75 Day Sketch Challenge

I recently completed a “75 day sketching challenge”. The only rule was to sketch at least 1 “ink” drawing a day. This is hosted by Brenda Swenson

I haven’t done any drawing in a long time, so I saw this as a “good challenge”. Besides, when the challenge has been completed Brenda will send an ARTISTIC LICENSE, if you let her know you’ve finished. It looks like a drivers license but it’s artistic instead. Cute idea.

Here are some of my attempts.

Looking at object and not at paper:

Curtain:

I've never worked with pen before and didn't know how to shade. My friend jc, sent some examples for me to try:

Applying my new shading technique. This is the corner of my hutch:

A shameless plug for NutriMirror (see side bar):

jc was so helpful in sending lessons and examples. This is one she had me add color too.

Working on perspective:

This is the Chapel my daughter was married in:

I can't draw anything from memory. A teacher once told me to take my own pictures of a subject I like, then draw from that. So, that's what I do.

Of course I'm only sharing the pictures I hope are recognizable. The really bad ones I'm keeping to myself.

NutriMirror 3rd Annual Friendship Walk

Here's a nice article about our walk. If you're in the area, stop on by.

I hiked a Mountain!

I took advantage of a 6 mile training walk and met some of the people that are going to be doing the 3 Day Walk for the Cure, in November. I really wanted to see if I was going to be able to keep up. The beginning was up a hill but the rest was around a neighborhood. I realized on this walk, I was going to be ok.

Spent some time with a man who has done several of the walks and will answer any questions that might come up. Talked to several women all from different areas around San Diego. And then I met Francy. She's from my neighborhood. As we talked, I realized we both walk the same routes. But, she takes each route to another level.

When she said she had hiked Mt Monserate I was excited! I've wanted to do this for over a year. I can see it from practically every route I walk. It's easy to get to, but steep once you start. Parts of the switch back trail are visible from the starting point, but there are also hidden areas, so I wanted to go with someone that has already climbed it.

We agreed to get together and hike this Mountain! No trees, so no shade. We have to start early to avoid the heat. I will admit, I had to stop a few times but not for long. When we reached the summit we signed the ledger some one has left, with the date and a note about the 3 day walk we are preparing to do.

Francy signing the ledger.

The morning was hazy but we still had a great view. Instead of going straight back down we circled around the water tower. It was a 4 mile hike so it wasn't really long, but took twice as long as a normal 4 mile hike to finish because of the rocks and slippery sand and dirt.

View of Rice Canyon

Elevation chart by Garmin

I realize it isn't the tallest mountain, but it's now my mountain!

Think - Move

Had a good walk. Changed my route and went in the opposite direction. Instead of the hill I normally walk, I headed out to the nursery about 1 mile from my house. I took a bunch of pictures with my cell phone and then started walking.

This route has more shade and is prettier. It's also a lot longer than the other walk. But, because of the pictures I took and the thoughts running in my head, it went by fairly fast. I'm doing an art project and the pictures will somehow be included. So, I'm talking, in my head, to the people involved and wondering how things will work out.

I also had a conversation with my mom! Sometimes when things are happening in my life I still want to pick up the phone and call mom. I would love to tell her what's happening in my life now. I know she would be proud of what Jim and Mike have done.

This distraction is why the walk didn't seem long. Are you able to get through your work out with out looking at the clock? Do you constantly wish you could stop? Maybe you haven't found the right form of exercise. Maybe you need a diversion. Consider picking up a camera or your cell and take some pictures. Try to think of it as something other than exercise.

Walking has always worked for me. Not the treadmill. I"m always looking at how far I've traveled or how many laps I've gone.

Think - Eat - And - Move

Exercise this morning was a 6 mile walk. It's such a beautiful morning I walked to my starting point, instead of driving. This added 2 miles to my route. I normally drive because the road doesn't have a sidewalk and very little shoulder. But, I got an early start and the traffic wasn't that bad.

I usually have Friday off and spend the morning catching up on a weeks worth of newspapers. And, I normally like to read the Sunday paper with coffee in the morning, ahh lazy times, but...

The days are getting warmer so I will be putting off these "non activities" and heading out earlier so I can do my walking before it's to hot.

EXERCISE Let's go walking

Sunscreen check, hat check, shades check, water check, cell check.

I'm building up my stamina for my 3 day walk. When I have a specific route for my exercise planned, I do fine. If it's a short 2 mile walk or a longer 10 mile, no problem.

My issue is normal activity.

I've started wearing my pedometer again so I can see exactly how much walking or how little walking I actually manage in a day. I like the 10,000 step challenge. This means 5 miles per day. Definitely a challenge when the car is parked 20 steps from my desk. The bathroom is 20 steps from my desk. The copier is 10 steps from my desk. And, my house isn't that big. Do you see a pattern forming here?

Everything is "too conveniently" located. This saves time so I can get my work done fast and go exercise, right. It hardly ever works that way.

Wearing the pedometer keeps me on track. I have come up short of the 10,000 steps on a couple of days. Each day gets easier.

Balanced Days Balanced Lives

Michael keeps making NutriMirror better.

If you need or want to keep track of the times you eat, you can now do this on NutriMirror.