and the foliage.

wow.  when was the last time i was here three days in a row?

i don't have much to say about the foliage in maine in october - i'm pretty sure these photos speak far more clearly than i ever could.  but i will say that we climbed the mountain you see in the third photo - that mountain and the one next to it - on our first full day in maine.  there was a whole lot of steep climbing, and i don't really love heights, so i mostly didn't look down.  but when i did stop to sit and turn around, woweeee, it was extraordinary - the foliage, and the water, and the views.  

there was one part of the hike that took us up a very steep part of the mountain - it was short, but steep (there were metal rungs in the rock for climbing, that's how steep), and visually, it seemed to be really close to the edge of the mountain (have i mentioned that i don't really like heights?) and i was super nervous for a few minutes.  but everyone was really kind and patient with me, and i summoned my courage and climbed.  and at the top i felt so very proud of myself for overcoming that moment of fear.  for climbing up those metal rungs.  for moving forward and not letting myself get stuck.  and i felt so very grateful, too.  for my legs and my arms and my lungs, which carried me up the mountain.  for the parts of this world that are so stunningly beautiful.  for my life.  for my family.  for all of it.  so.  overwhelmingly.  grateful.

and because that's not enough on this thursday morning, did you read rachel's post about habits?  i've been thinking so much about my habits lately.  just yesterday, i was telling a friend that i know that the general funk i've been feeling lately is a direct result of the bad habits i've fallen into - not enough sleep, eating all the wrong foods, no yoga practice, not nearly enough time spent on my creative life.  i know it, and yet i keep on keeping on with those bad habits.  feeling the funk.

so i'm declaring today my day.  i'm going back to my good habits if it kills me.  a proper bedtime.  foods that agree with me.  yoga.  i'm going back to it.  all of it.  it's time.  (and as incentive, i have a little treat in mind for myself if i can keep up the good habits through thanksgiving.  i figure that by then, they'll have stuck.)

speaking of habits.  did i mention our three october guests at habit?  they're awesome.

that's all.  for now.  except for how much i love glee.  (and also modern family, by the way.  i started out watching because it's directed by an old friend, but it turns out that it's pretty darn funny.  thank heavens for the dvr.)

tomorrow, the forest.  and the end of the trip pictures, which is good, because i have other things to share.

Comments

[rachel]

oh man, we are glee addicts around here...and Cougartown.

You sound like me about six weeks ago Em. It's so frustrating when you KNOW what you need to change but take forever to make the leap to better choices. I know you'll stick with your good habits!

Hugs friend. (I miss our phone talks...maybe I should bet a cell phone that doesn't constantly die)

[Martha]

I agree...the pictures do speak for themselves. It's just perfect!
♥

[Mary-- The Yellow Door Paperie]

Agree with habits, we are breaking back into them and learning how to stick with it. Yikes!

Love the pictures, so achingly beautiful.

[Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams]

Such stunning foliage...and way to go for climbing to the top of the mountain.

I definitely hear you on the habits. Thanks for the reminder, and for pointing the way to that post of Rachel's.

[erin]

i know you'll get there...as will i! and your reward is so good, how can you not?

[cloth.paper.string]

yay for courage to climb to the top! and to get back to good habits.

and your maine pictures? they're all stunning, and pulling me back in time to summer days in tidal pools on craggy shores and into new england's mountains. thank you, thank you!

[chicago sarah]

Ohhh...Jordan Pond. All through undergrad it was this time of year that found us piling onto the Island for weekends of hiking and camping and playing together like the overgrown kids we were. What I wouldn't give for the opportunity to race each other up the Bubbles now! And the Beehive- I did that once in the fog, that's the only reason I did it (I couldn't see well enough to go anywhere but straight up!). Good for you! (and I'm working on some new habits myself)

[rick eaty]

beautiful! The colors make up their own landscape.