The best thing about uphills is when they turn into downhills!

Isn't this a pretty whatever it is!

I went for a walk today. Sounds exciting, huh! Well it was pretty nice. It was below 90 degrees when we decided to head out. After a bunch of days over 100 it felt really nice at around 88!

My husband and I were having one of those not fights. I got upset over something really trivial, then he was upset that I was upset, so that made me feel even worse.... you know how it goes. Anyway, when hubby is upset he likes to walk. He closes off emotionally and it gets worse if he just sits around the house. I was the one that suggested it though. I said that maybe it'd be nice to go for a walk since both kids were gone and we'd been stuck in the house for a few days vegging out. Well, he took me seriously. I grabbed some bottled water, put on socks (ick) and tennis shoes,  and off we went.

Just some trees and ground I thought were pretty

I hate wearing socks in summer! I knew that I wouldn't want to wear my sandals though since I know his walks are farther than a few blocks. AND he chose to walk down the highway we live on. Usually we go back roads so there's less traffic. So for about a mile or two I was trying to keep up with him. I, being older by about ten years and fatter by about a hundred pounds and shorter by almost a foot, find it hard to keep up with him even when he is shortening his stride for me.

More trees that are alongside the highway

The worse part though was the hills. We headed off towards the next town, which is called Poyner, and  that route is kind of hilly compared to the rest of the roads around here. When I saw the sign that said Poyner 5 miles, I was so worried that we were going to go all the way there! I have lapsed on my walking for the last year and am only up to a few blocks at a time right now. I made it up two hills and maybe a half mile from home before the blisters started forming and the side started aching. Another quarter mile and I was trying not to guzzle my water. At about a mile or so I (I am ashamed to say) was starting to call him names (mostly in my head but one or two slipped out) and was trying to get him to wait up for me.

A few sections of ground by the highway were covered in these blooms.

Long story short, he agreed to turn around and head home. I thought the journey back would be easier because the hills would mostly be down this time! I was wrong. I was so hot and tired that my eyes were blurred and my breathing was quite harsh. I wondered occasionally, while doing the drunken stagger that heat and tiredness can cause, if I would make it home or if he'd have to go get the car and come get me.

It got better though about halfway home. My breathing got easier, I slowed down and stopped worrying about keeping up, my eyes cleared, and I started enjoying the walk. Of course, I was also enjoying the fact that home was getting closer and closer.

I love these itty bitty flowers on this grass? weed? whatever it is

I stopped occasionally to look at flowers, or flowering weeds, what ever they are, and took some pictures. I took a couple of pictures of the trees and whatnot alongside the road. It is really quite pretty down here in East Texas. When I first thought about moving down here with my husband, I imagined deserts and cacti. I was informed that I was thinking of West Texas! So I was very pleased to see that it isn't too different from where I grew up in Southern Indiana.

Don't know if these are weeds or flowers. I think they are quite pretty!

And, as a pleasant surprise, after the walk my dear sweet hubby went to the store and brought back a drink for me and a snicker's ice cream bar! Yummy. I shared it with my son, who was home by that time. I had to wait until I was cooled off a bit though. Hot me and ice cream doesn't go together at all.

A bonus pleasant surprise today was that my son decided to cook for us. He made some really good turkey chili. I added some cheddar pepper jack shredded cheese to mine and crushed up some crackers in it as well. Yummy. His cooking skills are improving vastly as he cooks more often. He still needs me to tell him the basic steps in most dishes and what spices and such to add to them, but that will get easier for him in time. I am relieved to know that he will not starve when he moves out in the next few years! Or live on cereal and ramen noodles. I lived on peanut butter and bologna the first few months I was out on my own. I shudder to recall that time!

A not so pleasant surprise was the fact that I now have sock tan lines! Oh how I hate that. I already have some really funky sandal tan lines on my feet and they always look like they have dirt on them and on my toes. Now I have that slightly lighter ankle area. Wheee I'm so excited LOL Of course it isn't a big deal. No one will notice but me. It was just one of those things that was like oh great, now that. I'm not really upset. It is funnier than it sounds in this post, really.

Ok I will end this for now. I just wanted to share my day with you all. It started out rough but got steadily better. Now is my alone time for the day to blog or read or knit.... I intend to do all of those things!

Until next time....       Happy Relaxing and doing whatever makes you Happy!