Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Before Vacation

Tuesday, I got out for a 6:25 am walk before going into work. Nice morning. (2.6 miles walked)

Wednesday was a 6:45 am run on the Topsham Crossing loop. Another nice morning. (6.0 miles)

Final exams started for Sam on Wednesday, so she was out before lunchtime and stopped by at Mom and Dad's to say hi to Kristen and Cutter, since she didn't get a chance to stop by on Sunday afternoon with us when they first arrived. Cutter was happy for the attention! 

Looks at me, getting out in the 6:00 am hour three days in a row! 😛 Got in a run on the cart paths on Thursday at 6:45 am. Damp and dreary out and the rain started with two miles to go. Should have started earlier apparently! 😂 Cow vetch in bloom and first rose pogonia of the season 🌸 (6.0 miles)



Friday was a day off from work, but still a busy one. I headed to the farmer's market and to do the errands in the morning, got some work done (too much to catch up on to actually take the day off 😝😐) and then finally headed out for a quick run at 3:20 before we headed to Enoteca for a birthday dinner with Mom, Dad and Kristen. It was another run on the Topsham Crossing lollypop. Breezy and warm out. (6.0 miles)


Got out a little after 9:30 on Saturday morning for a run on the powerlines. Lovely out, nice and breezy, with the smell of blackberry flowers and hay scented ferns in the air. One deer and one swallowtail butterfly on the rose twisted stalk. (9.0 miles)









Didn't feel up for heading out early on Sunday so got some work done and then we headed down to Five Islands early in an attempt to beat the crowds and meet up with Mom, Dad, Kristen and Cutter for a Father's Day lunch. Beating the crowds didn't work but it was a lovely day to be out by the water! 


Did a bit of reading and more work on the couch when we got back as I needed the fried scallops to settle in my stomach 😂 and then, as I was about to head out at 3:30, it started to pour and thunder. So, a 5:00 run it was! Nice out. Not my run plan for the day but at least I got in a few miles 😬🤷‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️😉 (6.0 miles)







Sunday, June 14, 2026

Heading Into Summer

Tuesday, June 2, was a 6:15 am walk around the school block for a bit of movement before the day. Nice cool morning. (2.0 miles)

Wednesday, I headed out at 6:00 am for a run on the Topsham Crossing lollypop. Nice morning. One deer, two eastern towhees. Columbine in bloom in the back garden and iris in bloom out front 🤩 (6.0 miles)



Thursday was a 4:00 pm run down to the river and back. Warm and breezy. Not sure anyone had been along the trail along the Heath all day as I kept running through inch worm strands and ended the run with a few still stuck on me 😂 (6.0 miles)



Friday was an 8:00 am run out on the powerlines. Warm morning with the smell of hay scented ferns and honeysuckle in the air. Swamp iris in bloom along the powerlines and jack in the pulpit in the shade along the ATV trails. Everything is very green now. (8.0 miles)




After my run, I had a lovely massage with Lauren, did some errands and got a bit of work done.

Didn't head out until mid-afternoon on Saturday, as I’ve found my body always feels a bit beat up for 24 hrs after a massage, so I waited to give myself a bit more time to loosen up. Cool but very humid. Ran out on the powerlines. One deer seen, plus first of the season sheep laurel in bloom. (10.0 miles)









Sunday, I volunteered at the finish line for the Scuffle and didn't end up getting out before hand. It was cool but rainy, but thankfully we didn't get poured on while we were standing out there at least! Came home and had lunch, and finally headed out around 2:00 for a road run around Highland Green and the neighborhoods after the rains stopped. Very damp and heavy out. There was a lot of slow plodding happening. (10.0 miles)




Tuesday was a 4:30 pm run down to the river and back. Warm! (6.2 miles)


Wednesday was a 6:10 am run on the the Topsham Crossing lollypop. Nice morning but felt a bit flat. (6.0 miles)

Dad headed south to El Paso to join Kristen on her drive north. She is staying with Mom and Dad for a while until she sorts out her housing here but so excited that she'll be in Maine!! As Dad was away, Mom came over for dinner and to celebrate her 80th birthday with us! Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you 💗🎂


Thursday was spent working at home from the couch while doing colonoscopy prep, until I couldn't handle it any longer and then just sat watching Shrinking with Gigi on my lap. Mostly this meant that I was a very cranky Sparkplug all day! Drinking my calories is just not the same as eating, and the prep in the afternoon just flat out sucks. 


Not to mention getting up at 3:45 am to do the second round of the prep before getting over to the hospital for 8:00 am. UGH! In any event, happily no sessile polyps found so I get a small reprieve and don't have to go back for 2 years! Hey, better than 6 months or a 1 year so I'll take it! The anesthesia really threw me for a loop this time around; I was really out of it and after an egg sandwich once we got home, I went upstairs to take a nap! Woke up feeling more myself and got a bit of work and reading done on the couch before heading to bed early.

Got some of the regular Friday errands done on Saturday morning that I didn't manage to complete on Friday (see above), did a few things around the house, got some work done and then finally headed out around 3:00 pm for a run on the powerlines. Very much summer out there. All the green and quite roasty toasty! Took it very easy due to temps and since I’m still recovering from yesterday’s colonoscopy. The prep and not eating really takes its toll. 🤷‍♀️ (7.2 miles)






Meanwhile, Ryan was out walking 18 holes of golf and Sam was up at the Penbay Y for a swim instructor training course, so a busy Saturday for all!

Still had a fair amount of work to catch up on, so sat on the couch for much longer than I should have today, which meant I didn't head out for my run until around 1:00. Warm, breezy and polleny. Did a road and trail wander around town. One deer foot 🤷‍♀️and lots of summer flora 🌸 Low energy and definitely feeling the pollen but good to get out and wander. (11.0 miles)











Meanwhile, out back, Mama groundhog has brought around her three babies, and has taken to chasing the fox and raccoon away. It's quite amusing actually 😂 And I love seeing the little babies! They are so cute 😍