Every day Madi and I like to go on a adventure. I usually post our nature walk pics on Instagram. Here are pictures from today’s adventure:

Blue skies, sunshine, 42°

#Madi

#UpstateNewYork

#Naturewalk

#CavalierKingCharlesSpaniel

In 2014, I was in PA helping my son settle into a new apartment. I drove to the local Wal-Mart and bought a whole bunch of cleaning essentials including a mop. I returned to the apartment and eagerly started with my cleaning. Upon unwrapping the packaging; I set out to use the mop. It seemed simple enough; but, I desperately wrangled with the mop. I couldn’t for the life of me get it hooked together. After about an hour struggle, I grabbed my phone and punched in “O-Cedar Fast ‘N Easy Mop Disassembled and Reassembled”. I was positive that I was not alone in this battle. My hope was that some wonderful genius might have posted a How to because I was truly stumped. And behold this video appeared.

https://youtu.be/08bl2x-fIHY Watch “O-Cedar Fast ‘N Easy Mop Disassembled and Reassembled” on YouTube Honestly, I had to watch it several times to actually get it; but, in the end it worked. I truly was thrilled that this young man, Alexander Wolfe posted a solution to my problem. This was my first introduction to YouTube. My daughter had spent countless hours each week watching hair and makeup videos on YouTube through her preteen and teenage years. She actually learned so much from them. Her makeup application is awe-inspiring. It further inspired her to attend cosmetology school. She is now a successful hair stylist.

Since then, I have discovered another wonderful soul that has also come to my rescue. My son told me to check out Yoga by Adriene.

https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene I had never done Yoga before, so I was willing to try it at home to avoid public humiliation. I have to say it truly has changed my life. For years, I had been suffering with a constant struggle of back pain. My doctor’s mantra was ‘build your core it will strengthen your back’. So, I was walking, swimming, and doing weight training. I was building my core; but, I was still having the discomfort in my lower back. So, I tried a few of Adriene’s videos, she has gobs of them and I like her quirky sense of humor and ease. At the start of 2017 she posted REVOLUTION 31-days of Yoga. I did it and continued all through 2017. It not only helps make me free of back pain, it builds my strength, keeps me fit and flexible. More importantly, it has provided me with a tool that has improved not only my posture, breathing, concentration and the ability to relax my mind and expand my thoughts. If you have any desire to give Yoga a try, I recommend her newest 30 day TRUE series.

I have a 7 yr-old great nephew, Ethan who wants to become a You Tube star. We videotaped him installing a light. It is adorable. Here is a small bit.

Have you made some joyful discoveries on You Tube? I hope so.

Via Daily Prompt: Agile

I walk outside to greet this Winter’s Day. I close my eyes and breath in the crisp, cold, fresh air. It awakens my nostrils; sending the cleansing chill down to my lungs. I open my eyes to find a gray sky that blends into the snow-covered ground creating a dome-like roof surrounding me. For a minute, I am in a snow-globe.

I strap Madi into the car restraints and drive over to the park. She patiently waits for me to park and strap on my snowshoes. After fumbling for a minute, I open her car door. She looks at me with wide-eye anticipation, her tail wagging.
Madi pulls excitedly on her leash. She is exuberant. She is ready to go.

I look at her to say this is all for you girl. I woke this morning feeling tired. My head was heavy. There was a pressure squeezing my temples; making my eyes ache. A nauseous wave surrounded me. Madi laid patiently waiting for the feeling to pass. Through morning coffee, reading, and yoga she waited.

Now, we are here. The stillness of the snow-laden field is before me. I start to crunch across. The snowshoes help to make my movement agile; keeping me upright. As I cross, my steps become a rhythmic chorus. I continue to breath in deeply sending the cooling air throughout my body. Forging ahead, I see tips of the field grass shooting up through the snow. There are tracks from animals and people that came before me. Discarded acorns left from a squirrel. The bare tree stands tall exposed bark bending in the breeze.

Madi leaps through the drifts, hopping ahead. Her 16 pounds weighed down by huge snowballs that have attached to her fur. It doesn’t seem to faze her in the least. We come to a bench and I sit. I gaze around the field. The woods stand tall surrounding the open space. The tree branches and evergreens stretch up to the sky. I realize, I no longer feel that wave of nausea or pressure to my head. Instead, I feel strong and alive.

I get up and continue on our way, trudging through the snow. I am thankful that I have a dog who relies on me to get up and get outside. The sun has popped through the clouds. A blueness has returned to the sky. The snow glistens like diamonds. What a wonderful way to greet the day.

Imagine my surprise when the post, A Clean Slate appeared on my blog on New Year’s Day. You see, back in the Fall I had gone for a walk with my son, Austin. He was encouraging me to go back to posting on my blog. I had started blogging in 2016 after we purchased our big project, the foreclosure at 609. In the beginning, I enjoyed posting our journey and about artists, designers and things that inspired me.

I wasn’t inspired to post in 2017 much at all. I was all-consumed with taking care of my old girl, Maxi trying to make her comfortable in her final days and training my new puppy Madi, both Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Michael and I were still renovating 609; in our spare time; but, it took a back seat to 1817. We were refurbishing, 1817 (aka Austin’s house) to be sold; unless, he could make it a successful rental on Airbnb. (Thankfully, he did.) I had taken a leave of absence from my part-time job and pretty much my life. Somehow, during that time, I loss interest in all the things that had once felt so important and dear to me: Art, Interior Design, Gardening, and Socializing.

So, when I wrote that New Year’s Day post on that day in August, I was thinking that I would make Austin proud and muster the strength and courage to be a blogger once again in 2018. At that time in the Fall, I thought I would gather gobs of ideas and have a plan for a year’s worth of postings all ready to go by the start of the New Year. I set that draft to post on Jan 1. After that, I completely dropped the ball and never even touched the site nor did I make “a Plan”. I basically forgot about it until it appeared on New Year’s Day on my phone. I was mortified. I thought, “Oh no, what do I do now?” I know that nobody cares if I write a blog. But, how do I disappoint my son? Crap!

So here I am, feeling completely exposed. I am giving it as much strength, as I can muster inorder to give 2018 a go. If anyone is out there, please have patience with me. I am doing the best that I can. I’m not sure what 2018 will bring for my little unknown blog 609design; but, here goes nothing. I’ll do my best to speak from the heart, update you on projects and hopefully inspire you along the way.

inJOY-Trisha

2018 WEEK 1-DAY#1-1/1/2018-

A NEW YEA

R|

A Clean Slate

•New beginning

s

•New goals

•New habits

I have always felt that each new year brings us a clean slate. It’s a great time to kick those bad habits and to start anew. An opportune time to set new goals for yourself or to begin healthy habits.

I always thought the rule of thumb was: 30 days=A healthy habit

So, I looked on the web for confirmation and sought out the article

How Long It Really Takes To Form a New Habit (and how to get started) written by Jason Gutierrez

[link(1.) found in the sources details below]

The article states:

“The average time it took for a behavior to become a habit was 66 days!”

Each individual differs. It can take anywhere from 18 days to 254 days.

That’s a great deal longer than I thought. I was vying for Jan 30 using the 31st as a cushion. March 7th is the 66th day of 2018. [link(2.)found in the sources details below] So, I guess I might want to mark my calendar with March 7th as my goal date.

If I can keep up the behavior until then IT will definately become a HEALTHY HABIT. (Fingers Crossed)

Jan 1-March 7 is the period of change.

I hope to implement some change into my life this new year. I guess you could call them New Year’s Resolutions. I prefer just dubbing them my goals for embodying a better me in the New Year.

My #1 Goal- Start blogging again:

Honestly, I failed as a blogger in 2017. With the illness of my cherished Cavalier, Maxi becoming all so consuming from Dec 2016 until her death on June 1, 2017. I basically stop everything and focused all my energy on her and on our puppy Madi. I stopped blogging, I stopped my daily exercise routine and I focused on all things canine.

Once Maxi passed, I thought I might get back on course. I just didn’t have it in me. I was in mourning. Then, on June 19th Madi, the 35 week-old Cavalier pup got attacked by a Golden Retriever as we walked home from the park. Another setback. It seemed to leave more scars on me than it did her. For once her wounds healed she was as good as new. Trusting, friendly and willing to give all canines and humans a chance. I, on the other hand was left scared. I was completely untrusting, scared of other dogs, irritated by carefree owners who let their dogs unleashed. I was consumed with fear and worried that it could happen again.

After that setback, I was rebounding. Then. she had her surgery. It drained her energy and inadvertently it drained mine too. So, I spent my time in the comfort and security of my home reading, writing, puttering about in the house. Instagram became my venue for expression and Madi became my constant companion. We would make sure we left the house daily to submerge ourselves in nature by walking in the woods, the big field or the park by the lake. That was our therapy.

My #2 Goal-Continue our daily nature walks:

Nature has healing qualities. If you don’t believe me read this wonderful article [link(3.)found in the sources details below]:

Why Nature Is Therapeutic | CRC Health Group

My #3 Goal-Read (even more):

I want to explore the work of author, Henry David Thoreau starting with Walden. I also want to study the historical figures sited in the article, by immersing into the work of: Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Muir and Charles Darwin. The architecture and interior design enthusiast in me will once again enjoy exploring the work of architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

My #4 Goal-Continue the practice of Yoga daily:

In 2016, my daily routine included a walk around the block; then, I would drive to the gym. I did a 20 minute weight routine (switching from upper body to lower body focus every other day) and then, I swam for 40 minutes. I did slim off 20 pounds and my abs looked great. (My hair, not so much from all the chlorine.) But, I had a constant pain across the middle of my back.

In 2017, being unable to access the gym, I incorporated Yoga to my daily routine and increased my walking. My back pain disappeared. I highly recommend Yoga with Adriene on You Tube. [link(4.)found in the sources details below]: She has gobs of videos. I think you might like to start with her REVOLUTION 31 Days of Yoga to bring you through January.

I can go crazy and make a massive list.

But, my hope is to actually achieve these goals. Anything else is just icing on the cake.

ICING:

(1)Be an Explorer-Travel More

(2)Be a Positive Thinker-Spread Joy

(3)Be a Better Cook-Eat out less

(4)Be Kinder-To Yourself

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

inJOY-Trisha

[LIST OF SOURCES]:

Link(1.) How Long It Really Takes To Form a New Habit (and how to get started) written by Jason Gutierrez https:/.pickthebrain.con

Link(2.) Day Numbers for 2018 https://http://www.epochconverter.com

Link(3.) Why Nature Is Therapeutic CRC Health Group http://www.crchealth.com

Link(4.) Yoga with Adriene https://www.youtube.com/yogawithadrienne