10 Reasons I'm Publishing a Cookbook

Embarrassing reveal of only some of my recipes!

I recently determined to publish a cookbook. I asked for feedback from friends, but I think I had made the decision to forge ahead even before their much-appreciated input. 
It's proving to be a big task!

Here are ten reasons behind my motivation.

1 - My recipe books and scattered recipes are overtaking my storage space.

2 - I visualize each recipe - I know if it is typed or handwritten, in a book or file box, online somewhere, or shoved in a drawer. I waste a lot of time searching for the recipe I can "see" in my head.

3 - As you can see by the photo above, some recipes are becoming faded, stained, or torn and will need to be reproduced anyway.

4 - I have cookbooks that take up space yet have only a handful of useful (at least for me) recipes inside.

5 - Friends and family often ask how to make a particular dish and I have to go in search, take a photo or send a long text of instructions when it would be beneficial to direct them to a digital version or hard copy of all my favorite dishes.

6 - I needed a project to get me through January and February.

7- A few of the recipes on this blog required an update.

8- I can kill two birds with one stone if I update and create at the same time.

9- It gives me an excuse to cook some things I haven't enjoyed making in some time.

10 - While the task is truly for my own sanity and organization, the cookbook will be available for purchase as an eBook or hard copy. So maybe that is a third bird with the same stone.

Can you guess which of my recipes is most requested?
The answer is here.

 

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

- Carol aka Running Granny Green

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Monday Mood Mender: Gary Learns to Skate

On this Monday Mood Mender I want to introduce my newest book, GaryLearns to Skate, a collaboration of efforts with my granddaughter, Margaret Marie Olson.  I had been delaying publishing it and waiting for just the right illustrator. Maggie often sends me her artwork as a gift or thank you. While she was visiting it occurred to me that she might be the “right illustrator” for this project. She worked hard to capture the feel of the book and I am pleased to be able to share it with you.

Skating Flamingo!

In case you have any doubts about the artistic abilities of a six year-old, take a look at this little guy!

He's cute enough to steal, but notice he has a copyright!

This is just a sample of the fun illustrations that make this book special. (It doesn't hurt that the illustrator has a special place in my heart!)

 

You can find the book, Gary Learns to Skate, in all the usual places - send me a message, or visit me on Etsy, or Amazon. Stop by my Author Page on Amazon and see what else is new!

Happy Running!

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It’s May! How did the time pass so quickly?

 

I am surprised how quickly the first third of 2015 has passed!  It’s already May.  “May Day!” Perhaps that distress call was coined because those in peril felt sudden panic similar to the surprise that the rest of us feel when we realize the month of May is suddenly upon us. Where did the time go? Where did April go? My attention must have been directed to uncommon things.  Here are a few of them.

We’ve had a life altering experience in that my husband changed jobs this spring.  It has been both challenging and rewarding. We are growing through the experience while both of us learn to adjust to new skills (I’ve been packing him a lunch every day!) and schedules.

I’ve taken on new business opportunities like this one and I am learning to “put myself out there” a little more. I’m also venturing into the realm of book coaching and that is another learning experience.



Some of my favorite people



My illustrator, Margaret.

I had a visit from some of my favorite people throughout April and my focus was on spending time with them.  I didn’t neglect all of my work!  In fact, my favorite little illustrator and I published my first children’s book. What fun we had! Stay tuned to learn more!

Now it is May.  My company is gone.  I harvested new spinach from my garden yesterday. I’ve committed myself and some friends to the Grand Teton Relay in August for which I must prepare! It’s time to mow lawns and market books and continue to learn new things. It will soon be autumn!

This sudden arrival of May leaves me thinking …

Does time pass while we are living life or do we let life pass while we are watching the time?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

HAPPY RUNNING!

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How do you find time to write?

A pre-published author recently asked, “How do you find time to write?  When do you write?”  I don’t think the answer is in finding time. I believe it lies in making time for writing.  This can be easier said than done.

Momentum is a challenging thing, especially in the writing/publishing/marketing world.  I published my third book two months ago. I finished the writing and publishing process and launched into marketing mode.  As soon as my focus turned to marketing, my writing efforts were put on the back burner.  Although this is a natural flow, the busyness of marketing can derail future publishing efforts if the writer does not stay focused on her long term goals.

Here are a few ideas that help me keep writing.

Set goals – Whether your goal is to publish one book a year or write 5000 words a day, a defined goal will motivate you to press forward.

Make a schedule – This schedule can be fluid to allow for unforeseen interruptions, but an editorial schedule for your blog or a timeline for book chapters will keep you in your writing seat, especially if that schedule has been shared with someone.

Share your goals or schedules – Yes! Tell someone what you plan to do and then go about doing it.  Whether that someone is a book coach, your blog readers, or your significant other the fact that they know about your plan will hold you accountable, even if they have forgotten!

Have more than one project – We creative types can have trouble with goals and schedules that seem to confine us.  Perhaps that is why we need them so badly. A variety of writing projects can lend a sense of freedom to your goals and schedules.  When you don’t feel like working on your next book, you can work on your next blog post or press release. Be mindful, however, that you don’t get caught in Uncompleted Multi-tasking land! We creative types have trouble with that as well.

I am happy to announce that amongst the busyness of book marketing and blogging I have begun writing my next book.  I am carving out, or finding time to write each week so I can work on my long term project while meeting the editorial schedule of this blog and finding new ways to market my existing books. Watch for excerpts in the next few weeks. This one is going to be fun!

Question: Do you have a trick that helps you stay on task?  Share it in the comments below.

You can find The Hard Run and other books by Carol M Green on Amazon, Kindle, and in her Etsy shop.

Happy Writing!

Book Excerpt: Rolling Hills

 

I am sharing another excerpt from my new book today. This one is from the "Proceed With Caution" section.
 
From The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny
 

Rolling Hills

My rural running routes present a lot of variety. At first glance one might think I only have farmers’ fields to view while logging miles. However, within a four mile grid I can encounter a number of crops, both low growing and taller than an elephant, paved roads and dirt ditch banks, winding canals and a rushing river, steep inclines and rolling hills, and livestock and wildlife including horses, pigs, egrets, snakes, blue herons, and the occasional white pelican. I could go on about the draft horses, cattle, geese, and skunks, but that is a discussion for another time. It is the hills that I wish to expound upon here. 

In the previous section (When Pain Means DON’T STOP!) we looked at the way purposefully conquering a hill can prepare one for smaller challenges that occur unexpectedly. This essay, however, examines the ways that rolling hills offer a rest to allow a runner to recover and extend his workout. When I encounter a short steep hill, I remind myself that it will be difficult, but only for a short time. Most often, a short steep uphill is followed by an immediate and equal downhill. This knowledge helps me tackle the challenge. Not only do I know that the incline will not last for long, but that my lungs will be rewarded with a rest as I allow gravity to work in my favor on the approaching downhill length. That short reprieve is often enough to strengthen my resolve to tackle the next rolling hill. It is definitely helpful to my physical ability to take on another hill.

What did I learn from the Rolling Hills Lesson?

During times of adversity, it is important to observe the joyful moments for they will help us through our trials. If we look for them we can find those moments.

Several years ago I watched a friend undergoing chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. She always put on a brave face when she was in the company of coworkers and friends. After losing her hair, she began wearing a wig in public and a turban at home. On one occasion she shared something she found comical. All of the hair on her head was gone except for a tiny tuft about a quarter inch in diameter right in the back of her head. She laughed and commented that she felt like one of those fellows that shaves his head, but leaves a braid in the back. This experience broke the ice for her acquaintances to be able to discuss with her some of the concerns and discomforts she was enduring.

My home in the Treasure Valley of Southwest Idaho is a beautiful place. We have some of the most colorful sunsets ever witnessed and they occur regularly. Unfortunately, we have another phenomenon that also happens regularly. Many winters the valley experiences a weather inversion. These inversions occur when cold air is trapped below warmer air. They can last for weeks on end. No matter how blue the skies or how warm the temperatures are above the inversion the cold air remains in the valley creating a smog-like atmosphere that the sun does not burn through. For many, the weeks on end of cold gloomy weather wreak havoc on emotional health and even present physical challenges for those with respiratory concerns. There are, however, some moments of reprieve if one takes notice. 

Hoar frost is a heavy buildup of ice or frost crystals that seem to grow daily upon trees, shrubs, fences, and grass during a weather inversion. Although this hoar frost is a result of adverse conditions in the atmosphere, it paints a beautiful white landscape. The lack of air movement during the inversion allows these frost crystals to stay in place until they become so heavy they begin to fall to the ground in a mock snowstorm.

A change in the weather is the only hope of moving an inversion out of the valley. Thus, the wind that is so often a springtime nemesis becomes a welcome guest. Snow and rain in all their wetness and inconvenience are also gratefully received as they clear the air and promise blue skies upon their departure.

A drive upward and outward of the valley can give the sufferer hope as she reacquaints herself with sunshine and blue skies. When viewing an inversion from above, it appears fluffy and bright white, inviting enough for the onlooker to imagine diving into a sea of fresh cloudy foam. Winter inversions are one reason I snow ski.

When I was in the fourth grade the only grandparent I had really known, my Grandma Nelson, passed away. I remember going to her funeral services and crying most of the day.  It was my first experience with the death of a loved one. I also remember being a bit disturbed that not every member of my extended family was shedding buckets full of tears. How could they be so happy at a time like this? I have since learned that death is inevitable. It is, in fact, a very critical part of our eternal journey. I have also learned that while we might miss our loved ones and mourn their passing, it is not disrespectful, unkind, nor unhealthy to remember them with joy and laughter. These occasions also present opportunities to reconnect with loved ones that may live far away. During these times of mourning sharing the company of those we love and finding pleasure in the moment will help get one through the sadness. Healing can begin.

Do not suppose that a mournful heart and a downtrodden disposition is the only way to get through life’s trials. Look for happiness and humor along the way. Those things will bring a reprieve from the physical and mental exertion and will help bring you through challenges.

So ... What did you think? Please leave feedback in the comments below or on my Facebook page.

 

Happy Running!

It Hurts When I do This ...

 

Okay, I can't stand it.  My book is live on Amazon and my order won't be here until the end of the month.  I am curious to know what readers think, so ... I am going to share another excerpt.  This time you get the entire story and lesson learned.  Please feel free to comment here or on Facebook.  Feedback is invaluable to us writers.

From The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny

It Hurts When I do This

I am going to venture away from running just a bit. I promise I will get back there before long.

Several years ago (about thirty) I was sitting in a church meeting next to my twelve year-old niece when she nudged me, “Hey Aunt Carol, it hurts when I do this.” I watched as she rolled her ankle so that her foot was at a right angle to her shin. That had to hurt! Of course, my reaction was, “Then stop doing that!”

The activity was obviously weakening her ankle. If she continued to perform the same action, not only would it continue to hurt, but there was a possibility of long term damage and further injury to her ankle.

This is another lesson about my running feet. Who would have known that one could learn so many lessons from her feet? It is an unfortunate fact that runners do not have very attractive feet. It is not a requirement to have ugly feet in order to run it just comes with the territory. Runners get blisters and they lose toenails. Foot funguses occur from running in sweaty shoes and barefoot runners have thick discolored callouses on the bottoms of their feet that protect them from injury. I don’t intend to ever become a barefoot runner. Nail Polish wears off from rubbing in running shoes and socks and it can be difficult to find time for a pedicure that will dry before the next run. My big toes develop callouses on the outer sides that rub against my shoes. These callouses protect me from blisters – to a point. 

On the occasion that I actually run or hike too far, or if I have worn a pair of socks that doesn’t fit or is made of fabric that rubs, my protective callouses can and have developed large blisters beneath the callouses. This is unfortunate because not only will the blisters eventually pop, but I will also lose the protective layer of skin that used to be holding blisters at bay. Then, I will have to be patient as the wound heals and new callouses eventually form.

What did I learn from It Hurts When I Do This?

It is possible to be aware that an activity or habit is hurting and weakening oneself and yet we are often compelled to continue with the destructive behavior.

Let’s talk about binging. There are many things that one might binge upon, such as food, alcohol, harmful drugs, gummy candies (I don’t think these can be categorized as food), shopping/spending, and the like. Perhaps it would be better to call these things addictions, but for this discussion we will focus on binging behavior.

I have an affinity for candy corn. That’s right, the sugary pieces of yellow, orange, and white candies molded to look like a single kernel of corn. In case anyone wonders, I am a country girl. I freeze corn most years and those candies look nothing like a kernel of corn, especially the red, pink, and white ones available during February. I digress. The point is that I love those candies too much. I can purchase a bag in the grocery store, open it in the car, and devour half the bag on the drive home. In my defense, it is a long ride. I bite the candies apart at the color changes and eat them in three pieces, but I can do it really fast! The speed with which I devour this confection exacerbates my problem. I get way ahead of the sugar high and then pay for it when that good feeling wears off. If I happen to be going for a run on the following day, I feel sluggish and tired. It’s probably from the candy corn binge. This might seem harmless. It’s only a problem in October and February, right?

What of those other things that we continue to do that harm us or our loved ones? Where is the danger in a little self-indulgence of drug abuse or activity that harms relationships? If ever we are tempted to claim, “I’m not hurting anyone but myself,” we might need to take a closer look. When we hurt ourselves, we hurt those who love us. 

Even good things, when done in excess, can become damaging. For example, the provider who spends all of his time at work and neglects his family may not realize the effect his absence has until it is too late. A dieter can rob herself of nutrients and cause long term damage to the body she is attempting to sculpt. Even the writer, or the runner, or the hunter, or the fisherman must find balance while pursuing passions lest she neglect those things most important - her family, her health, her God.

How often do we engage in repeated activities that hurt and weaken us? When we know that we are damaging ourselves yet choose to stay on the same downward path it can only lead to unhappiness. Perhaps there is something you are doing now that is causing hurt to yourself or another. Take time to identify the offense and evaluate the damage it may be inflicting, then determine how you will make a change.

 

So ... What did you think? Please leave feedback in the comments below or on my Facebook page.

 

Happy Running!

The Hard Run cover reveal

Here is the back cover of The Hard Run.  The book is available now on Amazon, Kindle, and in my Etsy shop.

 



Visit my Books! page to find all my published works.

Happy Running!

Monday Mood Mender - Thoughts about racing

 

 

The worst part of any race is the beginning and the middle. The beginning is hard because one is nervous. “Did I get enough sleep? Do I have enough fuel? What if I need a restroom? Can I really run this far today? I’m not warmed up!” The middle is difficult because, well one is running … and running … and running. “Will it ever end?” It is nearly impossible to take it easy during a race. Why would you? It’s a race! Well, it’s not really a race, and yet it is. Racing tends to push one to her limit and that is always uncomfortable. During a race lungs burn, legs ache and sometimes cramp, blisters form, and clothing rubs rashes in terrible places. Faster runners pass by and that is discouraging.

 

The best part about a race is the end! Actually, it is a few minutes after the end when the runner has caught her breath, cooled down, drained a bottle of chocolate milk, and in my case, removed her shoes and donned flip flops. Oh, the relief of removing the shoes that have cradled my feet during a race, protected them from the ground beneath, rubbed terrible blisters, and jammed toe nails that will eventually fall off. 

 

Whether I am training for a race or just getting in a good workout, I always feel better when the run is over. The knowledge that I have completed a challenge is good for my self-esteem. The luxury of strolling home as I cool down after a demanding workout is also a physical pleasure.

 

You can read more about the lessons I've learned while running in The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny.

 

Happy Running!



Introduction to The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny

The view from Will's Hill

 

Introduction to The Hard Run ...

I have lived long enough and experienced life sufficient to say that I have gained an understanding of pain.  Some of it has been self- inflicted either purposely or as a result of judgment errors, while some was received very innocently.  Whatever the case, I have discovered that pain is not the crisis.  The failure to learn is the crisis.

I am a runner. This is a relatively new definition of me. I began running when I was middle aged. You can call me Running Granny Green.  I don’t especially love running. Running loves me.

Why I run …

Running is an affordable form of exercise. The only equipment needed is a good pair of shoes. No membership fees, no fuel expenses, nor any special gear is required. A few cute running shirts and pants are fun, but they are not critical to participation. Running is convenient. I simply step out the front door and I am on my way to better physical and mental health.

Running improves other parts of my life. I have greater endurance during activities such as waterskiing and snow skiing. These activities are important to me because they allow me to spend active quality time with my husband, children, and grandchildren.

Running makes me sweat and that has to be good. My son said this about stinky sweat, “That has to be good for you – getting all that stinky stuff out of your body!” I have a great blood pressure reading which is very important to me because there is a history of heart disease and stroke in my family. I am running away from age onset diabetes which also runs in my family.

What I have learned through running …

You'll have to wait for the book to read the rest of this Introduction!  Find it HERE.

Happy Running!

A few words about cold weather running

Cold weather running has taught me to be patient during times of difficulty. Either the trial will pass or I will gain strength to overcome it. Unfortunately, unlike running, it is difficult to measure how long patience must be exercised during life’s difficulties. When I run in the cold, I can expect that by the time I have completed the first mile, my digits will no longer feel frozen. Life experiences are not quite so predictable, but if you keep running or enduring, sometime the pain may become bearable.

You can read more about the lessons I've learned while running in The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny.

Happy Running!

Adversity

 

 

This photo was taken after a thunderstorm during the Grand Teton Relay 2014.  The weather cooled a bit and the light patterns were beautiful.  The quote is from The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny. I thought the two went well together!

 

 

Enjoy and Happy Running!

 

An excerpt from The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny

 

I'm getting closer to the publication of The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny.  Soon you will be able to read the entire manuscript.  Until then, here are a few lines to tempt you!

When Pain Means DON’T STOP!

I have heard people say, “It hurts my knees when I run, or walk, or climb stairs,” and “I tried to exercise once, but I was just too sore afterwards.” How about this one? “I started working out once, but my lungs burned and it made me sweat and I don’t like to sweat, so I quit.” 

Well, my friends, this life was never meant to be pain free. Some of life’s greatest lessons are learned through discomfort and adversity. It is, however, a common misconception of our day that the onset of pain of any kind constitutes an emergency – one that must be stopped without delay! While it is true that sometimes pain is an alarm signal that should be heeded with a change in behavior or circumstances (See Section One, When Pain Means STOP!), it is very often something that should be endured. In fact, while collecting information for this book, I discovered that pain is more often a friend than foe.

You can read the rest of this lesson in The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny, due for release in January 2015.  Order it now at an introductory price in my Etsy shop.
 
Happy Running!

My Next Book: A few paragraphs

Here is another sneak peek from my current writing project. This book has a different focus than my previous works. It’s coming together and on schedule to be released shortly after the beginning of 2015, just in time to get everyone excited about the racing season – OR NOT if that isn’t your thing.

 

Time to take a rest

This excerpt is from the Back Spasm Lesson ...

On one sunny summer morning I was out for an easy three mile run.  The word easy is relative here.  I always say, “If running were easy it would be called walking.”  I call this one easy because I was not using a watch to keep track of my pace.  It wasn’t a training run in preparation for a race.  It was just a run. 
 
Things were going along nicely when about a mile and a half into the run I felt a small twinge in my lower back.  “That was weird,” I thought.  I kept running.  A few yards later I felt another twinge – and then another. The third twinge stopped me short. It was more like someone was grabbing part of my back and twisting it.  I slowed to a walk and attempted to take deep breaths.  With every breath, the spasm grew stronger.  I told myself that I could walk it out for a minute and then try to run again.  I should have stopped running when I felt the first twinge. The spasms persisted even as I slowed my walking pace.  I could not get a deep breath, nor did walking ease the discomfort.  Discouraged, I had to slowly stroll home.

I treated the condition for several days before I was confident that I could try to run without aggravating the problem.  Ibuprofen, stretching, sports creams, warm baths, and rest were constant companions while I recovered.  I don’t know what caused the spasm and fortunately it hasn’t recurred, but I do know that the only way to get rid of it was to stop running for a time.

What did I learn from the Back Spasm Lesson?

There are times when the behavior that is causing yourself or others sorrow should be stopped at the first sign of recognition.  Unfortunately, it is easy to reason away the danger or severity of the pain ...

You can read the rest of this lesson in The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny, due for release in January 2015.  Order it now at an introductory price in my Etsy shop.

Happy Running!

Misery Loves Company: An excerpt from my next book

High Desert Half Marathon

Here is another sneak peek from my current writing project. This book has a different focus than my previous works. It’s coming together and on schedule to be released shortly after the beginning of 2015, just in time to get everyone excited about the racing season – OR NOT if that isn’t your thing.

This excerpt is from the "Misery Loves Company Lesson."

When I adopted the habit of running I also began talking about it like a fisherman talks about his latest catch or a Monday morning quarterback talks about the Super Bowl. Running had added a new dimension to my life and enthusiasm for all the new things I was learning spewed forth. I had no idea that Nike shoes were narrow in the toe or that there were so many other options with which to be shod. I shared this knowledge with my friends.  I learned the importance of hydration for myself and began prescribing fluids for every complaint my friends and family shared with me.  I began requesting running gear and sports watches for my birthday and Mother’s Day with long explanations of the merits of different name brands and styles. I now know that I was much more interested in my new adventure than were my friends.
The only people who truly want to hear you discuss your running adventures are other runners and they mostly listen politely so they can have a turn to share their adventures, too.  Nobody else cares. They don’t care about your running shoes or your favorite sports bra.  They don’t want to know which sunglasses fog and which do not.  They are not interested in your nagging Achilles tendon or your stretching routine, your newfound relationship with ice and ibuprofen, or what dead animals you saw on your morning run. Many assume that you are running your way to a hip or knee replacement and they think that is stupid. In fact, most non-runners are convinced that runners are crazy.  Maybe we are. They don’t run and they don’t want to hear about your running passion – until they begin to run.
A new runner will welcome your wealth of knowledge and empathize with your aching hamstrings.  A new runner will ask where to buy shoes and how far you ran this week. They won’t ask why you run, because they understand that it is different for every runner and often the answer is many faceted.  They don’t care why you run, new runners are simply glad to have a comrade’.  Oh, and they will talk to you all day about running.

What did I learn from the Misery Loves Company Lesson?

Our painful experiences are most valuable to those enduring similar hardships by allowing us to show true empathy. We really do understand what they are going through and they have confidence that our sympathies are genuine...

You can read the rest of this essay when The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny comes out in January.  The book is available for pre-sale at a reduced price on Etsy.

Happy Running!

What's on the blog this week? Dec 1

I hope everyone had a bounteous and grateful Thanksgiving weekend.  I enjoyed family, food, friends, and fun!  I hope some of you ventured out for a Turkey Trot.  Whether you participated in an organized race or simply joined your friends for a stroll around the neighborhood, it was a beautiful day to venture out and be grateful for the gift of physical health.

Check out our Turkey Trot picture with my running buddies!

I love these gals!

In other news … Here is what you can expect from the blog this week.

Tuesday - Tuesday's Training Tip will address the value of a running buddy.

Wednesday - Watch for another excerpt from my next book!

Thursday  - Meet another new Guest  Blogger, Sierra, a stay-at-home mom and fitness chick!

Friday - It's time to start thinking about Christmas Gift giving.  I will share a recipe for homemade biscotti that was a hit with the Greens last year.

What information would you like to see included on this blog site? Please comment with questions or ideas for future posts and as always …

Happy Running!

My Favorite Black Friday Deals

I am a terrible shopper.  It is simply not my favorite thing to do.  I am, however, a good sleeper.  Those two traits combined make me a lousy Black Friday participant!  I can count on half of one hand the times I have physically participated in Black Friday shopping.  I do love a good deal and I love shopping online, so I thought I would share some online Black Friday Deals with you!

For the Reader on your list –

I am offering FREE SHIPPING in my Etsy shop and because I am lazy I will activate the coupon sometime Thursday evening before I go to sleep and it is good through Cyber Monday.   You won't have to wait until midnight to get a deal. It is good on anything in the shop, including pre-ordered copies of TheHard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny.

Use Coupon Code Ship4Free

For the Homemaker on your list –

Bedhead Designs is offering 30% off everything In Stock with a FREE ruffle pillow going to the first five (5) customers!

 

Use Coupon Code BLACKFRIDAY30

For the Pack Rat on your list -

Notverydomestic is offering FREE SHIPPING on orders over $30. Good midnight Thursday through midnight Monday. These bags come in three sizes and fit comfortably over the shoulders. Great for stowing snacks and toys for the little ones on road trips, or for keeping shoes, makeup and hair items, or lingerie packed neatly inside luggage. Kids love having their own back pack and it helps lighten the load for mom!

Use Coupon Code THANKS14

More reading deals-

Donetta Loya is offering great deals on her books.  Visit her blog, Welcome to Donetta's World, to find all her Black Friday offers and reduced shipping costs!

While you are browsing stop by Mike Watson Designs. Mike offers FREE SHIPPING on every item every day! Find unique jewelry items for the rock hound on your list!

 

Enjoy your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping from the comfort of your own home!  That's my favorite way to shop!

 

Have a great Thanksgiving week and, as always ...

 

Happy Running!

The Hard Run: A sneak peek

Here is another sneak peek from my next book, The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny.  This excerpt is taken from "The Rolling Hills Lesson."

Rural Running

My rural running routes present a lot of variety.  At first glance one might think I only have farmers’ fields to view while logging miles.  However, within a four mile grid I can encounter a number of crops, both low growing and taller than an elephant, paved roads and dirt ditch banks, winding canals and a rushing river, steep inclines and rolling hills, and livestock and wildlife including horses, pigs, egrets, snakes, blue herons, and the occasional white pelican.  I could go on about the draft horses, cattle, geese, and skunks, but that is a discussion for another time.  It is the hills that I wish to expound upon here. 

When I encounter a short steep hill, I remind myself that it will be difficult, but only for a short time.  Most often, a short steep uphill is followed by an immediate and equal downhill. This knowledge helps me tackle the challenge.  Not only do I know that the incline will not last for long, but that my lungs will be rewarded with a rest as I allow gravity to work in my favor on the approaching downhill length.  That short reprieve is often enough to strengthen my resolve to tackle the next rolling hill.  It is definitely helpful to my physical ability to take on another hill.

What did I learn from the Rolling Hills Lesson?

During times of adversity, it is important to observe the joyful moments for they will help us through our trials. If we look for them we can find those moments.

My home in the Treasure Valley of Southwest Idaho is a beautiful place.  We have some of the most colorful sunsets ever witnessed and they occur regularly.  Unfortunately, we have another phenomenon that also happens regularly.  Many winters the valley experiences a weather inversion. These inversions occur when cold air is trapped below warmer air.  They can last for weeks on end.  No matter how blue the skies or how warm the temperatures are above the inversion the cold air remains in the valley creating a smog-like atmosphere that the sun does not burn through.  For many, the weeks on end of cold gloomy weather wreak havoc on emotional health and even present physical challenges for those with respiratory concerns.  There are, however, some moments of reprieve if one takes notice. 

Hoar frost during a cold weather inversion.

Hoar frost is a heavy buildup of ice or frost crystals that seem to grow daily upon trees, shrubs, fences, and grass during a weather inversion.  Although this hoar frost is a result of adverse conditions in the atmosphere, it paints a beautiful white landscape.  The lack of air movement during the inversion allows these frost crystals to stay in place until they become so heavy they begin to fall to the ground in a mock snowstorm.

A change in the weather is the only hope of moving an inversion out of the valley.  Thus, the wind that is so often a springtime nemesis becomes a welcome guest.  Snow and rain in all their wetness and inconvenience are also gratefully received as they clear the air and promise blue skies upon their departure.

A drive upward and outward of the valley can give the sufferer hope as she reacquaints herself with sunshine and blue skies.  When viewing an inversion from above, it appears fluffy and bright white, inviting enough for the onlooker to imagine diving into a sea of fresh cloudy foam. Winter inversions are one reason I snow ski.

Do not suppose that a mournful heart and a downtrodden disposition is the only way to get through life’s trials.  Look for happiness and humor along the way. Those things will bring a reprieve from the physical and mental exertion and will help bring you through challenge.

Have you found joy or humor in a difficult situation?  I would love to hear about it.

You can pre-order The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny for a discount now in my Etsy shop.  It will be released in January 2015.

 

 

Happy Running!