Happy Mother's Day!

Monday was a mellow afternoon family walk on the powerlines. Always nice to get in a bit of movement at the end of the day spent at the computer. (1.9 miles)

Tuesday, I got out for a run through the Cathance in the afternoon. Always nice to get out in the woods. Things are greening up out there, but there is still some ice left in the snowhole! (7.0 miles)

Trailing arbutus

So pretty

Still some ice in there!

Wednesday, the forecast was calling for rain all day and I didn't get out early enough to miss it. Dropped Sam off for late start at 8:45 and then headed out onto the cart paths shortly after. Wore my new UD raincoat, which was pretty sweet. Saw two deer, one broadwing hawk and some hobblebush beginning to bloom. (6.0 miles)

Didn't feel super energetic on Friday's run but it was a gorgeous morning to be out. Ran the cart paths and went down to the river and back. Swallows were flitting about along the golf course, two hawks flew overhead and I spotted a painted turtle in the vernal pool. Also first goldthread and fringed polygala of the season! I do love this time of year when the wood floor comes alive 💗 (8.1 miles)

Hi there!

False hellebore and ferns coming up along the riverbank

Goldthread

Beautiful fringed polygala

Spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon getting errands done and doing some things around the house and then we headed out for a family walk before dinner, despite much protest from the kiddo who would much prefer to stay on her bed and on her phone all afternoon. First wild oats coming up in the Mt. A. woods! (2.2 miles walked)

Saturday morning, Ryan joined me for a run out through the Commons, Coleman Farm and the Landing, which was a nice treat! All the daffodils and trout lilies are in bloom out in the Commons, plus some nice patches of wood anemone. In the Commons, no signs of  the ladyslippers just yet but some lovely sections lined with goldthread. We did a bit of extra exploration out in the Landing, taking one of the side trails I hadn't been on before, which dead-ended but did lead us to a rather random and cool find - an old Town Commons marker off in the woods. Neat, and interesting to see that the Commons once stretched across the road out into the old naval air station property! Bright, cool morning. (10.4 miles)

Always love these Coleman Farm daffodils!

Trout lily - a classic spring ephemeral

Town Common marker

Once we got home and had a bit to eat we tackled some of the "spring cleaning" chores on my list - cleaning the windows, washing the door mats, trimming back some bushes and mulching the back garden. With the three of us working on things, it didn't take too long to get it all done, and then it was off to meet up with Mom and Dad for a walk into town for gelato. The May flavors - key lime pie and lemon cream cookie - were delish! 😋🍨 (2.3 miles walked) 

The tulips out in front of Mom and Dad's house looking lovely

Then it was home to sit on the couch for the rest of the day! 😂

And so it was that Sunday morning, I finally tackled my long run for the week. Which worked out perfectly, as I said all I wanted for Mother's Day was to run, take a family walk and not have to cook dinner. Easy, right?! 😉😊 Nice morning to be out on the trails, and I felt decent, which was even better. Wandered down to the river and then out on the powerlines. One deer, one great blue heron, swallows flitting about out at the dump pond, ferns coming up along the riverbank, and wild oats, wood anemone and trailing arbutus seen trailside. (15.0 miles)

Later in the afternoon, we picked Mom and Dad up for a walk out on the Otter Brook Preserve trails. A pretty loop through woods, along the creek, and through a field. Some lovely patches of goldthread, wood anemone and trout lily. And always so nice to get in a walk with Mom and Dad 😍 (1.7 miles walked)

Then we wrapped up the day with dinner at Mom and Dad's followed up by the blueberry pie Sam and I made before lunch. Yum! The perfect end to a nice day. And Happy Mother's Day to all my favorite moms out there 💗