Outside My Window ~ 8.11.2013

Outside my window…are the gathering storm clouds.  They have actually been gathering since about 7:30 this morning.  There was sunshine while I walked Turbo but the clouds were beginning to build and gather.  There are mostly cloudy skies with a temperature of 83°F.  Factor in the 71% humidity and it feels like 88°F.  Our forecast high for today is 85°F.  Fortunately there is a small breeze that makes it a bit more bearable outside.  We have a 60% chance of thunderstorms beginning around sunset tonight and lasting throughout the evening.  It is one of those days that seems like the air is simmering until it finally must rain.  The coming week is calling for a chance of thunderstorms with temperatures in the upper 80’s Monday and Tuesday, mid 70’s and rain for the balance of the week.  We are not lacking on moisture or rain this summer, not at all.  The dew is quite heavy almost every morning.  Yesterday we had a strong thunderstorm move through the area that provided lots of thunder and torrential rains.  I didn’t notice that much lightning when I viewed the storm so I can’t comment on that end of it.  We have been fortunate the Atlantic basin has been quiet as far as storms.  We haven’t had to worry with that thanks to an extremely large dust storm that moved off the African coast .  It will not last….late August, September and October tend to be quite active.

I am thinking…that I have definitely picked up on my walking since we got Turbo a little over a year ago.  I was once running approximately 25 miles a week but about 3 years ago I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot.  I cut back my running to give my foot a longer rest but it was beginning to bother me more and more until I finally had to stop running altogether.  I was never much of a walker prior to running so it was something I didn’t really think I would enjoy.  I never even tried.  When we got Turbo, our pit bull/Jack Russell terrier mix…well, let’s just say he needs to walk.  I started out slowly, today we are walking an average of 20 miles a week…the number is larger when I’m off on more than the weekend.  I’m enjoying it….we have even snuck in some running on some of our walks though I’m careful not to over do it.

Did you know…I forgot to put up a calendar at the beginning of the month?  I kept putting it off and the days kept passing.  I created two…better late than never I suppose….you can download a zip file for whichever image you like by clicking one of the images below.

Click the photograph and choose “save” or “save as”.  Make sure you take note where the file is saved.  After the download is complete, go to your saved zip file, extract the files by right clicking the downloaded file and selecting “extract all”….choose a location or accept the location the computer suggests {make sure you take note where the file was extracted}.  Now you are ready to get your calendar….find the extracted file, open and select the size that will best suit your monitor….right click on image and select “set as desktop background”.  These are free for personal use…and as always, if you have any problems ~ please let me know.

If all goes as planned, September will be featured on my photography web page, Magikal Folk Photography.  What originally began as an easy plug-in installation for my images has kind of morphed into a remodel of sorts.  Once I began doing that I thought it would be a good time to make some changes I have been considering for a long time.  A little longer….I’m a bit shy about revealing a date at the moment.  I will keep you posted.

From my kitchen…will be two upcoming recipes that I tried and tested these last couple of weeks….and a new one I’m going to make this evening.  I hope to put them down to paper this week, but here is a sneak peek of two….

I am glad…that I’m feeling pretty good today….that even though it is hot and muggy outside there is a nice breeze to help keep you cool….that we have had plenty of rain and everything is lush and green this late in the summer.

I am hearing…the ticking of my many clocks….the dog snoozing on the couch….Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man’s Chest on television.

Plans for the week include…working from home on Tuesday….not too much else on the calendar at the moment ~ just the way I like it.

One of life’s little pleasures…is cleaning out a desk drawer and discovering notes your little girls had written you years ago.  Guaranteed smiles and an occasional lump in the throat.

From my camera…is a couple of images I took this past week….a Luna Moth (sadly without a full wingspan) that hung out on the front porch for several days….and an August sunset.