East or West?

Many mornings this past month have begun with that question. This summer, we live just a block from a paved bike trail and I have been trying to get a bike ride in every day... it usually ends up being 4 times a week due to rain, heat or just plain laziness.

Each trip, east or west, has aided in the healing process. Some days, my thoughts were angry and my pedaling was fast. Some days, my thoughts were just plain sad, and I would find myself barely pedaling at all. And some days, I would be trying to make a decision or process a decision make for me and my speed would vary from "ferocious" to "feeble". I am proud to say that I can now pedal 8-10 miles without pain and have done a 12 mile trip a couple of times.

And then, I began, once again, to take notice of what was around me; the trees and their fragrances on humid mornings, the trail and its "potholes", the flowers and their delicate beauty, the birds and their mysterious habits, the rabbits who pose for pictures
and the deer who stay just ahead of me when I don't have my camera and never show up when I have it in hand. And with each trip and each mile, smiles have come more easily. So, most people will call this trail from Mankato to Faribault, the Sakatah Bike Trail. I call it the healing trail. I actually have picked up my camera a few times lately and taken it along as I ride. This is "my" trail.

Along this beautiful tree-lined path, the Queen Anne's Lace is blooming.

And this delicate beauty shows up every couple of miles. This mailbox looked lonely one morning; it was all alone and just waiting for something.


I never really did figure out what this was going to be and now I don't remember where it was that I saw it... The wild roses were prevalent this year. Seems there were two of us creatures attracted to this one.
Some of the crops were suffering from the many inches of rain.
There is old farm place that captures my attention every time I ride by.
And after an hour or so of riding, I always feel better... healthier. And no matter how you may be feeling, life keeps coming at you - that is a really good thing! And each day is a little better.

We were joined by family on Mike's birthday and enjoyed dinner together at The Landing in Madison Lake.

Amariah brought smiles when she produced her magic wand on Father's Day and turned rocks into coins... Mike and this Great Granddaughter love to play!
Who wouldn't smile when this bit of sunshine poses for you.

We went golfing a couple of times; once by ourselves and once in a benefit for Jack Zimmerman, a wounded soldier from Cleveland.

We helped out at Take A Kid Fishing again this year. In the pouring rain, Mike drove the only pontoon without a top but the kids had fun and they caught fish.

Whitey and Jeanne have stopped by a few times and the last time they brought kolarabi.

We reconnected with Dag and Marlys and Mike and Sis and spent an enjoyable couple of hours with Lonny and LeeAnn playing Greed.

We had Pam and Bill over for dinner one night and laughed, cried and just cherished our time together.

I've had lunch a couple of times with my dear friend, Adrienne. We have talked about everything and nothing.

We went to dinner and an evening of cards at Lael and Doug's. and we have been going to dinner on Thursdays with our "spirited" group and sharing stories and laughing.

As my friend Richard is fond of saying, "Life is Good!" (at least it is getting better)