Another Thing

First,this is a picture of a view of East River Mountain taken in the car when coming down the 4 lane highway about 5 minutes from our house.This is the exit that leads to our mall.We were sitting at the traffic light so I snapped the picture.It was getting ready to storm so the sky was very overcast.

In all of my excitement posting about the end of my virtual journey I forgot to mention that it was a 308 mile virtual journey from my house in southern West Virginia to my friend Susan's in Seneca SC..

Better rest up while on vacation next week so I can get going on my next virtual journey which will 998 miles.That trip will keep me focused through the winter.

Finished my virtual journey

I found this picture online.It was taken in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I finished my virtual journey to Seneca SC today.It took me almost three months by counting my daily steps on my pedometer plus the equivilant steps of riding my stationary bike.

I will take a break and start my next journey to OK when I return from vacation.

Saturday...7,756 steps ...3.9 miles

I have reached my 100 mile goal for the month of July!!

Foggy evening..Nearing the end of my journey

It's a foggy evening.We had some strong thunderstorms move through our area this afternoon.Got some hail,lightening,thunder and heavy rain.Now the fog has moved in.I took this picture earlier this evening.The view is looking down our street from our front yard.We set up higher on the hill so it looks as if I am looking down over my neighbor's roof.

I am nearing the end of my virtual trip to SC.Only have 3.3 miles to go and I should reach the end of the journey tomorrow evening.When I get back from vacation I will start my virtual walking trip to Dianne's house in OK

Friday...accumulated 6,527 steps...3.2 miles

My Pedometer

This is a picture of our dog Bub.We got him a few months after moving into this house.We rescued him from the animal shelter.They said that he was a year old at the time which means he is going on his 10th birthday and still a very active dog.He's a mixed breed dog.Has some chow in him amongst other things.He's a very good dog around our two grandchildren for which we are very grateful.We were talking to our grandson the other day about Bub turning 10.We don't know his birthdate so our grandson who is 6 will be picking out a day next month for Bub's birthday.I believe he is leaning towards the 17th which is the Friday before school starts.

I was thinking about my pedometer this morning.I've been wearing one for 2 months now.I put it on in the morning.It really pushes me to get up and move.When the weather doesn't cooperate like here lately I get my stationary bike and ride.I can count the equivalent steps for riding as pedometer steps.A chart I have states that 1 minute on the stationary bike equals 212 steps so that is a pretty good return for all of the energy expended on the stationary bike.I have worked back up to riding it for 25 minutes.That is a big accomplishment since I could barely ride it for 5 minutes just 3 months ago before I started walking.

I just checked by steps log.I need to accumulate at least 5 more miles of steps to reach my 100 mile goal for the month of July.I accumulated 125 miles worth of steps in the month of June.I eased up some on accumulating steps in the month of June since my knees were bothering from all of the walking on hills in the park.My knees are feeling better since I am not walking so many hills and riding my stationary bike more.

Thursday...7,052 steps...3.5 miles

Coming Around The Bend

This is a picture of my cat Twinkie.I don't know what is worse...trying to take a picture of my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter or taking pictures of my cats.It is hard to get a still picture of either of them.

I am coming around the bend to the end of my virtual walk to SC.I upped my walking yesterday since I was at the mall.I also rode my stationary bike.Ended up getting in a little over 5 miles worth of steps yesterday.Only have 10 miles to go on my virtual walk to SC.Should have that virtual walk finished by Sunday.Wanted to finish my walk before we leave for vacation on Monday.

Updating Virtual Walk To SC

This is another picture of granddaughter Mariah in the pool with her mommy.

I crunched some numbers to see how my virtual walk is coming along since I knew I am nearing my destination.I now have 15 miles to go.I got rather excited when I realized that I should reach my destination by Sunday which is before we leave on vacation.

Now I am thinking of my next destination for a virtual walk.I am thinking of heading to OK on my next virtual walk.I need to look up stats for that walk.Look out Dianne I will be heading your way on my next virtual walk.It will take me a lot longer since there will be more distance to cover.I am so happy that I have just about made it to SC and now looking forward to my virtual trek to OK!!!

Rainy Day

This is granddaughter Mariah enjoying time in the pool on our vacation to Pigeon Forge,TN in June.

We have had a rainy day.That has been a very rare occurance this summer.We have been so dry and really needed the rain.Thunderstorms started rolling through our area around 5 this morning and woke me up.They continued on through the morning hours.I managed to get outside and walk some between the rain showers this afternoon.I rode my stationary bike for most of my exercise today.

Tuesdays steps:7,334 ...3.7 miles

Summer Time Fun

The other picture of Jeremy's classmates playing in the sprinkler didn't show Jeremy very well either.

I picked this picture instead.Jeremy is sitting and having some quiet time during their chalk drawing time.

A Nice Summer Day

This picture was taken at grandson Jeremy's end of the year outdoor party.He and his classmates are playing in the sprinkler in this picture.They were having lots of fun.Now that it has downloaded I see that you can barely see Jeremy.He is the boy behind the boy in the front with the dark swimming trunks.I will find the other picture and download it.You can see Jeremy much better in the other picture.

We had such a pretty day today.The sun was shining brightly and it was in the mid 70's.I took Jeremy to the park.There were plenty of children there for him to have a good time.I pushed Jeremy and two other children on the tire swing.I kept asking him if he was OK.He kept reassuring me that he was fine.The other two children were having a blast.I finally decided that Jeremy was getting dizzy so I stopped pushing the tire swing and got him off.He was dizzy and wanting to go home.By that time the clouds had moved in and we were starting to feel some sprinkles.Jeremy was fine once he got home and got a little rest.Don't think he will want to get back on that tire swing any time soon.

I took a walk this evening.My Ipod died on me so my walk was cut short.I rode my stationary bike for 20 minutes so that made up for my shortened walk.

Monday: 8.059 steps...4 miles

Catching Up

I just realized that I hadn't posted anything over the weekend.First I wanted to mention that this is a picture of one of my hanging baskets.Hope the picture downloaded OK.Wasn't sure if this was one of the better pictures or not.Please notice how dry our lawn was.I took this picture before we got some much needed rain.

I continued to exercise over the weekend by walking and riding my stationary bike.I forgot to put my pedometer on till late in the day yesterday so my steps are off some since I estimated how many I accumulated earlier in the day.I wanted to walk in the park today but got a late start to the day.Instead I will do my strength training and ride my stationary bike plus get in some walking.

Saturday:5,327 steps...2.7 miles

Sunday:6,261 steps...3.2 miles

Update on Virtual Walk to Seneca SC

This is a picture of The Lincoln Memorial that daughter Karen took last weekend.

Haven't updated by virtual walk to Susan's.Since it has been so warm I have mixed in riding my stationary bike plus the other day I started back with strength training.I have a chart with equivalent steps so I count those activity steps and add those to all of the steps I have each day just from moving.Then the steps get converted to miles.I have now exercised the equivalent of 277 miles which means I only have 29 miles to go!!There are 11 days left in July.If I have the equivalent of 3 miles of steps each day I should make it to Susan's by the end of the month.We will be on vacation the last week of the month but I will strive to get in as many steps as possible.My arrival might have a little delay due to vacation.

Today I walked and rode my stationary bike for the equivilent of 7,520 steps...3.7 miles

My Growing Cactus

I tried posting this picture of one of my cactus yesterday.For some unknown reason it never did download so I am trying once again.My cactus keeps spreading and growing.I am so proud of my cactus.It started out as one little cactus sticking out of the ground that I happened to spot one day about 6 years.My hubby kept getting it with the weed whacker.I finally decided that I wanted to save it so I put a border around it with some bricks and told him to stay away from it.After that it started to flourish and grow.It dies off in the winter then comes right back in the spring.It has spread and now there is another cactus that has been growing for a few years.The first cactus bloomed last summer for the first time.It had a few pretty yellow blooms that bloomed at the same time.This summer there have been two yellow blooms that have bloom at different intervals.The flowers haven't lasted long so I have been fortunate to get a picture taken each time.

To the right of this cactus is another cactus that has sprouted.This is what the larger cactus looked like when I saved it from the weed whacker about 6 eyars ago.

Since we are finally getting some much needed rain I have noticed that my two cactus are growing and spreading.I really take a delight in watching them grow and flourish.





Thursday:accumulate 7,809 steps






...3.9 miles

Keeping On

This is a picture of The Washington Monument that daughter Karen took on her trip to Washington DC.

I am doing really well with my exercising.Yesterday I walked,road my stationary bike and did my strength training.I rode my stationary bike for 20 minutes and it took me 30 minutes to do my strength training.The combination of the two activities meant that I had a good workout for 50 minutes yesterday plus doing some walking.I did my strength training in the morning,the stationary bike riding in the evening and walking all through the day.All of that made for a very active day.

Today I wasn't quite as active.I got in some walking and rode my stationary bike for 10 minutes.My calves are still a little sore from the walking I did on hills Monday.

Tuesday:10,599 steps...5.3 miles

Wednesday:5,337 steps...2.7 miles

A Good Start To The Week

Daughter Karen and her hubby Brian just returned from a weekend get away to Washington DC.She e-mailed me some pictures so I want to share them here.I love this picture of The White House.

I had a great start to the week.Got in some walking and riding on my stationary bike.This evening I decided to take a different walk which was more challenging.I walked up the hill that is across the road from us.That road circles around to the road below us.I continued on the road below us and headed back in our direction.I had to walk up the hill on the road that leads to our house.That was quite a workout to have a hill to climb at the end of the walk.I should take that walk at least once a week since it is quite a challenge with the two hills.

I accumulated 7,784 steps on my pedometer...3.9 miles

Mixing It Up

This is a picture of my flowering cactus.It is such a pretty yellow flower.I am rather disappointed that this is the only flower that bloomed on my cactus.The flower didn't bloom for long so I am glad that I took the picture when I did.I have a picture that I took last summer of my cactus when it had the pretty flowers blooming.There were a few flowers and not just one like this summer.Wonder if our dry weather has anything to do with only having one flower blooming on the cactus this summer.

I have decided to mix up my exercising.I added in riding my stationary bike a few weeks ago.Today I added in strength training.It was quite a workout.My arms are so flabby so I needed to get back to strength training.It is also good to add muscle by doing strength training.Muscle burns more calories.

I have a steps conversion chart so I can convert into steps the time spent either riding my stationary bike or doing strength training.

The Family Circle Magazine walking challenge ends today.I sure will miss logging in my steps for the challenge.I joined on week 10 of the 20 week challenge.The goal was to walk 75 miles during their challenge.During the challenge I walked the equivalant of 260 miles using my pedometer.

Saturday:7,759 steps equals 3.9 miles

Sunday:8,946 steps equal 4.4 miles

Saturday Morning Catching Up

I took this picture last night when I went out to water my flowers.I noticed how pretty the sky looked so I went back inside and grabbed my camera.Hope it turns out OK on here.The picture is rather dark but the sky was beautiful shade of pink.

Been busy the last few days.Not even sure when I last wrote.Should have checked before I posted.Went with hubby Ken to the VA hospital on Wednesday for his colonoscopy.This was a second attempt since the one a few months was stopped since he wasn't cleaned out enough.I felt so bad for him since this time around he had to go to only liquids and drink the nasty stuff for two days before the procedure.We had to leave at 5:30 since we had to be there at 8.The hosptial is 100 miles from us which means a little more than 2 hour drive since you never know about traffic.We take the more leisurely route which keeps us off of the interstate.

I was so proud of myself this time.I usually just sit and wait and maybe walk a little.This time I was determined to get in lots of walking and I did.I had noticed the markings on the sidewalk that goes around the hospital campus.The word move was written quite a bit.I started walking then got to the start mark.After walking a bit they had the one tenth mile and so on and so on.The walk all around the hospital campus is 1.3 miles and I walked the full distance.I also did a lot of walking in the hospital.On our way home we stopped at Books A Million which meant a lot more walking.At the end of the day I had accumulated 10,447 steps.

Yesterday I went out and did some yard work.Our shubs need some trimming so I worked on them.Still have lots more to do out there but will wait till and evening when it is shady out there.I got in some walking and rode my stationary bike.At the end of the day I had accumulated 9,720 steps.

The last time I wrote I believe I was complaining about the heat.We have had some much needed rain and it has cooled off.Wednesday night it got down into the 40's.The last few days it has been in the 70's and quite pleasant.Today it is sunny and we will see a high of 81.Not bad for the middle of July!

Wednesday:6,312 steps ...3.2 miles

Thursday:10,447 steps..5.2 miles

Friday 9,720 steps..4.9 miles

The Heat Is On

These are pictures of Thomas The Train.We are making plans to take our grandson Jeremy to Dillsboro NC the end of the month to see and experience Day Out With Thomas.We have bought the tickets for the train ride.He is so excited.He has been a big Thomas fan for a few years and has quite a few of the trains.It will be nice to have a slow paced get away the end of the month.

It has been quite warm here the last few days.Finally got some much needed rain today.The temperature has been at 90 or above both Sunday and Monday.The rain cooled us off some today but it might have reached 90 before the rain came.Our local Chamber of Commerce has a promotion that states that We are Nature's Air Conditioned City.Whenever the temperature reaches 90 or above free lemonade is served the next day at various locations around town.We have already experienced 4 Lemonade Days so far this summer.

Since it has been so warm I haven't been getting out and taking many walks.I've been riding my stationary bike and using my step conversion chart to calculate the equivalent steps.

Monday I accumlated 5793 steps which is 2.9 miles
Today I accumulated 6624 steps which is 3.3 miles

Update on Virtual Trip To Seneca SC

I have now walked 229.6 miles on my virtual walking trip to Seneca SC.I have 76.4 miles to go.

I am now walking down I-85.


I have walked another 71.5 miles since I last checked my stats.

Summer Fun

This is a picture of my grandson Jeremy enjoying a quiet summer evening blowing bubbles.

The last few days have been quite busy so I haven't posted much.Need to get caught up on posting my pedometer readings.We have been staying busy with some summer fun.Went to a family cookout Thursday evening.It was nice to catch up with family news and relax awile.After enjoying the food we were treated to some fireworks that my niece and her husband put off.They live way out in the country where it is so dark that you can really appreciate the fireworks.

Friday evening we went to a local national baseball league farm team game.It was so much fun.Hadn't been to a game in years.The atmosphere was family friendly with between inning games for the children to enjoy.Baseball caps were given out to the first 500 people through the gate.

Last night was our area wide fireworks show.It was held after the baseball game

.Took our grandson to his first upclose fireworks show.He really enjoyed it.

It has warmed up here so my walking has slowed down some.Don't have as much energy when it gets near 90.Believe it went over 90 today.

Friday I accumulated 8,029 steps for 4 miles

Saturday I accumulated 4429 steps for 2 miles

Sunday(today) I accumulated 6982 miles for 3.4 miles

Uh Oh Lizzy Bear

This is granddaughter Mariah's creat a bear that was made in Gatlinburg,TN.I had the spelling wrong the other day.The bear's name is Uh Oh Lizzy Bear.

Reflections...What is in a number...steps and mileage??

This is granddaugter Mariah enjoying a dish of ice cream at McDonald's play area.As you can see she really enjoys ice cream!!

We were invited to a cookout yesterday at my niece's house.She and her family live way out in the country.I was curious as to how far they live from us so I kept an eye on my odometer while driving.Their house is 13 miles from us.Five of those miles are down a narrow curvy country road.

That got me to thinking about my pedometer.I measure my steps daily and use a chart on my computer to convert the steps to miles.I know that it is an average but since I don't want to get bogged down in numbers I am using the average stride of 2,000 steps equaling 1 mile.

Yesterday I had a little over 5,900 steps on my pedometer.It would have been nice to have my reading higher but that is what I walked all day and I accept it.After returning home last night I was thinking about that long curvy country road to my niece's house being 5 miles off of the two lane main road.That is a long way to drive down such a curvy country road especially driving it after dark!!.It dawned on me that 5 miles is a long distance to walk!! I will never again think of 5 miles being just a number or even 3 miles being just a number.It is a great accomplishment getting in that many steps in a day.I will strive for 10,000 but will now realize how well I am doing if I get in 6,000 steps a day.

Yesterday's pedometer reading was 5,946 steps which equals just about 3 miles.

July 4th 2007

This is another picture I found online of the Great Smoky Mountains.I forgot to take my camera the day we rode into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park so found some pictures online.I was amazed at how the trees on some of the mountain tops are bare as this picture shows.We are thinking that it could be from lightening strikes or a tree desease.

I am hearing fireworks outside as I write this.Our town won't be having our fireworks display till Saturday evening.They are held after our minor league baseball team's game as close to the 4th as possible.They aren't at home this year on the 4th so the first that they will have a home game after the fourth is this Saturday the 7th.

I continue to do well with my walking.Didn't post my steps for yesterday.I accumulated 8,752 steps on my pedometer yesterday which is 4.4 miles.Today I accumulated 6,573 steps on my pedometer which is 3.3 miles.

Ugh Oh Lizzy Bear....Gatlinburg TN

This is a picture of "THE CHIMNEYS" in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

I had forgotten to mention that last Thursday we also drove into Gatlinburg and walked around and visited some of the shops.Daughter Kimberly had promised one of her friends that she would pick up a glass blown object that she'd had made and paid for earlier in the year.It was quite interesting since we weren't sure which store we were looking for.All we knew was that it was on the "strip" and it was a blown glass shop.We were walking and passed a blown glass shop so Kimberly went in and it was the correct place.We had passed by another shop on our way to look for parking so we were really heading to the other shop but accidentally found the correct one,lol.

Another stop we made was to a shop where you "build" your own stuffed animal.Kimberly wanted to build a stuffed animal for granddaughter Mariah since we had done the same with Jeremy when he was 2.Mariah picked out a cute teddy bear stuffed animal and had it stuffed then close a cute dress for it.Kimberly asked Mariah what she wanted to name it.Mariah said Ugh Oh so Kimberly named it Ugh Oh Lizzy Bear on the bear's "birth certificate".I picked out Lizzy,Mariah picked our Ugh Oh and Kimberly picked out bear,lol.That was a fun experience.I need to take a picture of Ugh Oh Lizzy Bear and post it here.

Our Vacation To The Smoky Mountains Area

I found this picture on line and fell in love with it.It is such a glorious scene of the sun coming up over the Smoky Mountains.

We had a wonderful vacation.It was too hot for our liking though.The days were in the mid 90's with high humidity.Our air conditioned hotel room and pool came in very handy.We live in the mountains of southern West Virginia where it rarely gets above 90.Last month it went above 90 twice so free lemonade was given out twice the day after the temperature went to 90 or above.We know that if it is 90 or above here in our area it is much hotter most other places.

One of the things we enjoy doing on vacation is getting off the beaten path and find hidden jewels be it either places to see or places to eat.Our first evening there we wanted to find a place to eat where we hadn't eaten before.Another rule on vacation is that we don't like to eat at places that we have here in our rural area.I saw a small bbq restaurant on our way into Pigeon Forge going in the back way.We ate at the restaurant for dinner and loved it.The food was so good.An added bonus was that the owner and his brother played their guitar and banjo while everyone ate.They played Bluegrass music and some old country music tunes.It was such an enjoyable time.That is one restaurant that we will return to on trips back to that area.I would highly recommend it.

Later that evening I persuaded daughter Kimberly to take a walk with me while pushing granddaughter Mariah in her stroller.I had heard so much about going to the Krispy Kreame doughnut store when the hot light was on.So we took a walk down that way and bought a dozen warm doughnuts.Both of us were rather disappointed.The doughnuts tasted way too sweet when warm.They were more to our liking the next morning.Maybe it is just what we are used to but all of us agreed that we enjoyed the doughnuts much more the next morning.

The next day was the day set aside for Dollywood.It was a very warm and humid day.The temperature was in the mid 90's and the park was crowded.All of the walking that I've been doing for the last two months really paid off in Dollywood.I never got tired in the heat and enjoyed the walking.Wasn't tired and sore the next day which is what usually happens after a day at an amusement park.We were able to ride the water raft ride together although granddaughter Mariah was too short for the ride.They have a parent swap policy so Kimberly waited with Mariah while I rode the ride.When it came back around I got off and Kimberly got on and everyone else got to ride again.

Granddaughter Mariah who is 2 1/2 loved the Merry Go Round.I rode it three times with her.It was a great way to cool off with the breeze cooling you off as you go round and round,lol.

By 5:30 we were quite tired and heard thunder in the distance.Having heard the thunder we decided that it was a good time to leave.Only got as far as the exit when a down burst came.We all got drenched waiting for the tram ride to take us to the parking area where our car was parked.Glad we left then.Lots of people were leaving but it would have been much worse if we had waited a little longer to leave.The rain let up by the time we got to our car .There was a beautiful rainbow in the sky.I showed it to my grandson Jeremy.He was in awe of it like I was:)

Thursday was the day that we were going to have a picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.Since the weater was so hot we decided that a picnic wasn't such a great idea after all.We took off to explore a town that was new to us.We drove down a country road looking for the town.We were planning on eating lunch in that town.We were all hungry since we didn't make it to the motel's continental breakfast.Never did make it to the town since we saw a restaurant that looked good for lunch.They served a country cooking lunch buffet.The fried chicken was some of the best that I have ever eaten.Wish we could find some that good in our area.We rode into the Great Smoky Mountain park and took in the scenery and enjoyed a nice ride.

Got back to the motel in plenty of time to take in some pool time.Later that evening we attended the live show at Memories Theatre.It is a Legends Show with different impersonators appearing nightly.Our show consisted of Barney Fife,Tim McGraw,The Blues Brothers and Elvis.It was a very enjoyable evening.The highlight was when grandson Jeremy went on stage with other children to help "Tim McGraw" with the Fly Away song.They offered DVDs of the show for sale so I ordered one and picked it up after the show.Jeremy has been having a blast watching himself on DVD.It is keeping him entertained,lol.

Friday was spent at some of the outlet stores then we left for home around 2.Got home safely after such an enjoyable time away.

Saturday we took our grandson to see the movie Ratatouille.We all enjoyed it very much.

Catching Up After Vacation

Been busy since getting home from vacation.Haven't written here in awhile but that doesn't mean that I haven't been walking.I continue to walk and get in lots of movement every day.

This picture was taken of hubby Ken in the hotel pool with our two grandchildren Mariah and Jeremy.We had a very nice vacation but didn't care for the hot weather and high humidity.

I wore my pedometer while on vacation.I walked a total of 43,106 steps which equals 21.6 miles.It was easier for me to keep a step total since I have a step to miles conversion on my computer.I converted the total of steps to miles on my return home.

I must admit that all of the walking I have been doing up till vacation really trained me for all of the walking we did at Dollywood.I didn't mind the walking and wasn't one bit sore the following day.We walked about 7 miles at Dollywood.

The step tally I stated earlier included Saturday.Yesterday I walked 6,156 steps which equals 3.1 miles.Today I walked 8,069 steps which equals 4.0 miles.

I walked 125 miles in the month of June.