Small but luscious

These are nifty little tomato family ground cherries - they do taste an awful lot like a cherry when ripe - the more ripe they are, the sweeter they are. I love tearing open the little lantern package to get to the fruit....until I have to open more than 4 or 5. How in the world am I going to make jam out of these????

july 25 jog

I didn't want to go, but I did! I'm SO glad now. A total of 19 minutes, with a couple wicked hills. I did go easily at first, then around halfway the difficulties kicked in - also going back up all the hills! I wanted to stop for a walking break again about halfway home but didn't - and finally got a little quickie runner's high - oh yeah, baby! Chills and everything! It was only a couple of minutes but man was it worth it - it almost got me all the way back up the BIG hill. Exquisite.

July 24 - fourth day jog?

I was really stiff and sore this morning, even tho we went on a bike ride yesterday around noon, to pick up some hamburger buns for dinner. So, instead of jogging outside in the nice, cool, air, I decided to stay in and stretch with some weights for a while and then do 21 minutes on the elliptical, and boy was I feeling that 80 degree thermostat setting! Good cardio and I do feel all warmed up and stretchy now. My breathing is getting better!

July 23 - third day jog

Whew! Okay, time was 14 minutes total - 7 minutes in, 7 minutes back. Again, it took less time to return so I was reduced to running in a circle in the driveway while I waited for the next minute on the clock. I guess tomorrow I will have to run out a minute or two longer, so I can run right up the porch, to the door and in when I'm done. I had a few episodes of serious enjoyment this time - when your body is moving but nothing hurts and even your breath is fairly quiet, and it's as if someone else is doing the work and you're just along for the ride. This was only when going downhill, though...I guess that's to be expected. I did really haul it up one section of hill because there was no shoulder so I wanted to get off the road as soon as possible - it made me feel good I could do it without choking up a lung. Exuberant!

July 22 - jogging second day

I made sure to time it today, so I can increase my time each day. Total running (running? who am I trying to kid? a tortoise could outrun me right now) time was 12 minutes. I just went straight down my road - I've never even biked down this section - only been on it in a car. I actually got further than I thought I would, luckily for me my halfway time (6 minutes) was up right at the top of this hill - so I got to turn around and coast all the way back! Now that I did enjoy, and my breath didn't burn so much this day. Unfortunately, it was faster going back downhill, so I got back to the house with a minute or two to spare, so I had to keep going back up the NEXT hill, then turn around and finally go inside, elated.

July 21 - First day of jogging regimen

I forgot to look at a clock when I ran out the door, so I guess maybe I was out for 10 minutes? That might be a really high estimate, though...It was hell! My lungs burned with every heaving breath, my thighs felt like they were on fire. I couldn't hear the birds for the raspy bellow I forced out at each step. I kept thinking it would get better shortly, but I don't think it did except when I glided down a particularly steep hill. That one section was actually fun for a few seconds! I did drop to a walk for a minute or two to catch my breath about halfway through, but I'm not going to count that. Those'll just be part of the package.

GRRRRR....

It LOOKS like poison ivy...and I'm scratching like mad (or, trying not to)