Finding Joy in Winter 2016

Winter in Excelsior Springs Missouri December 2016

This photo was taken as I was looking West from the deck of our home. I love how serene it looks. It is wonderful that the sun is shining.

Another picture of our new homemade mailbox, taken from our deck. I was facing Northeast to snap the photo. This photo and the 1st photo were taken on December 19th.

The next photograph was one that I took from our bedroom door. It was taken on December 20th. I looked at the gorgeous sun setting and wanted to get a picture of it. The contrast between the bright yellows and oranges against the brown tree trunks/limbs and the white snow is just breathtaking. 

I hope all who read this blog post will be having one wonderful day after another for now and in the year to come. May you be truly happy. You can be. It is within you.

 

2015 Year in Review = Some of My Accomplishments

My Projects

     * Birthday project for grandchildren who turned 10 in 2015.

 Perresa's photo story album was made in July. I worked on LaKai's in October/November and Talmadge's was finished in November. The photo's were of interesting and important events in their lives. They each have story books that I put together from when they were younger. I so enjoyed making these albums for each of them. I love these sweet people so very much.











 

      Quilt Project for one of our grandson who was having his 2nd birthday in 2015.

This little fellow is into dogs and balls. Therefore his quilt and pillow have that theme. Sports came into play on the quilt also since balls remind me of sports. It is so exciting and rewarding to make our grandchildren their quilts. I love doing it.


     Challenges = I have done 3 workout challenges in 2015.

The first was a 100 Days Challenge on Facebook from January 1 to April 10.

      For this challenge I tried to achieve 30 minutes or more activity each day with the needed rest days taken as needed. I found lots of YouTube videos to work out to. There was Zumba, Weights, Strength, low impact cardio, Dance, Yoga, resistance band workouts on these videos. I also took walks and went biking. At the end of this challenge, the first part of April, Second I became part of My Daily Fitness Challenge that was started on Facebook by Kelly who was a 100 Days Challenge participant. Bless her heart. I love being part of this positive and encouraging group who I consider my friends. It is on-going. We strive to workout regularly as much as we can. There is no time frame to this challenge. It is ongoing.

Third was The 101 Days Challenge the next Facebook Challenge started by Bryan who began the 100 Days Challenge in January. This Challenge ran from August 17 to November 26th for me because I had one sick day so I made it up at the end.

 I worked out mostly by walking however while on the 101 Day Challenge I discovered Varzesh videos to exercise to on YouTube (pictured below). So much Fun.

  

 In September I discovered Classical Stretch on PBS. I immensely enjoy this workout discipline. I feel so much better after doing these exercises faithfully by watching it on weekday mornings on PBS (22 min. workout) or by playing my Classical Stretch DVD's (either 30 or 60 minutes). I think Miranda Esmonde-White is fabulous.

 


















 Here are some photos that I took while taking my frequent walks in our neighborhood. These photos were taken since April when I became part of My Daily Fitness Challenge. What a great way to workout. As you can see we live near farmland which is amazing to me. I really enjoy it. We also have the Rainbow Trail that skirts the area. It is just beautiful all year. We are fortunate to have very nice neighbors in our neck of the woods. I am so glad were live here. I love the birds, squirrels, horses, cows, rabbits, cats, turtles and butterflies that we get to share space with.

 Have a beautiful 2016 everyone.