some exercise.
The fake cemetery headstones are hilarious!
I didn’t carve a pumpkin, but I decorated some with my friends this past week. I’ll be sharing soon.
Girl has opinions!!!
Can’t wait to see the pictures. I am one of those lame people who has no desire to do anything fancy at Halloween. I appreciate other people’s decor and am truly amazed at the artistry some people have… but am content to just watch from afar.