Blueberries!

One of my yearly July rituals is picking blueberries. Blueberries are extremely nutritious, and also one of the most refreshing and convenient foods to eat in the heat of the summer. If you pick enough, you can also freeze them and continue enjoying their health benefits and deliciousness for many months to come.  I am lucky to live near several organic/no-spray blueberry farms, and I have visited three of them regularly in the past few years. Today, my mom joined me at the Friendly Grove Blueberry Farm, where we had perfect weather for picking lots of tasty berries. I have also  enjoyed picking at Carr's Organic Blueberry Farm, and Blue Horizons Farm.  There is something really cool about having seasonal rituals to look forward to, and when I woke up this morning, I knew that I wanted to do my first pick today. Last year, I ate all of the blueberries I picked before I got a chance to freeze them, so this year, I'll need to be sure to go out a few more times to make sure I get my freezer (and belly) full of blueberries before the season is over!

More Fun in the Woods

 I went for a hike on Monday in Priest Point Park, and I was surprised to find a pretty big tree had fallen and blocked the main trail. I don't remember it being particularly windy on Saturday or Sunday, but it must have been, because the tree appeared to have simply fallen over, and the base was broken and splintered. Of course, I didn't let that downed tree stop me; I just climbed over it and kept going. Farther along the trail, I saw a few other smaller trees that appeared to have taken a topple as well.  It's pretty cool to be in the same woods so often that you can easily tell when some weather event has happened, even if you didn't notice it when you were cozy in your bed at home. I also got to see my first PPP snake on Monday! I heard rustling and then noticed a pile of leaves that appeared to be moving of its own accord. Suddenly, out slithered a little black and green snake. I stopped and watched it for a little while, and I think it was watching me too, as it stayed very still when I moved close to it. We sat there, each waiting for the other to make the first move, until a boisterous golden retriever bounded up and broke the spell.

In the Woods

 This morning I went for a hike in the woods, and it was absolutely magical. There was a very light breeze blowing, which kept sending the leaves falling towards the ground. They were swirling lazily from the sky, and eventually touching down with a melodic little flutter. It was spooky and beautiful. If you like to hike and don't want to go far away to get to a trail, Priest Point Park is a perfect destination. The trails are well-maintained and provide a (mostly) easy walk through woods of both deciduous and evergreen trees, and include several nice views of Puget Sound as well as beach access if you want to get a little closer to the water. The uncharacteristic lack of rain this fall has left piles and piles of beautiful leaves to look at and crunch under your boots. Knowing Olympia, this isn't going to last much longer, so get out there while you can and enjoy one of the coolest (and free!) places in Olympia.

Welcome Back and Happy Birthday Self

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted on this blog-just about 3 weeks. Happily, the reason I wasn't posting is that I was enjoying myself in Hawaii! One of the goals I made before I left for my trip was to try at least one new activity before the end of the year. In Hawaii, it was easy to meet this goal, as I tried a lot of new things. Snorkeling was my favorite new thing I tried, and since I did it without fins, it was great exercise too! I saw many beautiful fish, tons of coral, a few eels, and even some sea turtles! I also tried some new foods: Ono (a delicious type of fish that I had grilled on a salad), green papaya slaw, lilikoi (also known as passionfruit), ahi poke (raw tuna salad with yummy marinade), rambutan (a fruit that looks scary but tastes good), and laulau (in this case they were little bundles of root veggie wrapped in taro leaves). I also ate lots of fresh ripe papaya and pineapple. Lastly, I officiated a wedding, which was a very exciting and fun experience. Getting away was so refreshing and relaxing, and even though I didn't maintain some of my usual goals (going to the gym, riding my bike, eating blueberries, etc.), I feel like the mental health benefits were so great that it far outweighs any physical health benefits that I may have missed out on for a few weeks. Now I'm back and ready to start working on my health and blogging about it again, and right in time for my 39th birthday!

More Mysteries of the Deep

(Photo from TESC's invertebrate zoology webpage)

 I went out for a beautiful paddle on Monday morning. When I launched, the tide was extremely low, and I was able to see some marine life that I haven't had the opportunity to see before. There were lots of the amazing creatures pictured here. When I saw them, I assumed they were some kind of anemones, but thanks to David Jamison's fabulous webpage, I was able to identify what I saw as Northern Feather Duster Worms. WORMS! There is a video here of this thing in action, and it is pretty amazing. I think I've written about David Jamison's site before, but I want to mention it again, because it is  incredibly cool to be out paddling, see an animal or plant, and have such an easy to use and detailed resource to help me identify it. In addition to the spectacular worms, I also saw a lot of Purple Sea Stars. Even though being out during such a low tide was kind of weird (my paddle hit the bottom in the middle of the sound!), it was fantastic to get the chance to see some of the animals that live a little further down than I usually get to see.

My Sweet Ride #2

 This post is an ode to my beautiful paddleboard. I took it out on the Sound today, and the whole time I was out there, I kept thinking "Man, I love this board!". My board isn't the fanciest, or the sleekest, or the most expensive board out there, but it's perfect for me. It's long enough and wide enough to deal with the small waves and boat wake that are frequently present in the Sound, yet it's light enough for me to lift it onto my car fairly easily. I love the way it feels under my feet, and when I am on it, I feel stable, strong, and athletic. I can move through the water quickly and easily maneuver and turn the board when I need to. Plus, it's just so darn pretty. I love you sweet paddleboard. Thanks for taking me out to places I used to only see from the shore!

New Adventures

Today I went on a fun adventure, and had a completely new experience- something that just doesn't happen often enough anymore. Zach and I went sailing with some friends who are fairly experienced and they showed us a great time. We rented a sailboat from Boston Harbor Marina and headed out into the sound. There wasn't a lot of wind for much of the day, so at times it was pretty slow going, but when the wind was in the sails and we were moving along at a nice clip, it was pretty amazing. We brought some delicious picnic food, listened to  great music, and had a lot of fun relaxing in the sun (with sunblock, hats, and sunglasses of course!).  It was also interesting to be able to get a view of the sound from a boat- I now have a better idea of how visible I probably am to most boats when I'm out paddling. Even though sailing isn't something I plan to do regularly, I really enjoyed doing something new, and this makes me want to add to my list of goals. Goal #30: Try at least one new activity before the end of the year. This can be anything, as long as it is trying something I've never done to keep my life fresh and interesting.

Sunday Bike Ride

 Today I wanted to get out and enjoy the beautiful Pacific NW. I really felt like taking a hike in the woods, but due to some blisters I got breaking in new shoes this week, I knew that probably wasn't a good idea. I decided to take a bike ride instead, and as I was riding along I remembered that there is a portion of the Chehalis-Western trail near my house that is wooded and quiet, and I thought that would be a great substitute for a hike in the woods. I've written about the Chehalis-Western trail before in relation to walking, but I have to say, it is even better on a bike! The trail is flat and paved, and it winds through some really beautiful areas. The portion of the trail I was on today is kind of funny, because it is bordered in some areas by cow and horse pasture, so you do get an occasional whiff of barnyard smell, especially on warm days like today. In a few more weeks the blackberries will be ripe, though, and when that happens, the only thing you will smell on the trail is their heavenly, musky berriness. As I was riding on the trail, I looked up at the trees. With the dappled sunlight hitting their array of green leaves and needles,  they were breathtaking. I thought about how amazing it must be for people who come to the Pacific NW for the first time. I feel so fortunate to live in a place of such incredible beauty, and I hope I never take this place for granted.

Breakfast In the Sound

Today after work, I went for a beautiful paddle. I saw an incredible array of marine animals, including seals (tons of them were hanging out on the log boom- they looked like a pack of dogs with bowling balls for heads!), blue herons, and jellyfish. This time, the jellies weren't the harmless moon jellies that I've written about before, but another type called a fried egg jellyfish. The fried egg jelly is much larger than the moon jelly, but has a sting that is mild, so I was careful not to fall in, but not too afraid. There were so many of them out in the sound, and they really do look like giant fried eggs floating in the water. It's a pretty weird sight to see.

I don't normally go paddling much on the weekends due to the potentially heavy boat traffic, and today was no exception. A few of the boats were zooming around really fast (despite the "no-wake" zone) and it reminded me of "THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDER! On the Ohio"- a speedboat race on the Ohio river that used to happen in my hometown. Being on a paddleboard with heavy boat traffic is kind of like riding your bike on a busy street, except you have a much bigger bike lane to ride in! At any rate, despite all the boat traffic, I was glad to have gone out. It was a great way to unwind after work and a chance to get in a good workout too. 

Necessity Is...

This week I got a bit of a sunburn on my back when I was working in the yard. Although I was wearing sunblock, there were a few spots I just couldn't reach. When I was talking to a couple of my co-workers about their weekends, they also mentioned getting burned on their backs in spots they couldn't reach.  If only someone would invent a tool for spreading sunblock on hard to reach spots, I thought...
This week, I made it my goal to figure out a way to get sunblock all over my back for those times when I'm alone and want to be out in the sun, and today I accomplished that goal- with a kitchen spoon! Before I went out on a fabulous after-work paddle, I wrapped a paper towel around my spoon, secured it with a rubber band, and loaded it up with sunscreen. I was able to reach my entire back easily, and didn't get a burn despite being out for an hour and a half. When I told Zach about my exciting discovery, he asked me why I didn't just use the spoon without the paper towel. I was worried about getting the spoon messy with a non-food product, but since my sunblock is largely olive oil and smells like mayonnaise anyway, maybe next time I'll try doing exactly that. Whichever way I go, it is nice to be able to spend the afternoon alone in the sun and not have to worry about having a red and uncomfortable sunburn on my back as a result.

The Elusive Perfect Sunscreen

This week's goal (number 24) is to wear sunblock every day, especially on my face, chest, and arms.  This goal is a little bit of cheat since I have already been doing this for a couple of months, but I'm adding it to the list because I want to make sure I keep doing it. When I made Goal #17 (to check the Skin Deep database for toxicity/product safety information), I knew that finding a sunscreen that I liked that also met my safety standards (below a 4 on Skin Deep's rating system), was going to be a challenge. The sunscreen I was using at that time is rated a 6, and it smells great, rubs in easily, and does a great job of keeping me from getting burned. I really loved it, but at a 6, it's a little high for me to want it to put it on my skin every day. I finally used most of it up, and decided it was time to try to find some new, safer sunscreens.
Badger Sunscreen Lotion SPF 16 (Skin Deep rating of 2) is new, and unlike other Badger sunscreens I've tried, it rubs right in and leaves my skin soft and silky (not greasy). When I fist put it on, the smell reminded me a little of mayonnaise, and looking at the ingredients, I realized that's because the second ingredient is olive oil! While is doesn't smell as delicious as the sunscreen I used to love, it also doesn't taste disgusting when I get it on my lips. At this point, it has also replaced my daily facial moisturizer and is doing excellent double duty as a sunscreen/moisturizer. It doesn't have quite the SPF I would ideally use, but for my daily life it's adequate.
The other sunscreen I'm trying, Alba Botanica's Fragrance Free Water Resistant SPF 30 (Skin Deep rating of 2), is the one I'm using when I'm spending lots of time outdoors (paddling, yardwork, etc.) and expect to be sweating. It definitely performs like I'd expect a "natural" sunscreen to: it's fairly greasy, makes your skin white until you rub it in thoroughly, and is a little tough to apply to hard to reach spots like your back. Still, the few times I've tried it out recently, it has done an excellent job of keeping me from getting burned, even without reapplying, and despite its name, it has a nice, nutty smell.
Have I find the perfect sunscreen yet? Nope, and maybe I never will, but at this point I'm happy to have found a couple of sunblocks that are a lot safer than what I was using before and also work fairly well.

But We're Harmless...Really

This afternoon I went paddling from the rower's dock at Swantown, and I was astonished to see swarms of jellyfish right up by the dock (incidentally, a swarm of jellyfish is called a "bloom"). As I looked out, I could see that they were filling the water from the dock all the way out into the Sound. Luckily, these are Moon Jellyfish, and their stings are usually not powerful enough to penetrate human skin, so if I did fall in and get stung, I probably wouldn't even feel it. The jellies are beautiful to watch, with their glowy, translucent bodies. Still, there is something about many creatures swarming that gives me pause. I felt a little wary about plunking my board right in among them, but it was such a nice day that I decided to go for it. It was windy and challenging going out, but that was good, as I was looking for a workout today, and let me tell you, I got one! On the way back, the wind had settled down, and it was balmy and idyllic, which is the best way to come back in after a vigorous paddle.
Puget Sound was at its majestic best today, and I'm so grateful that I got a chance to enjoy it. I've found pugetsoundsealife useful for identifying the creatures I see and learning more about them. The Sound is full of an incredible array of life, and it is fun and interesting to learn more about the vast world below me as I paddle around it.

Foraging For Wild Berries

This afternoon I went for a magical walk in Watershed Park. It was warm and sunny, and everything looked so lush and green. As I was walking, I suddenly had snacks on the brain (maybe that's the real reason I have Winnie the Pooh tattooed on my back, as like him, I am pretty much always thinking about food). Anyhow, as I rounded a corner, I saw something exciting-free snacks in the woods! A giant patch of wild salmon berries, ripe and ready to be picked, was right in front of me. For those of you who haven't tried salmon berries, they have a texture similar to blackberries, but a flavor that is very light and mellow by comparison. To me, they are to blackberries as white wine is to red wine.  I must have eaten almost a whole pint while I was on my hike. As I rode my bike home, I was also delighted to see all of the blackberry bushes in bloom, and fantasized about how many of those there would be to enjoy in a few short months. This is one of the things I really enjoy about living in the Pacific Northwest- lots of delicious berries to enjoy, and some of them can even be found for free.

Hats Aren't Just For Looking Stylish

Today when I was getting a haircut, the stylist commented on my sunburned scalp. I am so responsible about wearing sunscreen that I rarely get burned anywhere else, but I have to admit, that my poor scalp often gets burned when I am doing yardwork or having fun out in the sun. So my goal for this week is to remember to wear a hat (or put sunblock on my part) at times when I am going to be spending significant time in the sun. Just because a sunburn is in a place that you can't easily see it (like on top of your head), doesn't mean that you aren't increasing your risk of skin cancer every time you get burned. I would never allow my nose to get a horrible burn on it week after week, and yet I allow this very thing to happen to my scalp. Wearing a hat should be pretty easy to remember, and I usually keep sunblock in my bag for times when I am unexpectedly enjoying some time in the sun; I'll just have to remember to put it on top of my head too! I love this hat because it's light and cool (it's made of straw), and the brim also gives me some protection for my face.

Overcoming Fear

This afternoon, I went out for an utterly marvelous paddle by myself. It was the perfect weather for paddling; warm and dry, with a nice light breeze. I saw a bunch of seals, a couple of gorgeous blue herons, and tons of beautiful sailboats (especially as I was heading in- it turned out to be pretty breezy as afternoon became evening). At any rate, what enabled me to go on my terrific paddle today was driving my car. Anyone who knows me well knows how much I dislike driving, and that most of the time, I will go to great lengths to avoid driving (Ride my bike home at 1am when there is no bus? Sure, better than driving! Carry a backpack stuffed with groceries and walk 4 miles? Yes, especially if it means not driving!). But at this point, the only way I can get my board and myself to the water by myself is by driving my car. I have a roof rack that is easy to use (especially since my dynamite friend Kim taught me an easy trick for attaching it), and there is a place close to my house that I can drive to get to the water. It's pretty cool having something I love so much (paddling) be an activity that requires me to do something I really dislike (driving) because it provides the motivation I need to overcome my fear of driving a car. So this is goal #22- I will drive my car at least once a week. Hopefully, it will be to do something fun like paddling. For those of you who haven't been paddling and want to try it out but are afraid- trust me, driving the car to the water is the hardest part!

My Sweet Ride

Would you take a look at that pretty piece of machinery? That's right, that's my sweet ride, and these days we're getting out together and taking advantage of the nice weather. I rode to work 3 days this week, and I enjoyed it so much that I think it's time to make a new goal: I will ride my bike to work at least two days a week during the sunny season. Advantages to riding a bike to work (at least for me since I often walk, take the bus, or get a ride with a co-worker):
- easy exercise that just feels like fun
-noticing the beautiful scenery around me
-getting my body warmed up and ready to move before work is nice
-cheaper than driving or taking the bus
-self-reliant, you leave when you want to and go where you want to
-getting to sleep in a little longer than if I'd walked
-time for self-reflection and quiet thought (unlike the bus!)
-great bike bags make it easy to transport lots of groceries without hurting my back
-amazing feeling of the sun on my back and the breeze on my face
-If I get strong enough, maybe I will be able to handle pulling my paddleboard on a bike trailer by the end of the summer!

Epic Paddle

Today I went for a really long (and physically exerting) stand- up paddle with my friend John. We left from Boston Harbor Marina at about 10:00 am, and paddled toward the Evergreen Beach via Eld Inlet. We made it almost all the way there, but finally turned around when we started feeling tired and sunburned. Overall, we probably did about 3 1/2 solid hours of paddling- since we were fighting the tide and also dealing with some pretty intense wind and boat wake, it was pretty slow going crossing over to Cooper Point. There were a few moments as the waves lapped over my board that I actually felt scared, and I had to use all of my core and leg strength to keep from falling off my board. At one point, I commented to John: "Maybe we should go back!", but I was glad we pushed through. Once we got to Eld Inlet, it was a nice, relaxing paddle, and we took a few breaks for snacks, re-sunblocking, and enjoying the beautiful sound. We saw a few seals, lots of jellyfish, and a couple of flocks of seagulls (ha!). Coming back in was also really hard work, and at the end I felt glad to be done. This was by far the longest paddle I've done, and while I enjoyed it very much, it was a hard, intense workout. It's now 9pm, and I still feel a little like I have wobbly sea legs. But I also feel very proud to have accomplished a physical feat that a year ago would have seemed impossible.

Running Shoes

Earlier this week I had the kind of day at work that made me really look forward to my evening workout. The weather was great, but it was a little too late to go home and get my paddleboard, so I decided to go to the Y. When I got to the gym, however, it felt really dark and cavernous compared to the lovely outdoors, so I put on my workout clothes and went for a run outside. I did two laps around Capitol Lake, and unlike last year when I tried this, I felt pretty good afterwards. In the past when I have tried running that far in one stretch, I've ended up with thighs so sore I could barely walk for a week! Am I in better shape this year than I was last year? Yes, and this probably contributed to a faster recovery. I also rode my bike the next few days and did yoga when my legs started to feel tight. I think the biggest contributor though was finally wearing decent running shoes when I went running. I'm such a cheapskate (and also sometimes embarrassed to wear  proper athletic clothes), that I have always run in shoes that were not really suited to runnning. Last fall, someone stole my ratty, ill-fitting Value Village tennis shoes from my locker at the gym, and I finally relented and bought these dorky but very comfortable running shoes.  I thought I hated running, but maybe I'll have to rethink this...running around Capitol Lake in the evening was so beautiful, it was a terrific stress-reliever, and it was great to get in a good workout outside.