The trail I've been dreaming of was right under my nose

Most nights, Clover and I take a two mile walk down to the end of a nearby road and back.  We walk this particular road because it has very little traffic, Clover can run off the leash and we can occasionally see some deer.  A few weeks ago I saw two coyotes.  I've brought my camera every time since then so naturally, I've never seen them again.

I've been reading a book called On My Swedish Island, Discovering the Secrets of Scandinavian Well-Being and the author talks about the simplicity and joy of living on this small island and how it has changed her life.  I am so jealous of her ability to walk out her door and into the forest whenever she wants.  I'm pretty much convinced that the secret to my Scandinavian well-being will be to move to Sweden and live on an Island.

These walks are a time for me to clear my head.  I've always been kind of a multi-tasker, but lately I'm feeling overwhelmed with everything on my plate.  I barely feel like I have time to  take these walks, but Clover needs the exercise and I need to get out and move. 

One morning recently, we were walking through the field next to the road.  I was on the lookout for coyotes and/or deer and I looked over to see a guy in the woods talking pictures of birds.  After a little bit of investigation I found that I've been walking right next to this huge trail for weeks and didn't know it was there.

We walked for a couple of miles in there.  It was wonderful!  Clover had to be back on the leash because I wasn't sure who else might be in there. In this next photo you can see two joggers ahead of us on the trail.  Clover REALLY wanted to run with them.

So I'm happy.  We have a beautiful place to walk now and it's within a mile of our house.  The Brown eyed Man and The Girl have been riding bikes together again.  We used to all ride bikes together in the evenings.  Sometimes she runs and rides next to her.  I hate riding with him because he's so slow.  He doesn't ride his bike, he barely pedals it.

Yesterday, while perusing the blogs I like to read and the recommended blogs on Google Reader, I came across this article at Pobke Photography. She makes great suggestions and I'm doing my best to follow them today:

1. Make to-do lists.  I've always made lists but my problem is that I make too many.  I feel like I need one list, but then I feel like I need different lists for different categories so everything doesn't get jumbled together.  I also find myself re-writing my lists because I don't like how they look.  I really need to work on this.

2. Focus on one thing at a time.  Oh brother is this hard for me.  You know what I was doing right before I started writing this post?  Neither do I. But while I was searching for this article I remembered that I needed to check on an order I placed with Home Depot, I texted The Girl about going shopping this afternoon, I took a phone call from a trapshooting board member, and I sent an email of creating some files for contracts I'm working on.  Focus is not my strong suit but I'm going to use her suggestions and keep trying to focus.

3. Make time to work out.  See my comments above.  I was pretty proud of myself for this one.

4. Don't tell yourself you have to work eight hours a day.  I have this one taken care of too.  I work about 10-11 hours per day.  I would prefer that it was four hours but reality is that I need to work this much.  If I could work less I surely would.  Right now, I have my full-time job, I'm the secretary of a state trapshooting association, I'm the president of a regional trapshooting association, and I'm trying to help my husband with our little fledgling home business.  The 10-11 hours per day I work are generally just my regular job.  I have to admit that I sneak some trapshooting or personal business in there too, but there are times that I come home and work another 2-3 hours on those things.

5. Figure out when your mind is most active.  I've got this one down too.  It's early in the morning.  5 am on.  In the afternoons I'm easily distracted, I get tired, I get bored.  I really try to get the majority of my work done in the mornings and do menial, "mindless" things in the afternoons.  I love to get up early on the weekend and get things done while everyone else is still asleep.

So, with all that being said.  I'm happy to have found that article.  I'm happy to be making strides in my organization skills.  I'm really happy to have found that website and blog.  She has BEAUTIFUL photos.  You should go look.