February in Photos

 

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of February, but I am ready for March and a fun month ahead.  My two daughters (with fiance, husband and my grandaughter too) will be here visiting the next two weeks (one night overlapping) and my excitement is high.  The heat on the pool is turned up, baby items are gathered and dinner reservations are made.  The weather should be nice and we will play it by ear with a baby along.  I may have purchased a Minnie Mouse beach towel :-)

February in photos shows yoga on the beach and waves in the gulf from the windy days we have been having.  Golf has been a challenge with both wind and cold.  Lent began with an early Easter this year. 

 I had so much fun going to the library and picking out some picture books for my granddaughter.  I have always loved the library and it was a dream to be there with my granddaughter in mind.  Taking her to pick her own books will be the next step.  Finally, a friend is spending time in Florida and I visited her in the Clearwater area and she visited me in Venice.

I will have a lot to talk about in March so stay tuned!

Cuteness Overload

I spent the past week in Michigan helping Megan while my son in law traveled for work.  She really doesn’t need a lot of help (except with the dog) because she is the best mama and it is a joy to watch her navigate the newborn stage.  Some people are natural with babies and she is one of them.  She constantly talks to Audrey and Audrey looks for her voice.  It is the cutest and we are lucky to have such a happy baby.  

The weather in Michigan was unbelievable and quite warm for early February.  We were able to get out, do some shopping, have lunch and go for many walks with the stroller.  I am so looking forward to many more visits when Audrey is a bit older and we can do fun things like going to the park or the zoo. 

We read our first books together and I sang lots of songs, because it is obvious she loves music.  However, I learned I am quite rusty on the typical nursery rhyme baby songs.  It has been a long time since those songs were in my repertoire and will need to do some brushing up on the words before the next visit.

But for now, I will take all the baby cuddles, the cutest smiles and the sweetest sounds.  Nana time is the best.

Year of Movement - February Update

 

I think it is important to pat yourself on the back if you set a goal and then meet that goal.  As I approach another birthday, I am determined to get myself moving more consistently.  I decided in addition to walking with my dog everyday, heavy gardening and golf, and haphazard yoga, my goal would be to do three yoga practices per week.  I try to do beach yoga one time and one long and one short practice at home with the Down Dog app.  Writing it down and holding myself accountable each week has helped and it is now becoming a habit.  

January was a success and my goals were met, despite some pretty cold beach yoga weather.  It feels good to move more and I can already tell the consistency is helping my muscle tone and flexibility.  Balance is always a struggle for me (inner ear issues) but the stronger I get, the easier that becomes too.  

I am going to brag a little bit about beach yoga and stress how lucky I feel every time I go.  There are donation based classes every day; mornings at 8 or 9 or sunset yoga at 5, 6 or 7 depending on sunset times.  Since I am not a morning person I don’t often make the morning classes, but love the sunset time frame.  Let me paint a picture for you.  I try to arrive a bit early, put down my mat on the sand near the yoga shell circle and sit quietly, looking out at the water and the cloud formations.  If you take the time to notice, you can hear the surf and the birds.  You can feel the gulf breezes and the sun on your face too.  It is a peaceful start to a yoga practice where you are part of nature and see sand, blue sky and water all around you.  

You come away feeling blessed to live in such a beautiful place.

Namaste.