I have been working hard on myself over the last month-therapy, exercise, writing, downsizing and in general feeling good about myself and my life.

I have lost ten pounds over the past two months. My joints are thanking me for the weight loss. My goal is to lose some more by next fall to be able to start riding again and not be self conscious. I have been walking thirty five minutes a day, plus doing other exercises and tai chi. I am trying to get fitter so I won’t be dead in twenty years due to my health.

I have been enjoying walking about the property since hunting season is over. We don’t hunt but all the surrounding neighbors do. I don’t trust them during hunting season. I have been learning different trees and plants on the property. We have four different kinds of oak trees. We also have beech trees, holly trees, sassafras trees and maples and some wild dogwoods. We also have tulip trees and some spectacular loblolly pines. I like the beech trees as they hold onto their leaves until spring resulting in some color over the winter. I do miss the paper birch trees of New England. They were my favorites beside the maple tree.