93: Christmas Eve

(Shelter Island Marina.  San Diego, CA.  November 2010)

I finally finished uploading the last batch of photos from San Diego.  Although this is not particularly Christmas-y, I do like the star effect.  I’ll bring you something a little more seasonal tomorrow.

(Shogun.  Shelter Island Marina.  San Diego, CA.)

Having had our family Christmas celebration last weekend, it’s quiet here today. ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature is stirring… etc., etc., etc.

(Vagabond.)

The Great Outdoor Adventure — Day 93

The cross-country skis are FAB.  And brilliant.  And hard work!!  M and I skied for about 20 minutes yesterday.  The nice thing about owning our own skis is that we don’t have to push ourselves to utter exhaustion just to get our money’s worth in one day.  We can take our time, get used to gliding and skiing, and maybe even learn how to turn.  And stop.  Stopping, it seems to me, is important.  This is especially true when you’re speeding downhill and there are brambles at the bottom.

I fell once yesterday (coming down a hill and running into said brambles).  My legs were a little sore today but not so much that it was uncomfortable.  Just enough to let me know I’d worked them yesterday.

(Warm & fuzzy in the snow.)

Today I watched a video about a few of the basics of cross-country skiing and then tried to put what I learned into practice.  Knowing the proper way to go uphill made it so much easier.  I practiced a few drills (such as skiing without the poles).  I still fell down.  This time I was speeding down a bigger hill than the one I was on yesterday and M was at the bottom.  I was sure I’d run right into him so I threw myself on the ground.  So maybe that doesn’t count as falling??

Yes, I think learning how to stop will be a very good thing.

We skied for about 35 minutes today.  I went out for a short walk after that, mostly to fill the bird feeders and to take a few photos.  The camera will not be taking ski trips with me.

The weather has stayed pretty much the same for the past two days.  A balmy 26 degrees, cloudy, with the occasional snow flurries and squalls.  We will have a white Christmas, for sure.  A storm with more snow is expected to arrive on Sunday.

Yay!  Fresh snow!

(Today’s view of the pond.)

I doesn’t seem right to leave you with such a cold view when I’m feeling all warm and glowy from the exercise.  How about a nice, warm sunset instead?

Merry Christmas Eve!