Sometimes you gotta get up out of that chair!

Earlier this week I posed the question on our Facebook page, "What do you do to make up for the sedentary hours spent hooking?"  I enjoy rug hooking so much that it's pretty easy for me to get absorbed in a project and not realize how long I've been sitting.  Since I literally become ill over time if I don't get enough exercise, I just thought I'd pose the question.  The responses seemed centered around making time for it, especially in the morning before the day can get away from you.

Well, today I had planned to go out for a run because spring has definitely got a toe hold up here - it was warm enough out today to go in just maybe running pants and a sweatshirt.  In Maine this doesn't mean we'll have green lawns and flowers tomorrow.  In fact, we could have a blizzard next week, but the signs are strong that winter is taking its last real gasps.  When I got home from my office around noon, however, and asked my sons what they might be interested in doing with the day, my 17 year old, Peter, suggested cross country skiing.  I am not graceful on skis of any kind, but fortunately we have a nature preserve nearby that has XC and snowshoeing trails.  Snowshoeing is a zero skill activity and Peter is such an accomplished skier I had no qualms about us taking separate trails, so we got in the car and headed out to the Roberts Farm Preserve in neighboring Norway, Maine.

Getting out on a trail in any season is a great way to just let your mind wander and be creative.  In the nearly two hours we were out on the trails, I got a lot of great ideas for future rug designs just from my surroundings and also realized how much I'd just needed to get up and get moving.  I took some photos from our outing today and thought I'd share them here.

This is toward the beginning of the snowshoe trail.

Along the way I saw quite a few of the big old Maples already running sap.

At one point along the trail there is an overlook out over Norway Lake (Pennesseewassee) and the mountains beyond.

Usually when our paths crossed, Peter was zinging by too fast for me to take a photo, but I was able to stop him for a few moments of conversation here.

This is the old Roberts Farm home.  It is in need of major restoration.  I don't know what the plans are for it, but it has beautiful Federal period lines and would make a great hooked rug design!

So that was what I did this afternoon.  Tonight it's time to hit the comfy chair again and continue working on a rug for a customer that has to ship on Friday.  I feel pretty refreshed.  What do you do to stay healthy and fit, and what are some of your favorite places and spaces for recreation?  We'd love to hear from you and see your photos as well.  Happy hooking!