Take A Hike!!

As much as I love to hermit myself down in my basement studio, embracing my creative space—honestly, If there was a bathroom and a kitchen down here, I’d probably never leave—I also love to be out and about exploring this beautiful world.

I was just thinking this morning of all the places my feet have walked just in the past year. Coast to Coast, North to South, All over the Midwest, to Germany and back, to Alaska….We will add several islands to that in just about a week’s time.

Let’s face it – Quilting, no matter how much we love it—is a “Sedentary Sport”. If we want to keep our bodies healthy and happy we have to move more than just from the sewing machine to the ironing board.

Put on your shoes, go outside for a walk…even a short one! Listen to the birds, enjoy the flowers, the green ((Which will be gone in the next couple of months if you are in the northern hemisphere)) feel the breeze, wave at your neighbors. MOVE THAT BODY!

It’s something I learned in anatomy classes in massage therapy school. Bones that are put under pressure or stress ((As in exercise)) have the ability to remodel themselves constantly and are built stronger. Bones that sit idle become candidates for refeeding the body – things like calcium and other nutrients are pulled back out of the bones if you are not using them to be used elsewhere. It’s a use it or lose it situation, folks!

Same with muscle tissue…if you are not using your muscles, they will diminish as nutrients are used elsewhere in your body to keep it going.

We got out as often as we could while we were in Alaska to do some walking and hiking, and we found friends who were willing to take us to some of their favorite places!

While in Delta Junction, our time at the B&B included evening walks….that easily went as late as 10pm because it was still light enough up there! Lonnie took me and her dog Lucy around her area --- even through some back woods. I got curious when she was whistling and making strange noises, and in one word she told me why. BEARS! Thar’s Bears in them thar woods! I started whistling too….that got my heart racing more! The picture at the beginning of this post is from one of our late evening walks near Lonnie’s.

Christy, Mike and their son ((And their dog!)) took us out to Quartz Lake….look at those clouds reflected in the water, isn’t it gorgeous? We had a dry spot in between the rain bursts and we wanted to make good use of it.

I’m not a pro hiker in Alaska I guess…I don’t have a walking stick! Christy and I lagged behind and chatted while the "older" guys followed our young tour guide.

Look! Wild raspberries!! The wild ones grow kinda small, but they are sure YUMMY! Needless to say, NONE of them made it home but were all instantly consumed.

See em?? I love the colors in this photo!

We had a great time watching the dog play fetch in the water! Many of our past dogs have been water dogs. Sadie does NOT like the water, and I just don’t get it ---but THIS dog does! We couldn’t keep him OUT of the water!

More lake view higher up.

I so love the wildflowers! I know that summer is really heading toward autumn now, and I am almost sad to see the flowers go. Yes, we’ll have autumn splendor and the leaves will turn…but then…oh, I’ll long for spring when the flowers return!

Come on, Boy! It’s time to go back! Seriously…he’ll keep fetching as long as you keep throwing! I guess I understand that desire—I’ll keep quilting as long as life keeps throwing scraps at me to do so :c)

Little outhouse in the woods behind the cabin we saw….Little bit rustic for me! LOL!

Timber cabin! I love how the vegetation grows on the top. I don’t know the reason for this…in a place with snow, do you want a flat roof? Evidently this one has held up well!

Wild mountain strawberries! These are TEENY and would take a ton of them to do anything with…but they were sweet and tasty too!

It didn’t take long for the storm clouds to roll back in…don’t they look heavy and ominous?

Thanks, Mike & Christy, for spending the afternoon with us and taking us to this memorable place!