Active, Active, Active

It has been a very active day which I love as it always makes me feel fit:)

Exercise:

I met up with Dennis this morning for a bike ride. It was slightly more successful than the last time we rode bikes, but I am definitely not yet a good cyclist. I realized I am quite nervous turning, but I think that comes from the fact I went headfirst into a ravine as a teenager because I didn’t turn enough. I’ll just keep going and we’ll see if I ever improve🤣

I left tea with Dennis to meet up with my friend Emily for a socially distanced walk around Coquitlam River. It was awesome to catch up with her and being with her makes things fun and normal.

When I realized I only needed 10.55km to get to a nice round number, I knew I had to go out and try. I ended up going at 5pm which wasn’t the best as it’s been a super hot day, but I survived and lived to tell the tale. The run went fine though just before the end I had a rush of tingles through my right leg. I wonder what that is about?

Overall this month, I ran 20 times for a total of 126.36km. I worked out 14 times, did 4 yoga sessions and went on 3 bike rides for a total of 35.75km. I know that next month I really need to do more workouts and more yoga!

I will be giving an update on my run to Rapid City tomorrow.

Socializing:

I met up with another friend for a quick look at the bookstore and to get my gift card fixed. I of course, came home with more additions to my TBR, but no physical books. I think I’m just going to order the ones I want from the store online as they didn’t have them in person.

Knitting:

I have been working on my sweater today and kept thinking that it seemed big. Tonight I decided to take the time to put it on waste yarn and try it on. Well

This is how much extra I had. I’ve ripped it all out and think I’ll stick to the shawl for now as I may be starting a test knit.

Well I’m going to rest my weary body.

Have fun!

AJ

Stretching My Skills with Sally

Well it was a busy day that unfortunately included a dud.

Exercise:

I had my day planned out and knew I had to get my run in early if it was going to get done, especially with the heat. I got a lovely 5.5km to the mill and back.

This afternoon I did some weights. 36 each of: bent over rows, banded front raises, bicep curls, overhead tricep extension, pullovers, chest press, shoulder press, plank, crunches, bicycle crunches, reverse crunch with a toe tap, Russian twists, scissor legs, heel touches, squats, curtsy lunge, plié squat, adductors, calf raises, banded side shuffle, and hip bridges.

I’m sure there’s muscle under the heat wave bloat!

Baking:

Last Saturday I was supposed to share my July baking challenge, but I was waiting until I had somewhere to take the cake so that I didn’t eat it all.

Today I grabbed ingredients at the grocery store and got to work early before it got even hotter. I had decided to do lemon cupcakes with cream and blueberries. I decided on the cupcakes so that it would make it easier to divide up, during this time of Covid when no one is supposed to share food.

The cupcakes were quick and easy. I only had to change the butter to vegan butter spread and the milk to oat milk for these. They didn’t rise much, but they had a great lemon taste.

I had decided to use coco whip as my cream because dairy free whipping cream uses full fat coconut milk which is often too rich for me and the light doesn’t turn into whipping cream.

I got the cupcakes, the whip and the blueberries out to start the process, only to learn that coco whip doesn’t like 33 degree weather.

It was a disaster!! The coco whip slid right off the cupcake and took the blueberries with it.

I ended up not taking these anywhere and scraped the remaining coco whip off and froze the cupcakes.

Make sure you check out Abbey (Three Cats and a Girl) and Kathy (Sewing etc) to see how their baking challenge went. I’m sure better than mine!

Socializing:

I met up with my friend Anna and her two sons at a local park and were lucky enough to have it pretty much to ourselves. The distancing was a little tough but we did our best and avoided direct contact. It was awesome to see them as I haven’t since February!

I then grabbed Gus and we went to have ice cream. It was a quick trip as he had plans to go fishing with a fiend so I dropped him off on my way home. I’m happy with even a short Gus fix:)

Knitting:

After a 2.5 hour nap, I spent some time getting a few pattern repeats on the shawl done and a couple of rows towards the 3″ of knitting stockinette in the round I have to do for the sweater.

That isn’t day!

Have fun!

AJ

To Be Expected

Well it always happens so I was just waiting for it all day.

Knitting:

I started the day with some knitting and reading time. I think I have worked out a strategy for working on both knitting projects at the same time, happily. We’ll see how it goes.

Exercise:

I was supposed to bike the entire PoCo trail, 26km, with two friends today while stopping at each brewery or restaurant along the way. It sounded great until we realized it was going to be over 30 degrees and we’d hav to start at 11:30. We changed it up and just did a short bike ride down the Coquitlam River trail to the new brewery Patina. It was really great to sit and visit. I had the brisket and fries since that’s what they told me was safe.

I really wish I had had the special which was chicken wings with veggies.

The other two ladies are much better cyclists than me and on the way back we just got to the end of the street when I hit the curb wrong and fell. It happens pretty well every time I’m on a bike, so I was waiting for it, but it still hurts! I am also kicking myself for not starting my watch and recording my bike ride!

I got back just in time to do a run around the other end of Coquitlam River trail with my friend Sarah. It was so hot that it was a super slow run, but we still got another 4km in.

It was so hot when we finished the run that I stopped by my brothers again and jumped in the pool. This is becoming a habit!

Well I’ve slept since I got home and think I’m going back to sleep.

Have fun!

AJ

Getting More Active

It was probably the most out I’ve been lately.

Exercise:

I met up with Dennis for a run at the river this morning. We went early to avoid the heat. It should have been a great run as I had a rest day and a massage yesterday and yet I struggled the whole way. It was the most painful 7.5km of the last while! I hope tomorrow is better as I need to get 20km done before the end of the month.

Socializing:

I met up with Brenda at the local yarn shop but managed to not buy anything.

I then went back on the hunt for donuts and found some two towns over. I delivered them to Dennis amidst his complaining. I had to do something though as he fixed up my bike for me.

Knitting:

I had a very long nap this afternoon partly because my ear is absolutely killing me, but the rest of the afternoon was spent knitting on my shawl. I don’t know if I should keep going on it as I’m not sure I’ll ever wear it. I did feel guilty working on the sweater yesterday though when I know that the shawl isn’t finished. I guess I’m just not one of those people who can have multiple projects going at once.

Trivia:

This evening I headed over for trivia. It was a good night, though I screwed up and hit the wrong button for the last question in Kahoot which could have given us the win, again. We won the first round too.

Some of the questions:

Who are the parents in the Brady Bunch?

Mike and Carol

What instrument does Steinway make?

Piano

What does NSFW stand for?

Not suitable for work

Put these people in order?

Betsy Ross, Charles Darwin, Adolfo Hitler

What was the name of the tool?

Crescent wrench

Who was the neighbour of Dennis the Menace?

Mr. Wilson

Which American actress became a princess?

Grace Kelly

Where is Yale located?

New Haven, Connecticut

What does the J in Donald J Trump stand for?

John

What is the name of a plant or animal that is both male and female?

Hermaphrodite

What are the boroughs of New York?

Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn

What acronym is Lou Gehrig’s disease known by?

ALS

Well, I need sleep?

Have fun!

AJ

A Little Outing

Well I at least left my house today.

I met up with Brenda for coffee while her car was being fixed. It was so nice to catch up and talk knitting.

I also went for a massage and tried to find donuts. The massage was great, but I haven’t found the donuts yet:(

Knitting:

I didn’t exercise today because I had the massage, so I had lots of time for reading, knitting and scrabble.

I realized I hadn’t shown you the last sweater I finished.

It’s called Girl’s BestFriend and its a free pattern on Ravelry. I really love the ravelry one but this one has none of the lovely details because the yarn wouldn’t have shown them. It was super easy and quick and I have plans to make another.

I also wanted to show you the yarn I got in Burns Lake. The black are two toque kits and the blue is going to be a scarf I think so that all my outer wear will come from the North.

Finally, Brenda was a bad influence and I ordered the same kit her and the other lady we knit with ordered. I guess we’re going to have a knit along. I’ve never used a kit before so we shall see how it goes.

I also casted on a new top today, but you’ll have to wait to see that.

Have fun!

AJ

A Quiet Weekend

It has been a quiet weekend for me.

I started both days with a run. I managed a lovely 12km yesterday morning and it felt great. This morning was 4.5 and it didn’t feel so great. I had gone long yesterday thinking we wouldn’t be running today, but we did, and my legs were tired! Oh well, at least some more mileage.

I also got a workout in this evening. I did 8 upper body exercises, 8 Ab exercises and 8 lower body exercises. Hopefully it helps build some muscle under the flab.

Reading:

I have spent a lot of time reading this weekend. It has exclusively been Lauren Layne. Maybe I should call this the Lauren Layne weekend. I finished her Central Park Pact trilogy. I loved the first two books and the third was okay. It was probably very good, but just not what I was expecting. I would recommend this series.

I am now on book 2 of her Sex, Love and Stiletto series, and am enjoying it so far.

Knitting:

I have been working on the scarf/shawl I started in the car, but can’t say I’m really excited about it. I usually only have one knitting project on the go at a time, but I may need to start another more interesting project, maybe another sweater.

Sally’s baking challenge:

I know that I was supposed to do the baking challenge on Saturday, but I will actually be doing it Tuesday and will let you know how it goes.

Well there’s my quiet weekend.

Have fun!

AJ

Peaceful

It was nice to do nothing and waste a day.

Exercise:

I somehow woke enough this morning to set an alarm so I wasn’t late to meet Dennis. We ran the dykes and it went better than I expected. A nice 6.62km added to my mileage. I definitely need to do a couple of long ones to get my mileage up to where it should be this month though!

This evening I made myself do a band workout just so that I’d keep the trend going. I did side shuffle, squats, plié squats, front raises, crunches, reverse crunch with heel drop, pushups and a plank.

Reading:

I had gotten a book from the library and then realized it was the second in a series so today I finished the first in the series called, Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne. I really enjoyed this book and liked the fact that it was the man at the end who wasn’t answering phone calls or notes. I would recommend the book if you are looking a fun summer read. I am onto the second of the series and am enjoying it as well.

I have to admit that that is all I have done today. Pretty sad, but enjoyable.

Have fun!

AJ

Day 4

L and I started the day with an interval run around the park followed by stairs and a circuit of pushups, pull-ups, lateral step ups, split lunges and froggers jumps. That was enough to start the day out right.

I tried her mom’s avocado toast at the cafe which was very yummy!

We then set off for the first part of our journey home.

I was lucky enough that we stopped in Smithers and I got a couple of minutes in a knitting shop. I didn’t end up buying anything because they didn’t have anything local.

But it’s always neat to see a new store. We also stopped and got lunch at the Two Sisters Cafe which was a really great idea! We grabbed it to go.

We then kept going to Burns Lake. We stopped at the local yarn store here and I got a skein of yarn they is made in McBride BC. I do love when stores have local yarns. I also picked up a toque kit for both L and I. Hers will be her birthday or Christmas present. I had kicked myself last year when I didn’t buy them from Knit City.

The boys were very determined that we needed to stop at Burns Lake because it has a water slide into the lake. It was a cool stop and the guys had the chance to swim and play for a couple of hours.

From there we made the drive that seemed interminable to Prince George where we had a hotel room booked. It also had a pool and water slide so that kept the boys entertained. I did go down the water slide a few times but then enjoyed the hot tub.

We got to bed early but it was about 12:30 before I really got any sleep:(. We are now off for the next leg of our journey.

Have fun!

AJ

Day 3

Today we didn’t do much but boy was I tired from it.

We had a cup of tea and then headed out to do some hill repeats in town. I managed to do seven hill repeats and a short tour of the block run. We finished up in the park with three rounds of ten pull-ups, pushups, dips, step ups, and a plank. We then ran home. It wasn’t five kilometers but it was still an awesome way to start the day.

After a great breakfast skillet

We headed out to the valley which is where L grew up. It was so cool to see where she talks about. I got a few minutes of knitting in while they went swimming before the skies opened again.

It was back home for a visit with a sister in law and a niece and then another trip to the local lake.

I tried to get pictures of the crazy amount of frogs at the valley lake and the crazy amount of tadpoles at the local lake, but they just didn’t turn out. It really was something to see though.

Now it’s time for bed!

Have fun!

AJ

Day 2

L slept in yesterday after all that driving so I got to start the day slowly with reading my book. I won’t complain about that!

After a couple of cups of tea,L, her mom and I set out for a run. We did the Breakwater trail but added on the river portion which is straight down for 750 meters and then 75 stairs. Of course we had to come back up that too.

We had a dog follow us home who hung out all day annoying us, but entertaining the kids. Well they were also entertained helping a mouse get out of the skate park.

We then headed over to the park with her mom to do the “old lady workout” for the day

It was a beautiful area, but not much of a workout. At least I moved though!

After a shower and finally some food, we headed out to old town. I guess there are actually four different Hazeltons. Old town has a very different vibe to it, but was really cool to look around.

In the evening L took the kids back to the lake and I helped with some prep for tomorrow at the cafe.

So far it has been really cool to finally see the places L talks about. Supposedly I also need to see one of the doctors in town who is super nice and cute. We shall see.

Have fun!

AJ