Walking daily......

....is a healthy habit. It gets me into another neighborhood that is quite different from our farm. The neighborhood I am referring to boarders Stone Creek Golf course and is the golf course. This route has been the same path I've taken, with my walking partner, for the past four years. We have worn out several pairs of shoes and enjoyed some pretty lively conversations! We often talk about the benefits of walking like: lower cholesterol, keep weight in balance, eye health, lower blood pressure and attends to vitamin D deficiency. I'd like to say that walking has allowed me to lose weight, but that is not the case. It allows me to eat without gaining. We walk in the rain and sunshine. There is also the exception of rain blowing sideways and extreme wind! Many times we have gotten wet down to our underwear but not as often as some report! Every day it doesn't rain is appreciated and noted! :)

A friendly neighbor puts out fresh water for those who walk with their dogs.

Daffodils grow freely against the fence and will be there for years to come.

Way up, over our heads, we hear honking. A gaggle of Canada Geese fly in V formation, heading towards the East, with a stop at the pond.

We head down into the wooded area, along the creek and behind the golf course.

Deer fern grow on the rocks and trees along the path. They are so pretty and won't grow in other places...like pots.

Trillium are scattered all along the creek and path.

Ahh..the sunshine is beginning to peek out beneath the fluffy white clouds!

Many of the homes along the golf course are large and very well appointed. We get to look at their pools and lovely landscapes as we tread by.

This planting is exceptional and if we ever saw the owners outside we would say, "thank you!"

In a few short weeks it will be changed out and another amazing show will be displayed!

I encourage those of you who want to walk to find an area that is safe and one that you enjoy. Start out slowly and build up to a distance that is further than you think you would like to go. Four miles sounds like a lot to me, but it is the distance that has built up my strength and given my body the opportunity to repair itself in areas that were lacking. It is also the distance around the golf course and back to my walking partners house. It's been a good thing.