Oh Brother!!

On our way to visit my brothers recently, we drove by our very first house.

The biggest change was the enclosed carport.

This is the house we lived in when our first son was born.

Sure brought back a lot of memories!

 Since it was lunch time we decided to stop at the local park for a picnic.

The big change there was no more pool.

So thankful for the man who has been by my side for almost 38 years! 

My younger brother had single bypass surgery a couple of weeks ago.

It was so good to see him, his wife, and his fur baby.

We toured their yard and the flower gardens were beautiful.

We had dinner with my older brother and his wife.

We spent a very enjoyable few hours hogging a table at a local restaurant while we talked about our families and life.

I am so THANKFUL for my family!!!

My Evolution of Running

I have always loved walking for exercise, meditation, and stress relief.  

A year ago I decided I wanted to step it up a notch and started run/walking.

Not long after I made that decision a friend asked me to join her in a group 

that was training for a marathon in January 2016.

I thought about it for awhile and decided I would commit to that goal.

I really did not know what I was getting into!!

The group we joined was FAB 50.

It was started by a woman (Coach Pamela) six years ago as she was approaching her 50th birthday.  She wanted to help herself and other women train for half marathons.

Two years ago she started a training program for a marathon.

This fantastic group of women became my new social network.

Many miles later the marathon journey culminated with a half marathon on January 17th 

and finished with a full marathon on January 23rd.  

(see my blog post on January  25, 2016)

Sadly on April 25, 2016 Coach Pamela announced 

her retirement from coaching and the end of FAB 50 as we knew it.

We celebrated with a Farewell Finale Run and 

Graduation ceremony on May 14th at Walsingham Park in Largo, FL.

Assistant Coach Carolyn, Coach Pamela, Team Valedictorian Betsy

Graduation certificate

Tailgate Graduation Celebration

MC & Valedictorian Betsy

Coach Pamela w/Solomon

Clearwater Distance Classic Race Director Chris Lauber

 Since Coach Pamela's retirement I have joined a couple of other 

women's free running groups.

'Sunshine Soul Sisters' is a group of former FAB 50 teammates 

who mostly live in the Bellair-Largo area.

MRTT/SRTT (Moms Run This Town/She Runs This Town)

is a group of women living in the North Pinellas County area.

Some former FAB 50 teammates are also part of this group.

BDR (best damn race) Leftover 5K in Safety Harbor was the first event I participated

in since the retirement of the FAB 50 group.

It was strange to not meet at the FAB 50 feather banner.

Many former teammates also participated with our new groups

so it was great to see everyone, but it was also bittersweet.

It was called a Leftover 5K because they gave out shirts and

medals from previous BDR events.

 I am not registered for any other events at this point in time.

For the summer I am run/walking 3 miles twice a week. 

On Saturdays I run 5 miles on the Dunedin Causeway

or I join the Sunshine Soul Sisters for their 5 mile run in Largo.

It has truly been an evolutionary learning process!!

Everyday Stuff

Here's what is happening around the Florida homestead!

broken sprinkler

I excavated to find the problem, 

then had to call the neighborhood handyman to come fix it.

Cost = $10

 Nina is in full bloom.

 I cut some blooms & brought them inside.

They smell divine!

blooming palm

 

This is the first time I have noticed a flower on this palm tree.

In memory of those who gave it all!!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane!! No It's Me!!!

I recently participated in the Tampa International Runway 5K.

It was the first time I had run/walked intervals for about a month.

It was fun to see some friends I hadn't seen for awhile.

We even got to see a rainbow!

Compliments of the airport fire truck.

What a fun day with friends!!

Precious Adorable Granchildren!!

We recently traveled north to visit our two precious adorable grandchildren.

 We helped our grandson celebrate his 4th birthday in style.

We bought him his very own two wheeled bicycle.

He had been borrowing a bike with training wheels from a friend.

There were no training wheels on this bike!

In fact there weren't even pedals.

We purchased the bicycle from Working Bikes - a not-for-profit bike shop which 

fixes up old cycles for sale or to be donated to global communities - for $5.

We did get pedals for the bike to take home with us. 

The weather was beautiful while we were visiting.

We had a picnic lunch in the park one day and 

spent a couple of hours playing at the park on another day.

 Of course there was book reading time!

Home Sweet Home!

Living room, art gallery, child's bedroom, library, 

play room, and music room all-in-one.

What I Miss About Spring

Since moving to FL a few years ago 

I've discovered I miss several things about Spring in the north.

Such as . . . . . 

I appreciate the blooms of creeping phlox and daffodils.  

You don't see those in Florida.

There is always something blooming in FL and I love seeing all the color.

However, I do miss the contrast of 

what was once dull bursting forth with new growth and color.

IRON GIRL!

I completed the Iron Girl event on Sunday, April 10th.

The name is a little misleading.  

It is a women's only half marathon and 5K event.

I had registered for the Iron Girl half marathon in January 

while I was still excited about my accomplishments 

of completing a half marathon 

and full marathon in the same week. 

It was a beautiful day for packet pickup!

We even wandered around the food trucks and Pierce Street Market 

which were adjacent to the packet pick up area.

On race day we arrived early!!

Due to injury I was only able to walk the 5K event.

Fortunate for me one of the other gals also had to walk 

because she was recovering from surgery.

It is definitely more fun together!

Those in the group that did the 5K cheered on the half marathoners 

as they crossed the finish line.

 I was disappointed that I could only walk the 5K,

but I had a great time hangin' out with the FAB 50 sole sisters 

on such a beautiful day!!