The neighborhood we live in is off in the distance.  Someday we will live on a farm.

Ben, Baby, Charley (our dog), and I all took a 6.5 mile run today.  We are in training for our half marathon on July 21st, 2012.  My goal for this race is just to finish it without walking.  So I will be more than happy with a 13.1 mile slow jog.  All of the different (free) training schedules, we looked at online, included a few short (3-4 mile) runs during the week and then always one long (incrementally increased each week) run once per week.  So since we have the time we decided to kind of do our own thing as far as short runs during the week and then, if we can, do a long run together once each week.  We also decided, since we have the time, to increase our long run by 1/2 mile each week.  So last week our long run was 6 miles and this week (yesterday: Saturday April 21st) we ran 6.5 miles.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day!  After we ran I made Ben drive around the loop we ran so that I could take pictures to show off what I get to look at when we take our long runs in the country.  I love the seasonal changes that take place in the spring and fall (especially the spring).  On this particular run I noticed the fields are getting a little greener, farmers were out burning their ditch banks (I absolutely love that smell), the canals were filled, and some other farmers were out planting seed potatoes.  The sights and smells make me feel alive and literally make my run seem easier. We smelled sprouting alfalfa, smoke from burning ditch banks, and stinky cows (I actually sort of like that smell too when it is faint).

These are the days I love living in a place where the seasons starkly contrast throughout the year and there is always change to welcome and fall in love with over and over again.