Waxing Loblolly Moon Portal 4 Miler

Loblolly Moon Portal
Originally uploaded by toadshade

The cold December moon waxes as the temperatures get ready to plunge into the 20's tonight. The air is crisp, cold and clear and I had a glorious 4 mile run around the neighborhood. The moon brightened as the day darkened and I felt like I had entered the Lunar realm. I do some Moon meditations in my spiritual practice so it was easy to shift my perspective. I was a different person when I finished.

My run was for 4 miles at 37:30 for a 9:22 per mile pace.

toadshade

Yankee Doodle Doggie 5 Miler

Yankee Doodle Doggie
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I ran a nice brisk 5 mile tempo run on my usual Dickcissel Field run and, at the end, ran into this woefully seasonally challenged pooch who was getting ready to set off a few fireworks. I explained to him the different seasons and why we use certain symbols at different times of the year and told him he could still fly the flag, even though Christmas is not a uniquely American Holiday. He looked a little sad and started whimpering but I gave him a bone and he perked right up!

I did 5 miles and 10 minutes per mile for a time of 50 minutes.

toadshade

The Southeast Post Yule Grove Hike

After the tons of Yule goodies and the Chocolate Tsunami, we decided to have a hike to cleanse the impurities of over indulgence - spiritual, physical and mental. So we got together at Southeast Park and had a cold, breezy, hiking blast. It felt good for the wind to hit our faces as we hiked this neat little tennis park tucked away in the suburbs of Southeast Columbia. Viv used her knowledge of the natural areas and landmarks to help us keep up with the modern nomenclature of the various geographical areas while Ann-Marie dazzled the millions with her knowledge of the late fall wildflowers, now only seed husks. Med treated us to a little Farsi as he talked to his relatives on his cell (yes, we are multi-tasking) and combed the area for some White Oak Acorns. We did collect plenty of nuts as the Black Walnuts and Pecan Hickories dominate the park. I snapped a few pictures and will include here of Ann-Marie photographing the local wildlife under a beautiful Live Oak. Afterwards we ate at Pantera Bread and re-caffeinated. Felt good to have a few sore muscles and the bite of Winter in our blood.

toadshade

The Mistletoe 7 Miler

Viscum album
Originally uploaded by toadshade

Viscum Album (or Mistletoe) has been written about for centuries for it's use in Druid ceremonies (Pliny) and in James Fraser's great work on cultural anthropology, The Golden Bough, it has been well documented. It is a parasite that grows on several tree species, usually Oak and Apple around here. It was seen as a fertility symbol, hence the 'kissing under the Mistletoe' tradition that we still carry on. It's name roughly means 'all heal,' has been used in teas for various ailments but is poisonous. The ones that grow over here are Phoradendron sp; and are generally dispersed by Cedar Waxwings. They are a lot easier to see in the leafless trees of Winter and add another pleasant dimension to the world.

I was going 12 miles today but only made 7. Five running and two walking since I was a little foolhardy in my expectations. Was sore, dehydrated and tired. The walking did give me a chance to see rhythms of nature at a slower pace; the Robins flocking, the squeaky toy (Ann-Marie) call of the Nuthatches and a Great Blue Heron flying over and one crossing the road. I assumed, like the chicken, to get to the other side. Or maybe to see if there were any chickens over there!! Heron's keep things pretty close to the chest, or breast in this case.

I gave myself 7 miles at 77 minutes at 11 minutes per mile.

toadshade

Silver-leaved Solstice 6 Miler

Silver-leaved Solstice
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I'm always thrilled at the persistence of Nature and how it takes advantage of the slanting sun to produce a blossom in the freezing cold of Winter. I've scraped ice off my windshield for the last 3 days and this Silver-leaved Grass flower found a way to use to utilize the Sun's warm and the rain drenched December soil to produce a flower. I don't think the plant gives a damn whether there are any pollinators around to spread it's seed or maybe this was the seed it was meant to spread. It sure added a little color to the bleak Winter landscape and the joy of being all you can be regardless of the outcome. Add this to the Wild Mustards, Dandelions, Henbits, Veronicas and Sow Thistles, this makes for a great welcome to the newly arisen Sun.

My run was great at 57:43 at 9:37 per mile.

toadshade

The Solstice Sow 5 Miler

The Solstice Sow
Originally uploaded by toadshade

The Solstice Sow is the ubiquitous, unsightly Sow Thistle of waste places and ditches throughout the South. But I happen to love it; because, if you can put up with it's prickly, thorny, stay-away-from-me appearance, it always blossoms forth with a beautiful yellow flower. I work in addictions and most of us are pretty weedy, nasty and prickly when we first try to get straight, but if you can put up with us long enough, we become something special. But at this stage of the game I'm more into weed control.

Also taking advantage of the Winter Sun were Henbits, Veronicas, Wild Mustards and Dandelions. My run was good, if not too fast, at 50:32 at 10:06 per mile.

Blessed Solstice Everyone! The Sun's at -23:26 degrees.

toadshade

The Solstice Flower 4

Camellia
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I don't know if this is a Camellia or what. I took it this afternoon running my 4 mile neighborhood scamper. It was growing in someone's yard. It was a rainy, dreary Monday and this sure brightened the day. Everyone's mood at work (especially the patients') was low. Lot of discord and anxiety. Ran today to reclaim some forward motion in my life with all the rain, being understaffed at work and lack of structure in my free time. Feel better because of it. The run was good at 38:11 for 4 miles at about 9:37 per mile. A lot of Yule stuff to keep me busy in the coming week. Hopefully I can get a few more jogs in.

toadshade

The Seasons Greetings 4 Miler

Yule Greetings!
Originally uploaded by toadshade

I haven't run in a while due to a cold and a decision not to do a marathon any time soon. I still like the blog and will keep it up but expand it's horizons a little. It was a beautiful run, a little windy since a front moved through, but still shining with the deep russets and yellows of autumn Sweetgums, Hickories and Oaks. The Sun is at -22:54 degrees below the Celestial Equator and is heading to it's lowest ebb on Yule or December 21st. It makes the Winter Light slant and gives the world a crisp, colorful aspect. What nature takes away in life, it gives back in beauty and hope.

toadshade