Charmed~ I'm sure

Out on a walk with friend one day, I looked over from our in-depth conversation 

and saw this 'charmed barn'.

My dear friend had to pause our walk and conversation while I  went to take captures 

with my phone camera. 

~Friends are treasures~

just as 

~Old Barns are Charmed~

I'm sure of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Linking in to  ~Barn Charm~  this evening

floored

“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.” ~H.Jackson Brown, Jr.

Triathlon~the places it takes me

(taken on a rest stop during one of my long training rides)

~~~

I once read a comment on Triathlons and why people do them. It went something like this:

"From the outside, you don't understand it.

From the inside- you can't explain it."

And I really can't explain why I love this sport of Triathlon like I do.

No- I am not good at it, I may be average on a good day.

No- I don't get paid, I pay!

Yes- it can be hard and painful.

Yes- I am tired after I do a run and swim all by 7:30 on a Monday morning.

And on race day~ I don't particularly like getting kicked, hit, and swam over.

Race day also puts my stomach in knots.

So what's so great about this sport?

Why do triathlon people put themselves through this...and for what?

I can't explain it.

Except that at the end of a workout I feel better about the world than when I started.

I like having goals to work towards.

I like trying to get better.

I like the battle I conquer in my head every time I go one more mile.

And~~~ I think the best part is~ 

it's the places it takes me.

On my bike I see things I don't get to see from my front porch, {and catch dragonflies in my helmet}.

I see for miles and miles with no roof above my head.

(open road on an early morning cycle)

On a run I watch sunrises and sunsets, {and cross paths with animals normally hiding from people during the day}.

And when I do Hill Runs...I get to see the sun come up over and over again.

(early morning runs)

My open water swims have allowed me to see the beach from a different angle, {and to experience all different temperatures of water,  sizes of waves, and come face to face with seaweed.}

(my swimming pool)

Races take me to different towns and cities.

I meet people there who also don't understand why it is they do what they do either.

And that part makes me feel a little less crazy:)

And all the while- {if I bring my cell phone}- I get photo opportunities I would miss otherwise;)

~~~

I think we all have our Get-Away thing.

It may not be Triathlons. But it's something.

And often  people don't get why you do what you do.

But deep down you know.....

It's because of the places it takes you.

Perfect Timing

Packing up after a relaxing Beach Day~

the clouds began rolling in - (yet again).

~

Sometimes, timing IS everything.

Weighed Down

Life can be Full of Beautiful things...

(~Flora's Chair~)

Sometimes life can be so full....

and even though it's full of everything beautiful, 

it can tend to weigh one down.

(Hoping to get around to all of you soon....once I can "upright" myself;)

cycling scenes

I just had an entire day to myself.

And you know what? 

I had no idea what to do with it.

Maybe I just had too many choices...but I ended up settling with a 50km bike ride.

(Laundry could wait. And still is.)

Tired of the same route, I decided to be adventurous 

(pfft! as much as I dare to be....)

and take a new road.

AND...

I decided to not let my bike pace dictate today.

I wanted  to enjoy the sights.....and  remind myself  why it is  I like it here.

(note: pictures are of not-so-great cell phone camera quality.)

Road stretched out before me.

And although it may look monotonous,

I took part in a Dragonfly Dodge AND 

a Porcupine Pedestrian crossing!

(Kicking myself for not being quicker on the camera draw for a capture of the porcupine. 

Those things can Speed Waddle!)

And remember this post?

{Party!}

Well at the risk of making my area look like "Party Central"....

I found the same truck- moved several miles another direction. 

This time it even sported a flashing light on its top, 

blinking even during the daylight hours.

I captured old Squashed buildings:

And a barn that was for sale:

I also cycled past ditches full of the result of the never-ending rain we have been receiving.

(Sorry southern friends. I WISH I could funnel it down to you!)

It was 51.6 km of a beautiful route which I could have continued on,

if I hadn't heard the call of a cold cider calling my name from home.

(Ahhh...human nature can be so fickle.)

Now...

I believe it's the Laundry calling.

all angles~~

If it doesn't look quite right from one angle...

...try another.

If it still doesn't look right

maybe all that is needed...

~ is to look inside.~

~~~

(My kiddos and I are headed for the sunny hills and valleys this week. 

Not sure if I'll be able to tune in to Blogville while away....

but hoping to catch up with everyone when I return.

Have a wonderful week!)

I thought they were just frog beds....

I had NO IDEA lily pads grew flowers.
I truly didn't.


So you can imagine just how enthralled I was when I paddled out on the lake the other night and found these:

I would have posted all the photos I took....but in my new-found knowledge in the fact lily pads do in fact grow blooms,

....you can imagine just how many captures there were.

A ton.

So many in fact, that I think I almost used up my memory card.

I felt like a kid in a candy store.

(NOTE: I did NOT pick this flower.

I found it floating in the middle of the lake all by itself.

Broken off and upside down.

So as not to waste it- I used it to decorate my kayak.)

~~~

And here I thought lily pads were strictly just Frog Beds.


I need to get out more.

"if you don't like the weather..."

"....just wait a minute."

~~~

I'm pretty sure that must be a universal saying for most parts.

~~It definitely rings true for Alberta.

You can be outside enjoying a beautiful, bright, sunny afternoon...

when within mere minutes- 

you're all scrambling for drinks, plates, and cover~~

while your campfire is suddenly extinguishing itself due to torrential rain.

"If you don't like the weather~ just wait a minute"

~~~

I was thinking of this when I captured the above 2 pictures Friday evening.

Funnel clouds and rain within moments of sunshine and rainbows...

gets a little confusing at times.

Life can be like that.

Seems there is no continuous pattern....

it just happens.

Storms here....warmth over there.

Then rain. And snow.

Then it's sunshine again.

Life can be the epitome of this saying.

And that's not always a bad thing.

After all...

no one would enjoy continuous funnel clouds.

Never-ending rainbows would mean constant storms.

If you don't like the situation....

really....

just wait.

The weather does change. Sometimes~ in a minute.

Rainy Day Finds

{Youth}

{Frivolity}

{Potential}

~~~

I am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a world of loveliness. 

- Adeline Knapp

A new camera....

....Phone.
It seems I still can't be courageous enough to buy and settle with a camera.
(I have indecisiveness syndrome.)
But- I DID get a new phone...camera included;)


I took these this morning to try it out....on my Mother's Day gift I received. 
A sweet apple tree.


It's been so windy here, so the leaves look a bit rumpled. 
But it does have some blooms blooming.

(So happy to see more proof of spring, now that it's almost summer...)

~One day I will be courageous enough to settle down with a real camera~

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!