Victory!

I ran four times around the big block tonight, a 2.4 mile run.  I think it was my longest, non-walking distance, ever.  I know a couple of years ago I got up to 2 miles, but I don't think I got beyond that without stopping to walk for a bit.  Selim rode his bike on the first lap, but it was so windy that he got too cold.  The temperature has been dropping all day and it must by in the 30's this evening.  I feel victorious.  I didn't set any speed record, but I didn't stop.  Now I have a base line and I can only get better from here.

In other news, I cajoled a reluctant Selim to try our luck and bird watching yesterday afternoon.  There had been sighting of white sand cranes in a field by UNH that Robert told us about.  So we went, and saw tons of seagulls, but no cranes.  That was too bad, but I'm happy that we made the effort. 

We stopped by the Jackson Landing play ground after and we walked down to the water when it started raining.  Since we hadn't seen any cranes, I was hoping that we might see a heron.  But no, just boats.

And that is what I know.

Spring flowers

I've been so angry at the whole Rush Limbaugh thing and the intense focus on women's health care and the desire to revisit contraception (i.e. limit access and funding), that I haven't been able to write anything.  Every time I start a new blog post, I keep ranting and I am going around in circles.  So,  thank you, Eugene Robinson for writing eloquently on Rush.  The one thing that I wish I seen in the coverage of his tirade is the lack of attention paid to Viagra --if that isn't the definition of men getting paid to have sex, then I'm Snow White.  Should all women be asking for Rush's sex tapes?  Oh wait, but that's porn and not right-wing Christian conservative viewing material.  But I digress.

OK, on to my flowers.  We had the snow storm of the year on March 1 and then on March 11, the crocuses started blooming.  Most days I would take pictures, noticing that every day a new bud would open.  By the end of last week, they were finished and the hyacinths and daffodils blooming.

I love white flowers.  And the cherry blossoms opened yesterday or today.  The heat wave is over, so it will be interesting to see how quickly the rest of the bulbs flower.

Last weekend Selim and I braved the mile of mud that was Osgood Road and spent the weekend at the Ashram.  Mom turned 70 on Friday.  Happily, Selim didn't have school that day and I took annual leave so that we could leave early in the day.  We made it to the shop five minutes before she did and had brought chocolate cupcakes with raspberry frosting for the folks at her work to enjoy.

Friday night I set the table nicely and made pesto noodles, zucchini gratin and salad for dinner.  I had bought three little tete-a-tetes in Portsmouth that I turned into the centerpiece.  Selim wrapped his present and put it by her plate.  The table looked lovely and the dinner was delicious.

Saturday I invited the Ashramites and others over for tea.  I made two big pots of chai, two cheesecakes (using mascarpone instead of regular cream cheese, yum!), and three batches of cupcakes -- chocolate, ginger and vanilla with either raspberry or peach frosting.  There was enough food and drink for everyone.  People stayed for three hours.  It was so sweet to talk and be convivial with friends, most of whom we have known for 30+ years.  I was so involved in the food and the event that I didn't take pictures.  Sigh.  But I did get one of Selim getting a lift to bed, as he had fallen asleep in my lap on the couch.

The weekend was just great.  Mom was happy and that made me feel good.  I didn't want it to be sad.  When we left on Sunday, the road was a little bit better, but still, very muddy.  Nedim and Selim got out the hose at home and washed the jeep later that afternoon.

We have had a week of summer weather.  I had to dig around in my summer stuff to find sandals.  I felt like I was finding old friends -- the sandals that made walking around in DC and London possible.  We set record highs for at least four days.  This has been the winter of no snow, no low temps and now summer in March.

I've been on a quest to try to run.  I started last month and it took my 19 minutes to go 1.2 miles and I couldn't run the whole time.  By last week I had shaved 4 minutes off that time.  That is still really slow, I know, but I am improving.  Now I am going for longer distances and not so worried about the time.  On Friday I ran 2 out of the 2.4 miles that I tried.  I think I will do better now that it isn't 80 degrees out.  My goal is to be able to run a 5K this summer. 

Snow!

Last night, as Selim drifted off to sleep, he murmured, "Tomorrow, I will see joy."  As in snow.  And he was right.  Snow fell all day long.  He had three long outside sessions.  I found the shovelling hard because the snow stuck to the shovel and it took a lot of energy to get it off.  But he had a great time.

The person in our house not seeing his joy while snow blowing, Nedim. 

Yesterday, we got out and about, knowing that the storm was coming.  We went to Portsmouth so that Selim could get a haircut at the place I like.   And then we did the usual round of stores -- stickers, pesto flat bakery, toy, and chocolate.  We got home just as the light snow turned more serious.  I took out the camera and imagined that I was taking pictures of exotic fences and statuary.  Our garden bunnies are pretty cute.

The past two days could be titled the joy of motherhood.  Selim and I have had great days.  We haven't had too many head butting moments.  We have mixed in chores with play.  And I've taken a few moments to sew.  I finished the quilt squares this afternoon.  I have to decide if I am going to sew them together, or put in little lattice strips in between.  I need a big space to arrange the squares and once I get them all organized, I think I will be able to figure out what to do next.

And, in other fun news, Selim has decided that he likes to take a shower, provided he can put on his robe afterwards.  And do karate in it as well.