Warm Fires

dead sunflower, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

We have been making yummy cultures lately (kefir, water kefir, kombucha) and in order to do so we have been keeping our little room nice and toasty. I love it! Probiotics and warmth, can it get any better? I guess Maybe. Chocolate does come to mind when I really think about it

I am taking the next couple days off from running to get ready for the 5k on Saturday. I am really excited about the race because I know its going to be a blast! There is going to be music, prizes, activities, beer (that I wont drink), costume galore… and of course, running like hell. Tiff and I did a makeup test last night and we kinda look like penguin mimes! Kinda cool. The swim caps we bought (penguins don’t have hair now do they?) were a little tight, so we will be working on stretching them out over the next couple of days. This is going to be the best 5k ever… if not for PR, it will be in the fun aspect! I deserve fun for all the running in the cold, wet, icky rain that I have been doing to prepare for kicking all sorts of assage. Okay I lie, I actually have fun in my rainy runs when its dumping, I can’t get any wetter, my shoes are soaked… jumping in puddles! Hell yah! See, running makes you younger while simultaneously look crazy :p

running

tograndmothershouse, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

I have been running again for about 4 weeks, 3-4x a week. I am planning on running a 5k with my housemate on Halloween as part of my training goals. I am actually easing myself into working-out this time and hopefully I wont get injuries or quit like I do every winter. I am starting to feel better already and I am eating healthier as well.

Casey and I have been getting raw milk from a local farmer weekly and have cut grains and alcohol almost completely out of our diet. We have been on our new “diet” for a little over a month and I love it. I eat farm fresh eggs for breakfast every morning with bacon… yummy heathy fats! We read a book called ‘The Vegetarian Myth’ and it was eye opening… We have completely cut soy out of our diet (I now blame soy for my memory problems do to being vegan for 6 years). I feel great, my weight is improving and I am less depressed.

Stuff and Such

turtle!, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

I am back in Bend for my Brother’s Birthday. We all went on a walk (crazy I know, my brother walked!) with Sam to a school and let him run around with another dog that was there. He is all snorty and tired out now!

When we get back into town on Saturday, I want to go the Black Sheep Festival and pick up a fleece to spin into yarn. Maybe I will knit a sweater or something with it for Casey (I know what your thinking: Lame, right? Well, he is kinda crazy and will actually appreciate it).

Other than that, I have going out to nature areas and photographing more birds… now I am lusting over the Canon EF 800mm lens. Maybe when I win the lottery, or perhaps selling my photos instead of just looking at them and putting them on flickr. Anyway, it won’t happen but I still want it

People

 

barn swallow, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

Somedays I hate people for really no reason other than they drive me crazy. I get annoyed when I come across too many people on my walks or when people in cars are idiots. I start spewing my mouth and mocking those who bug me… for sport in a way. There are too many idiots in this word and they cannot seem to leave me alone! Grrrr!

I just came back from a walk down the river and the stupid jocks were out in full force throwing footballs and acting like complete morons. The girls with them giggling like they left their brains at home hoping for some action. There where way too many people out for me to be sane! There were fat men on bikes too small for them and thin men on bikes too large… funny sight! I am glad to be home and will stick to my early morning walks and activities

That is my rant for today

Traveling again and again

2 great egrets , originally uploaded by misskinglet.

I woke up at 5:30 this morning, drank coffee and headed to a wildlife refuge outside of Corvallis Oregon. I got some cool photos of a black bird attacking an Osprey and a Great Blue Heron. I saw a Bald Eagle, but it was too shy to stick around.

At 9:30, we headed to Portland to meet up with a good friend from Seattle. I drank more coffee and chatted until 6 or so before heading back to Eugene.

I feel like I am always on the road lately and am starting to miss being home! what is Summer without traveling? Onward I go…

I’m back

northern harrier, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

The birding trip was an epic adventure. I saw plenty of first time birds for me, but what excited me most was I got to see a Bobolink! The bird I was wishing for! Overall, I came back with many photographs (over 30 gigabytes worth) and many bug bites. A great deal of the photos I will be throwing away, but many turned out awesome. One of my favorites is a photo I took of a Northern Harrier (the pic with this post).

… but it is great to be back sleeping in a bed and the ability to take a shower.

Dirt and Grime

Perched , originally uploaded by misskinglet.

In a couple of days Casey, his dad, and I are taking a road trip to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and we will be camping out for three nights. I am worried that the battery life of my camera will not last the entire time. However, my mom let me borrow a plug-in-the-cigarette-lighter-for -power-thingy that has an AC output where my battery charger can hook up to it. All I hopefully need is luck on my side for everything to go smoothly. It will an interesting trip and hopefully I will bring tons of pictures to show for it. I am ready to hit the road and scuz it out for several days! I am always up for an adventure! (well… ALMOST always)

Nothing to new is happening at home. I am just reading a whole lot and started running for exercise again. Ooh Excitement!

Sam is the Best Pup

sam, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

Yesterday, we took the pup out to Crooked River and he frolicked about for four hours straight. He leaped and bound after birds, ran from one person to the other, and splashed in the muck by the river. I gave him a bath when we got back and he crashed pretty early in the evening. He was pooped (yay!). Today, he has been stiff and pathetic with the need for love and pity. I still took him on a short walk and he has been following me everywhere around the house… I want to take him back home with me!

Tea Again

hop, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

I have not been outside very much this past week due to the continual downpour of rain…rain…rain..and more rain. I am starting to get cabin fever and we are planning on retreating to Bend for several days.

Casey and I stopped drinking coffee and alcohol on the first of this month. It took several days to get rid of the ‘coffee headache’ and the booze thing isn’t much of a problem… However, I was missing it after I facilitated group last Monday. We are only going a month, giving our system a little shock and break from addictive substances.

I need to get out of the house!

Wildlife Trail

yellow-rumped warbler, originally uploaded by misskinglet.

Yesterday was my first day out with my new lens. We went to Fern Ridge Wetlands and saw many cool birds: Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Red Winged Blackbirds, Osprey, Blue Heron, Geese, Ducks, Sandpipers, Killdeer, and a Sparrow like bird I have yet to identify. It was good practice taking photos and made me realize how much more I have to learn (especially correct exposure).

I love my lens! It is sharp, quiet, and fast focusing. I still have to get used to the weight of it and holding it steady, but so far I am pleased with most of the pictures I took.