1. My last post started with a statement about the weather. It was drizzly and dreary throughout June, but I didn’t mind it. I must have jinxed the atmosphere because almost immediately the temperatures skyrocketed into the mid 90’s. For about three weeks we have had uncomfortable temps in Washington, but I finally caved and bought a portable AC unit.

Verdict is still out on if it’s helping the 1400sqft house.

2. Temps are hot, but Duncan and I managed our first bike ride of the summer together. I often reminisce about my life when I rode my bike everywhere for two years, but sadly where I live now is not conducive to this lifestyle. Thankfully I know a few areas where we can bike that are safe and end with beautiful views.

3. Remember after my half marathon when I said I wanted to maintain running 3-5 miles with ease? Yeahhhh, I stopped running all together and have switched my focus to hiking. I’ve realized I like changing my sport up depending on the season. I might run here and there, but my focus is now on incline walks to have an easier time on my hikes. I’ll probably pick up running regularly again in the late fall. Who knows.

Variety is the spice of life.

4. I am incapable of going into a store that sells plants without looking at the plants. I am at full capacity, and yet I will find a reason to buy another one. I’m like a child at the checkout begging for a candy bar. Just one more plant, please. Duncan and I went to Home Depot for a drill bit recently and I HAD to have this small plant.

5. I have been blessed with nice skin for the majority of my life, but this doesn’t mean I am immune to the occasional zit or blackhead. No matter how many times I tell myself to leave the problem area alone, I always end up picking or popping. No one around me is safe either, specifically Duncan. He too has nice skin, but when I see a bump ripe for the picking he knows he has to run.

I’m gross, and I am aware.

6. My mid July was jam packed. My dad came to visit for five days, and just after that I drove down to Portland to spend 24 hours with two old blog pals. Lily is a swimming machine and swam the Portland Bridge Swim – an 11 mile open water swim under 11 Portland Bridges. Megan was her kayaker, helping her to refuel and keep her safe.

I was the post race out of town accomplice along for the ride.

We’ve known each other since 2011/2012, and it is fun to think back on how many pals I have made through this blog. While they no longer blog, I am thankful to have kept in touch all these years. We shared a couple meals, went for a walk around the city, had a sleepover, and tromped through Forest Park before saying our goodbyes.

7. It’s nice to see friends and family, but admittedly after the above mentioned week of socializing I was mentally fried. I had a few days where I needed silence and a dark room. In reality I was PMSing during this time, Little had a minor health snafu (he is fine), and I was exhausted from the heat. My equilibrium has since been reset and I feel back to normal.

8. One recent morning I was out in my backyard looking at the plants and growing vegetables when I noticed the biggest slug crawling on the base of the planter containing zucchini. Thankfully Duncan was on his way over, because I have the biggest, most irrationally ridiculous fear of slugs. Little and I watched from afar making sure Duncan properly removed the slug from the premise (don’t touch it with hands, but don’t kill it.)

I’m still haunted by this moment.

9. There has been a lost cat poster on the mailboxes around my neighborhood for a couple weeks now. A chunky black girl kitty, and my heart breaks for her owners. She got out one day and never came home. I continue to send hopeful thoughts her way. I have been extra emotional over these types of things lately. Sad video on social media about a pet? Game over – I’ll be sobbing.

10. My friend Caitlin and I embarked on a hike at the beginning of the month we have been wanting to do for quite some time, however it did not go as planned. Within the Olympic National Forest lies a crashed B-17 that was once a search and rescue plane. This plane was rescuing 8 people during the winter months in 1952, but after heading back towards its home base the plane clipped a ridge in the Olympics and skidded into the forest killing 3 of the 8 passengers.

The remnants of this crash remain on the Tull Canyon Trail, bringing hikers from all around to view the wreckage. We had been wanting to find this plane for years, and we finally chose this trail as one of our summer hikes. What we did not do was thoroughly read the trail description, something I typically do obsessively. As it turns out the trail you start on turns into a network of other trails. We missed the trail we needed to be on and continued two miles farther than where we were supposed to turn. All that to say we did not find the plane this visit, but now we know where to go and will return.

I was mega bummed we were so close (we saw the turn off on the way down), but it was a lovely day nonetheless. Another 10 mile hike through the Olympics.

Q: What’s your confession?