Dale recently joined the Des Moines Botanical Center and it's been a fun stop on gray weekends. We get to visit spring and play with our cameras. This weekend we went to the zoo again. It was a bit too chilly for lingering but it was a perfect place to get a little exercise taking a few laps around the zoo and enjoying the atmosphere. Botanical Center, Zoo and a movie made for a great Saturday, even if it was gray and windy.
Today was the Fight For Air Climb. The event had many changes this year but it's the American Lung Association's biggest event for the year in Des Moines. My friend, Jennifer and I volunteer every year and this year we headed downtown at 6 AM again. This year many of the "climbers" went up 66 flights of stairs . . . another great reason to volunteer (instead of participate.)
Grocery shopping has never been a huge chore for me. If I have time I don't mind the job. Lately I have found a couple of very fun markets which make grocery shopping even more enjoyable. Since my first visit a couple of years ago, I love going to Graziano's. I love to take friends there or even bringing the kids or out-of-town guests to explore the little 100 year old Italian market. The specialty is Graziano sausage but there are also amazing spices, cheeses, peppers, sauces and many other unique items. I hear that this store has changed very little over the decades and I believe it. It's a treat to shop here.
More recently Trader Joe's opened in West Des Moines. Although I avoid the place on Saturdays I do enjoy going and looking for new interesting food items when they aren't so busy. There are some healthy affordable options, unique foods and some really inexpensive wines too! Going to specialty stores for specific items does take more time but since it's fun grocery shopping I always enjoy it.
Jay and Briana traveled to my place last weekend. We had no agenda but did have a good time. We did a couple of things together for the first time; shopped at my favorite market, ate the "Best Nachos in DSM" and visited the Botanical Center. We cooked together and hung out lots. It was a relaxing and fun weekend.
When it's seventy-four degrees in March it's easy to be healthy! After work I took a short hike on a trail in the woods that is very near my home. It certainly got my heart rate up more than walking around the pond and I love being in the woods. Grilling out for the first time this year added to the warm weather thrill! This warm weather helps me with my efforts to be more healthy than I was this winter.
I started the winter with regular trips to the gym but by February I had taken refuge in the warmth of my bathtub or curled up with a blanket on the couch. In the last several weeks we have had a few spring-like days and I have started walking on those nice days! They have been short walks, just around the pond at my library but today I went around the pond two times. That's a big improvement. Most often in the past I have walked to the pond then back home but I am starting out gradually.
Jay and I went on a road trip Saturday. We had talked about making the journey to Gunder for the notorious Gunderburger and we finally made the trip. It was a yummy burger but more importantly it was fun to hit the road with Jay again. The burger is on the list of 100 things in Iowa you should eat before you die and is well known all over the state. It seemed like the perfect excuse for a road trip with Jay.
We have had some wonderful spring-like days but this weekend was gray and chilly. After the sunny warm days I feel less patient with winter. I think I have spring fever. This weekend Dale and I saw a great basketball game at Drake and went to a fun movie but we didn't spend much time outside. We did drop by the botanical center for a few minutes and it was like a visit to summer. It was warm, colorful and a bit humid. It's a perfect place to play with the camera and take a break from winter.
I didn't eat any cookies this week! I didn't eat any candy or cake either. Sadly, this is quite an accomplishment for me. As always many wonderful baked goods are delivered to my work place daily, gorgeous cakes and huge cookies but I did not indulge at all this week. I did eat lots of fruits and vegetables. These sugar snap peas are pretty amazing, not the taste but the design. I am intrigued by the sweet little peas and the firm outer shell. I have always had an appreciation for beautiful baked goods but looking at these peas remind me that God designed some pretty amazing foods!
