May 2009

I finish my walk in the morning, change into my “slogger” pink garden clogs and head to the barn bearing treats for the chickens. They know my voice now. They don’t actually come to greet me but also don’t run and cluster in the corners. They’re curious about what I’ve brought for them  and come eager to peck at the offerings of kitchen scraps and dandelion tops.  I squat down and encourage them to trust me.  It’s a few quiet moments at the beginning of the day.

I enjoy this time. I walk alone to the barn enjoying the ducks and geese on the pond, the sheep grazing in the lower pasture, the hawk looking for breakfast among the grasses. I live on an island of green just outside of Minneapolis, the last of the “farm property” in Minnetonka.  It’s a gift from my parents and one for which I am most grateful.  It won’t last forever, in fact it’s on a short lease now that both mom and dad are gone. But in the meantime I’ll look forward to my barn time to set the tone for my day.

 This time of year it’s all about Nordic Walking.  In the past 2 weeks I’ve led walks at  Mall of America, Medica, Plymouth Senior Center, Minnehaha Park and taught classes in 3 different communities.  The numbers aren’t all big, sometimes as few as 5 walkers, but the enthusiasm and delight in discovering Nordic walking and trying the poles for the first time is always huge.

I have a degree in Therapeutic Recreation from University of Utah.  I truly believe that what you do with your “leisure” hours helps to balance your life.  We need our down time to “re-create” life energy, to destress, to reconnect with what’s really important to us.  Our choices for recreation affect our overall health and wellbeing.  

 In the beginning of my career I worked in structured psychiatric settings creating and leading recreational programs and leisure counseling for people struggling with mental illness.   During the years of day care I used what I knew to help children grow up with the experience and appreciation for active play time.  Today I’m finding that I use my background to help people change their life through the promotion of active outdoor lifestyles.

 Who knew that retail would bring me full round to using my degree again.  As a result of the community exposure from HOW activities and demo’s corporations are seeking me out to do health and wellness events centered on Healthy Outdoor Lifestyle choices.  I got a call yesterday from a woman creating a website for healthy active lifestyles for baby boomers.  I’m working daily coaching nordic walking with people with mobility limitations including Parkinsons, MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and knee and hip replacements.  The possibilities are endless, the benefits real, the changes life altering.

My life is blessed by the people I meet.

Some mother’s got flowers or breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day.  I got laying chickens from my daughter and a trip to farmer’s market from my boys. 

Actually, the chickens were an early mother’s day present.  Delivered overnight by the US Postal Service, twenty six little bitty birds in a box a bit bigger than a shoe box arrived on April 18. I am happy to say that almost a month later they are all still alive, including the free, top hat rooster.

There are 5 different breeds: Ameraucanas, Black Astralorps, Silverlaced Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, and Partridge Rocks. Nothing plain about this flock!  They’re still shy and don’t really want anything to do with us but Laura tells me that I can start feeding them vege scraps this week to make them love me.

To celebrate Mother’s Day we got up early to go to the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market.  It was wonderful to wander thru the vendors to pick out annuals and hanging baskets while the guys carried it all back to the car. 

I spent the rest of my mother’s day in the kitchen and gardens preparing for family dinner and potting up annuals. It was a perfect mother’s day!  I just can’t wait til we actually have eggs from these little chicks!

Children born today are forecast to live shorter lives than their parents.