2/8/13

Frosty Friday

It is one of those beautiful winter days in Oregon when the temperature turns frigid and freezing fog moves in over night.  When one arises in the morning and looks out the window, it is a world frosted with white.  If I could shed my coat on days like this, I might say that it is my favorite kind of weather.  While I prefer the warmth of summer, this kind of weather isn't half bad.

Sue and I met for a walk, as we usually do on Friday mornings.  When the weather is nice, we like to walk out where I live.  We always start with a breakfast of oatmeal at the South Store Cafe, where there is something special about the oatmeal.


I doubt they make it any differently than I do at home, but for some reason, their's tastes better.  Maybe it's just because I'm enjoying it with Sue.  After that, we went on our longest walk.  Here's the route we take.  I'm calling this route the Lower McCormick Hill Road Loop.  I'm sure there is a way to measure distance in Google Earth, but I can't figure it out.


It's a long walk, in any case.  I've been averaging around 4,500 steps since joining Curves.  Today I have walked 12,419 steps, and the day isn't even half over.

We had to be careful because the shady areas were slick.  We passed a woman about our age (in other words, old) walking with her two dogs.  She said she was worried about falling and breaking a hip.  I said I didn't remember worrying about breaking a hip when I was in my 20's, or my 30's, or even my 40's, for that matter.  We all had a good laugh.  Now that I'm pushing 60, I worry quite a bit about breaking a bone.  Definitely don't have that on the agenda for the rest of my life.

In any case, it was beautiful, as it always is.  We saw this barn.


I was supplying the voices for these geese, who honked loudly, "Get out of here!  We don't like strangers in these parts!  Hey, go away!  Don't come any closer!  That's close enough!"  We were still several hundred yards away from them at this point.

Then as we got closer, "Hey, Loosy Goosey.  They're still coming.  Don't make a sound.  Stand like statues."


When we continued to come and standing like statues didn't work, they started honking again, "Hey, that's close enough!  I'm warning you!  I can bite!  Really!  Be scared!"

Then, when all that honking didn't work, they approached the fence.  "Hey, got any Cheetoh's?  Doritos?  Anything?  Even Fritos are okay.  C'mon!"

They were pretty funny with all the ruckus they made.  It was an eclectic collection of birds, for sure.

I have always loved the way rows look in a field.  It reminds me of when I was growing up.  We were a military family and we spent a fair amount of time traveling back and forth across the country.  We passed row after row after perfectly straight row of some sort of crop, especially fields of corn.  I always wondered how the farmers were able to get them so straight.  It was mesmerizing.


If Sue and I hadn't been gabbing so much, I might have taken more pictures, but there you go.  Next time I'll try to keep my flapping lips from getting in the way of looking around more.

Today I'm going to do some fabric cutting.  I'm still sewing machineless at this point.  I was sort of hoping to have my machine back for the weekend.  The possibility still exists, but it's looking slimmer at this point.  If it's going to stay nice like this, it's probably just as well.  I can be outside instead.

All of you folks on the east coast waiting out the storm, stay safe, warm and dry.  You've been in our news, and it sounds like a scary bit of weather coming your way, if it hasn't arrived already.

20 comments:

WoolenSails said...

What a beautiful day for a walk and a beautiful area. We are covered in snow and more coming.

Debbie

Lynette said...

Gorgeous day for a long walk. :) I can't wait to be able to do mine outside sometimes next winter. (Don't have warm enough exercise gear for here and too poor from the move to buy anything just yet. heh!)

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Beautiful pictures Barb...it has been really cold here that past few days. We are now awaiting this blizzard that is coming up the coast. Dreading power outages...but maybe it will be warmer.
Part of winter; I guess.lol

Celtic Thistle said...

Love that weather too, looks like a lovely walk you have!

Lynne said...

You certainly know how to make the mundane enjoyable! Loved your commentary!

Jeanie said...

What a lovely way to spend some time with a great friend. I live in a very congested, urban area and really appreciate the scenes of your neighborhood. Heaven on earth!

Kate said...

What a nice walk. Thanks for sharing. It's still brown and cold here.

greelyrita said...

Reporting on the weather from the Ottawa area, in Ontario, it is certainly snowing and all day at that, but it certainly hasn't been a storm. It hasn't even been that cold. -9C (15F) is warmer than it has been for the last while but that's normal. No snow weather is often colder than when the snow comes. Good thing I like snow, or I'd have to be jealous of all that green where you are. :)

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Beautiful pictures. My Daddy would have had words with me If I had made such wavy rows in the field!

Cath said...

so clever of you to take pictures of your walk. I've said it before and I will say it again......you live in a lovely spot.
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs

Teresa in Music City said...

Lovely weather - I can see that from here :*) It was dreary and gray here, but I'm encouraged that spring is on its way! What a nice treat to be able to walk with such a great friend. As always, thanks for the virtual tour :*) I'm supposing those ducks are kin to the Aflac duck since they can talk?

Janarama said...

LOL, loved your commentary with the ducks. Too funny!

To find out how far you walked you can go to mapmywalk.com and you'll be able to figure it out.

Dana Gaffney said...

Don't even mention breaking a hip, that's the end, I've had that thought pop into my head a few times, push it away. Geese are really mean, my mom grew up on a farm and she's terrified of them, be careful out there.

Astrid said...

What a perfect morning walk in such beautiful farmland area. Reminds me of where I grew up. We live in a 'concrete jungle' and I enjoy every second when we get out of here. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sarah said...

I actually don't mind a frost and fog coz it means a beautiful sunny day is ahead. Check out the colour of the sky in your first pic! Divine.

Diane Wild said...

Nice walk. I'm waiting for when I can walk outside again. For now, it's the boring treadmill but it's something. Maybe you need an inexpensive backup sewing machine for times like this? I don't use mine often but when I need it, it comes in handy. No snow here, yet, but we're bracing for freezing rain later. Have a good weekend.

Dar said...

Barb, I'm imprressed 12,000+ steps. I also count my steps with a FitBit on my waist each day. It takes me 2 days to get to the 12k mark. Your scenery on the walk was great. Thanks much for sharing with us here. It is so much easier to walk more when it's shared with a friend and great scenery. Wish we lived closer to each other. I need a walking partner.

Junebug613 said...

Looks like it was a glorious day for a walk! I wish there were more scenic places here to walk. I'd probably get out more if there were. Love the goose dialog!

Denise :) said...

My sister has geese ... has kept them for many years, because they made such great watchdogs! One of her first geese was an 'onry fellow named Spike. I remember not being able to get out of my car until someone came out and backed him off. He was a devil-goose! :)

quiltzyx said...

Lovely day for a walk! I've heard that geese can be nasty mean sometimes - at lease these only yelled at you.