The Stone Rabbit

Soaking up Fall

 

 THE STONE RABBIT, Izzy The Grand Dog and I spent quite a while outside this morning.  It's such a wonderful fall day!!!

As we sat on the front steps, taking in the sunshine, I shared  with them how I'd been working on my Marathon Report aka " blog post".   I recalled that just a week ago my feet weren't enjoying the crisp fall leaves that they were covered in today, but rather they were working hard to complete the 26.2 miles distance of the Kansas City Marathon and . . . .

 

 

as soon as I got home from the race, I headed right to tub and poured epson salt into it.  Next, I  filled it with really hot water, some bubbles and then turned on the Jacuzzi!  

Wow!  

Heaven!!

They didn't realize I need to tape some toes for these long runs.  Yep...I have toenail issues if I don't!  :)  Not pretty, but it works.

 

 

We were actually enjoying the weather and the leaves and the marathon talking while waiting for the CHIEFS game to come on.   Sometimes there's a STEALTH flyover of their stadium when the game is at home and if we are lucky we can see it !!  Today wasn't one of those days.

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT enjoys hanging out with  Wood Jack.  He's one of my favorite Halloween items....made by a great craftsperson a few years ago.  

 

 

The CHIEFS are ahead right now....and I feel a nap coming on!  Shhhhh.....don't tell anyone, but football makes me sleepy.  It does the same to Izzy and THE STONE RABBIT.  They are already snoozing away!

Hope you had a great weekend....and that you are having some beautiful fall days, too!

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

 

Another Surprise Gift...and Visit....and a Big Goal!

 

Karen recently took a trip to Hawaii. . .and look what she brought back for me!!!

I told THE STONE RABBIT that these are the very best chocolates I've ever eaten!!!  He asked me why I kept them hidden from my husband. . . I just looked at him.   Seriously?   I'm not sharing these treats!!  :)

 

 

Yesterday, these two great friends (I met them through running about 4 years ago) arrived at the same time to visit me at the Oktoberfest Craft Sale where I had a booth!

It's always a treat to see them in settings other than while we are running!  We surprise ourselves with how different we look in regular clothes and not drenched in excercise sweat.

This upcoming weekend is a big one for each of us.  Mary will be doing a 10K distance with her son in Minnesota.  He's doing his first full marathon the same morning!   Karen  is doing the half-marathon distance and I'm  doing the full marathon distance of the Kansas City Marathon!

We've been working hard for several months. . .getting ready for our goal distances.  It will be my first, and probably only, full marathon.   It will be hard for me to do, but I'm actually looking forward to completing it.

 

 

L to R  Karen, me, Mary

 

 

I've been a lucky gal to have received running mentoring  from Verna. . .another lady I met through running.  I think it's been about 3 years since we first met.

She's an amazing runner who has completed about 40 marathons and numerous ultra distances.  In fact, she's the one who really sparked my interest in tackling my first marathon distance earlier this year.  She was training for a full and I tagged along on some of her longer runs.  She was sharing all sorts of tid -bits about dealing with the additional miles. . .as up until then my longest distance was the half marathon which is 13.1 miles.  Anyway, the goal was distance and not speed and as the weeks went by.  She made me believe I was capable of completing a marathon distance ( 26.2 miles).  I figured out that this olden body didn't have a whole lot of time left in it to do such a thing...and if not now, then when?  So I signed up for the race and now, here it is, just a few days away!!  In the photo below, Verna is on the right.  We had just completed a long training run one hot day not long ago.

 

 

So, today in church, our priest spoke on a topic that really smacked me in the face.  It was about "gratitude"....mostly about how that related to our faith and the Lord...and all of the gifts he's given to us. 

I'm so grateful for the gift of physically being able to do th activity of running at this advanced age in my life.   . . .and also so very grateful I've found other folks who share the same enthusiasm.   Through many hours and miles of running with these ladies, we've developed great friendships....truly a gift.  

Another "gift" for which I'm grateful is Pink Saturday....and all of the wonderful cyber friends I've met because of that.  I'm so very lucky to have found Beverly and her wonderful blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, over 8 years ago!!!

Beverly hosts a weekly link up called Pink Saturday. . .a place for you to share "whatever"!   If you click (HERE) you will be taken to her blog and all of the others who are ready with their weekly shares!!

DANA

 

 

A Great Fall Surprise!

 

What do you do when a nice neighbor brings you a HUGE bag of fresh picked apples? 

 

 

You make a batch of apple crisp!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT wanted me to tell you that he was my "assistant" in the kitchen today as we created this yummy crisp!!  It's a family favorite treat. . .so it didn't last too long!  Fortunately, we have lots more apples to make a few more treats over the days ahead!!  

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great fall weekend....which includes a wonderful Pink Saturday, too!

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

DANA

 

A Fun Fall Day!

 

Yesterday, Bonnie and I went to a little town near us to attend what we thought was going to be a showcase of various vendors selling their handmade and vintage wares.  For several years, that's the way it was there.  We hadn't been to the sale for some time. . . .and were pretty surprised to find that the promoter no longer held the sale with multiple vendors.  However, she did showcase her items of primitive treasures and a few market candles in an old house adjacent to her home.

While we were disappointed in it not being "the way it used to be", we still had a great time visiting with her.  We both bought a pumpkin, a couple of squash and a candle.  All perfect items for the days ahead!

 

It feels so good to "get away" from the city life for awhile.  The little town we went to is a farming community.  They were busy harvesting.  

I took this photo of the farm equipment at work in the cornfield while we waited for a train to pass.

 

 

We visited a little antique shop in that town after we left "the sale".  I found a great basket...which I forgot to take a  photo of for this post.

Afterwards, we went to a restaurant, located next to the antique store.

The sign on the front door should have been an indicator that this lunch was not going to be a good experience.  It told us they were "closing at 2:00"'

Hmmmm.....that was odd for the only eating spot in town to be closing.

Anyway, the place was packed.  

We waited and waited and waited for someone to take our order....then the process of waiting and waiting began  again for our food to be delivered.  

As we were twiddling our thumbs, I noticed people starting to gather in front of the restaurant ...many wearing t-shirts with the years they had graduated.  Soon folks were pulling out umbrellas and sitting in chairs along side the road.

Uh......"Bonnie", I said, "I think we might be parked on a parade route!"    Just then our waitress walking towards us with our food.  I quickly asked her if there was going to be a homecoming parade going by and she prouding answered "YES"!!  (duh....that's why they were closing early!!!!)

I threw money at Bonnie, told the waitress to bring us "to go" boxes and bounded out to my car to move it before we got locked in for the duration of the parade!!

We made it off the parade route.....pulling into a gas startion parking area....where we sat and inhaled our overdue lunches!!  I had a very good cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and Bonnie had fried walleye...the daily special!

We got a good laugh out of our day.  It certainly wasn't what we thought it would be, but it was still a great time together!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT got a big chuckle out of our trip to "the country".

 

 

 

I hope you're having a great time this weekend, too!

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

 

A Coolish, Rainy Pre-Fall Day!

 

We are having another rainy day.....and it's pretty cool....not cold, but cool.

I actually love this kind of weather right now.  I'm busy getting items made for my upcoming fall sale.....and the rain and cool temps help motivate me to work.  

Sadly, it also makes me sleepy!!  :)

THE STONE RABBIT is shown with a couple of the scarecrows and a few pumpkins that are "in the works".

 

 

He wanted me to show you this photo from year of him with one of the completed scarecrows  I took to the same fall sale.  It makes a big difference when you see them with a face and hat !

Now, I need to head back to the crafty room and get to work!

Or. . .maybe I'll take a nap and THEN I'll head to the crafty room!

 

 

 

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

DANA

 

Our Beautiful Fall Route!

 

So many of our neighborhood trees have been spectacular this fall.

Izzy, the Grand Dog, and I have a favorite route we take morning and night when we walk.  Along this way we have watched two wonderful trees go from lush green to amazing shades of orange. . .then we watched, as over the days, those leaves took their trip to the ground.

One of her favorite parts of our walks is when she spots the "dog treat man".  She can see him blocks away!!  He's such a nice guy.  He told me once that "it's a good day when I can give all of my Milkbones away!"  

 

THE STONE RABBIT isn't really into taking long walks with us, but so enjoys just hanging out in the leaves before they are raked up!

 

 

Hope you have had a beautiful fall in your area, too!!

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a long list of other bloggers who have their weekly shares all ready for you, too!!

Happy Pink Saturday!!

 

DANA

A WEEK OF FALL FIRSTS!

 

This really was a week full of Fall Firsts!  So.....maybe they weren't all huge firsts ( a couple were!), but they were firsts in their own way!!

It started a week ago on Saturday when (L to Right) Dana (that's me), Mary and Karen volunteered to be "course monitors" for a local 5K/10K run.  It was our "first" time to deck out in pumpkin sacks and direct traffic so the runners and walkers would be safe!  Actually, it was a cold and windy morning and the plastic sacks really helped us keep warm!

 

 

On Sunday, the temps had gone up and the sun came out!!   Karen couldn't run that day, but another friend could for a bit.  I had a goal of completing 6 miles.  Melita and I ran two miles together, then she had to head back, so (and here's the "first" part) for the first time, I ran by myself on that trail.....6 more miles, giving me a total of 8 for the outing!   

I really do not like being on the trail by myself, but on Sunday, there was a marathon taking place, so I saw tons of other runners and didn't feel "alone".   

 

 

 

On Monday, Twiggy was busy rearranging our kitchen rugs.   She told me it was her way of supporting the ROYALS as they prepared to take on the METS the next evening in the first game of the 2015 World Series .  It was taking place right here in Kansas City at the beautiful Kauffman Stadium!!

OK...this was not the "first" time Twiggy has rolled up those rugs, but it is the "first" time she gave me a reason that made sense!

 

 

On Tuesday, our local HY-VEE grocery store had restocked their ROYALS shirts supply again!    Last year this store couldn't keep up with the demand ....as it was the first time the ROYALS had gone to the World Series in a VERRRRRRRY long time.    This year, and the second trip to the Series for our hometown boys, brought about just as much demand for new and better shirts!

Well...the "first" for Tuesday when the ROYALS won the first game in the series!  Oh my goodness....it turned out to be a 14 inning nail biter with the Royals winning 5-4!

 

 

On Wednesday, everyone was pretty sleepy from the late night game, but also nervous about Game 2 that would be starting around 7:00 p.m.   We still met for our Wed. night  group run....it took our minds off of what would be about to start in an hour and a half!!

Because there are no lights on the chat trail we have been running on all summer, we've had to change our location to an asphault trail-like that stretch that goes along side a streetlight illumninated road.  Wednesday was our "first" night at our new location!!

While I love the flat, chat trail, I also enjoy running here because it gives us more practice  on hills.  Karen, Melita and I did this route with our old group last winter and it really helped keep us in shape during the long cold months.   It's very motivating to know others will there, taking on the hills, too!

L to R:  Karen, Sue, Dana (me), Carol and Melita

 

 

WOW!!!!  What a game #2 of the series turned out to be!!!  Both teams did a great job....but on that night the ROYALS were truly amazing, winning the game 7-1!

By Thursday morning, it was in the 30s, but Izzy and I were still flying high from the night before and we didn't feel the cold.  This was, however, her "first" day to sport her coat this fall!

 

 

This morning (Friday) we had our "first" frost!!  Last night, I covered the few plants I'm still trying to keep alive for awhile as we are expecting the temps to be back in the 70s by Sunday.

Today, we are getting excited and nervous again as Game 3 of the Series will be played this evening.

 

 

The ROYALS  are in New York now, so they don't have home field advantage (and we all know that really helps a team), but they do have what it takes to be a great team.    

It's an exciting time to be a ROYALS fan. . .30 years ago they won the 1985 World Series.......followed by years of not so great seasons.  However, we have an outstanding group of players and staff who have given us two amazing seasons!!  

Whatever the outcome of this year's series, we are so proud of this team and we are:  FOREVER ROYAL!!!

 

 

We hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY and that you will be sure to visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  She will certainly have a huge lineup of other bloggers who are ready with their weekly shares just for YOU!

 

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

 

 

It's Apple Time!

 

My friend Fritzi asked me recently if I wanted some apples as she had an abundance!  I couldn't say "yes" fast enough!!

We gathered the apples from the ground that had fallen off the tree during the night, then we spent the afternoon visiting!  What a double treat for me! 

 

 

The apples are small so it takes quite awhile to get enough peeled and sliced for a pie, but I did it!!!  I used to be really good at making apple pies, but I don't do it very often anymore, so it's hit or miss as to how my crust will turn out.  Fortunately, my husband doesn't care.  He still loves them no matter how sad they look.

 

 

This morning I decided I'd better get to work on some more of those apples, so I made another pie!!   I do have to say this crust turned out really good this time. . .it was a hit.

THE STONE RABBIT pointed out that there was no PINK involved in my post so far. . .so we fixed that with this little sign!!

 

 

I hope you have a great PINK SATURDAY!  I know you will if you visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  There you will find lots of other bloggers who are sharing their PINKS with you this weekend!!

Also, a huge thank you to Beverly for keeping the PINKIES connected for so very long!!

 

DANA

 

 

Pink Saturday . . . An Early Morning Autumnal Run . . .our longest run. . .EVER!!!!

 

Three of us in our running group met early this morning for our LONGEST run before  our first Half Marathon event on October 19th.

 

Our goal was to go at least 12 miles AND "if" we felt we could continue once we reached that point. . .we'd hoped to push it a bit further and actually hit the 13.1 miles distance of a half marathon.

 

Now don't go "EEEEEEWWWW" when you see what I had for supper last night!!!  I have to be careful with what goes into my tummy the evening before we do a longer run!  I combined spinach leaves with quinoa, pinto beans, avocado and the last of my beloved yellow tomatoes!  Then I added a drizzle of awesome reduced balsamic vinegar!  YUM!! 

 

We've been doing our long training runs on a local trail since mid-June.   This morning, we noticed the trees, that had given our trail and the surrounding land so much shade all summer, are starting to show the signs of autumnal color.

  Over the months, we've also watched many lovely sunrises, as we meet between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. for our runs.

Here's one of the views we get to see while running just as the darkness gives way to the light of the new day.   How inspiring is that!!!

 

 

We plugged along today. . .using interval times of 3 minutes of running and 2 minutes of walking.

It was about 15 degrees warmer this morning than last week when we'd met for our 11 mile run.  I don't know if the extra heat was the cause, but I felt whipped from the 10 mile mark on.  We even tossed in an extra minute of walking two times after that distance.

Fortunately, we were able to refill our water bottles at the halfway point. . .we'd all pretty much drained them by then.  I even had to bum more water from Mary before we completed the second half of our run. . .and I'd hydrated very well the day before.   

We were able to "keep on keeping on" and moved past the 12 mile mark right on to 13.1 miles!!!

Lots of training plans don't have you actually reaching that distance before the day of the half-marathon event, but I think we just wanted to know we could do it. . .and now we know we can!!

Our next two longer runs will be "tapering" runs where we reduce our mileage in preparation for the "big day"!!

 

L to R:  Mary, me, Joan

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT is such a buddy!!  Here he is posing with my very trail dusty shoes and socks, watch and empty water bottle!!

He's so proud that we've worked so very hard all summer. . .and that today we were able to reach that amazing distance!!!

We're all very proud of ourselves, too!   This has been such a challenging and FUN thing to do!!!  

 

 

And for my PINK. . .look at the awesome PINK shoes my hair stylist had on recently!!!  I MUST find me some of those!!

 

 

 

Another "must" is to go visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!!  She will have a long list of other bloggers who are ready with their PINKS or Autumnal Shares this week!!  

Happy Pink Saturday!!  

DANA