The Stone Rabbit

Looking Forward to the 4th of July!!

 

 

This week leading up to the 4th of July has been kinda busy and a little crazy!

Last Sunday my husband and I attended the Maker Faire at Union Station in Kansas City.  We were both shocked at the cost of the tickets, but decided to go ahead and attend.

 

There were a lot of good exhibits inside the Union Station....lots of folks selling 3D printers.....but over all there were some interesting booths that appealed to all ages.

Outdoors, beneath large tents were vendors selling handmade items.  It was so hot that I personally wasn't very interested in spending much time there.  We did see a great art booth where they had these awesome heads of Bob Ross!!  My dad loved to watch his programs....and taught himself a lot about painting from that guy!

 

On Monday the youngest grand swallowed a penny!

While mom and dad took him to be cared for at a local hospital, I took the other two grand kiddos and headed to lunch.  Before we had finished eating, I got a call saying  the penny had "moved" to a safer area than shown on this x-ray, so they picked up the two I had and we all went back to our homes.

I promptly took a nap.  

I'm took old for this excitement!  :)

 

 

 

Tuesday and Wednesday were fairly uneventful, but on Thursday my husband and I had lunch at the very first place we ever shared a meal together...a very, very, VERY long time ago....Winstead's on The Plaza! 

 

 

 

I almost always bring a Texas Sheetcake to our annual July 4th picnic that follows the parade we attend.  Because my weekend was going to be busy, I decided to make it ahead of time and freeze it.  

It is highly unusal for me to think that far in advance!

 

 

 

Our grand girl turned ELEVEN recently  (gasp....where did the time go???) .  Last evening she celebrated with her friends and family at a little pool party.  

 

 

 

This morning (Saturday) the temps were in the upper 60s.  

The humidity was 93%......

and I ran a 10K.

It was not pretty.  

Thankfully I had the support of my running buddy, Brenda (on right), to help keep me going!

I don't do well in heat and humidity.  This was the 3rd such warm race we've had this spring/early summer season.  Last year I did well at the one we did today.....mainly because I was a year younger, but also because it was cool and rainy.

 

 

 

Tomorrow I head to the store to pick up needful ingredients for two special July 4th events....a potluck breakfast following a 4 mile run with some of my buddies and a picnic following an annual parade we attend.

THE STONE RABBIT has always been a big fan of the 4th.  He looks forward to our neighbors setting off round after round of loud and sparkling fireworks....unlike Twiggy the kitty and Izzy the grand dog who hide until the noise stops!  :)

 

 

 

Hope you have a happy and safe 4th.....and also hope you stop by Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, to enjoy the posts of many others who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!

DANA

It's Been Far Too Long. . .Catching Up Starting Today!

 

My last blog post was in April!  I can't believe it!!

First, I skipped a week, then it was two, followed by three and before I knew it....Summer was here!

I started blogging in May of 2008...right before Beverly launched her weekly PINK SATURDAY party!  I hadn't missed a since weekend linking up to it (once I started 2-3 weeks after her first linkup) until....a couple of months ago!  :(

Maybe I needed a break. . .I'd never really taken one in the all the years I'd been posting.  I did decrease my weekly entries from 2-3 down to one over time.....and that one was always Pink Saturday.

Blogging has changed a bunch over the years.  For many reasons perhaps I was becoming disenchanted with it...I think, instead of having fun...it was becoming a  chore.  

Maybe I just got lazy.  

But for whatever reason, I am feeling the need to get back to it!  I love to document our running endeavors and now I'm way behind so.....that being said....I have to catch you up! 

On my last post, several of us from our little running group were about to do the 10K portion of the Easter Escapade!

L to R:  me, Jamie, Brenda, Carol, Debbie, Verna

 

On that morning I was also looking forward to meeting a fellow runner prior to the race.  Jason Silvers of The Year I Got the Runs fame.  He does an outstanding job with his Go Pro camera, documenting various races then editing them into amazing and fun creations for us to enjoy!  He also shares videos of him running with shelter dogs!

He had offered to create a  "selfie-stick" for me to use on my Go Pro camera and, since he was going to be participating in the 5K that day, he brought it to me!!  He's a great sport, too.....just looks at those blue ears ! 

 

 

It was great to see Sherri before the race, too!  

Those of us in our little running group were getting ready for upcoming half marathons, so this race was to serve as a "training run".  Hmmmm....little did I know what was waiting for us around mile 3.

Cory Stark took this fun pre-race group shot!

 

 

 Here is  a view of the OTHER side of the "start"  before the race begins!  :)  Our group is on the left side and about half way back.

You can tell by the sky that it was a gorgeous morning for a race!

 

I spotted Jason in the crowd of runners prior to the start. . .he was ready to document the 5K portion of the 2017 Easter Escapade with his Go Pro camera!    I have been working with mine, but still don't have the hang of it.  He's truly a pro!

*****Here is the "link" to his u-tube video of this race (HERE).  Also, be sure you enjoy his other videos of recent runs!*****

ANNNNND when you see the portion of him doing the count down before the race starts, you can see me behind him on the left side of the screen!  Look for the greenish/yellow shirt and visor.  :)

 

 

This pictue of us was taken by the race photographer!  We weren't too far into the run. . .hadn't hit THE HILLS yet!

 

 

 Here is where the 10K runners said good-bye to the 5K runners.  

 

 

Prior to reaching this point, our run was on the roads and sidewalks around the buildings of Unity Village.  NOW we were on roads, but they were gravel-ish.   The first stretch was mostly flat and very serene and very misleading...the calm before the storm!

 

 

 

AND THEN......we hit THE HILLS!!

Actually, this photo was taken several weeks after we ran the race on a day when Brenda, Carol and I returned to the area to do an 8 mile training run in preparation for an upcoming half-marathon.  

We  wanted to see if we could make it up those hills with more success than during the Easter Escape.

 

 

Those were the hardest hills I'd ever dealt with on race day.  Hiking up parts of them was even hard!!  However, once we reached the top we had a nice flat section!   That's where I saw Cory and. . . 

 

 

and three of my running buddies (who were ahead of me on the course by this point! ) and. . .

 

 Verna!!

 

The last part of that race was a blur because I was wiped out from the hills.  Very close to the finish.....I'm trying my best to smile !

 

Mercifully. . .the finish line at last!!

 

 

 Verna is missing in this photo, but here we were. . .all of us finished the 10K , earning not only finishers medals ,but also divison medals! 

 

 

 

Afterwards, we headed to breakfast at Ginger Sue's in Lee's Summit.    Karen joined us, too!  

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT says he will try to keep me on track with my blog posts!  

He also hopes you all had a great Easter!  :) 

 

 

Happy PINK SATURDAY!!

Be sure you head over to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, and visit lots of others who are ready with their weekly shares!

DANA 

 

 

 

Easter Escapade 10K

 

These are the cute shirts we received for signing up to participate in either the 5K or 10K of the BODIES RUNNING event called EASTER ESCAPADE!!   

THE STONE RABBIT loves the color and the cute little chicks. . .and so do I!

There are 5 of us from our little group of runners who are doing the 10K !  Each of us have a few 1/2 marathons coming up soon, so we thought this run would be a great way to get in some practice miles and have some fun!  

The course of the race is set on the beautiful grounds of UNITY.  There are also plenty of hills to give us a challenge as well.

 

 

We hope you have a wonderful Easter with your family and friends!

Be sure to visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a list of other bloggers who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!

 

DANA

 

 

A Pink Spring Surprise

 

 

What an unexpected surprise......PINK CUPPY CAKES are back.....sadly,  for a limited time!   So, I've stocked up! :)

How I've missed these wonderful treats!!!  

THANK YOU, HOSTESS!!

 

 

 

Hope you have found some wonderful Spring surprises, too!   Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a list of other bloggers who have PINK SATURDAY shares ready for you to enjoy!

 

Happy Pink Saturday!

 

DANA

 

 

St. Patrick's Day 2017!

 

THE STONE RABBIT says he LOVES the shirts Brenda, Carol and I are wearing in the morning as we participate in the LEPRECHAUN LANE 10K!!  He's looking forward to  what we look like once we don the shamrock scarves and sparkly headbands, too!   "Most" of the ladies I run with enjoy dressing in a fun way once in awhile for a themed race.....however, we may be thinking the scarf idea wasn't such a great idea once we start gettig hot during the run!  haha

 

 

 

We hope you are having a great St. Patrick's Day !   Be sure to visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND,  to see what other Pink Saturday participants have shared this weekend!!

 

DANA

 

Last Minute Post !

 

My friend Karen came to visit me at my spring sale booth yesterday  . . . .she's always such a good sport when it comes to taking photos of all the crazy times we've had over the years!!  And we've shared a lot!!

I first met her about four years ago.

We were both entered in a local 5K race....we didn't know each other...I was behind her the entire way...but I was watching her..and as she crossed the finish line before me..... I KNEW she was someone I wanted to meet!  So, I chased her down after the race and asked her if she would like to be a part of a running group and she said YES and the rest is history!!   

It was such a lucky day for me!!!!

 

 

 

Happy Last Minute PINK SATURDAY!

 

DANA

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

 

Did you celebrate the 113th birthday of Dr. Seuss yesterday?  :)

 

Last evening I had such a great time spending a couple of hours of "alone time"  with Grandboy #1!   He's really into all things LEGGOS and STAR WARS, but he's also become a wonderful reader.......and  I LOVED listening to him read a Cat in the Hat book to me!!!

 

 

 

We have several Dr. Seuss books from when our own kiddos were little.  However, I bought this book when they were grown, because it is so wonderful....filled with such inspiration!  Next to THE GRINCH, it's my favorite!!  THE STONE RABBIT puts it at the top of his Seuss List, too!

 

 

Hope you have a great Pink Saturday weekend.....filled with fun and rest !

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares!!

DANA

 

 

Sweetheart Shuffle 5K/10K 2017

 

A couple of weeks ago , on a pretty warm February morning, several friends and I signed up to run or run/walk the Sweetheat Shuffle 5K/10K!  

In this photo, I am with a couple of the ladies I run with about 3 times a week....and two daughters of one of them!  We were waiting for the race to start!

We did this same event last year, but the weather that day was COLD!!

 

 

Our fellow running buddy Karen and her beautiful dog Gracie, were there, too!  They did an amazing job of supporting and cheering and taking photos!

 

 

I did the 10K that day...6.2 miles.....I wasn't really ready to go that distance and it showed on my finish time.  However, the awesome event company that puts on these races doesn't charge any more for doing the longer distance, so I decided it would be a great way to practice extending my mileage.  I have three half marathons coming up in the months ahead, so I need to be getting used to more miles again.

Karen got this photo as I was heading out to complete my second loop of 3.1 miles.  I looked happy, but by the time I hit about 4 or 4.5 miles, I was tiring.  It was at that time that I met up with Sherri,  another running buddy who was also doing the same distance.   She, too, was doing the 10K for additional miles practice.  We had a great time talking for the last part of the event.  We both do run/walk intervals when going over 3 or 4 miles, so we were a good match that day.

 

 

Karen captured us crossing the finish line together....you can see Gracie's sweet head in the lower left part of the photo!!  

 

 

 THE STONE RABBIT is showing off the awesome finisher's medal and age division award I earned that day!    One of the advantages of being an older runner.....there aren't as many of us, so we have a better chance of placing in our age groups, even if our times aren't real great!  haha

Actually, there are many races where women in my age group are amazingly fast!!  I admire them so much and feel lucky to be able to trail behind them!!

 

 

I hope you will visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND! There you will find several other bloggers who are ready with their weekely Pink Saturday shares!

DANA

 

LET THE SUNSHINE !!!! LET THE SUNSHINE IN!!! THE SUNSHINE IN!!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT is making the most of this wonderful warm weather we are having!!!

He says getting out in the sunshine, on a blanket with a little drink and some great music, reminds him of the good old days when he was a footloose and fancy free bunny.....without a care in the world!

Oh yes.... LET THE SUNSHINE IN!

 

We hope you are having a fine weekend, too!!  Be sure to visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares, too!

DANA

 

 

KICK-OFF 5K 2017

 

In the past, the KICK OFF 5K was held in the area around Arrowhead Football Stadium here in Kansas City.  When I signed up for it this year, I thought it was still there!  However, right before the race, I found out it had to be moved.  At first I was disappointed as running around that location is pretty neat, but I knew the KCRunning Co., the folks who put on this race, would still make it a fun event......and they did just that!

The KCRunning Co retail store in Leawood, KS, was the location of the start and finish of the race, with the course being on Nall (on the West), 127th st. on the North and Roe on the East.   Their store is in the upper right background of this photo.

 

 

 

My friend Karen came along to cheer for us that morning.  We were hanging around in the store before the race started.  They were offering nice discounts on some of their items.....we each bought a really nice stocking cap.

The weather that morning was nippy, but very sunny.  I hadn't planned on wearing my hat in the run, but I later changed my mind and put it on.

 

 

 In fact, here I am with my daughter, who also ran the race.   We both decided to don those hats.

 

 

And we were off!

 

 

The KCRunning Co has photographers taking all sorts of pictures before, during and after the race.....and they are free to download!!  This is the one they got of me on the course!  haha  Sometimes it just doesn't work out.  However, what I like about the picture is a glimpse of part of the course.  It was one hilly 3.1 miles!!

I was OK til I hit the 1.5 mi mark and then I faded.  It was very obvious I wasn't as hill ready as I needed to be.  I took about 4 short walk breaks from there to the finish.  The hills, while not steep, were pretty much on the entire course.

 

 

 Even though I walked more than I wanted to, I was still OK with my finish time, which was officially 32.54.......  3 seconds faster than my last 5K....where the hills were not nearly as bad.   Three seconds are three seconds!  :)

 

 

Karen took the previous photo and this one!  :)   I was checking my watch to see my race time......just part of the fun.....or not.  :)

You can see that I'd removed the new stocking cap by the time I crossed the finish line.....as well as my jacket and gloves.  I wish one day I would learn to not overdress for these events.

 

 

There was this great photo op for us to take advantage of.  I'm with running friend, Mary, in this picture.   We were sporting our medals and division trophies.

 

 Following the race, we were treated to a wonderful "tailgating" array of yummy food!   

 

 

We also received very nice black hoodies embellished with the race logos!  

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT was impressed with my trophy!!  I told him that, while my time was good for me, the folks who crossed the finish line first did it in about half the time I did.  He promptly reminded me that I'm also twice their ages.   Yes..... 

I do know there are lots of really fast folks who are my age. . .I won't ever be one of those, but that doesn't bother me.  Being out there on such a beautiful day, with my daughter ( who  I watched through proud tears as she took off and ran her own race ahead of me ), and my good buddy Karen (who I met through running and spent her Sunday morning with us) and so many others I've also met through running (young and not so young)....well, that makes it all a lot of fun.

 

 

We are having a gorgeous weekend here!!  Tomorrow I will be doing a 10K!   It will be slow, cuz I'm not really ready for a  6.2 mile race right now, but it will still be fun. . .many friends will be there....and the weather will be nice.

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a list of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares!!

DANA