Talking with Distractions

I love to walk and talk. Sharing stories and ideas with clients, colleagues, and friends while walking makes the everyday activity more interesting. The ability to talk about who you are and what you want while walking outdoors is a skill worth learning. How often do you have the opportunity to network, practice interview skills, or pitch your idea in a quiet space with no interruptions? The ability to speak with a few distractions is a skill well worth learning.

After the walk the creative juices are flowing and the brain is energized making a focused discussion more productive.

Walking and talking may not be for everyone. For some it might be more of a distraction from nature or thought processes, than a way to enhance the walk. For most of us walking and talking is a fun way to practice communication skills.

Science Begins Outdoors

I recently took some fresh green figs to work to share. I had them in a clear container. When I asked a fellow worker if she would like to try one. She said she thought it was spinach. They are both green, but quite a different look. Are we loosing our sense about what our food looks like?

I read an article about how kids need to get outside and experience nature to learn about science. One scientist explained:

“In a few years there will be nobody left to identify several major groups of marine organisms,” he said. “I wish I were exaggerating.” Paul Dayton, Scripps Marine Life Research Group

Far from exaggerating, I'm afraid that many young people today are not even familiar with fresh vegetables and how food grows.

Young children love to walk, observe, and explore. They are so excited about a wild flower the wind, and rain. Science at its best begins outdoors. As Richard Louv says, "Want your kids to get into Harvard? Tell ’em to go outside.

Cosumnes River Bat Spectacular

We went to the Cosumnes River Preserve for a potluck and bat presentation. We saw live adult bats. They are so tiny! The presentation dispelled many myths about bats. They don't nest in your hair, so when Bruce touched my head while thousands of bats were flying over I felt like a bat flew into my hair even though I know that would be very unusual.

Bats like to live under bridges during the day and then fly out at sunset. We waited until the sun was sinking as the evening light twinkled over the river. Then suddenly thousands of tiny bats like a swarm of ants flew across the sky. The preserve just south of Sacramento has about 40,000 bats as regular inhabitants. They eat their weight in bugs and help control mosquitos and other bugs.

We didn't join the Kayak Tour since I didn't want to kayak down the river after dark (I don't think Bruce did either.) We'll have our daylight kayaking next weekend. We took a walk along the river and watched the kayakers and hawks. A cool breeze, Mt. Diablo at sunset, and a bat fly over. Great evening!

Long walk on little legs

Triple digits again, and I was about ready to skip the walk today when I got a call from my daughter. She and little Max were going for a walk so I joined them.

There's nothing like walking with a baby. At 14-months old, he walked half mile through the park. He laughed at my antics, hopping, skipping, and jumping. An observer of nature, he didn't miss a thing. So much excitement with trucks, tractors, and dogs. He delighted in all the sights and sounds. Walking with a toddler makes the usual walk unusual, since he was fascinated by all of the usual things.

About a 50 minute walk before the heat blasted us.

Vernal Pools

I got up this morning with the expectation that we were going on a long walk through the Howard Ranch Trail at Rancho Seco. The trail is part of the Cosumnes River Preserve where Bruce is a volunteer naturalist. He had heard about the beautiful display of flowers at the vernal pools. It sounded nice, but I had a fairly low expectation of being dazzled. It was a sunny day with a nice breeze so I said I might be able to walk the 7-mile trail.

From Vernal Pool

We walked around the lake and saw some wild flowers along the side of the path and then walked and walked through the fields.

From Vernal Pool

When we came to the end of the trail, we wondered where the vernal pools were. On the way back we saw an outline of Mariposa Lillies around a patch of green grass. We could see where the thin lines of flowers followed the path of the water.

From Vernal Pool

I could see there could be a real draw here for people who wanted to see tiny wild flowers growing in interesting patterns across the field. But I was more interested in the cows crossing the path and seemed to be on a mission to follow their leader. At one point we were surrounded by cows on the ridge coming towards us and cows down below. When they stop and stare and then head toward you, it can be a little intimidating, especially since we were far from our home in the middle of theirs.

From Vernal Pool

Bruce was a little disappointed because he had an expectation that after we drove all the way up to Rancho Seco, paid $10 to park, and walked 8 miles that we would have seen more. I guess if we had looked at the picture on the billboard (or the website) before we went for the walk, we would have known what to expect.

Expectations have a great influence on our satisfaction with any situation. If you like to visit Vernal Pools as the other visitors we met did, it would be a great experience. If you are expecting a brilliant display, this is not the place to go. On the way back up the trail Bruce took a photograph of a butterfly that we happened to meet. It was a nice surprise to see the butterfly pose for us.

Vernal Pool

After the long walk I was really hungry which made the free birthday hamburger and sundae at Red Robin extra delicious.

Having a garden

I love gardening, or I should say I love having a garden. We went to the nursery yesterday. I picked out tomato plants, lots of peppers--jalapeno, peperoncini, orange, and yellow as well as lettuce and strawberries. I like to think about the delicious salsa, salads, and colorful dishes we'll have this summer. While I am looking up ways of cooking the vegetables, Bruce is out planting. He likes to sit out in the sun and dig in the soil while I sit in my office writing. We are quite a team.

We both enjoy watering a little too much. This year we will cut back on the water which should produce a more abundant crop. We (we as in Bruce) transplanted the Lemon Balm plant that took over the garden last year. I knew the plant could be prolific, but when I planted it in the square foot garden last year I was amazed at how it overshadowed the vegetables and herbs. It grew through winter frost and rain, and still I had to cut it way back. I enjoyed lemon balm, mint, honey green tea all year.

I love having a garden, smelling the pungent herbs, picking the fresh tomatoes and peppers each morning, and adding color to my day. What do you like in your garden?

Empty Spaces

Stark beauty in the brown barren rolling hills, empty branches, and golden grass. The trees appear empty, without leaves, standing tall and lacking their green adornment. I looked again and saw the mountains, paths, and grass through the branches. Rather than emptiness, I was able to see beyond the trees. Look to the seemingly empty spaces for a view of the distance and the bigger picture.

Hibernating

I'm not in California anymore. I am accustomed to mild winters and year round walking weather. During my stay in Albuquerque, I am experiencing the coldest winter in decades with snow, ice, and wind chills of 20 below zero. I enjoy the occasional walk in the rain and freezing temperatures are fine, but I don't walk when it is icy. Apparently few people are out walking in this weather, but you see the occasional person on base walking their dog, and I have seen a military march or two.

For the month of February, I feel like I have been in hibernation mostly staying indoors. Exercising at the gym, stair stepping, and the occasional walk have marked my days. I am not really a person who just loves to be outdoors, but I'm in the habit of being out everyday rain or shine.

The environment affects the way we live, behave, and communicate. Where we live often determines who we know, our educational opportunities, and lifestyle. Due to the cold weather and broken pipes, I have been living in a hotel with my daughter and three young children for two weeks. Our circumstances have changed the way we do everything. We are warm and well, but there are so many people who have been without heat for over two weeks and those who have no safe warm place to live.

The weather is warming up to the 40's, we will be moving back to my daughter's house soon, and get back to a normal routine. Since losing my power supply at the airport, living at a hotel with sick children, and adapting to my environment, I haven't posted in a couple of weeks. My goal is to post each week, but the best laid plans can be misplaced when nature sets the course.

Thank You Everyone

I've been walking and writing in this blog for the last 6 months. My purpose was disciplining myself to walk more, write daily whether I wanted to or not, and improve my thinking and creativity. I have learned to write whether or not I feel inspired, and to observe and appreciate nature.

I have reached my overall goal. Writing and sharing my experiences has given me the accountability I needed. Now I plan to post once a week and work on more in depth writing. My goal is to walk at least 150 minutes a week.

Thank you everyone for your comments and encouragement and for sharing this journey with me.

Snow

I spent 20 minutes at the gym on the Exercycle and missed getting a walk before the snow storm. From shirt sleeves this morning to snow this afternoon, the weather in Albuquerque changes very quickly. It's definitely winter and we are not in California anymore. Not everyone enjoys year round walking weather, but there is nothing like walking out to a blanket of white and a spray of big white snow flakes.

Slow Walking

This was the first day in 203 days that I walked less than 20 minutes and slow walking at that. My five year old grandson stepped in front of me as I was stepping out onto the cement patio while holding the baby. I balanced on my toes to break my fall. Hazel and I both hit the concrete. Hazel is fine, but my toes are quite sore.

1o minutes walking

Feels Like Fall

Everyday feels like a fall getting ready for school day. The sunshine, crisp air, and cool breezes give me that feeling of anxious anticipation I had when I walked across the Sac State campus on the first day of school.

What images does January weather conjure up for you?

30 minutes walking

Pen & Paper

I seem to have lost my computer power cord going through security at the airport. I wondered how I would write or work during my month's stay in NM. I can get my extra cord from home in a few days, but I feel lost without my own computer.

It was interesting that today I caught a podcast on The Accidental Creative #177 about ways to work more effectively while generating new ideas. One suggestion was to turn off your gadgets, Take a pen and paper and go outside. Observe, write, and imagine.

I got out my pen & paper and started writing. It was actually fun. Innovative ideas come from new experiences, changing your environment, and connecting with creative people.

I will need to be more resourceful to keep up my writing, but in the meantime I am learning to use my daughter's iPad. Thank you, Jenn! I am glad to have some access to technology. Have you found ways to take a break from the volumes of information coming at you on the Internet?

20 minutes walking

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Shining moments

I don't need to be a genius everyday. Shining moments come in dollops between inspiration, drudgery, and hard work.

20 minutes walking

Stars

On a short evening walk in Albuquerque after a day of traveling, I was delighted by a light show in the sky. Not a comet, just lots of sparkling stars. The sky is so clear and the stars so bright. It feels very safe walking around at night on an Air Force Base. Families leave bikes out and doors unlocked. It's a different world than Elk Grove in the winter.

20 minutes walking

Baking

A short walk after a busy day baking and frosting cookies etc. The boys, 3 & 5, loved cutting out and decorating cookies to send to their Papa in Qatar. Off to Albuquerque in the morning to help my daughter out with the kids.

20 minutes walking

A Ripple

I saw a duck sailing across the smooth glassy pond. At a constant speed it moved gently through the water leaving a ripple in the wake behind him.

Do you leave a ripple behind as you pass through your life? One of the nicest things a student I was supervising said to me was that I left a legacy wherever I went. Not a big splash. Just people feeling better about themselves, people getting jobs, training, and knowing someone cared.

We can all make some kind of ripple in the pond as we swim or sail across the water.

60 minutes walking

Procrastination

It's so easy to take a walk, make a few notes, and put off writing and editing for the next day. The next day brings work from the day before. A simple job grows into a game of catch up. As I thought about procrastinating and putting off work until tomorrow, I realized that's what I needed to write about--the need to keep up or change goals and expectations. If something is not working, I shouldn't keep doing it.

Every day I ask myself if this is what I want to keep doing. I hesitate and then decide to keep walking and writing everyday. At least for now. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

30 minutes walking

Longer days

The days still last 24 hours, but they seem longer because we are starting to get more daylight hours. As the  dark winter nights give way to longer evenings, there's more time for walking in the light of day. It was exciting to find that it was still dusk at 5:30. As the holiday lights come down, the sunlight peaks into the night to make it a little shorter.

My step quickened with enthusiasm in the warm evening light. We're heading toward spring and long evening walks.

30 minutes walking

American Flamingo

We spent four hours at the Sacramento Zoo with the family. Our five-year old grandson's favorite animal is the flamingo. I am always fascinated by their bright pink color, posturing, and ability to stand on one leg to rest or stay warm. The flamingo's different stances with it's long legs in different poses keeps me watching. According to the Fort Worth Zoo blog, WhoZoo, "What appears to be the flamingo's knee is actually its ankle."

I read about the flamingos on the zoo's billboard, but I left more curious than ever. How do the birds stay so pink in the zoo? At the Honolulu Zoo's website I learned more about their feeding habits in captivity. I found it interesting to learn, "The food that flamingos eat is rich in carotinoid pigments (named after the pigment found in carrots) which they use to create the pink coloration in their feathers. Without this pigment, their feathers would slowly bleach out and lose color, so in the Zoo they are fed a diet which has carophyll red pigment in it." In their natural habitats they eat shrimp and other crustaceans to keep their colors bright.

According to the Carrot Museum website, the carotene from carrots keeps our hair and skin nourished and healthy looking just like the carotinoids keep the flamingo colorful and healthy. Give your skin that healthy glow with a diet rich in carotene.


30 minutes walking