Take It Easy Day

This picture was taken last summer of fog coming over the mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.We are leaving Tuesday morning to go down to the Smoky Mountain area for a few days.Will be returning Friday evening.We are so looking forward to getting away for a few days.Haven't been anywhere overnight since last summer so this trip is highly anticipated.

Didn't take a walk in the park this morning.Planning on doing that tomorrow.Since it looked so overcast all day and like it was going to rain any minute I didn't get a walk in at all today.The rain came this evening.We really need the rain so I am not complaining.

I logged 4,213 steps on my pedometer today which equala 2.1.Both grandchildren were here with us today so I got in plenty of movement chasing a 2 1/2 year old around.

Reached My 100 Mile Goal Today

These are the yucca plants growing on the hillside in our back yard.I always look forward to seeing the yuccas blooming and can usually time the blooming to our wedding anniversary which is June 9th.They have been blooming for a few weeks now.

I reached and surpassed the 100 mile monthly goal today.I will now be eligible to a tee shirt in the low walking club challenge since I have now gotten to the 100 mile mark.I am now at 101.2 miles for the month so far.

It was another pretty day.The temperature was in the low 80's with a nice breeze.Really can't complain about the weather when I know it is hotter most other places.

Today I logged 6,495 steps on my pedometer which equals 3.2 miles.

It has been a good month

This is a picture of my cactus blooming early last July.I was looking at it awhile ago and wondering if it will bloom or not.Guess I will know in another two weeks if it blooms or not.

I was just adding up my miles walked for the month so far.I am at the 98 mile mark.That means that I only have two more miles to go and I will have earned the tee shirt in the local walking club challenge.You earn a tee shirt when you walk your first 100 miles after joining.Haven't read any publicity about the walking club or received an e-mail yet.Been wondering how many people have signed up and when they plan on awarding the tee shirts for the first 100 miles.Makes me wonder if they are planning on anyone earning a tee shirt the first month of the walking club challenge.

I didn't walk as much today.Took it easy after all of the steps yesterday.I walked in the park this morning.Need to take my camera and take some pictures of the crosses in the park before they are taken down.Want to share with everyone where I take my morning walks.

Today I accumulated 6,975 steps on my pedometer which equals 3.5 miles.

Catching Up

This picture is my grandson Jeremy playing in the childrens sprinkler.

The last few days have been so busy.Never did get around to writing anything yesterday bit that doesn't mean I haven't been walking.

Yesterday I accumulated 8,363 steps on my pedometer which is 4.2 miles.Had a busy day since we had both grandchildren while our daughter and son in law took care of busted pipe in their basement.Glad we were available to help with the children.Took them to McDonald's for luch.Their SW Salad is so yummy.So nice to have something reasonable to eat since that is our grandchildrens' favorite place thanks to the nice play area.

I started my day with a walk in the park.I went around twice.Later we went to our huge Super Wal-Mart.It has recently be completely remodeled.That means lots of extra steps since we no longer know where anything is.The whole store has been changed around.

My pedometer reads 11,162 steps to end the day.That is equal to 5.6 miles.

I am finally off of I-77 and on I-85 on my virtual walk to SC!! So glad to leave I-77 behind!!

Another Muggy Day with Some Much Needed Rain

These are my two grandchildren riding on their battery operated jeep.

It has been another humid day with the temperature in the mid 80's instead of the upper 80's.Got some much needed rain this evening which was quite heavy at times.Not complaining about the rain since we are in need of the rain.Our lawn has been browning up quite nicely.Maybe we will see some greening of it now.Hubby doesn't like all of the rain since he just cut the grass yesterday.

I walked in the park this morning for around 2 miles.The tribute for all of those that have lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq is still on display.There is a cross with the name of each soldier that has died and the state that he or she is from.The crosses are arranged by state.It is so humbling to walk by all of the crosses.I am pleased to say that the crosses and flags have not been tampered with.Like my hubby said it is sacred ground with the crosses and no one will bother them.The tribute will stay up till the end of next week.

I walked 8,231 steps today which equals 4.1 miles.

Update on Virtual Walk To Seneca SC

I just worked up the stats for my virtual walk to Seneca SC.I have now walked 157.6 miles to Seneca SC and have 148 miles to go.Need to walk almost 9 miles then I will finally be off of I-77 and walking on I-85.Sure will be nice to leave I-77 behind.I will have 105 miles to walk on I 85.That will be another long haul.

Lemonade Day

These are two of my yucca plants that are blooming in my back yard.

It was a hot one for our area today.The temperature officially reached 90.It rarely gets that hot here.This is the fourth time in the history of keeping records that our town has had a temperature of 90 or above in june.

Free lemonade will be served all over our area between 11 and 1 tomorrow.Our local Chamber of Commerce promotes free lemonade the next day whenever the temperature reaches 90 or above.Our slogan is Nature's Air Conditioned City.

Since it was already heating up around 10 this morning I decided to delay my walking till this evening.Didn't walk in the park this morning and I really missed it.I have made it a habit to walk in the park every Monday morning for the last month or so.

Today I logged 7,724 steps on my pedometer which equals 3.9 miles.

Happy Father's Day Granddaddy

I thought that I might have some pictures of Mariah with her granddaddy but couldn't find any.She is 2 1/2 so it's hard to keep her still for pictures.I will try my best to get more pictures of Mariah with us and with her big brother Jeremy.I don't have many pictures of the two of them together either.

Here is Mariah in her stroller.That is the best way we have to keep her still for a picture.Once she is out of the stroller she is on the go!!

Happy Father's Day

This is a recent picture of hubby Ken with grandson Jeremy.Wanted to post this for Father's Day.I will give equal time to our granddaughter Mariah and will post one of Mariah with her granddaddy.

What A Lovely Day..June 16,2007

This is a picture of daughter Karen with our granddaughter Mariah.Mariah is daughter Karen's niece.We have two daughters.Our other daughter Kimberly is Mariah's mommy.

We spent a quiet day at home.The last few weekends we have been gone doing some day trips to state parks.We decided that we wanted a weekend at home.Our grandson Jeremy is spending the weekend with us.That is always fun.We picked up his little sister Mariah at noon and took both of them to McDonald's for lunch and time to play on their play area.There were quite a few children there today so both of them had lots of fun.Mariah has no problem keeping up with her big brother.She is 2 1/2 and Jeremy is 6.

Got a lot of movement in today.Took a nice walk this evening and got my steps over 10,000.I strive to do that every day but don't always make it.

My steps for today were 10,352 and my mileage was 5.2 miles.I have had a good week.My average daily mileage for the week is 4.8 miles and average daily steps is 9513 steps.

Catching Up Saturday Morning June 16th

This is my grandson Jeremy coming down the slide.I posted a picture of his younger sister coming down the same slide so wanted to give my grandson equal time.

Yesterday was a busy day.Didn't get around to writing even though I did well with my walking.In this instance no news is still good news.

I got my morning walk in which is a great way to start the day.I walked the loop road in our city park.I was hesitant to walk there since they are busy setting up the crosses to honor the soldiers that have fallen both in Iraq and Afghanistan.This is the 5th year that local groups have done this.This weekend is the yearly motorcycle rally in our area.They are raising money for the Red Cross that goes to the military relief fund.The fund helps local military families that are in need.

This year they have set up around 3,600 crosses.While I was walking I could catch the names of some of the soliders from GA that have died.I was interested in reading the names since we lived in that state when we first got married.I noticed one last name that was the last name of a dear friend of mine in GA.Don't know if this person is a relative of her's since home towns are not given.Just seeing the name made all of the names seems so real to me.Each cross represents one person but there are many grieving from losing the one person.There are a few soldiers that have died in service to their country just in our rural area.Today is the big drive through where the motorcycles drive through the park to honor those that have fallen.

Wanted to write all of that since it did move me to see the names on the crosses yesterday while walking.It means more when you can read the names while walking and not just driving by.

I did really well with my walking yesterday.I accumulated 10,947 steps which equals 5.5 miles.

Rain At Last..June 14,2007

These are two of my yucca plants that are blooming on the hillside in our backyard.We have about 15 yucca plants out there.The yucca plants are so pretty when they are all blooming.

We have gotten some much needed rain this evening.We have had thunderstorms move through our area a few times this evening.Don't mind it at all since we were really needing the rain.It is quite unusual for us to be this dry in June.

I got some walking in this morning but couldn't walk this evening due to the rain.I rode my stationary bike this evening.One minute on my stationary bike is equal to 212 steps.I rode it for 13 minutes so that added nicely to my step count for the day.

I have walked 8,566 steps today which equals 4.3 miles.

Eased Up Some Today

This is my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter getting ready to come down the slide at the state park on Saturday.
I decided to take it easy today.I didn't walk in the park this morning but I took a walk this evening.
My steps today were 6,620 which equals 3.3 miles

Such Nice Weather for June

I took this picture on Sunday on our drive back home from the state park.It was such a scenic area.I love the way the mountains are in the background of this picture.

Wanted to note that I noticed that I was repeating the same picture yesterday.Couldn't figure out how to delete the picture so I let it stay in that blog.

Had another good day of walking.I noticed this evening that I had only walked 6,500 steps so I took a walk to get my step count closer to 10,000.I love the way I challenge myself to get my steps close to or past the 10,000 step count.

Today I walked 9,820 steps which equals 4.9 miles.I am well on my way towards earning a t-shirt in our local walking club challenge.I need to walk 100 miles to earn the t-shirt.

Another Nice Day For Walking

This picture was taken at Moncove Lake State Park here in West Virginia.We went there on a family picnic Saturday.

We had another lovely day today which is great for walking.

I started my day with a walk in the park.I hadn't walked in the park since last Monday.It is more of a challenge to me and a good workout since it involves walking up and down some rolling hills.

This evening I walked again for about 1/2 hour or so.My total steps for today is 10,823.That equals to 5.4 miles of moving today.

My Journey Continues

I haven't updated my journey to South Carolina lately so thought I would do it with this posting.

I walked 9,584 steps today which is 4.8 miles.I have walked another 19.6 miles since I last updated my mileage on the 6th.I have now walked 126.8 miles since I started my journey on April 30th.I have 179.2 miles to go to reach Seneca.

I am still traveling down I77 on my way to the I77-I85 interchange.

Moncove Lake State Park

This view of the lake was taken from our picnic area.I love the mountains in the background.It was a very scenic area.Wish it were closer to home.Since it is over an hour drive from our home we won't be visiting this park very often.It is located in a very remote area.Great place to get away for some relaxation and quiet.There is a nice campground in this state park.

Here We Are 34 years of wedded bliss

This picture was taken today at Moncove Lake State Park in Gap Mills West Virginia.The lake is in the background.I made sure to have a picture of the two of us together taken today.I am usually the one taking the pictures so I'm not included in many pictures.

It was a very pretty day to have a picnic at the lake.The sun was shining brightly and it was in the upper 70's.The picnic area was shaded so that kept us cool too.

This is the second state park that we have visited so far this spring that we haven't been to before.Mother's Day we went on a picnic to Camp Creek State Park which was really nice too.

Our 34th Wedding Anniversary

Today is our 34th wedding anniversary.The years have flown by.We got married in a church on Saturday June 9,1973.The weather the day we got married was quite a bit hotter than today.That day it was in the low 90's but of course that was up in Maryland.Down here in the mountains of southern West Virginia it rarely gets up to 90.

I checked our high for yesterday.It was 89 and I heard that there have only been two days in June since records have been kept in our area that it has gotten that warm in June.

We went to Moncove State Park for a family picnic today.The weather was so nice and the park wasn't crowded.This was our first time to his park.It's about 65 miles from our house so we are thinking that once to that park is enough.

I walked 10,257 steps today.Took granddaughter Mariah for a walk in her stroller at the park.Wanted to see some of the park on foot.I took pictures.If any of them turned out I will share a few here.

Hot Humid Day

We had a very warm and humid day today.It had to have been near 9o but won't know for sure till tomorrow.

I got in 10,289 steps today which equals 5.1 miles.My legs are no longer achy so I am finally getting used to all of the walking.Only walked in the park once this week so most of my walking this week has been on relatively flat land.

Kindergarten Fun

My grandson is the one in the blue swin trunks.He and his classmates are running back up the hill after going down the slip and slide.

It was a day made for outdoor water fun.The sun was shining brightly and it was in the 80's.

Another Fun Day

Today was our grandson's end of the year outside party.Everyone was invited to come and watch the fun.

Hubby and I went and enjoyed watching the kindergarten class have so much fun.Just hearing my grandson laugh with joy and say..."Nana this is fun" when he was enjoying the Slip and Slide made being there well worth it.

Got in plenty of walking at the school but didn't take a walk this evening.Thought I would give my leg muscules a little rest.

At the end of the day my pedometer read 9,105 steps which equals 4.6 miles.

Granddaughter Mariah Small But Very Healthy

Our granddaughter's check up at the pediatric endocrinologist went very well.She is on the growth curve but short for her age.All of the tests came back negative so she is inherited her shortness.Her mommy(our daughter)is short so she is taking after her mommy.She will come back to see the doctor in another year.

Got in lots of walking today.Did some shopping at Kohl's so that meant plenty of walking.I took a nice walk when we got home to get my steps over the 10,000 mark.

I accumulated 11,905 steps today which rounds out to be 6 miles.I needed to get in some walking this evening since we were in the car two hours going and two hours coming.Getting in the walk felt so good after all of that sitting.

Granddaughter Mariah

Thought I would focus on my granddaughter this morning.This picture was taken back in May.Mariah was watching her brother play soccer on a windy sunny afternoon.

Today we take her back to the pediatric endocrinologist.She is small for her age so her doctors are concerned.She saw this specialist back in late November.He thought her size was hereditary but ran tests to make sure.

The tests all showed that there is no medical reason for her small size.This is a follow up visit.We are traveling with our daughter and Mariah to Charleston WV for this specialist's appointment.That's a little over 100 miles away up the WV Turnpike.We will make a day of it and eat at a BBQ restaurant for a late lunch.We have very few good bbq restaurants in our area so we are looking forward to our lunch.Will update on the appointment later this evening.

A Lovely Day

Today was my grandson's field day at school.Didn't think that I would get in much walking but was I ever wrong.

We were there on our feet moving around for 2 1/2 hours.By the time we left I already had almost 7,000 steps on my pedometer.By the end of the day I had accumulated 11,720 steps which is 5.9 miles.Days like today and yesterday really make up for the weekend when I wasn't feeling well.

A Much Better Day

Today was a much better day.I am feeling so much better but not quite over the bug or whatever it was I had over the weekend.

I got in quite a bit of walking today for a total of 11,817 which is equal to 5.9 miles.I started the day with my walk in the park.I went back to walking the road that goes around the park.It has rolling hills.I did much better walking it today.Then I walked the sidewalk that goes around the park.I should check my pedometer when I first start walking then when I get back to my curios.I am curious as to how many steps that is.Now if I can only remember to do that,lol.

After walking in the park I went to the grocery store and did some much needed grocery shopping.That is a lot of steps too.A little later I was off to pick up grandson Jeremy from school.That is quite a few steps which includes going up and down stairs.I don't cheat and take the elevator which quite a few of the employees there do.Jeremy likes to take the long way around to get back downstairs so I take him up on that too.Next year he will be in first grade which will be on the first floor.I won't get as much walking in when I pick him up then.

Later in the day we went to K-mart which gave me another opportunity to walk.Tomorrow is our grandson's school's Field Day.We will attend it and get in plenty of walking.

I am now 210.7 miles from Susan's house.I have walked 95.3 miles on my journey to Seneca SC.I am almost 1/3 of the way there.I am still heading down I77.I am familiar with the route since we made many trips to Charlotte NC from here to take our grandson for his Doc Band adjustments back when he was a baby.I am familiar with I-85 since we travelled it from Atlanta going north then I77 going north to visit my dad back in the late 70's to early 80's.

Still Not Feeling Well

Didn't do much walking today.Still not feeling well.I am feeling like I am now coming down with a head cold.No wonder with this lousy weather we have been blessed with today.

The temperature has stayed right near 60 all day with rain off and on.I am not complaining about the rain because we really need it.We are below our normal rainfall by at least 1 1/2 inches.Hopefully the rain today has helped that some.

I've had long pants on with a sweater over my top.I have felt so cold all day.Hard to believe that a few days ago we were setting record highs near 90 and now we are staying right at 60.This is June isn't it??

Only walked 2,420 steps today which is 1.2 miles.I can make up some mileage when I am feeling better.

Not Up To Par

I am posting my steps for Saturday.Thought I better state that since it is already after midnight here.

I didn't do as well today counting my steps.I only reached 4,810 which is almost 2 1/2 miles.I had an upset stomach most of the day.Thought I could walk around the yard moving with my I-Pod but my tummy had other plans.Needless to say I didn't get in much walking.My legs and knees are feeling better since I am not walking so many hill.I realize that I can't walk the hills in the park 5 days straight.I need to alternate walking the perimeter of the park with walking the inner sidewalk of the park.Either way,it's a lot of walking.I don't walk in the park over the weekend since there are people picnicking.I wouldn't feel comfortable walking past their picnic as I walk around the park.There aren't any picnics during the week at 10 AM.

We had a very enjoyable evening.Ken and I went to a Bluegrass Music show.One group was much better than the other.They have a new CD out so we bought it.I won one of the door prizes.It's a lovely handmade wooden pull chain lamp.

Hopefully my steps count will be much higher tomorrow.

I am still heading down Interstate 77 South heading towards Charlotte .I will be getting on I85 before reaching Charlotte.As of today I have walked 88.2 miles and have 217.8 miles to go to reach Seneca.It's 166.1 miles to the I 85 exit so I have another 77.9 miles to go till I reach that interchange.

My Virtual Walk

I have decided to take a virtual walk to Seneca SC where my friend Susan lives.I tried this a few years ago riding my stationary bike.I made it there but don't remember how long it took.

I plotted the route on a Google map.Seneca is 306 miles from my town of Bluefield WV.If I average 4-5 miles a day walking it will take me about 2 months.I have already logged 85.8 miles since I started walking on April 30th.Three of those weeks I was only counting my morning walk.The last week or so I have been counting my steps using a pedometer so my daily mileage is higher now.I make a point to get in more steps whenever the time allows.

I have 220.2 miles to go.I will keep a tally here.Don't know yet how often I will update the virtual trip.At the present time I am virtually making it down I 77 South towards Charlotte.

A New Month

I logged in 9,210 steps today.That equals 4.6 miles.Walked on flat land today to give my knees a rest.The hills in our park are a good workout but my knees were taking a beating.They are feeling much better the last two days since I've been walking the flat sidewalk within the park instead of the hilly road that circles around the park.

I was so excited this morning that I could wear one of my size large shirts from last summer.It had gotten snug on me since last summer so I had to go out and buy some x/large shirts much to my dismay.

I am thinking about going on a virtual trip using my walking miles on my journey.I saw on TV that you can do that with Google.I will research that.I want to mention how I am doing with my virtual journey on here.