park mornings | find beauty friday

Now that 5 year old girlfriend is in Kindergarden until 2:00, I get the morning with 2 year old girlfriend, just the two of us.  One of her favorite places to go is the "big pak" next to the Sewickley YMCA.  Last week, instead of parking next to the park, we parked a little bit farther away so we could hike to get to the park.  With the leaves changing to beautiful vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds, we had to stop a few times to capture nature at her finest along the way.

As much as I was dreading the change in season, I have really enjoyed Fall this year.  For the first time I am really taking in the scenes and doing my best to live in the moment.  Perfect time of the year to rediscover Netflix, crochet, and warm lemon water.  

What are your favorite things about Fall?  What are your favorite Fall activities?

linking up with Aimee and Casey today!

plant life

It's only June but this is already our second visit to McConnell's Mill.  It is amazing how much greener it has gotten after just a month and a half.  During our 6 mile hike, what stood out to me the most were the different wild flowers and plant life that surrounded the trails.  If there weren't signs everywhere asking not to pick the flowers I would have taken a bundle home with me.  

I have 20 more photos to share with you all from our hike that will just have to wait for another time. So until then, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  The husband and I are headed up to Cook's Forest for a night of camping and two days of more hikes and possible canoeing.  I just love everything about Summer!

Do you do a lot of hiking?

Where do you like to go?

What is your favorite thing to capture?

and because I can't help think of this song when I think of wild flowers...

Linking up with Aimee, Jess, and Whitney today!

walk

I took the Monday after the Pittsburgh 13.1 off.  I had a feeling I would be pretty beat up and knew it would not be a good day to be with my girlfriends.  I knew I needed to get the blood pumping through my legs to recover a little faster, so the husband (Mondays are his Sundays) and I took a walk to our local library.  

We live in Ambridge, PA, a suburb NW of Pittsburgh.  It once thrived as a steel town in the 50s, 60s, and 70s until the mills were closed in the early 80s.  While there is much character and history to this small town, most of the storefronts are bare and/or boarded up.   However, there are many streets and homes hidden from the main drag that are well cared for.  Those hidden streets are what make the walk through to town more enjoyable.  

Grape vines on the side of the Rapp House in Old Economy Village. 

The Laughlin Memorial Library is small but I love it's architecture.  So much character. 

There are also a few antique shops along the way that are always fun to walk through when you aren't with your husband have the time.  

As much as the city of Ambridge has deteriorated over the years, there is character.  With a local coffee shop a block from our house and yoga study opening in the heart of the town,  I have a feeling things are slowly starting to turn around though.  

Where are you from?

What are you favorite things about the city you live in?

Do you explore your city often?

Linking up with Shanna, Julie, and Melyssa today!

down the street {twosday tuesday}

April showers bring May flowers. 

Linking up with Stephanie and Tiffany today!

until next time

old economy park

The Sunday before Christmas, the husband and I decided to head up the hill to Old Economy Park for a little hike.  It was the first day since the beginning of December that there wasn't snow on the ground.  With temperatures hovering around 55 and 60, that will happen.  Since it was so nice, we decided to take advantage of it and get some fresh air.  

We have been up here before but never really gave ourselves time to explore.  This day we did.  And we discovered a connection of a running route to the park.  I am excited to explore that route and other trails within this park more when I start the longer runs for my 13.1 training. 

It is so nice to reconnect with nature even when it's somewhere you have been before.  Does the body good for sure.

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors?

Do you have any parks you like to explore near you?

What is your favorite part?

Linking up with Tiffany and Kimberly today!

until next time

what the duck?

Soooo there is a giant blow up rubber ducky chillin on the Three Rivers of Pittsburgh.  I don't really get it but apparently it was a big deal in Sydney, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.  I mean what is so exciting about an oversized duck you may ask?  I wish I could tell you.  But since I was starting to feel left out from seeing all of the Facebook and Instagram posts of this duck I decided to check it out for myself on Saturday. 

I decided to make a small workout out of it so I parked where the husband used to work (and where we usually park for Steelers and Pirates game because it is free and there is no traffic to sit in when we are leaving) to make the approximate mile trek into the city on the North Shore Riverfront trail.  Since I finally found my big  camera's battery charger I brought the ole girl with me to snap photos along the way. 

Like my new camera strap?  My sister MADE it for me for my birthday!  I decided to wear it on the blue side since my shirt (which my other sister gave me!) is pink.  The other side is pink.

There it is! 

Pittsburgh city skyline 

It was a cluster f*ck of people.  And they were always getting in the way of me trying to get photos.  Some of these people have seriously traveled from all over to see this duck.  My SIL told me that she talked to people who made the drive over from Delaware, which according to google maps is a 5.5 hour trip, on a Sunday just to see it.  Still don't get it.  And I am not sure I ever will. 

"That's a big ole duck!" 

I felt pretty bad for these guys.  They are obviously used to all of the attention until the giant yellow blow up guy (or could be a girl I suppose) showed up.  Dick. 

I enjoyed my 4 mile trek to and around the city.  Even though I still don't get all of the hoopla behind the giant duck, I am glad I did.  It's like going to the top of the Statue of Liberty or the STL Arch, you get to say you did it, ya know? 

Have you heard of this duck before?

What strange things has your city had?

Linking up with Melissa and Shanna today!