More on the Mountain Goat series!

Taken from a posting from last year, but as I am training and getting psyched about these races, I thought this was a good one to explain what is in store for me at each race....

The thirteenth annual La Sportiva USATF-New England Mountain Circuit blasts off on Saturday, May 26th, at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. This kick-off contest is the moderately steep 4.3-mile Wachusett Mountain Hill Climb. It's a great way to start because Wachusett has the least amount of elevation change of the six. And the second race is in the Granite State, the Pack Monadnock 10-Mile Challenge. These two uphill battles, along with Mount Kearsarge, made up the original Mountain Circuit twelve years ago when it began as the only such series in the country-it still is the one and only.

Three of the Mountain Circuit Races are on roads, and the other three mostly on trails. Four are all uphill, point-to-point to mountain peaks, and two are up-down loops. Runners must be members of USATF to score in the series. You can sign up at www.usatfne.org, or call the New England office of USATF at (617) 566-7600. As for Circuit scoring, USATF officials have decided on a best five-out-of-six scoring format. Points will be awarded as a percentage of the winner's time, first man and first woman, but only the best five runs' totals will be counted. This will allow runners to miss a race--or have a bad day--without penalty.

Awards will be given for the series in women and men's open, masters, seniors, and veteran's categories. There are separate awards for the individual races. A unique T-shirt will be given to all "Mountain Goats" who complete all contests. Cash and gift certificates will be awarded to the first three women and men in series points.

And all races have on-line registration.
You can check out the fascinating history of the Mountain Running Circuit, founded by Dave Dunham (former Chair of the USATF-New England Mountain, Ultra, and Trail [MUT] Committee). It includes all past winners, all-time points leaders, all-time appearance leaders, and all age group champions. Dunham, by the way, three-time winner and former record holder at Mount Washington, won the open championship the first two years and the masters' championship the last two. The circuit has included nine different mountain races over twelve years. Go to www.usatfne.org and click on Mountain/Trail.

As noted, the USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the only one of its kind in the nation. And the interest and success it has generated helped spur the National USATF to organize the National Mountain Running Championship. The fourth annual USA Championship will run at Mount Cranmore after such past venues as Vail and Mount Washington.

National Mountain Running Championship
One of these six outstanding races, Mount Cranmore, will host the USA National Mountain Running Championships. It will also serve as a selection race for the National Mountain Running Team. This will be the second year in a row New Englanders have had the National Championship in their back yard, and the second straight year it has been in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It will run at Cranmore Mountain Resort on Sunday, June 24th. The 20th Annual Cranmore Hill Climb was awarded the bid for the National Championship at the December meeting of USA Track and Field in Indianapolis. In 2006, the Mount Washington Road Race served as the National Championship.

Mount Cranmore will also serve as a qualifying race for the Teva US National Mountain Running Team. The top two U.S. men and top U.S. woman will be awarded automatic spots on the team. The Hill Climb is one of three qualifying races, the other two taking place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and at Mt. Tam in Mill Valley, California.

Mount Cranmore is a terrific mountain race, and very challenging, as a championship race should be. It has great facilities and sponsorship, thanks to Inov-8, a premier maker of trail running and mountain shoes, as well as host Cranmore Mountain Resort.

It offers a different challenge with three laps up and down the mountain for men (total 13.5K), and two laps up and down for women and juniors (9K). Each loop is approximately 4.5K with a steep downhill section. The race is designed to mirror the course of this year's World Mountain Trophy in Saillon, Switzerland, the primary target race of the National Team. The World Mountain Running Trophy alternates between uphill only in even years, and then up and down in odd years. Therefore 2007 will be up-down at Saillon. Also, nearly all World Championship races have been mostly on trails, as is Mount Cranmore.

The Mount Cranmore Hill Climb will also serve as the La Sportiva USA Track and Field New England Mountain Running Championship. This is the 20th annual Mount Cranmore race, one of the oldest mountain races in New England after Mount Washington.

Paul Kirsch is the Chair of the USATF-New England Mountain, Ultra, and Trail (MUT) Committee, and also serves as the Cranmore Hill Climb Race Director. He also directs the Loon Mountain race. Paul can be reached at 603-367-8676 or pkirsch@adelphia.net.

The Circuit Includes USATF-New England Trail Running Championship
New this year, the Northfield Mountain 10.3K race (6.4-miler, 1,200 feet climb and descent) is the third of the series, and will serve as the USATF New England Trail Running Championship race in addition to the Mountain Circuit. The Northfield Mountain race runs on June 9 in Northfield, Massachusetts. Northfield's course is rolling, as well as up and down. It is 100% trail, with single track and double track (maintenance roads), and it is both up and down. This race has also been chosen as part of the famous Hockomock Swamp Rat Series. Check it out at www.hockomock.net. It will run from the Northfield Mountain Visitors Center, 99 Millers Falls Road (Route 63), just two miles north of Route 2.

The USATF New England Mountain Running Circuit is the only one of its kind in the nation. The New England Championship race has also been unique to New England, and the interest and success it has generated helped spur the National USATF to organize the national championship, running for the fourth time at Mount Cranmore after such venues as Vail and Mount Washington. The first US woman and man at each of the three qualifying races win automatic berths to the national teams. The remaining members-three men and two women--will be selected by the USATF Mountain, Ultra, and Trail Running Sports Council. The men's team will have 7 members, the junior men (under 20) four; the women's senior team has 5 members and juniors three.

The Other Races of the New England Mountain Running Circuit
Many of the past and future members of the USA Mountain Running Team will be racing the New England Circuit and the National Mountain Running Championship, hoping to qualify for the World Championships (World Mountain Running Trophy) in September. The New England Circuit presents unique challenges-each race singly, and especially as a group of six. Teva, Inov-8, and the All-American Trail Running Association (AATRA) support the USATF New England Circuit.

Mount Wachusett: The Wachusett climb runs Saturday, May 26 at 9:30 a.m. This is the fifteenth annual 4.3-mile run to the top of the ski mountain in Princeton, Massachusetts. There are "only" 1095 feet to climb, with much of that elevation change in the first mile and the last mile. There is a short downhill section after the one-mile mark. The race fittingly begins on Mile Hill Road just below the ski lodge. The last 3.3 miles are entirely within Wachusett State Park. The final assault on the summit parking area for the finish is very steep. The route is closed to traffic. There are spectacular views all around with a wide-open summit. Eric Morse (24:14 in '99) and Julie Peterson (29:38 in 2000) hold the records.

Pack Monadnock: The second event is the Pack Monadnock Challenge 10 Miler, running from Wilton-Lyndeborough High School to the top of Pack Monadnock Mountain in Temple, New Hampshire. This is the 12th annual edition of the race, the oldest continuous mountain race in the circuit. Pack Monadnock is often compared in difficulty with Mount Washington, mostly because after running 8 miles on rolling hills, the last two miles are exceptionally steep. Total climb is 2,000 feet, but most of that is in the first mile and final two miles. The last 1.3 miles on the summit road becomes very steep-especially the final 200 meters. Pack is the longest of the six mountain races.

The course is beautifully picturesque on country roads, woods and farms, including 1.5 miles of dirt roads. It will run on Sunday, June 3, at 9:00 a.m. Registration and number pickup will be at the Wilton-Lyndeborough High School. It is point-to-point with a 1.5 mile walk down from the summit through Miller State Park for the post race cookout and awards at the former Temple Mountain Ski Area, directly across from Miller State Park and the summit road.

Loon Mountain: This is a 10K trail race to the summit of Loon Mountain, running Sunday July 8, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The start and race headquarters are located at the Loon Mountain Ski Area, Lincoln, New Hampshire. Registration and number pick up will be at the Octagon Base Lodge, Loon Mountain Ski Area, 60 Loon Mountain Road in Lincoln just off the Kancamagus Highway. Registration will be open from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.

The start is in a parking area adjacent to the Pemigewasset River. The course winds its way to service trails heading up Loon Mountain, then follows a combination of single track trails, service roads, and ski trails to the Summit Lodge. From there it travels across the ridge and up North Peak, with a final loop around the summit, returning to the finish at the gondola lift. It is an ascent-only race. For course maps and more information visit www.whitemountainmilers.com

Mount Ascutney: The final race is the Mount Ascutney Run to the Summit, starting at 9:30 a.m. July 14th, and runs entirely in the state park. No rolling hills warm-up for this one. It is short at 3.8 miles, but it starts immediately uphill and continues at a 12% grade to the summit. The mountain road is on the east side of the mountain with spectacular views of the Connecticut River Valley from the top. There are several switchbacks where you can take stock of the competition. Mount Ascutney is near Windsor, the birthplace of Vermont. Ascutney is also the steepest of the six races on average, as well as the highest elevation. It is very similar to the first half of the Mount Washington Road Race. The grade is constant with only a few brief level spots. This is the seventh year for Mount Ascutney, the concluding climb for the Circuit where the overall Circuit and age group champions will be decided.

*The Mount Washington Road Race (closed entry)
Take the Challenge
Yes, this is the chance to challenge yourself and set an entirely new type of goals for your running in 2007. This is nothing like those flatland races with their minor rolls. Gravity offers a new challenge, and mountains offer a way to get in really good shape for other races later in the year. The six unique events take place within a seven week time frame, the last week in May to the middle of July. After you run these events, your racing (and attitude about hills) will never be the same. The sense of accomplishment, and often the spectacular views, will change your running career. You will also view mountain peaks in a whole new light. Try it. Accept the challenge. Set those unique goals that come with the distinction of being a "Mountain Runner"!

16th Annual Mt. Wachusett Road Race

Race #1 (of the six race Mountain Goat Quest) in the La Sportiva Mountain Running series was at Mt. Wachusett, Saturday morning

4.3 miles mostly uphill with 2 downhill sections. It was very interesting to run uphill most of the time. Definitely a new test of my system! The weather was perfect and the runners were pretty competitive, hailing from CMS (central mass striders) and BAA (Boston Athletic Association). I was pretty happy with the results and look forward to the next one this coming weekend... Pack Monadnock 10 miler!

My stats:
Nancy E Cook F40-49 Belchertown MA
65 overall out of 338 finishers
10 woman, 4th in age group
Rank 65 Time: 33:42 Bib#: 60

A course record was set by a 20 year old BAA girl - 29:27 - very fast indeed!

(Me - a fake pose running to the top!)
(My #1 fan!)
(The view of Boston from the top of the mountain)

The Tiger Cub Scout Scavenger Hunt

It worked out perfectly - I read the list to the boys and they were aware of each piece that they were supposed to collect. We gave them plastic cups to collect the stuff they wanted to bring back and off we went into the woods. At the end we went over the list and the boys showed us their collection. Also it was key that we did the hunt "in pairs" as not to create competition and keep it more fun!

Fun times!

A hike in the woods with the Tiger Scouts!

Great photo opportunity of the nature around us.... in the woods with the boys last night for the hike at our house as part of the activities that the boys need to do as part of their Cub Scout experience. I made up a scavenger hunt and the parents and boys walked the 1/2 mile hike I measured from our back yard and back to the house. See the great photos and I will attach the scavenger hunt list later .. it was really so much fun with these great 6 year old boys!

Exposing the rock!

They say that most of Belchertown is rock and we are living right on top of it - lots of rock and dirt! The grass is growing in the backyard, but the window outside the kitchen needed more light and landscaping - so we began the journey of "lopping it" off and spent about 9 hours this weekend spraying with the pressure washer and Steve on the tractor removing the dirt - chainsaw to a few trees and boy what a change! The screened in porch overlooking it all is our new favorite place - and Oakley's too! Here are a few photos and I will post more later!

Steve also raked the driveway with me on the tractor waving at Gerry & Brian at the bottom of the driveway like I was in a parade. We have so much fun together - and what a beautiful weekend!

Jim's Angels

We are prepping for our bi-annual EI staff meeting and needing to keep this underground, but had to share our latest brainstorm for the Mission Support team - - these are all the girls that report to Jim.... Kyla (MSABC NTP), Miranda (Workplace Giving), Detra (Corporate Recognition) & soon to add Dannica (our NHO point) and of course... me!

I think the theme is right on and with such style and grace, we really do make quite the team! More later!

Flowers in the yard

Oh the beauty of spring and the many colors that bloom .... The french garden that you walk through to get to the front door needs just a little weeding and hopefully I will get to it this weekend, but right now I captured some of the beauty in the yard to share.

Grass is ALWAYS greener growing it from scratch!

Reaching to the heavens for the sun and the rain!

Our new baby grass!



Our BIG backyard - - & my latest favorite thing to do - - "watch the grass grow". It is starting to look green out there - just check it out for yourself!

TIlapia - - the vegetarian fish - it is what's for dinner tonight!

Baked Tilapia with White Wine & Herbs

2 fresh Tilapia fillets, approximately 8-10oz each
150ml (1/4pint) medium white wine
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tablespoons freshly chopped mixed herbs
6 salad onions, diagonally sliced
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2oz butter

Arrange the Tilapia side by side in a lightly oiled roasting tin or ovenproof dish.
Pour over the wine, then sprinkle over the chopped garlic, most of the herbs, the salad onions and seasoning to taste. Place half the butter on each fish.
Cover with a sheet of lightly oiled foil, seal in the fish then bake in a preheated oven 350F, for 30-35 minutes.
Transfer the Tilapia to a serving dish and keep warm. Pour the juices into a pan and serve immediately, sprinkled with the remaining herbs.

Cooking Time: Approximately 35 minutes Serves: 2

Recipe from American Tilapia Association

Photo is from our dinner - - here in Belchertown - - "oh so yummy"

Boston Marathon - news from the Globe & the Republican (local paper)

We bought the Boston Globe on the way out of town with this incredible coverage of the marathon. Finally I had a few moments to look at the great pics and the print - so I scanned to post on the blog.

The Hoyts - this father / son team that I see in many of the races (marathons and triathlons) that I compete in the New England area are featured right near my results and I am thrilled to have them and a post to their story here on my blog. They are truly an inspiration and really amazing people to see in action.

The goal of Team Hoyt is to integrate the physically challenged into everyday life. One way to accomplish this is to educate the able-bodied, making them more aware of the issues that the disabled face every day. Another is by actively helping the disabled to participate in activities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them. Team Hoyt targets both of these areas.

The other cool thing about this post is that last year I was #1 in the "Upper Valley" and this year #1 in the "Happy Valley". Pretty neat to share this newspaper article sent to us in the mail. Great feel good stuff!

US Amatuer Triathlon Rankings for 2007 - I rank 161 in the US and 25th for New England in age group!

Here is the list I searched on the USAT site - looking to see if I qualified for All American - which last year I was honorable mention. The closer your score is to 100, the higher your ranking. This is the unfiltered ranking.

National Ranking (40-44 age group) - #161 (not bad!)
161 NANCY PECK 44 76.73102 84.40412 (#159 if you take out the pros that were ranked)

New England ranking in the 40-44 age group = #25 (not bad at all!)

Pretty psyched with these results!

Here is the link to my last year's results - which my points ranking was 83 - so I moved up one notch! : ) 141 National, 10th in New England - 2006. I think you have to do at least 3 races to get ranked so we shall see what happens in 2008 - considering a new running focus. But very, very happy with the results. And I LOVE to see my name in "print" for my efforts!




Order First Name Last Name Age Score Gender Grading
1 CASSIE MCWILLIAM 42 86.80092 95.48101
2 LISBETH KENYON 43 85.3127 93.84397
3 KERRY SIMMONS 42 83.69292 92.06221
4 MARTHA GRINNELL 42 83.40799 91.74879
5 JULIE DENNEY 41 83.049 91.3539
6 JEANETTE SHELOW-MACDOUGALL 45 81.36969 89.50666
7 CAROL WILKE 42 81.2289 89.3518
8 MARIA CIMONETTI 43 80.90172 88.99189
9 ANNA STAUSS 41 80.68547 88.75402
10 BARBARA SESSA 44 80.25039 88.27543
11 ELAINE DEBITETTO 45 80.09196 88.10117
12 DONNA DESOUSA-SCHMIDT 42 79.91704 87.90874
13 CATHARINE PAYSON 43 79.82848 87.81133
14 LESLIE MYERS 41 79.50777 87.45854
15 ROBYN PASSANDER 45 79.42077 87.36285
16 KATHLEEN HAYDEN 43 78.91225 86.80348
17 LAUREN WARREN 42 78.83897 86.72287
18 ERIN BRENNAN 43 78.26292 86.08922
19 KAREN MONKS 41 78.18105 85.99915
20 MICHELLE HORGAN 42 77.99111 85.79022
21 TAMELA LYNCH 45 77.5341 85.28751
22 KAREN MACKIN 43 77.5224 85.27464
23 ELIZABETH DUGAN 45 77.50735 85.25809
24 BARBARA BRITTAN 43 76.96582 84.66241


25 NANCY PECK 44 76.73102 84.40412

26 MEGAN SEARFOSS 43 76.35442 83.98987
27 JENNIFER MILLER 43 76.24192 83.86611
28 TRICIA WESTON 41 76.22392 83.84631
29 MARY MISIASZEK 42 75.80978 83.39075
30 NANCY THOMSON 44 75.29725 82.82697
31 HEIDI CLERMONT 41 75.21867 82.74053
32 MELISSA SMITH 42 75.06745 82.5742
33 CELESTE LARAJA 42 75.00206 82.50227

Celeste is a friend who I see at the local triathlons here in the Northeast.

Happy Mother's Day!

"My day"

7 AM - run 7 miles with Oakley
9:00 AM - clean a little house and play games with Schuyler & Steve while drinking Rao's coffee
10:30 AM - Go to the "Roadhouse" for Brunch - French Toast, Pancakes, Omlette and the best organic coffee around!
12 - Shopping in Hadley - TJ Maxx, Stop & Shop, Blockbuster, Dicks, Liquor 44 - all my favorite stores!
Flowers
PJ's
Perfume
Speed Stacks - Schuyler's 4th set! Although we played competition with them today!

3 PM - Steve spread grass, I cleaned house and did laundry and played with the Pitch Back with Schuyler
5:30 PM - dinner with my favorite guys!
6 PM - The Golden Compass - movie with popcorn and some J. Lohr Chardonnay!

To sleep early and some very special sweet dreams!

We are growing grass!!

Some really beautiful photos from the back yard to share on this post as I was wandering around seeing the beautiful colors in the flowers that spring has to bring... AND WE HAVE GRASS! Such a cool thing to see the seed turning to grass. Pretty funny how the line in the yard delineates where we stopped planting.... can't wait to see the see of green lawn - - soon, oh so very soon..... sun keep shining!

Car Wash with the Cub Scouts!

What a beautiful day to be outside and to see Schuyler with his friends raising money for the Cub Scouts - Car Wash, Bottle Drive and donating items to fire victims (10 families lost their homes in a fire).

Here are a couple great photos from the day!

AND a very cool tshirt sighting "10 reasons why I wear pink" on one of the older boys, that I thought was just so cool.....

From Concept to Congratulations - Nancy Cook - featured speaker to the AMA

The AMA has monthly speakers at their luncheons and I was recruited by Paul Shurr, a SUNY marketing professor and volunteer with this group. He was in Steve's Pro Jam group at Mt. Snow in December prepping for his level 2 skiing, and after talking to him about what I do for ACS, he asked me to come and speak to the group. He was especially supportive yesterday, as well as Courtney (a fellow Vermonter) and the new incoming chairperson, who stayed after to help me pick up my speakers and computer equipment I had brought to the event.



Keith, ACS Regional Director (from Lake George area) and Michelle (Strides manager from Albany) were able to join me at the luncheon. Michelle actually helped with the ppoint and it was great to have the local connection there for the group. Great people as always - my ACS colleagues. It was a last minute note to the Upstate team and they were so great to make the time to come and support me.



The announcement of my talk to the group is posted here to see the summary and what they published in the newsletter. All great stuff. Good for the ACS to reach out, good for me to outreach and talk to marketers in the field. And great to be re-energized!








More of what they published on me and the talk about the NCTP. It was a great experience for me and really has energized me in my position right now. One must reach within themselves, sometimes get positive feedback from their supervisor, but this is great way to help feel good about what you are doing and know that you are making a difference.

Here is the link to the AMA

Here is the summary of my key points

1. How to maintain momentum while starting from scratch in your market by sharing experiences of participation and success in a nationwide forum.
2. Strategies to foster success among diverse audiences. Whether it is a smaller office based in New Orleans, Miami, New York City or LA, the NCTP to engage with each company in every region through resources provided to volunteers and staff.
3. Incorporating key values into your message. Finding a “mission match” and how these companies have made a difference in the fight against cancer through community values. We will look at some examples of companies and how they have sent key value statements in promotion of involvement in the community and how it benefits them to support that outreach and philanthropy.

Here is the link to the videos i showed at the luncheon - and it all went very smoothly! Thanks to my husband, the MAC and the Dell speakers, everything fell right into place!

Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Corporate Appeals with the NCTP

One more thing:
Keith wrote a wonderful note to his colleagues as a follow up to seeing me at the event. (another really cool feel good thing for me) : )

Good evening All,
Michele Mack and I were honored to be the lunch guests today of Nancy Cook, National Director, Corporate Relations, American Cancer Society Relay For Life and Employer Initiatives... She was the Featured Speaker addressing The American Marketing Association's Capital District Chapter at Wolfert's Roost Country Club...

It was great to meet an ACS member who deals on a National Stage and to hear her recount the incredible genesis of what now number 37 RFL National Business Partners from a modest start of 4 when she started out on this National initiative... Her efforts have manifested themselves in many of our Capital District Relay Team's Relays including PARTY-LITE, BESTBUY,DRESS BARN/MAURICE's,METRLIFE,WALMART and on and on...She has really distinguished herself...

Nancy did a great job, was very personable, ( Michele even worked her Powerpoint presentation for her :-) ) and was a Fun, lady to boot...

Attached you will find a photo that a Photographer in American Marketing Association was kind enough to send to Michele and me of the three of us....

Any questions, then please do not hesitate to reach out to Michele or me...

Have a Great Friday!

Keith d. :-)

My favorite things...

My true love
Brown paper packages tied up in string,
Pearls of joy
Purple jewels for Dad
Earings that sparkle
A smile
A hug
Snowshoeing in the trees
Skiing fast
Friends
Coaching my girls
Running with my dog
Photographing action
Biking with Schuyler

These are a few of my favorite things

Why we do what we do.... a note from a colleague

Why we do what we do...

A difficult client. A new PD win. A 16 hr. day ending 180 degrees different than expected. A lost AFL pitch. A new Consulting win. An all-hands on deck mtg. to resolve a potentially deal-breaking issue. A crazy co-worker. A new RFL NCTP company. A tough decision. A happy client. A disappointing outcome. A new EI product. A challenging vendor. A major QL win...

A tiny sampling of the highs, lows, good times, and bad that we all encounter in our ACS EI work.

And "good" work it is...

Last weekend was our local Relay For Life in our little town of Oakdale, CA (pop 18k). I walked the opening survivor lap with a long-time friend, Mark and his wife Mila. Mila is a breast cancer survivor and doing well. Mark is a beloved family man, revered local coach, outstanding community citizen, a man of high morales and ethics, a role model for all.

And now in the fight for his life.

A few weeks ago, Mark was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, and is currently undergoing treatments. He gathered his strength and came out to the Relay for the opening ceremonies, needing a steady hand to help him through, but determined to finish the lap.

Your commitment to our cause, to the mission of the American Cancer Society, your tireless efforts, long hours, wins, challenges, opportunities, and all that makes up you "work day" has helped Mila beat her cancer and be there for her husband and children as Mark goes through his own cancer journey.

You and your efforts are bringing hope to the Dickens family that Mark will beat this disease, that their children won't be faced with the trials that both of their parents are facing, that someday the Luminaria ceremonies at Relay events worldwide will only have bags with candles in them that read "In Honor of..." not "In Memory of...".

You are saving lives. You are changing the course of this damned disease. You are appreciated and valued more than you know...

I have the privileged to have the best co-workers one could ask for and am proud to be your teammate.

Thank you for what you do.

Kevin

Baby Red Tail Hawk in our front yard-

We got home from the transfer station on Saturday to see this beautiful bird in our front yard perched and "hanging out" with our other animal friend: Bug (bunny), Sammy (squirrel), and all the little chick a dees that just flutter around. The wonder of living in the woods! I had my little Canon and had to zoom, so the quality isn't as good as my D50 - - but this was a quick reminder to keep the D50 with me for these special times you run into the "perfect photo".

The first mountain bike ride of the year!

We live on 42 acres in Belchertown, mostly woods... that connects to trails - connecting to a path wide enough for 4 wheelers and more out in the woods. The trails are known for recreational use in the area and the other day Steve and I walked the property showing me the boundary lines and the land. Really cool to be in the woods and exploring... once we got the bike for Steve we have been clearing the land, so finally today we connected the back yard to the trail in the back, clearing the little trees and making way to get on the trails. Once the trails were cleared we took Oakley and went out exploring and connecting the area through the trail network. We rode for 2 1/2 hours up hills, through swamps, mud, rocks and had a blast! Steve had his first crash going over this tree lying in the trail diagonal and hit some rocks. OW! But got back on and we connected to the road and went home.

Here are some photos to mark the day - - so much fun to be together and enjoy the outdoors and get some great heart pumping exercise!

Cub Scouts - the PACK experience

OK - for those friends who want to have a boy - newly married, or otherwise... this is the ultimate "boy" mom experience to share..... I wish I could do it justice, because you just had to be there. We (Schuyler & I) went to our first cub scout Pack meeting - and proud Pack 57 was surely no disappointment. Having been a brownie and 4H girl growing up on the farm, I love the community, environmental living and camping aspect to the scouts - - so we signed up! : )

It was awards night and the boys in all the groups, Tigers, Bobcats, Wolves & Weeblos all earned patches and beads and belt loops for the all the achievements and activities. They all were very excited about the first camping trip and spoke of the winter trip too - where the polar bears were all praised for braving it in the cold. The scout master was a great leader, enthusiastic and really kept things moving and fun - as the night was a long one with the boys coming up from each den.

They (the different dens came up one by one) to show their achievements.... shadow boxes they made to store the US Flag, "Green-up" activities and planting trees for Earth day (they gave all the boys a sapling to bring home and plant), just to name a few of the activities. Schuyler and his buddy Frankie were excited to get the patches and beads.... and Schuyler was mimicking the magic activities as they were showing them "on stage"... It was a good meeting, and we are looking forward to it.

There is this "staff of power" that the dens take turns decorating to share at the meeting and the excitement around this "team symbol" is really fun to watch! To those "super moms" that are trying not to over schedule their kids this is one activity that is worth the time and social and educational for our boys. : ) Next the car wash! Can't wait for those photos!

Above are some special "brand" photos and one of Schuyler and his friends... just goofin'.