Go Outside – Sonja Danielson

It’s Time To Go al Fresco! #MondayMotivation

Be like this squirrel and take your meals outside-for today at least.

It’s Eat Outside Day, a fun holiday that happens to fall on #MotivationMonday.

For me, living in the desert, I won’t be sitting in the heat today, but eat outside a lot when the weather cools down. If you live in a more temperate place, and the weather allows it, I encourage you to take your plate and go outside.

Also, I urge you to take your writing outside. I like to take my laptop or my electronic reader outside onto the porch swing-again, when it becomes more temperate here. My godfather liked to eat soup outside when it was cold. He would come inside with a runny nose, an empty bowl, and a huge smile on his face.

“It’s the only way to eat soup!”

I don’t know if he still eats his soup outside. I live across the country from him now, and he requires 24-hour care due to cognitive issues. I hope so.

Go ahead, eat outside! Sonja

#SaturdayMorning

It’s the weekend and for many of us that means time off from work. Yay! What do you have planned?

BC19 (Before COVID-19) the weekend was a time for gatherings and socializing, which is off the books for now. Today may be the time for a solitary bike ride through interesting landscape-whether that is the desert’s unique formations or under a canopy of trees.

I’m not trying to get political here, so no comments about the pandemic, social distancing, or mask-wearing, please!

I’m encouraging you to enjoy the beautiful summer day! Sonja

Bucket List!

About a year-and-a-half ago, I was able to mark a big item off my bucket list. I was able to hike the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu!

I have wanted to see this spectacular area since I learned about it in elementary school. My sister took me there as a gift (great sister, huh?)! The Inka Trail (yes, that’s the correct spelling) was an arduous hike on uneven and slippery rocks. See the photo. That’s what we hiked on for three of the four days. We slept in tents and our porters (best ever!) cooked for us and carried a large percentage of our load.

I couldn’t have made it all the way to Machu Picchu without their help!

When I look through my (thousands) of photos from the trail, I can remember how amazing and how difficult it was to hike on those rocks, with my loaded pack, at that altitude.

It was one of the most difficult, and rewarding, things I have ever done.

I hope you have a chance to challenge yourself and cross something off your bucket list! Sonja

#SaturdayMorning

This fine Saturday morning I will be taking a walk with Guinness the Therapy Dog. We try to take a walk every day. He loves all the smells and the cool air. I love the walk. Soon, I’ll take him to the mountains to play in the snow.

I’ll post pictures!

Have a wonderful Saturday doing whatever it is you want to do. I hope you spend a little time with a book and then with someone you love. Sonja

Sunday Funday!!!

It’s time to have fun! Play with your dog (like Guinness the Therapy Dog), dance, or play under the blue sky. I hope those of you who are digging out of the winter weather are able to spend some time playing in the snow.

I hope for good weather and good times for you and yours. Sonja

Friday-Weekend Plans?

Photo by Jyotirmoy Gupta on Unsplash
(c) 2019
Photo by Luca Upper on Unsplash

If you’ve been reading my posts you know I’m a big proponent of going outside. Reading outside is different than reading inside, hiking, going to a festival. It doesn’t matter what you do.

I have spent so many hours laying on the ground and watching the clouds. I watch how fast they are moving, the shapes I see in them, rainbows, the shadows they cast on the ground. There is so much to see.

Take this weekend to spend some time outside. Do what you want. Have a friend over, play with your dog, go for a hike, ride your bike.

Have a great weekend! Sonja

My Favorite Things

Above and below are some of my favorite things. I see a theme–nature. I love to be outside. Water is important. So are trees and flowers. A good hike is the best! And a good hike with Guinness the Therapy Dog is even better!

He loves to be outside–and he loves water. When he hikes, he wears a backpack. When he finds water, he lays down in it and doesn’t bother about taking off his backpack first.

What are some of your favorite things?

Have a great week! Sonja

It’s Sunday Funday!

Time to go outside!

The weekends are made for fun. So get outside and have some! Go on a hike, play in the water (like Guinness the Therapy Dog), or lay on the forest floor and stare up at the trees.

It’s still warm here in the Desert Southwest and I am waiting for cooler temps so I can hike safely (without risking heat exhaustion!). The mountainous regions of the U.S. are getting snow already, so it could be fun to make tracks down a snowy path.

Whatever you do, I hope you have fun and spend your time with good friends or family. Sonja