The Stone Rabbit

A ROYAL RUN!

 

When my niece tossed out the idea of signing up for the ROYALS CHARITIES 5K Run/Walk. . .well, I wasn't sure about doing it.   The run was to be held in mid-August, which typically means HOT, HOT, HOT in Missouri...and it didn't start until 8 a.m., which meant it would be HOT, HOT, HOT at that time of day in August. . .and it was mostly held on the concrete parking lots that surround the Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums, which meant REALLY HOT, HOT, HOT!  However,  since it ALSO meant spending some fun time with her AND part of the run was to be done on the outfield inside the Royals stadium, I signed up. . . .and am I ever glad I did !!

It actually turned out to be a FABULOUS morning!!  Rain had been predicted....but it didn't happen!!  The skies were a bit overcast to start, but they cleared up to a gorgeous blue. . .I'm sure in honor of our Royals blue!!

This picture is of  my niece and I prior to the 5K!  I credit her for my  start in running 5 years ago!  We are so lucky to live  close to each other . . .we get to do one or two runs together each year!  

 

 

This was a heavenly sight. . .lots of Royal Blue porta potties. . .and they were clean and fresh!!

 

 

My running friend Karen came to cheer me on!!  This picture is out of sequence cuz it was taken after I'd completed the 5K.....she looks fresh as a daisy....I'm sweating profusely!   It was so awsome to have her there!!

 

 

 

I'm with one of my newer running friends, Sherri!  She ran with a group called Team RWB (Red, White and Blue).  It's an organization   whose mission "is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity."  The Royals are huge supporters for our veterans.

 

 

Her blog is called Adventures of a Middle-Aged Drama Queen!   We "met" on line nearly a year ago. . .through a running facebook page . . .and finally in person at at  10K in September!  We've been "running into each other" ever since!!

 

 

This fellow was kind enough to give us his blessings as we headed to the Start of the run!  :)

 

 

 

 

There were about 2,500 participants at the 5K!  It was really family friendly. . . lots of serious (and not so serious) runners were there, but  so were tons of kiddos with their parents, getting to experience running/walking at such a fun venue!!   

 

 

An airshow was in town last weekend, and as  the national anthem was nearly over, this formation of planes flew over us. . . twice!!  It was such a moving experience!!

 

 

When I'm doing longer runs, I do run/walk intervals, but when I do 5Ks, I try to concentrate on running as much as I can.  I take lots of photos on my walk intervals on the longer runs. . .but not so much on the 5Ks cuz, like I said, I'm trying not to walk!  However, when we were near the end of the run, we ran down a tunnel and BAM....we were on the outfield at the Royals!!!  It was so neat that I had to take a few pictures!!!

 

 

 I "borrowed" this one from my niece's album of photos!!!  I don't even remember seeing this spot!  I was in lah lah land!!

 

 

 I did take this blurry one. . .cuz I was still trying to run!  I just wanted to remember what the outfield looked like at that level and not how I typically see it from up high in a seat in the stands!

 

 

 Karen took this picture just as I had finished the run.  That was a happy woman there!!  I was glad it was over, but I was pleased that I didn't do too badly with my time.

 

 

There were so many awesome Royals "celebrities" at the event. . .all were so great about posing for photos!!

Here I am with Royals historian Dave Webster aka KayCee.....he's known to us as the "W Guy" because every time the Royals win at home, he climbs stairs and and hangs the W on the Royals Hall of Fame building and salutes it!!

He was waiting for all of us at the finish line!!

 

 

This Royals fan ran with moose antlers strapped to his back!   One of the Royals players is Mike Moustakas....lovinly known as MOOSE  !!!  He took the antlers to the to the stadium last fall when the Royals were  in the  Worlds Series and became a "hit" with the fans.  

He was right in front of us at the start of the run....I tried to get a picture of him there....but he took off and left us in his running dust!!  I tracked him down for a photo afterwards.  He said the antlers weighed about 15 pounds. 

 

 

I was thrilled to find out I'd placed third in my division!!   My niece took this photo of me holding up my little certificate!  In the background you can see the announcer for the awards ceremony.....his name is Toby Cook.  He used to be an anchor at a local news station.  He has been the Vice President for Community Affairs and Publicity (for the Royals) for several years now!

 

 

 

Yep, I had my niece take a picture of me with Toby, too!  :)

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT loved hearing all about our great time at the Royals 5K!!  He was impressed with my running on that morning. . .but even more by my swell new Royals shirt!  He got pretty tired of hearing me grumble last year about not being able to find a shirt I loved. . .cuz this city was so Royals crazy our t-shirt suppliers couldn't keep the shelves stocked!  :)

 

 

Be sure you visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  There will be a lot of other bloggers with great shares for you to enjoy!!

Happy PINK Saturday!

DANA

 

 

 

Fall is Just Around the Corner. . .

 

 We've enjoyed some wonderfully cool temps these last few days. . .so abnormally cool for August, in fact, that it's making us think that fall isn't too far off!!  

The Grand Dog and I have really enjoyed our walks in this great weather. . . no crazy panting on her part and no dripping wet with sweat for me!

 

 

Even though it's been cool, Karen and I still work up a sweat while running on the local trail, however, it's certainly more enjoyable than running in temps in the 90s!  

It's fun to document theses runs with pictures. . .cuz when we are dealing with several inches of snow and freezing temps in a few months, we can look back at them and recall how great we had it. . .and how awesome it will be when the winter is behind us once again.

 

 

A sure sign that fall isn't too far off are my crazy holly berries!!  I think we have the only bushes  whose berries turn red in August!!  At least they stay on the stems through the fall months and are still there for Christmas decorating....unless some naughty birds decide to go after them!    

 

 

 

The Stella De Ora day lilies  are sporactically blooming now. . . I certainly appreciate their  continued efforts.  They were full of blooms earlier in the season. . .so they deserve to take it easy.

 

 

 

The little fruit on the Weeping Crabapple tree is starting to turn  a bit, too.  Before long the little crabapples will be ready for fall with their color change from green to orange.

 

 

 

 

On these cool evenings, Izzy likes to play "fetch the tennis ball".  Last night, however, she was more interested in just checking out the squirrels in the yard across the street, the occasional dog that was being walked and the cars going by.  THE STONE RABBIT was also very happy to just be hanging out and enjoying the fantastic weather!

 

 

I hope you will visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  You will find lots of other bloggers who are ready with their Pink Saturday shares, too!

Have a great PINK SATURDAY!

DANA

 

 

My Favorite Summer Flowers

 

 

One of my favorite summer flowers.......the zinnia!

Folks who have success raising them tell me how EASY they are to grow.  They don't grow for me.....even though I LOVE them.

So. . .I have to rely on the kindess of others to SHARE a bouquet with me!!!  

My mom was the Zinnia Queen.   She had big ones and little ones and they were all different colors. . .almost always started with the dried seeds from the previous season.  When I visited her in the summer, she would send me home with a huge batch of them to enjoy.

Since they are usually going strong around my summer birthday time, my buddy Bonnie has frequently given me a beautiful arrangement from her zinnia patch as part of my birthday gift!

 

This picture is from 5 years ago.  Bonnie shared these gorgeous zinnias with me AND that vintage Rodney Kent hammered aluminum pitcher were in!!  I keep it displayed in my kitchen all the time!!

What t was I thinking with that hairdo?  :) 

 

This year Bonnie didn't plant zinnias !!!!  Boo Hoo!!!

However, yesterday I was visiting my neighbor and she was showing me her flowers and I FLIPPED when I saw her zinnias. . . .

 

 

 

and she picked a bouquet for me!!!  

Ahhhhh......

 

 

 

 

She also gave me a tomato plucked fresh from the vine!  

I don't grow tomotoes either! 

I put the zinnias in one of my mom's vases. . . .

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT was wondering what are you favorite summer flowers?

I love so many of them, but these are the top of my list. . .they remind me of my childhood and my mom's love of gardening.......a skill she did tried to pass on to me, but it didn't take.  :)

Happy PINK Saturday to all of you!

Be sure you pay a visit to Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  You will find a lot of other bloggers ready with their weekly shares!!

DANA

 

 

 

 

A Birthday Daytrip!

 

What a fun packed time I had on my birthday!!  Two of my friends and I headed to a small town about an hour and a half north of Kansas City. . .Jamesport!!

 It's hard to survive as a small business these days. . .and even more so in "out of the way" locations such as Jamesport.  However, this community has done that for a long time now. . . keeping many of those old buildings alive with antique stores, speciality shops, restaurants and several other businesses.

We enjoyed browsing in a few of the antique shops. . .

 

 

 

 

and we loved checking out some of their specialty stores.  This building houses a candle, gift and home decor shop....The Jamesport Candle Co.

 

 

 It was so awesome to watch the owner "pour" a batch of peach scented candles.  While he was filling the containers, his wife gave a great presentation about the process of candle making!

 

 

 Just down the block from the candle store is this yummy frozen custard shop called WHOLLY COW!

 

 

The owner is the daughter of the candle store owners!!

In this photo she had just made a fresh batch of frozen custard and was creating my chocolate malt!

 

 

I ate every single bit of it, too!!  DELISH!!

 

 

 

And speaking of eating. . . they also have a great bakery in Jamesport.  Actually, I believe there are other places that sell baked goods.  This bakery is attached to the place where we ate our lunch!!

I bought these cinnamon rolls to bring home and. . .

 

 

I caved and purchased FRIED PIES!!

After all.......it was my birthday!!

 

 

A big part of the charm of this town are the Amish in their buggies.  The clomping of the horses hooves is truly amazing. . .something we don't hear very often in the Big City.

 

 

Besides food. . .I bought two candles at the candle shop and I bought some great gray wool at SUE'S SOFT STUFF. . .a sweet shop that features yarn and wonderful handcreated items.   I will use the wool for witches hair once I start working on my fall sales!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT said he'd model some of the wool for me. . .just to make sure it will work on the witches.

I think it's a definite YES!!

 

 

I hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY!!  I know you will if you visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!    She will have a large group of others who are ready to share with you this weekend!!

 

DANA