At the break of dawn

[NancyTree]

@JCU thanks

@OJJJEM thank you! I hadn't looked at it that way, thanks for shining a silver lining

@Tileenah thanks! Do you live near the Alps? it is really hard to take non-beautiful pictures here

@CODawn thanks! But eeks! That is so scary! Luckily you made it safely to the car

@Anek thank you!

Thursday May 25th
Today was a rest day. I planned a short hike around a lake, and then had to drive only an hour to my next hotel. That was a bit of an inconvenience, because the check in would be after 2 pm. So I walked slowly, made an extra stop at the supermarket on the way, and sat for an hour jn my car at a parking place 200m from my hotel (but with Excellent view). Oh my, this hotel, this place, is só relaxing! This was what I was looking for my whole vacation, but I'll be here only 2 nights and then I'll be off back to my home again .
The view from my balcony is stunning! The woman that runs the place is so nice!
I ate a burger, it was delicious!
 Hike 4.29 km, 103 m elev

Steps today: 7653 (I should've made 1 more )

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (2/7)
Having dinner (3/7)

Exercise streak: 425 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 54 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 195 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 12

Pictures

The lake:



My balcony view:



The view at sundown:

 

[Anek]

Ooohhhh wow!! That's an amazing view indeed!! I hope you get to fully enjoy your days there!

 

[Montserrat]

Wow!

 

[JCU]

That view!

I'm glad your last days will be in such a beautiful place!

 

[NancyTree]

@Anek thank you! Today the weather was also great! So I had another book reading session on the balcony

@Montserrat @JCU thanks!

Friday May 26th
Today my hike needed another few adjustments, but it turned out okay. I saw a lot of butterflies! All different sorts, of which one that's extinct in the Netherlands (at least my app said).
It is already my last evening here.. Tomorrow starts my drive back home, in 2 fases: first to Germany and on Sunday back home. I would love to make curry on Monday
 Hike 10.45 km, 708m elev.

Steps today: 16806

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (3/7)
Having dinner (3/7)

Exercise streak: 426 days (1st day Mar 26 2022)
Step streak: 55 days (186)
Daily walk streak: -on hold- (141)
Duolingo (hard) streak: 196 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 13

Pictures

 

[JCU]

You picked an AMAZING vacation spot! Wow!

 

[Tileenah]

Those pictures! Those butterflies! And that view! Breathtaking! I'm so happy you could enjoy your last days of vacation in such a beautiful place!
Yes I live in the french alps (not at the altitude of your pictures though) but I did hike a lot in them since I was old enough to hike (less since the girls were born, but as soon as they're old enough I'll get back to it with them )

 

[TopNotch]

Hey, how do you get those butterflies to stay still?! Lovely photos.

 

[NancyTree]

@JCU it is isn't it? I'm actually a bit sad I had to leave already..
@Tileenah thank you! I think it's not bad to not live on that altitude. You don't have to get up or down every day, and you have something to look forward to when you go out
@TopNotch thanks! I was lucky and patient. Though this is only a small collection with which it worked out. There were a Lot of butterflies that didn't sit still or near me . It was butterfly paradise

Saturday May 27th
I started my way home. Did a hike and now I'm at the hotel halfway. I ate at the hotel's restaurant and ooh it was so good! Tomorrow will be a 6 hour drive home.

I made plans on how to continue with exercise after I come home. I decided to reset my streak and take higher standards on when something counts as exercise. I will start with combat HIIT, Power Up and 30 days of Yoga, and try to do 2 challenges. I will also restart running, hopefully on Monday.

 Hike 4.57 km, 122 m elev. I started rushing, almost running the hike. I forgot to enjoy, just hiked for the hike. So I started a meditation for walking, it helped, my pace slowed down to normal and I was able to relax and enjoy myself.

Steps today: 7412

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (3/7)
Having dinner (4/7)

Exercise streak: 0
Step streak: 56 days
Daily walk streak: -on hold-
Duolingo (hard) streak: 197 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 14

Pictures





Food porn

Vegetable moussaka




Chocolate cake with caramel sause, vanilla ice cream and a lot of almonds

 

[Tileenah]

I want to eat that!
Thanks again for the beautiful pictures

 

[CODawn]

Thanks for sharing your awesome vacation pictures!

 

[NancyTree]

@Tileenah @CODawn yw and thanks!

Sunday May 28th
I am home. Pico is super happy I keep getting amazed with how much passion she greets/cuddles me.

The poor thing had to wait until I calmed down, my cousin who did house sit rearranged things in my home. Like tidy things up. And it upset me. So I was running around the first 30-60 minutes to find things and put them back where they belong.
I know my house is a mess, but.. it's my Home. And things are in some places for a reason. Like candles on the table. They don't belong in the windowsill. And a few pair of shoes and my inline skates were put in the hall/stair closet, which made it impossible to reach Pico's food or the toilet paper.. it is okay that they are in the hall besides the shoe rack.
And I get that you rearrange some things when you're using a house, but put them back please when you go.
It feels silly, but it also brings back some things from the past, so it is a bit emotional for me.
But, after my first running around, I made pizza and put on some series, and I got very intense Pico cuddles, and everything was all right and I texted my cousin a thank you for his good care.
 Hike 5.58 km. This was a beautiful hike with beautiful weather.

Steps today: 10122

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (4/7)
Having dinner (5/7)

Exercise streak: 0
Step streak: 57 days
Daily walk streak: -on hold-
Duolingo (hard) streak: 198 days (1st day Nov 12 2022)
Meditation streak: 15

Pictures











Pico

 

[JCU]

That's quite a castle!

Pico! Sweet kitty!

 

[Tileenah]

awww that's love or I don't know it when I see it

 

[PetiteSheWolf]

Awwww, sweet kitty kisses! Pico is clearly happy to have her (?) hoooman back!
And for the house, I can fully understand. Things are placed according to my way of life, no touchy!

 

[TopNotch]

Glad you had a good time (and good weather)!
Pico looks happy.

 

[Anek]

Awwwww!

 

[NancyTree]

@PetiteSheWolf thanks, Im glad it's not just me

Monday May 29th
Tonight I decided to cut my big bush in the front yard. A 'new' neighbor (living there now for almost a year) saw me using the wrong kind of equipment and came to borrow me his. Which made a nice conversation and I met his wife when I brought it back, we might have tea together one day (I invited them to have tea in the near future).
So that's a really good feeling reason to postpone my bedtime. Even though I need my sleep because tomorrow work starts again and it will be disastrous (it always is the first week after holidays).

Last night I woke up, and cuddled Pico who was asleep. Normally she hates it, but now she woke up, realised I was there and went all cuddly must not try that tonight though, she might be returned to normal
 Run ZR 5k training, W1T1. 10x (1 min walk+15 sec run) + 10 min run
 Program Combat HIIT, day 1.
 Program Power Up, day 1
 Challenge super abs, day 1. 3x (8 lying leg raises + 8 side bridges)
 Challenge Glutea of steel, day 1. 3x12 bridges
 Yoga 30 days of yoga. I forgot how much I love yoga.

Steps today: 11305

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (1/7)
Walk >15 min (1/7)
5000 steps (1/7)

Healthy dinner (1/5)
Reasonable snacks (1/5)
Playing the piano (1/7)
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (1/2)

Exercise streak: 1
Step streak: 57 days
Daily walk streak: 1
Duolingo (hard) streak: 199 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 16

 

[Whirly]

Pico is so adorable!

 

[CODawn]

 

[NancyTree]

Tuesday May 30th
Another late night, because of movie night at the cinema. Watched Kandahar, I liked it.
My neighbors accepted the invite, we scheduled for next week.
 Hike 3.43 km. Pictures will follow. How gorgeous the mountains may be, I love being home in this also gorgeous national park
 Program Combat HIIT, day 2, lvl 1. This was hard.. I neglected arm exercises for the last 2 months (at least)
 Program Power up, day 2
Challenge super abs, day 2. 3x20 sec elbow plank
 Challenge Glutes of steel, day 2. 40 donkey kicks
 Yoga 30 days of yoga

Steps today: 10498

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (2/7)
Walk >15 min (2/7)
5000 steps (2/7)

Healthy dinner (2/5)
Reasonable snacks (2/5)
Playing the piano (2/7)
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (1/2)

Exercise streak: 2
Step streak: 58 days
Daily walk streak: 2
Duolingo (hard) streak: 200 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 17

 

[NancyTree]

Pictures

From yesterday's hike. It was a miracle no-one was on the pictures. This is a busy path.

 

[TopNotch]

 

[NancyTree]

@TopNotch exactly

Wednesday May 31st
Today my new (closed) wood fireplace got installed. I wanted to make a before/after picture, but I forgot tk take one. So I thought that I would use some old pictures for the before part. And I couldn't find my pictures. In my former phone, I had a micro SD card. I apparently didn't extract the pictures from it. And now the SD card is lost. I remember vaguely that I had taken it out the phone to not accidentally throw it away with the phone (though, now a few years later I still have it..). I couldn't find the SD card reader, so I might have put it in a cupboard (of all places), and I also vaguely remember that I found that too risky, so I put it in a drawer. But that drawer is loose, so it might have fallen through the slit(?) and gotten into the vacuum cleaner. I hope I put it somewhere safe, too safe that I can't find it now. But I'm scared I lost all my photos from 2016 until 2021, photos of Pico growing up, my trips, my house.. I don't understand why I'm so careless and acting so thoughtless.
It makes me nauseous..
 Hike 5.65 km
Program Combat HIIT , day 3, lvl 1
Program Power up, day 3
Challenge
super abs, day 3. 3x (8 lying leg raises + 8 side bridges)
 Challenge Glutes of steel, day 3. 3x12 bridges
Yoga 30 days of yoga, day 3. Meditation

Steps today: 12974

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (3/7)
Walk >15 min (3/7)
5000 steps (3/7)

Healthy dinner (3/5)
Reasonable snacks (3/5)
Playing the piano (3/7)
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (3/2)

Exercise streak: 3
Step streak: 60 days. Apparently I missed a day somewhere, because Garmin told me I had my 60 day streak today
Daily walk streak: 3
Duolingo (hard) streak: 200 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 17

Pictures

 

[Tileenah]

for lost SD card...

 

[JCU]

I hope you can find the SD card.

Those horses are gorgeous.

 

[Whirly]

What beautiful photos! I hope the SD card turns up eventually!

 

[TopNotch]

Man, with the photos you take, I really hope you find that card!

 

[Anek]

I hope you find it!

 

[TheLibrarian]

I hope you will find it, fingers crossed.

 

[BetaCorvi]

Really hope the SD card turns up!

 

[NancyTree]

@Tileenah @JCU @Whirly @TopNotch @TheLibrarian @BetaCorvi thank you

Thursday June 1st
This morning before work I cleared out 2 drawers and a cupboard. No luck on the SD card.. whichmakes the chance on finding it way smaller. Tonight I was too tired, so I think it'll be a task for Saturday to search further.
 Run ZR 5k training, W1T1. 10 min walk + 10x (1 min walk+15 sec run) + 10 min run
 Program Combat HIIT , day 4, lvl 1. With 5.5 kg dumbbell on the sitting twists
 Program Power Up, day 4
Challenge super abs, day 4. 3x20 sec elbow plank
 Challenge Glutes of steel, day 4. 40 donkey kicks

Steps today: 10199

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (4/7)
Walk >15 min (4/7)
5000 steps (4/7)

Healthy dinner (4/5)
Reasonable snacks (4/5)
~ Playing the piano (3.5/7) Pico interrupted me, by sitting on the keys...
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (3/2)

Exercise streak: 4
Step streak: 61 days.
Daily walk streak: 4
Duolingo (hard) streak: 201 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 18

 

[NancyTree]

Friday June 2nd
Spent the evening with a friend, it got late and I was tired, so didn't feel like doing a walk. Because I already hit my step goal, I decided that skipping the walk was prt of 'reasonable exercise'. Though my workout took the rest of the evening because I got caught up in a difficult text conversation with a colleague..
 Program Combat HIIT, day 5, lvl 1
 Program Power up, day 5
Challenge super abs, day 5. 3x (10 lying leg raises + 10 side bridges)
 Challenge Glutes of steel, day 5. 3x14 bridges
 Yoga 30 days of yoga

Steps today: 6497

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (5/7)
Walk >15 min (4/7)
5000 steps (5/7)

Healthy dinner (4/5)
Reasonable snacks (5/5)
Playing the piano (4.5/7) Pico interrupted me, by sitting on the keys...
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (3/2)

Exercise streak: 5
Step streak: 62 days.
Daily walk streak: 0
Duolingo (hard) streak: 202 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 19

 

[NancyTree]

Saturday June 3rd
Today I broke. Got overwhelmed with sadness and guilt and the feeling of no control over my life. So cried a lot and actually that helped.
Searched in another drawer, still no SD. My hopes are getting dimmer.. The silver lining is that my drawers and cabinets are getting sorted now, because over the years they just get stuffed.
I baked brownies for a party tomorrow, and I definitely did not break a few pieces 'by accident' to get a pre taste.
I still need to buy a present .. I have no idea what to buy..
 Run ZR 5k training, W1T3. 10 min walk + 10x (1 min walk+15 sec run) + 10 min run. Still goes well
 Program Combat HIIT , day6, lvl 1
Program Power up, day 6
 Challenge super abs, day 6. 3x26 sec elbow plank
 Challenge Glutes of steel, day 6. 50 donkey kicks
 Yoga 30 days of yoga, day 6, meditation

Steps today: 7572

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (6/7)
Walk >15 min (1/7)
5000 steps (6/7)

Healthy dinner (5/5)
Reasonable snacks (6/5)
Playing the piano (4.5/7)
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (4/2)

Exercise streak: 6
Step streak: 63 days.
Daily walk streak: 1
Duolingo (hard) streak: 203 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 20

 

[Nihopaloa]

I don't know what to say. It's a tough feeling, and when it all comes crashing down and you don't know what to do any more aside from crying... Maybe one day, when you feel well and rested, would be a good time to look for things you are in control over, that show you that it might be better than you think it is. I'm sure there are a lot things, but we tend to overlook them, forget them, ignore them, when we feel down.
I'm sorry that it's so hard for you.

 

[JCU]

 

[Gandhalfit]

I barely remember what that feels like, it was such a long time ago that I felt like that. I guess, I can say that, you can come over it. You are strong, stronger than I ever was.

 

[TheLibrarian]

I am sorry to read that and that you are struggling right now, understandable. Maybe you find something to switch your focus to, at least a bit, for things that you can control and have control over at the moment, so that those things can keep you grounded, at least a bit. Especially when hopes are getting dimmer that might be something else to look for, to guide you, even if they can´t change anything. Still, I still keep my fingers crossed, I hope things will sort out in the end.

 

[OJJJEM]

I baked brownies for a party tomorrow, and I definitely did not break a few pieces 'by accident' to get a pre taste.

I definitely never do that either...

You are amazing. You are loved. You are cherished. You are precious.

 

[Tileenah]

know you're an inspiration here and that we love you. Sometimes crying is something we need to do...

 

[HellYeah]

 

[Fremen]

 

[TopNotch]

 

[BetaCorvi]

 

[Montserrat]

I do recognize that feeling. It comes at unexpected times...

 

[Anek]

 

[NancyTree]

@Nihopaloa @Gandhalfit @TheLibrarian @OJJJEM @Tileenah thank you for your kind and warm encouraging words it means the world to me.
@JCU @HellYeah @Fremen @TopNotch @BetaCorvi @Montserrat @Anek thank you

All this support is truly heartwarming you are amazing

Sunday June 5th
Busy day. Started with a hike, then rushed to do some grocery shopping and getting a present for the birthday, and then to the party. It was a surprise party, so the 'birthday boy' and his wife weren't there, and I literally knew no one. Felt really uncomfortable, but after the couple came home and some other people were going home, it was easier to blend in. And everyone loved my brownies.
 Hike 9.77 km, 228 m elev
Program Combat HIIT , day 7, lvl 1
 Program Power up , day 7
Challenge super abs, day 7. 3x (10 lying leg raises + 10 side bridges)
 Challenge Glutes of steel, day 7. 3x14 bridges
 Yoga 30 days of yoga, day 7

Steps today: 16859

Goals progress
Reasonable exercise (7/7)
Walk >15 min (6/7)
5000 steps (7/7)

Healthy dinner (5/5)
Reasonable snacks (7/5)
Playing the piano (4.5/7)
Doing something to wind down (1/7)
Going to bed in time (0/5)
Doing 2 chores a week (4/2)

Exercise streak: 7
Step streak: 64 days.
Daily walk streak: 2
Duolingo (hard) streak: 204 days (1st day Nov 12 2022
Meditation streak: 21

Pictures

 

[Tileenah]

Ooooh more gorgeous pictures! I especially love the first one those bushes of flowers and the water are just lovely!

 

[Froud]

I am sorry you are going through these feelings. It is not easy to deal with them. And there no easy answer neither. But there is a bunch of people you can count on to listen to you.

 

[TopNotch]

Nice.