I can’t believe we’re halfway through my favorite month—October.

Silly Snapchat filtered Sally eating a freshly picked apple.

I love the Fall here in the North East. The weather has finally come down to a temperature I can get behind. Plus, I get to wear hoodies again. And the main reason October is my favorite month is because my birthday falls on the 25th. I also love Fall traditions like apple and pumpkin picking. And that’s just what I got to do this past weekend.

Mr. SOTSS, the girls, the dogs and I all drove out to the North Fork of Long Island to visit with Mr. SOTSS’ dad and his wife and do some Octobery stuff. We tackled apple picking, pumpkin picking AND a corn maze by day and had an Octoberfest inspired dinner by night (I didn’t take a single picture of our German food #fail).

The corn maze was uber muddy because it had rained all morning

The girls carved their pumpkins when we got home.

Here are a few other notable tidbits since my previous post:

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Hi there

I started questioning this morning whether social media has enhanced my desire to talk about the weather or whether I’d just be rotary dialing my friends and family more often and still talking about the weather. I can’t believe I broke out my down jacket already.img_6967

This morning I ran an easy 3 miles and it was in the 40s and raining.

3 easy miles

3 easy miles

thumbhole shirt

why do we get so excited for thumb holes?

I broke out the thicker long sleeve running shirt with thumbholes! Before you know it I’ll have gloves and a wool or fleece hat too. I’m not complaining just yet. It is so nice to finally be done with 80+ temps and 80% humidity.

It's raining it's pouring....

It’s raining it’s pouring….

I had a lovely birthday that started out with brunch at my sister-in-law’s house. She made french toast casserole and candied bacon.

Candied Bacon and French Toast Casserole

Candied Bacon and French Toast Casserole

It was so delicious. Probably caused my arteries to clog but so worth it. Candied bacon is my new favorite sweet and salty combo. Sharon, my SIL also got me a few gifts including this plush faux fur dark purple throw that Duncan has already approved of.

Real fur on Faux fur

Real fur on Faux fur

Mr. SOTSS had flowers sent to my house and I almost missed the delivery.

Pretty flowers!

Pretty flowers!

I was in the bathroom coloring my hair when the doorbell rang. But I managed to not scare the delivery guy away when I answered the door.

The dogs just hung out right outside the bathroom watching me color my hair

The dogs just hung out right outside the bathroom watching me color my hair

I worked the rest of the afternoon with the dogs hovering.

Oh it's 5:00pm. Someone is letting me know it's dinnertime

Oh it’s 5:00pm. Someone is letting me know it’s dinnertime

In the eve when Mr. SOTSS got back from work we went to the local diner. He said I could pick the restaurant and I just wanted something simple. I’m not a fancy meal kinda gal AT ALL. I was excited to get the dinner special that includes Jello, ice cream or pudding for dessert. I went with the rice pudding…..my fave.

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me!

My birthday gift from him was the Train concert tickets last month when we were in at the Washington State Fair but he picked up a few additional things for me including a mirror and headlight for my bicycle and the solar windshield doo-hickey that helps shade the car cabin in the summer when it’s parked so it isn’t a million degrees when you get back to it. YAY!

I’m excited already for my birthday next year because 44 happens to be my lucky number. I don’t know why. It’s just been my lucky number since I was a kid.

So this weekend Duncan needs a costume to wear because we’ll be trick-or-treating. I am a little embarrased to say he has a lot of costumes to choose from.

dog costumes

Dog costumes galore rain,

The groom and line”barker” costumes haven’t been worn yet but I think we’re going simple this year with this goofy hat and tie.

Keepin' it simple

Keepin’ it simple

Although he did look adorable in some of those other costumes…

Argh it's a Pirate Doodle

Argh it’s a Pirate Doodle

The Sherif in Town

The Sherif in Town

Rufferee complete with whistle around his neck

Rufferee complete with whistle around his neck

Turtle

Turtle

Are you into Halloween? Do you dress up? Dress your dog or kids up?

What’s your fave? Sweet and salty, just sweet or just salty?

Well, it’s time to say so long 42. In a few short hours I’ll be turning 43. But let me tell you about how my last 3 days as a 42 year old went down.

On Saturday Mr. SOTSS and I took a boat trip along the Hudson River. (It was a birthday gift from my parents). It was super cold, windy and rainy but the trip was rain or shine.

Staying dry!

Staying dry!

This is about halfway into the trip. My hair was one big knot by the time we got back. #struggles

This is about halfway into the trip. My hair was one big knot by the time we got back. #struggles

The voyage took us past so many special places:

The Little Red Lighthouse (at the foot of the George Washington Bridge) which I’ve run to with my running friends…

Little Red Lighthouse

Little Red Lighthouse

The Statue of Liberty

She sure is pretty

She sure is pretty

Palisades Park which I’ve hiked in with Duncan

Look at the foliage colors!

Look at the foliage colors!

The Freedom Towerdsc_7216

Oh and I had an incident with my favorite Columbia hiking boots. The right boot literally cracked up. I guess I’ll be on the look out for a new pair. 14695534_10210832553111575_15519947979600462_n

Yesterday Mr. SOTSS and I packed up the dogs and headed to New Hope, Pennsylvania for the afternoon (It’s about an hour’s drive). We parked on the New Jersey side and walked along Delaware & Raritan Canal tow path for a bit before walking across the bridge into PA.

Walking from NJ to PA

Walking from NJ to PA

An abandoned old train

An abandoned old train

Happy Hiking Chester

Happy Hiking Chester

Happy hiking doodle

Happy hiking doodle

We found a pet friendly restaurant with outdoor seating and sweet potato fries were had by all.

img_6878

someone is eyeing my sweet potato fry

someone is eyeing my sweet potato fry

and someone else just took a fry

and someone else just took a fry

Headed back to NJ

Headed back to NJ

crossing back to NJ

Chester and I are in 2 states at the same time!

I ran my last miles as a 42 year old tonight just before sunset.fullsizerender

I love pink sunsets

I love pink sunsets

8 miles. 8 glorious, mind-clearing miles.

img_6912Boy did I need this. Aside from the fact I’ve got a half marathon coming up on Saturday I just really needed the time on my feet to gain some clarity on life stuff.

Duncan was not in the mood to start the day today.img_6898

But eventually we made it out for a walk.

fullsizerender-1

And at this very moment his head is buried in my armpit and he’s snoring.

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I’m grateful to get to celebrate another birthday. And I plan on spending my 43rd year on earth conquering, exploring, running, loving, and enjoying but more than anything, growing.

How do you feel about birthdays?
Do you have traditions? Do you like to be alone or go out?
How was your Monday?
Ever stood in 2 states at the same time?

 

 

 

Hi folks!

It’s December 23rd….and that means one thing….DUNCAN’S BIRTHDAY! Yep, the doodle turned 7 today and we celebrated the same way we do each year. I force him to wear his party hat and then I give him a toy and treats.

Good boy!

Good boy!

He knows the drill and stays still like a champ long enough for me to snap a pic or 100 two.

IMG_9960

And after picture #97 we start to get this

Get this thing off!

Get this thing off!

Plus, he just went to the groomer so he looks and smells delicious for the holidays.

Perfect fuzzbucket

Perfect fuzzbucket

Well, I haven’t run a single mile this week. I am going to try and squeeze in a run tomorrow before I hit the road to visit my friend Susan for Christmas Eve.

And since this post is all about Duncan and nothing about running I’ll sign off by sharing my Christmas card…

2015-xmascard-alt-new

Thank you all for reading my little blog. I’m going to get started on a post highlighting my top 10 favorite memories of 2015 and hopefully get that up before the new year.

Happy and Merry Everything!

What are your plans for the holidays? Do you celebrate Xmas? Did you Celebrate Chanukah? Anyone celebrate anything else? 

New Year’s plans?