Random photos

The kids are busy with softball, basketball, swimming, and training to run Boo's second/Nea's first 5K. 

N has been transforming our unfinished basement into different rooms. Laundry and workout rooms are nearly complete. A large family room to come. 

I'm still me, but with more work hours, larger granola batches, yet more triathlon training, and attempts to transition volunteer work to others as much as possible. Only another year left at the grade school! Need to start handing off my pet projects.

So, here's some things that happened this week, in photos.

On the way to pick up a new guinea pig from a rescue group, a call to update the blog:

Here she is, the new pig. Her new name is Pepper. Ain't she cute?! We never renamed a pig before (and this is our 4th rescue pig), but "Peggy" didn't do it for us. Before that she was apparently "Piggie Pig" which is pretty weak. So, back up to 3 pigs currently.

And lastly, the first sprout of the season! Front left, if you can't find it. Late start, with it still snowing and all. Might have to buy my tomato plants this year. Oh well.

Books and worms

Aha! I have located the problem with yesterday’s posting. This is why you weren’t impressed. I forgot to mention that I had been out with book group boozing until almost 2 a.m. the night before. Now my time sounds amazing, n’est pas?

Speaking of book group, next month's selection is Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. I just finished it, and it is my favorite book of the last 6 months, at least. The story behind the book is also remarkable, in that the manuscript was unpublished until 60 years after her death in Auschwitz.

The main reason, as I believe I've mentioned, why I'm posting less is that it is high-season for gardening. All my veggies are planted into the actual dirt in the actual ground except for the tomatoes. I'm thinking they'll go in Friday.

Here's what we have this year:

Potatoes
Zucchini
Kohlrabi
Bok choi ("baby" variety, very annoying. Wanted "adult")
Carrots (haven't sprouted yet)
Strawberries (free plants, whee)
Rhubarb
Asparagus (purple!)
Tomatoes (5 kinds)
Bell peppers
Green beans
Cucumbers
Butternut squash (of course)
Basil (purple and regular)
Cilantro
Parsley (about to sprout, I'm sure)
Chives (massive)
Onions
Peas
Spinach (unsure whether they are up, as I don't know what they look like)

Whew. That explains why I'm a little tired. Everything except 8 of the 21 tomato plants were started from seed.

Wherein I pretend to be athletic

OK, so, Saturday I ran the Easter Seals 5K. Beautiful weather. Perfect conditions for self-inflicted torture.

I reminded myself at the beginning that it’s important not to start too fast, so I was one of the last down the road. Chug chug chug. Huff puff. I was running 12 minute miles when I hit the 2 mile marker. Only a little over one mile left. I took stock. I decided I could push myself a little. So, I actually passed a few people on my last mile, which clocked in at under 10 minutes. Not blistering, but pretty good for me. Did the whole thing in 34 minutes and change. I’ve been waiting for Easter Seals to put up the results, but I don’t think they have yet.

Also, Boo walked the whole 2 mile course with her friend Madeline! Not too shabby.

Thanks to those of you who donated! We appreciate it, and we know that it will be used to help those in need of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. You can donate anytime. I will continue to donate funds from the Amazon link through the end of May.

Easter Seals 5K

For the months of March, April, and May, proceeds (if any) from this site will go to Easter Seals. If you don’t need anything from Amazon, please feel free to donate directly to Easter Seals DuPage instead. They do wonderful work. We are coming up on our one year anniversary of ES speech therapy. I just can't say enough good things about them.

May 10th, our ES is hosting a 5K run/2 mile walk. N and I have decided to participate! Two months should be enough to train. Why just today I shoveled the old ice off the driveway, went for a 2 mile jog/walk, walked around the arboretum, shoveled some more, and walked around the block twice while the girls biked. We’ll see how my back feels tomorrow. I did manage to blister my hands a little.

If you are getting back into shape, try map my run to see how far you went.