Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Friday, October 31, 2014

Cows, a horse, and deer

Cow neighbors of Happy Trails
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It was a dark and cloudy morning as I head outside for my walk and the temperature was 42 degrees.  I first walked over to the post office to mail the letters I wrote yesterday.  Took a picture so you could see how dark it is at 6:35 in the morning.
Walked around town as usual and then went over to the Drane house to see the horses.  Two of them were out in the field munching on some grass but this one here was near the barn.  As I was walking down the hill she neighed at me and walked over to the fence.  When I got there I stopped to talk to her and give her a pet.  She was fatter than usual and I'm wondering if maybe I'll be seeing a little colt again some time. 
Didn't see any one at all outside this morning. 
As always I enjoyed my walk.
I walked 6.4 miles.
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Right after breakfast we went up to HT.  Mainly so I could take a look at the stairs Ken made out of stone leading from the road by the tractor barn up to the area we are clearing out for the cabin.  He used tree trunks for the hand railing.  I walked up and down the stairs quite a few times.  I think he did a fantastic job.  They are nice and sturdy.
We walked around the property edge making sure our no hunting posted signs were still there as there are hunters on the state land.  I have no problem with hunters, just don't want them hunting on HT.  I tell the deer to stay on HT land where they will be safe. : )  Here is one we saw today.
We were just at HT during the morning and were back home again in the afternoon.  I finished reading the book club book that I got from the library yesterday,  My Wish List by Gregoire Delacourt.  It was just a little book with only 163 pages.  I thought it was very good.  It's about a woman who is married, lives in a small town in France and wins the lottery.  She doesn't tell anyone and makes a list of all the things she could do with the money.  I thought it would be a happy fun little book but it is actually quite sad. 

Not a big fan of Halloween but I've got all the Halloween candy sitting in two baskets by the front door all ready for the trick-or-treaters.  All 250 pieces.  I wonder if there will be any left?

I think I'll go and start another book.
Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone  : )
I don't know that there are real ghosts and goblins,
but there are always more trick-or-treaters 
than neighborhood kids.
~ Robert Brault

Thursday, October 30, 2014

More books to read

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Got up an hour later than usual so got walking an hour later too.  Left at 7:30 just as it was starting to get light. It was 52 degrees and cloudy. Thought about walking the farm loop but would have had to walk up the hill with the school buses coming down and it's a narrow road with no sidewalks.  I have to be earlier or later still to avoid them.  So I had another walk all around town.

Before I left I told Ken to go ahead and eat breakfast without me because I'd be late, but he waited for me anyway. : )

Walked around the cemeteries again and took this picture of more recent gravestones of two people who died in motorcycle accidents. 
Walking past the church parking lot in town I watched a strange happening.  A white SUV turned into the parking lot and did about 20 fast tight circles leaving a bit of his tires on the pavement, then leaves the parking lot and goes on his way.  I stopped and watched and wondered what on earth he was doing.

Thought I'd see more people walking since I left later but just saw a man walking his two little dogs and we passed by each other three times.

A few rabbits out hopping around the cemetery and lots of those crows again.

I walked 6.3 miles.
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Ken spent another day up at HT and I stayed home. 
I finished reading Cape Refuge and then walked over to the library and picked up the December book (My Wish List) for my book club.  The book for January was there for me too but I asked her to put my name at the bottom of the list because I thought it was too early to get the book.  By the time January rolls around I will have forgotten about the book.
I looked on the shelves for the next book in the Cape Refuge series and the whole rest of the series (3 more books) was there so I brought home all three. 
I also wrote a few letters.
It's bee a cloudy day and kind of dreary but it's been nice and cozy inside with the pellet stove on. 

Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
I'm happy to report that my inner child is still ageless.
~ James Broughton
Comment Replies:
Craver and John: I remember the days when all the gas stations were full service and no I haven't seen any in a long time.  None around where I live.  The only state I know of where you are NOT ALLOWED to pump your own gas is New Jersey.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Wednesday

What's left of an old filling station along the main road near the edge of town.
Took the picture a couple of days ago.
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A dreary morning, dark, 51 degrees with a misty drizzle but starting to clear a bit by the time I got back home.

It was a rain pants, yellow rain slicker morning and I stayed nice and dry for my walk all over town. 

A rare morning when I don't take any pictures.  Nothing caught my eye and besides it was mostly dark.

I saw a few rabbits.
Saw Lisa was out running but too far away to stop and talk so we just waved, and the man walking his white dog again who I did stop and had a little chat with.  Don't know his name though.

Some good smells coming out of a few houses this morning.  I smelled toast as I passed one, bacon from another and another smelled like a cake baking.  Couldn't tell what the smells were wafting out of the little cafe in town but they sure smelled good.  Made me hungry and I hurried home to eat breakfast.

I walked 6.4 miles.
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Mostly cloudy but the sun came out once in a while. Today we had some errands to run so neither one of us made it up to Happy Trails today. 

I've been reading my book (Cape Fear, not a book club book) this afternoon and I'll be done with it soon.  I'm still liking it.  Just got a call from the library and the next two books for my book club are ready for me to pick up.  I'll pick them up when I return this one tomorrow.

It's been a quiet but nice day. 
Hope your day is a happy one.
happyone : )
An eye for an eye
only ends up making the whole world blind.
~ Mahatma Gandhi

To all who leave comments:  Thank You. : )

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Home

Looking up at Happy Trails yesterday
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Quite a difference in temperature from yesterday morning and today.  It was like a summer morning at 62 degrees.  The wind kept it from being too warm.  A pretty sunrise this morning and then there were clouds and sun.
I had my usual walk around town.  Looking forward to next week when it will be light and I can walk the farm loop again.

Only saw one person out walking and almost didn't see him because it was dark and he was in dark clothes.  I noticed his white dog first.

There is a house by the edge of one of the cemeteries where a little dog lives and most days he comes running up to the path barking his fool head off.  Once I get there he runs back in his yard and when I pass he runs back up on the path barking once again. I think he thinks he chasing me away. : )

Now that the leaves are mostly gone from the trees when I'm walking in the cemetery I can look up at Happy Trails and see the roof of the wood shop building.

As always I enjoyed my morning walk.
I found a penny.
Walked 6.2 miles
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Ken went up to HT again and this time I really did have to stay home and do some work at home.

It was very warm today with a temperature of 70 but it sure was windy.  My clothes kept getting tangled on line.  Tried to read outside later in the afternoon but it was just too windy.

I am happy to say I got a good bit of my house cleaning done today.

A happy day to you my friends.
happyone : )
To one who has faith,
no explanation is necessary.
To one without faith,
no explanation is possible
~ Thomas Aquinas
Comment Replies:
Kerin - We heat our house with two pellet stoves and yes, we've had them on a few times to get the chill out of the house.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Monday

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A bit chilly this morning with a temperature of 34 degrees and we had a light frost.  It was dark, still and very clear when I left and looking up I saw millions of stars still shining.

Walked over to the Laundromat and hung up a poster on the bulletin board telling about a special event at church.
Continued my walk around town and over by the industrial park.
Didn't see anyone else out.  It was just me and the rabbits. : )

I like how the wood is piled in this yard.  Looks like a fort.  Wouldn't that be fun to play in if you were a kid?  : )
I found a penny, tails up.
Walked 6.4 miles
Sunrise: 7:40 - Most of my walk is now in the dark!!!
Sunset:6:21
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It warmed up nicely and by afternoon it was a beautiful sunny day and 70 degrees.  I got some laundry done and hung up on the line but it was too nice to stay indoors doing housework so after lunch we went up to Happy Trails and spent the afternoon there.
A few more trees got cut down and chipped and the chips spread out along my trail.  Only about 10 more feet to go.  I started another trail awhile back so I'll finish that one next.

I spent some time just walking around the road and trails.  That is my favorite thing to do up there.  It is just so peaceful and I love listening to the quiet : )  I saw 5 deer.

Came home supper time and after we got cleaned up went to Brenda's for half price pizza night.
On the way home we stopped at the Shop and Save and stocked up on ice cream because it is on sale.  I'm sure looking forward to my ice cream tonight.  Chocolate chip mint.

And that's been my day.
It was a good one.
Life is Good.
Hope your day has been sunny and bright.
happyone : )
I never really look for anything.
What God throws my way comes.
I wake up in the morning and whichever
way God turns my feet, I go.
Pearl Bailey
Comment Replies:
Betsy - No, way too far to walk to church.  It's 20 miles away.  No I've never posted a picture of my church.  Is not a very interesting building.  The building isn't much but it is filled with the love of God inside. : )

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Rejoice in the LORD and an afternoon walk

The choir sang this song in church today.  Such a pretty hymn so thought I'd share it with you this Sunday.

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I don't usually post about my walk on Sunday but today my walk was different than usual.  I went to church early and helped put the bulletin together so there was no time for walking. Ken drove the church bus this week so he had to be there early too.  After church he had to drive the kids home so I had some time to kill while he was doing that.  I could have went with him but I went for a walk instead.  I brought my walking shoes and clothes with me and changed and started walking home.  Down the road and around the bend
there is a park and I decided to walk there instead of continuing on the road home.  The park has a lake and is one where we went kayaking this past summer.  I walked along the water
and along the path around part of the lake.
Along the top of the dam and turned around by the group of trees on the left.  There are some picnic benches also but you probably can't see them in the picture.
 Then I walked back along the bottom of the dam.  
I wanted to walk farther to see how far the trail went on the other side of the dam before I turned around but I had to get back to the entrance of the park so Ken could pick me up.
I was surprised there were so few people in the park because it was such a pretty day.  Sunny, in the 60's with not a cloud in the sky, though it was pretty windy.
I really enjoyed walking by a lake.  Reminded my of old times when I had the lake to walk around.
I walked 4.3 miles.
Since I didn't get all my miles in, when we got home I finished my walk around town and walked another 2.5  miles.

Hope your day was sunny and bright.
A blessed Sunday to you.
God loves you.
happyone : )

Saturday, October 25, 2014

A day with Mary Jo

No time for a walk this morning.  We were in the truck driving at 6:30.  Ken was going to the train show in Timonium and on the way he dropped me off in Columbia, where we used to live, at my friend Mary Jo's house for the day.  Got there about 9:30.  We stayed at her house for while catching up and then we headed over to church where they were having an event for the kids for Halloween. So nice seeing so many friends from my old church again.  They were really surprised to see me.

From there Mary Jo and I went out to eat at LeeLynn's a restaurant down the road from my old house. We had a delicious of crab soup and their home made potato chips.   It is also close to church so we walked there. We had to pass by the liquor store and many of you who have been reading my blog for a while know I used to find a lot of coins there on my walks.  So you wouldn't be surprised to hear that I found a penny there today walking in the parking lot. : ) 

After lunch we went back to her house and Ken picked me up at 3:30 and we came back home.  Had a great time but it is nice to get back home and out of the crowds and crazy drivers.

I had knitted Mary Jo a pair of slippers and gave them to her today.
She gave me this cute little candle that smells like chocolate.  
At first I thought it was a real candy.
Yesterday I did break my step record from the day before.  29,001 steps.
No record breaking steps today though.  I didn't get to take many steps being in the car so long.  Though I did walk down in the basement and got a few miles in.

Well, I'm ready to go and watch a little television now and have some ice cream.

Hope your day was a happy one.
happyone  : )

Comment replies:
FurryGnome - Though 28,000 steps is more than normal for me, if I put a little effort in it is not that hard to get a lot of steps because remember I walk a bit over 6 miles each morning before breakfast so I get over 12,000 steps first thing in the morning.  I'm also not one for sitting around and I'm always hopping up to do something. : )

Art - No, the 13 million is not for this year, but for as long as I've had my Stiiv and that has been 2 years and 3 months.

John - Yes, the train was a special one for tours.  My husband is a 'train nut' too, only he is building a HO scale model layout in the basement. : )

Friday, October 24, 2014

A day at Happy Trails

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I hit a new personal record of steps yesterday.  28,117 and I just might beat that today.
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It was 42 degrees this morning and cloudy and I'm happy to say it was dry.  Not even the threat of rain.  

Once again I walked round town, around the cemeteries and loop by the ball park.

A few people out, a man walking his dog, the lady with her ear phones and Lisa.  Lisa and I  almost always stop and talk.  She told me about a store called Gabriel's that I should try.  She said it's a great place to buy walking and running clothes with fantastic sales.

It sure was nice weather for walking this morning and I walked 6.4 miles.
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Right after breakfast we headed up to Happy Trails and spent the whole day there.  I took a PB & J sandwich and an apple for my lunch.
We have huge piles of stuff to burn and we spent some time at the burn barrel.
Did some chipping.
And put the chips along the trail.  You can see we just have a little bit more to do.  Next time we go up this trail should be done.
We also hiked around the trails and roads a bit.  This road here is on the state owned land which runs along the back of HT.
It was a productive and fun day and I bet I sleep good tonight!!!

Hope you have had a happy day and smiled often.
happyone : )
 Listen once in a while.
It's amazing what you can hear.
~ Russell Baker

Thursday, October 23, 2014

A new gas tank

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This morning it was 42 degrees when I walked.  No rain but it was cloudy and felt like rain. 

Walked all over town and down the main road out of town in the opposite direction from HT.  The picture here is down by a small industrial park off the main road in town.

I didn't see anyone else out walking and didn't even see any animals either.  Just too dark!!  Looking forward to changing the clocks back to the normal time it's supposed to be. 

Still I enjoyed my walk and walked 6.3 miles.
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Not long after breakfast we left in the truck and went down to Cumberland to pick up a new gas tank for the church bus.  The old tank has a slow leak.  It was a little bit tricky finding the place because there are so many one way streets and there doesn't seem to be any order to how the streets are laid out.  Very hilly streets too. I would have never found it but with Ken's good sense of direction we did. 

We stopped at Wendy's for lunch.  I usually get a baked potato but today I splurged and got a spicy chicken sandwich.  I can't remember the last time I had one of those and it was so good,  I enjoyed every bite. : )

We were stopped at a railroad crossing and was pleasantly surprised to see this old steam engine go by.  I took this picture out of the window.
We dropped the gas tank off at an auto shop that is owned by a member of the church and they will be putting the new gas tank in the bus. 

It was nice to see a little bit of sun today.  It was cloudy when we left but sunny down in Cumberland. Then back home it was cloudy again.  
Still there was no rain and we enjoyed our day.
Life is Good.

Hope your day was a happy one and you smiled often.
happyone : )
If you believe what you like in the gospels,
and reject what you don't like,
it is not the gospel you believe,
but yourself.
~ Saint Augustine

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

A book I like : )

Mrs Ladybug
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Didn't leave until a little after 7:00 this morning because woke up late again. 45 degrees this morning and a bit on the windy side.  Another rainy morning and I went walking in my rain pants and yellow slicker.  Just misty at times but other times it rained hard.  Nice listening to the rain on my hood.  Most of you know I enjoy walking in the rain. : )

Walked over to the library first thing and dropped The Goldfinch book down the library book drop.  Walked all over town and the usual cemeteries and ball park loop too.  No one else out in the rain this morning so didn't stop to talk to anyone. 

I found a lucky penny - heads up.
Walked 6.6 miles.
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A rainy day is a good day for baking so I baked a big batch of chocolate chip cookies again.  This time for the kids church for this coming Sunday.   I baked 136 cookies.  100 of them will go to church and the other 36 are in reserve.  One thing good about these cookies is that they freeze well.

I started another library book and this one I like!!  It is called Cape Refuge by Terri Blackstock.   I've never read any of her books before and this one is the first in a series of four.  It's a good murder mystery and a page turner for me.  Check it out HERE.

Well, I'm going to get back to my book.
Hope your day was happy and bright.
happyone  : )
God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.
~ Saint Augustine

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tuesday

This picture was taken of the sunrise yesterday.
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It was 44 degrees this morning with a misty rain every once in a while but not enough to get me wet.   I didn't take any pictures while walking today so here's another one from yesterday.
Walked around town, then down towards HT, back to town and around the cemeteries and the ball park loop. 

I saw a couple of rabbits.  It's been awhile since I've seen any of them.  Maybe it's just been too dark to see them.  It's not until around 7:20 that it starts to get light. 

I saw Lisa again at the first cemetery and we stopped to chat as always.  I was just leaving and she was just getting there.  On my way to the second one, she passed me up (she runs).

Always enjoy my walks : ) and today I walked 6.5 miles.
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We went to Walmart to do some food shopping this morning.  Only cloudy when we left but the rain was coming down in earnest on the way home.

I finally finished reading The Goldfinch and I'm glad to be done with it.  It was a long book with almost 800 pages in it.  I liked it at first and most of it was pretty good but overall it was just okay. 

I straightened up all my yarn and put it in baskets on a white shelf that I had down in the basement.  It now sits in my office/craft room.
I haven't done my exercise Body Electric program yet today so I guess I'd better go and get the over with.  I have to make myself to that.  It isn't like walking.  : )

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )
Believers, look up - take courage.
The angels are nearer than you think.
~ Billy Graham
Comment Replies:
Betty - Nice to hear from you. : )  I don't walk the trails at HT in the morning because it is 3 miles one way from my house, so just there and back would be 6 miles and walking the trails too, would just be a bit too far.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Another fine day : )

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I didn't get to walk yesterday because I woke up late and there was no time before church but it was a nice sunny afternoon and we spent it up at Happy Trails doing a little work but mostly just walking around on the trails.  It was quiet and peaceful.  So thankful that we have this little corner of happiness. : )
A couple of pictures from yesterday while there. 
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Back to my normal morning walk today.  A chilly morning with a temperature of 35 degrees and there was a light frost in places.  A pretty sunrise as you can see by the top picture, but then the clouds took over and I didn't see the sun again.

First went to the post office and put a letter down the mail slot.  Then walked down towards HT on the main road, turned around, then back and around town.  Walked around the cemeteries too which are a block from each other and a block or so from the main road in town.  Met up with Lisa at the one cemetery and we stopped for a chat again.  When she left I walked around the graves again.  It's always sad to see the gravestone of a baby and I wonder why he died.
Walked around the ball park loop also and then up past the library and home.
I walked 6.2 miles.
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Ken is up at Happy Trails today and I wanted to go with him but just have too much to do around the house so I'll be home today.  I hope to get a lot done and maybe read some this afternoon.
It is Monday and half price pizza day at Brenda's.  Maybe that will be dinner tonight.

Hope your day is sunny and bright.
happyone : )
A kind heart is a fountain of gladness,
making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
~ Washington Irving

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Home Today

The Little Town Pond
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I had a very nice time last night at the Ladies Dinner at Herrington Manor but I'm sorry to say I didn't take one picture.  Just wasn't thinking about picture taking.  There was lots of delicious food and I took very little of almost everything so ended up eating too much.

We talked and laughed while we ate too much and then some thankful scriptures from the Bible were read.  Then we went around the tables with each of us saying some things we were thankful for.  Many, many things to be thankful for were mentioned and sometimes we laughed and some times we cried hearing them.  What a blessing it is to be part of this church family.

The park is located in a pretty remote area and the drive home in the pitch black dark on very windy roads seemed a long way.  I'm glad my car can take those curves hugging the road so well. : )  I had to stop two times for deer.
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My walk this morning was all around town and around the cemeteries.  The temperature was 51 degrees again and cloudy and just as I was getting home a light mist started to fall.

I slowed down and walked among the gravestones as I sometimes do and this one caught my eye today. 
Very, very quiet around town early this Saturday morning, didn't see anyone and only a few cars drove by.
I walked 6.3 miles.
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It's been raining on and off today making it a pretty dreary day.  A good day to do some baking so I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
I think rainy days are good reading days so for part of the day I just sat and read.
It's been one of those nice quiet, lazy days around home.
Life is Good.

Hope your day is scattered with happiness.
happyone  : )
 Joy's smile is much closer to tears than laughter.
~ Victor Hugo
Comment Replies:
Kerri and Karen - How neat that the two of you also rode the Eagle Potomac Train.  We didn't see any eagles that day but it is well known for that.  If either of you go again let me know and I'll join you. : )

John - I aim for a 6 mile walk but most times I go just a bit over.  I've been known to go farther. : )   I leave around 6:30 and get home around 8:00 or so.  If I just walk I go at a pace of 4 miles an hour but many times I stop to talk to people or take pictures so then I get home later.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Happy Friday

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It was of course dark when I left on my walk and the roads were wet but no rain coming down and it was 51 degrees.

I walked a route through town, down past the turn off to HT, then back through town, around the ball park loop and the two cemeteries and back home.

The woman with the earphones was once again walking around the ball park loop and I stopped to talk to Lisa up at one of the cemeteries.

About two miles from home a misty rain started so I was a bit damp by the time I was home.
I walked 6.2 miles.
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I like the water pic. : )  The first night I did make quite the mess and had water all over the place.  My sleeve was wet, the mirror had water all over it as did the wall.  The second night I did much better.  Kept all the water contained to the sink.  My teeth and gums feel so nice and clean.  I do still floss after using the water pic.  Maybe my next trip to the dentist, my teeth will still be so clean, I may not even need a cleaning!! : )  Wouldn't that be nice.
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We left after lunch to do a few errands one of which was to get a pallet of pellets for the pellet stoves.  All set now for cold weather.

This evening is the Ladies Dinner out at Herrington Manor and I'm ready to go with my pumpkin bread.  Should be a fun time.  If I remember, I take a few pictures.

Hope your day has been a happy one.
happyone : )
He that is discontented in one place
will seldom be happy in another.
~ Aesop

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Train Ride


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 52 degrees this morning, cloudy, felt like it would rain any moment but it never did and I stayed dry. 

Headed over to public works and slid the water bill down the slot and then over to the post office to mail a letter.  Then another walk all over town.  This morning I saw the lady who wears the ear phones walking around the loop by the ball park.  Then later up on the main street through town I saw Lisa and we stopped for a little chat.

I walked 6.6 miles.
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Today was another Super Senior outing and this time we went on a train ride.  We caught the train down in Romney, West Virginia (thought of you Kerri)  which is about 1 1/2 hours from home and went for a scenic 3 hour ride.  The weather was cloudy so not the greatest but at least it didn't rain.  I'll let the pictures do the talking.




It was nice and relaxing and we had a nice time.  On the way home 9 of us stopped at an Italian restaurant and had dinner.  

Hope your day was a happy one.
happyone : )

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour.
~  Unknown