A Monday in December

Friends, I did not mean to disappear in the middle of last week! I thought we were making progress on our sleep schedules but that has now become a regression and we’re starting over. This is just an explanation and not a complaint, so don’t fret. I’m keeping things in perspective and we’re all doing our best.

We are officially out of stick season in New Hampshire! The transition to winter walking has been fabulous and I’ve enjoyed extra insight into who I’m sharing the trails with. I’ve seen tracks for dogs, deer, turkey, squirrels, and even mice. I’m going to try to get better at taking pictures of those tracks and finding ways to share them.

I have loved everyone’s comments about my commitment to walking nearly daily. The real test will be in the coming weeks – it’s tricky to stay committed in the snow, rain, and super cold temps that are sure to come our way. I’ve ordered some new LL Bean outerwear that should help me stay warm and am still contemplating boots. It seems like there aren’t a ton of snow boots that are plantar fasciitis-friendly, so I think I’ll have to make do with any boot and buy a separate insole to ensure I get the support I need. And that’s okay — but I should make a decision on the boot soon!

I had a terrible experience with a fellow walker last Tuesday on the trail that I frequent the most and I’ve been avoiding it since then. So I’m taking walks that are much more boring and not as scenic but feature fewer humans. It’s made me wish for my own private Scottish island where I could tramp around with my sheep and dogs (neither of which I have now, but definitely would if I were on an island). I’ll need to buck up and face humans again, I know. But I’ll keep hiding until I think I can handle it.

I’ll leave you with the video I took yesterday. Be sure to turn up the volume so you can hear the crunching of the snow!

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We have a little issue that we’re trying to deal with: the heat isn’t working on the second floor! We just had our furnace inspected and cleaned and they recommended two replacements. We’d accepted the estimate and were waiting for an appointment when this situation happened. We’re hoping that they can come out and fix the problem and not charge us for any emergency visits. So we’re bundling up a little more than usual and adding extra quilts to beds at night. Let’s hope for a quick fix!

My break time is up this morning. I hope your week gets off to a great start. Take good care!