running - restoration in progress

Although it was drizzling and the temperature was cool, my run this morning was wonderful. I should preface this by noting that I just started running about a month ago, after get this - a 15 year hiatus! There were lots of reasons why I stopped running, but there are even more reasons why I started again. I'm not fast, and I try not to even think about my mile time. Instead, I think about my surroundings and the changing of the seasons that has happened right before my eyes, and find that these thoughts have been incredibly helpful in clearing my mind. Today I ran just about 6 miles, which for someone who never saw herself running "for fun" again is pretty amazing. Here are a few photos I snapped while out on my run this morning. 

how I feel when I run

a mighty oak - I love this tree

post-run and oh so happy!

life is just a bowl of cherries

Almost three years ago, on my husband and my anniversary, we planted a cherry tree. It's a beautiful tree in the springtime with delicate cherry blossoms and then full of fruit in the summer. What a great anniversary gift to ourselves!

freshly picked

~photo by Inside the Pomegranate~

aspen leaves {magical}

A week ago I was kicking back and relaxing in Vail, taking in some of the last of the glorious golden aspens of the year. Aspen leaves catch light like nothing else and then when a nice gust of wind comes through, the little golden leaves dance most magically. I love fall, and it doesn't get much more beautiful than autumn amongst the aspens of Colorado. 

click onto the photo for a larger view

like little golden coins

a springtime stroll

Join me on a short walk through the UW Arboretum. We'll see beautiful flowering crabapple trees, lilac bushes, and more. Don't forget to turn the audio up so you can hear all of the birds singing too!

a picture speaks a thousand words

I think this black and white photograph is stunning, almost haunting in its own beautiful way. I came across this photo on the blog "Don't Call Me Betty" found at: http://dontcallmebetty.tumblr.com/.  This blog has some incredible photography, like this shot, to enjoy.

flowerful friday: special edition - magnolias in bloom

As promised from yesterday's post, here are some of my photos from the amazingly stunning magnolia grove located not but a mile from my house. This grove is nestled in the University of Wisconsin Arborteum, and is breathtaking in its beauty. I think these photos do a good job of conveying the gorgeous scene, but honestly, to see these blooming beauties in person is a whole other experience. 

I hope you enjoy!

light pink saucer magnolia

looking up from below - heavenly!

I could lay under this tree for hours!

a pink star magnolia

some were still in bud form - so cute!

next to my hand, to show the large size of these
gorgeous blooms

one part of the magnolia grove

sublime!

this cream colored star magnolia had the
most lovely fragrance!

one pink, one cream colored -
side by side

Happy Friday!