My mom and stepdad live on a farm in the middle of nowhere in eastern Colorado, and they do farm stuff. They have goats, cattle, horses, chickens, sheep, donkeys, etc. They love the life they live, and they fully embrace the lifestyle that it comes with.
They also have farm friends. One of their farm friends, who also has a farm with cattle, hosts an annual round-up. Its where all these farm people assemble and bring their horses and gather the herd of cattle from the pasture and bring the babies in for annual shots and castration.
Round-up is ten days from now, and to fit in with the crowd, I figured I needed to look country. I'm probably the only "city" person attending this shindig, so I should at least try to play the part. I've already got the boots, the dirty jeans, and the button up; all I needed was a hat (to boot!).
Completely coincidentally, I was explaining all of this to a colleague at work when SHE proclaimed that SHE TOO was attending a round-up a few weeks from now and was in need of some fringe-y leather gloves!! Lo and behold, a woman who could relate. So we decided to go shopping this evening.
After much trial and tribulation, and many many hats, I found the one. It's from a local vendor and made out of felt, interestingly enough, so when it gets bent or folded (or stepped on by an ornery bull calf) it pops right back into place. It came with a hefty price tag, but I was willing to pay the price, both for the purpose of this blog and for my fashion-forwardness at round-up.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Day 5: Order a pizza
We were so excited to see it when we first moved into our apartment and started exploring the neighborhood. The sweet, warm, inviting smell of pizza dough and garlic wafts out of the perpetually open front door and tempts you as you walk by. I try to pedal my bike a little harder when I pass it on my way home from work every day, worried that I'll cave and pop in for a quick pre-dinner slice.
But yesterday, we indulged. We don't normally eat out very often (especially pizza), so it was a real treat. We had run errands together after work and were exhausted and hungry by the time we got home, so we called in the order around 8pm, and 30 minutes later, I bundled up and scurried down the street to pick it up.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Day 4: Write a blog
Okay, so this one might be a bit of a cop out. It's a bit self-explanatory. "Day 4: Write a blog".
But it's 10:00pm on a Monday and I'm ready for bed. I'm getting up early for a 6:15am yoga sculpt class. I spent the evening packing my gym bag, my breakfast, and my lunch, making breakfast and lunch for Grant, cleaning the kitchen, writing a complaint to our landlords about the upstairs neighbors, and watching Chopped: Halloween Baking.
I feel productive and satisfied.
So there isn't much to delve into here with Day 4. I suppose I'll write about the blog, the motivation behind it, and what I hope comes of it.
I don't see this so much a public blog, but rather a place to gather my own thoughts. I actually haven't told anyone that I'm writing this blog.
An old friend recently asked if I was still writing, and I had to admit that I wasn't. I haven't written at all since Peace Corps. I don't find inspiration in everyday, seemingly mundane tasks like I did in Lesotho.
My hope is that by having an everyday goal of doing something that inspires happiness, I'll look at the world with glittering eyes and feel full of gratitude and joy with everything that I have. The tasks on the list aren't outrageous - they're simple little goals that I can (somewhat easily) achieve every day over the course of a year. And that's all.
But it's 10:00pm on a Monday and I'm ready for bed. I'm getting up early for a 6:15am yoga sculpt class. I spent the evening packing my gym bag, my breakfast, and my lunch, making breakfast and lunch for Grant, cleaning the kitchen, writing a complaint to our landlords about the upstairs neighbors, and watching Chopped: Halloween Baking.
I feel productive and satisfied.
So there isn't much to delve into here with Day 4. I suppose I'll write about the blog, the motivation behind it, and what I hope comes of it.
I don't see this so much a public blog, but rather a place to gather my own thoughts. I actually haven't told anyone that I'm writing this blog.
An old friend recently asked if I was still writing, and I had to admit that I wasn't. I haven't written at all since Peace Corps. I don't find inspiration in everyday, seemingly mundane tasks like I did in Lesotho.
My hope is that by having an everyday goal of doing something that inspires happiness, I'll look at the world with glittering eyes and feel full of gratitude and joy with everything that I have. The tasks on the list aren't outrageous - they're simple little goals that I can (somewhat easily) achieve every day over the course of a year. And that's all.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Day 3: Go for a run
We ran a 5k today! I can't believe it, but Grant ran it with me, too. He has a bum knee and usually prefers to ride a bike (or, just not exercise at all). But, after nine glorious hours of sleep last night, we got up early and had coffee and bagels before heading to the park. We registered, checked in, and grabbed our race t-shirts. They even had long-sleeved racing shirts! Short-sleeved giveaway shirts get lost in the mix, but long-sleeves are a rare commodity these days.
The race was organized by a friend of mine. All of the proceeds went to an organization supporting lung cancer research. It took place at Wash Park, which is near our house and an absolutely beautiful place to run. The weather couldn't have been more perfect; a clear blue October sky and a refreshingly chilly morning.
The race was hard. Harder than I expected. Admittedly, I'm not in as great shape as I used to be, but I didn't think I'd be so tired by the end. Grant runs fast as it is, and his legs are about 1/2 a leg longer than mine, so it takes me about 1.5 steps to each of his one. Trying to keep up with his pace, I feel like a tiny dog trotting alongside its owner.
We celebrated afterwards by grabbing coffee and pastries with a couple of friends. It was warm enough to sit outside and soak in the midmorning sunshine on our backs.
Grant had to work at 3pm, but he surprised me on the way home by stopping at a pumpkin sale at a local church. We each picked out our own pumpkin, plus a decorative white one and a miniature one for a table centerpiece. Grant always goes for the wartiest, biggest pumpkin he can find. I like a classic orange with nice pumpkin lines.
In Ohio, we used to go to the same pumpkin patch every year. It was about 30 minutes outside of Cincinnati in the cutest little farm town you've ever seen. We'd ride a tractor into the pumpkin patch, pick out our pumpkins, and ride the tractor back to the farm. There was a petting zoo, a farm store with canned jam and honey, hot apple cider, and corn hole games.
Grant's schedule makes it tough to get out to do things like that these days. I'm so grateful anytime he has a weekend day off and we can go out on adventures together, even if they're just little adventures.
The race was organized by a friend of mine. All of the proceeds went to an organization supporting lung cancer research. It took place at Wash Park, which is near our house and an absolutely beautiful place to run. The weather couldn't have been more perfect; a clear blue October sky and a refreshingly chilly morning.
The race was hard. Harder than I expected. Admittedly, I'm not in as great shape as I used to be, but I didn't think I'd be so tired by the end. Grant runs fast as it is, and his legs are about 1/2 a leg longer than mine, so it takes me about 1.5 steps to each of his one. Trying to keep up with his pace, I feel like a tiny dog trotting alongside its owner.
We celebrated afterwards by grabbing coffee and pastries with a couple of friends. It was warm enough to sit outside and soak in the midmorning sunshine on our backs.
Grant had to work at 3pm, but he surprised me on the way home by stopping at a pumpkin sale at a local church. We each picked out our own pumpkin, plus a decorative white one and a miniature one for a table centerpiece. Grant always goes for the wartiest, biggest pumpkin he can find. I like a classic orange with nice pumpkin lines.
In Ohio, we used to go to the same pumpkin patch every year. It was about 30 minutes outside of Cincinnati in the cutest little farm town you've ever seen. We'd ride a tractor into the pumpkin patch, pick out our pumpkins, and ride the tractor back to the farm. There was a petting zoo, a farm store with canned jam and honey, hot apple cider, and corn hole games.
Grant's schedule makes it tough to get out to do things like that these days. I'm so grateful anytime he has a weekend day off and we can go out on adventures together, even if they're just little adventures.
Day 2: Go on a hike
Right before I left for Peace Corps, I had a summer job on a ranch in the middle of nowhere in the mountains. It was the best job I ever had. I spent my days cooking pulled pork and beans in the kitchen, serving beers on the outdoor patio overlooking a crisp, cold mountain lake, or sitting on a dock at the boathouse, pushing canoes into the water.
After the ranch closed at 6pm every day, I'd eat a leisurely fireside dinner with my coworkers, down a few beers, and take off into the woods for an evening hike or pack a cooler and race canoes out on the lake to watch the sun set over the mountains. We listened through the darkness to moose wading along the shore, and we gazed up at the brightest stars I've ever seen.
After an evening of camping debauchery yesterday, Grant and I decided to take a drive through the mountains to check out the fall colors of the Aspen trees. We drove about 40 miles west to Vail, then about 12 miles up that long, familiar dirt road to Piney Lake.
The Aspen trees were glowing. Bright, florescent yellows and fiery oranges and reds. They lit up the mountains like sunshine. Even the trees without leaves were a beautiful, stark monochrome contrast to the bright blue sky. We stopped to snap a few pictures, but the camera didn't do any justice to what our eyes could see.
We turned a quick corner along the bumpy, dusty dirt road and were greeted by a car creeping slowly toward us. The driver reached out his arm and pointed across the road into the brush - a telltale sign in the mountains that wildlife is present. Sure enough, there he was: a huge bull moose casually lumbering alongside a creek. The first moose Grant has ever seen! He dropped down on his front knees for a sip of water, stumbled back up, and walked right across the road in front of our car. You can't really imagine how large a moose is until you see one up close: his legs extended past the roof of our Mini Cooper.
We finally arrived at Piney and I was immediately flooded with nostalgia. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the lodge, slugged down a few beers, and took off into the woods for a hike. We walked through a massive meadow extending along the tree line into the wilderness (literally, the sign going into the hike says "Wilderness"). We stopped a few times to sit and listen to the wind blow. We watched an eagle soar magnificently above the lake, searching for prey (Grant was convinced that it would snatch up Ollie if it got close enough).
Once we were well into the woods, we heard what sounded exactly like bear grunts. We stopped abruptly to listen, trying to figure out if it was a bear or a moose (!), and what our best viewing spot/escape route would be. Another couple walked past and Grant even warned them that we were certain bears were near. It was only about ten minutes later until we realized that we were listening to a tree groaning from the wind.
After the ranch closed at 6pm every day, I'd eat a leisurely fireside dinner with my coworkers, down a few beers, and take off into the woods for an evening hike or pack a cooler and race canoes out on the lake to watch the sun set over the mountains. We listened through the darkness to moose wading along the shore, and we gazed up at the brightest stars I've ever seen.
After an evening of camping debauchery yesterday, Grant and I decided to take a drive through the mountains to check out the fall colors of the Aspen trees. We drove about 40 miles west to Vail, then about 12 miles up that long, familiar dirt road to Piney Lake.
The Aspen trees were glowing. Bright, florescent yellows and fiery oranges and reds. They lit up the mountains like sunshine. Even the trees without leaves were a beautiful, stark monochrome contrast to the bright blue sky. We stopped to snap a few pictures, but the camera didn't do any justice to what our eyes could see.
We turned a quick corner along the bumpy, dusty dirt road and were greeted by a car creeping slowly toward us. The driver reached out his arm and pointed across the road into the brush - a telltale sign in the mountains that wildlife is present. Sure enough, there he was: a huge bull moose casually lumbering alongside a creek. The first moose Grant has ever seen! He dropped down on his front knees for a sip of water, stumbled back up, and walked right across the road in front of our car. You can't really imagine how large a moose is until you see one up close: his legs extended past the roof of our Mini Cooper.
We finally arrived at Piney and I was immediately flooded with nostalgia. We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the lodge, slugged down a few beers, and took off into the woods for a hike. We walked through a massive meadow extending along the tree line into the wilderness (literally, the sign going into the hike says "Wilderness"). We stopped a few times to sit and listen to the wind blow. We watched an eagle soar magnificently above the lake, searching for prey (Grant was convinced that it would snatch up Ollie if it got close enough).
Once we were well into the woods, we heard what sounded exactly like bear grunts. We stopped abruptly to listen, trying to figure out if it was a bear or a moose (!), and what our best viewing spot/escape route would be. Another couple walked past and Grant even warned them that we were certain bears were near. It was only about ten minutes later until we realized that we were listening to a tree groaning from the wind.
Day 1: Go Camping
In 365 days, Grant and I will be getting married (!). Which seemed to me a monumental enough time frame to complete a year's worth of buildup doing something to better myself. Entering into a new phase of life, with someone I love and admire deeply, I want to be the best version of myself that I can be.
With that being said, I found this little diddly on Pinterest (typical) that lists 365 activities to complete over the course of a year that are supposed to make you happy. It's so aptly named the "365-Day Happiness Challenge". "Bring it on!" I said. So here goes!
Day 1: Friday, September 30th, exactly one year before our wedding day, we went camping. We drove up to Guanella Pass at 6:30pm, without a camp site reservation or any idea of where we'd be sleeping for the night. Which stresses me out beyond belief, because I like everything to be planned very specifically and very well in advance of the event taking place. The road up the pass was dark and winding, and I figured we didn't stand a chance of finding a "dispersed" camp site.
Lo and behold, Grant swerved off the road as soon as he saw a little dirt path that opened up into a dark clearing in the woods. The site was hidden amongst brush and trees and right alongside a small, cold creek. I have to admit that I'm a little bit of a scaredy cat in the wilderness, so the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere with just a measly camping lantern and our half-poodle to protect us, I was slightly on edge. So I took matters into my own hands and got quite drunk.
We made a lovely bonfire, talked about work, travel, our wedding, and other life stuff. We grilled a steak, some veggies, and polenta on a cast iron skillet over an open flame. We drank a swanky 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (and beer... and whiskey.....) out of plastic cups. We sat next to the fire until our hair and clothes were filled with the smell of smoke. And it was absolutely freezing (Ollie's water bowl froze solid!) so we crawled into our sleeping bags, still wearing our slippers and jackets, and fell asleep to the sounds of the rapids in the creek and the swaying Aspen trees in the sky.
With that being said, I found this little diddly on Pinterest (typical) that lists 365 activities to complete over the course of a year that are supposed to make you happy. It's so aptly named the "365-Day Happiness Challenge". "Bring it on!" I said. So here goes!
Day 1: Friday, September 30th, exactly one year before our wedding day, we went camping. We drove up to Guanella Pass at 6:30pm, without a camp site reservation or any idea of where we'd be sleeping for the night. Which stresses me out beyond belief, because I like everything to be planned very specifically and very well in advance of the event taking place. The road up the pass was dark and winding, and I figured we didn't stand a chance of finding a "dispersed" camp site.
Lo and behold, Grant swerved off the road as soon as he saw a little dirt path that opened up into a dark clearing in the woods. The site was hidden amongst brush and trees and right alongside a small, cold creek. I have to admit that I'm a little bit of a scaredy cat in the wilderness, so the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere with just a measly camping lantern and our half-poodle to protect us, I was slightly on edge. So I took matters into my own hands and got quite drunk.
We made a lovely bonfire, talked about work, travel, our wedding, and other life stuff. We grilled a steak, some veggies, and polenta on a cast iron skillet over an open flame. We drank a swanky 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (and beer... and whiskey.....) out of plastic cups. We sat next to the fire until our hair and clothes were filled with the smell of smoke. And it was absolutely freezing (Ollie's water bowl froze solid!) so we crawled into our sleeping bags, still wearing our slippers and jackets, and fell asleep to the sounds of the rapids in the creek and the swaying Aspen trees in the sky.
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