If you were able to sit inside my brain this morning, you’d have heard a conversation that went something like this:

Oh wow, it’s supposed to be 50 degrees today!  Let’s take a walk at the botanical gardens and get some pictures!

Nah, I don’t wanna go.

What do you mean you don’t want to go?  The sun is out, the sky is a pretty color, and it’s going to be warm!

Nah.  I’d rather stay home and put the piles away.

Okay, you worked all day yesterday on piles and getting the laundry done.  How about some fresh air today.

I don’t feel like it.  Don’t care.

You’re going.  Get some fresh air.  You don’t have to take pictures but AT LEAST TAKE A WALK.  Now go!

A bribe of pancakes at Cracker Barrel helped.  And it did get warm – I was at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens for only about 30 minutes when I traded my winter coat for a lighter coat.

Our weather has been all over lately.  Friday was so cold out that I skipped my lunch walk and worked out in the gym instead.  Several brave co-workers went out anyhow, two of whom came back in with major asthma attacks due to the cold.  Today though, was warm.  Even the breeze was warm and it just felt good to get out (once of course, I actually got there and started walking).

There were reds.

And yellows.

Pinks and purples, complete with bees.

Lots of greenery.

And of course, blues.

As I walked, I could hear the dry leaves rustling.  The birds were out, bathing in the dirt and pecking for food.  The squirrels were out too, moving quickly as they leapt from tree to tree, flicking their tails as they rushed to get to the back side where I couldn’t see them.

At one point, I stopped to look around and see what else my camera wanted to do.  The breeze started up again, tinkling the windchimes that were directly over my head.  It was soft and melodious and I found it soothing.  It was a perfect accompaniment to the water I could hear running over the rocks in the nearby stream.

I took a deep breathe, closed my eyes and simply enjoyed being there.  The sun was warm on my back and it was easy to for get that it was early January.  The cold and snow will come soon enough, but for today it was simply a nice day to be outside, relaxing, and having  good time.

After coming home, I channeled my inner beagle and took a long nap.  He loves doing that after an extended period outside and you know, it sure is a fun way to finish off the afternoon.

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Over at A Daily Life is a new post on various prompts to help jump start your blog and / or come up with ideas on those days when the muse has left the building.

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