Walk vs. Hike

I've been walking. Not running. Just walking.

A few weeks ago my knee reminded me why regular running hasn't worked for me in a long time. Just when I get back in a groove, some nagging part of my body shuts me down.

So....walking.

I like to move, but move quickly. It takes patience to walk. Even the dog leans forward, pulling (though he's trained not too), straining to pick up the pace. He looks back at me. Why aren't we jogging his face asks. "I can't," I say out loud to him and the pavement and the trees and anyone who will listen. He and I are both happier when we take to the trails and the mountains. There it's okay to slow down. He is off leash and so am I. My mind doesn't race on the trail. It's distracted by the landscape and sounds. It has a job to do. Watch out for rocks, snakes, bears. My brain is simultaneously soothed and stimulated in the woods. It might just be the best form of therapy.

This morning we walked. While the car was being worked on we hoofed it to a nearby neighborhood around a small lake and walked three miles. The exercise felt good, the fresh air felt good, the chill that has finally hit our mornings felt good. But being on pavement, walking past houses, listening for traffic...none of that calmed me. I came away from our walk even more wound up than when I started. Which means its settled. I can no longer walk. I'll just have to hike.

The August Garden

I stepped out back this evening to commune with the bees and sulk over the state of the garden. It's been quite a few weeks since I put any real work into it and it sure enough shows. The expanse of lawn in between plots was newly mown but the plots themselves... Oh my.

The goat pen stands empty and overgrown. The girls are off at the farm being bred for (hopefully) Spring babies.

I posted a shot of the garden from this exact spot about 6 weeks ago and it was gorgeous. Glorious even. Now it just looks sad and neglected. I was able to unearth some squash from that mess but the squash bugs pretty much decimated my zucchini and yellow squash.

The basil bed is unruly and completely misbehaving.

As are the hens when I let them out for their evening romp.

When you walk thru all that mess you have to watch out for pumpkins. Everywhere bits of orange peek through the grass. I'm having a lot of success at growing them this year.

I've already picked 10 and then I found these last night. There are probably 10 to 12 more still on the vine and I'm hoping they hold off until the appropriate season for harvesting.

Out of 30 plus tomato plants about 5 are still hanging in there. We have had a very wet very cool Summer and I'm not sure if that was the cause but there was an awful lot of root rot going on.

Last night's harvest is still sitting in the basket in the kitchen. I've got plans to go rip whole basil plants out of the ground and make as much pesto as I can. We are eating tomatoes with every meal because we just aren't getting enough of any one kind to process them. I thought I would be more upset about that considering all the work I put in, but it worked out because my plate is very full right now and I think adding one more task (especially a large one like canning) would do me in.

Happy AR529 Day!

Are your kids going to college?

How about your grandkids, nieces, nephews, all those youngins running around the family reunion?

Do you know how they are going to pay for it?

Sure they’ve got options. Scholarships, student loans, generous gifts from relatives. If they reside in the great state of Arkansas they also have the 529 Program to help out.

Before yesterday, I had heard about the 529 Program in passing but never really learned exactly how it worked. After my visit to the gorgeous estate of P.Allen Smith, I now know that it is possible for my children to graduate college debt free.

But first, let me lure you in with photos of Moss Mountain Farm.

 

Whoa. Right?

It was a pleasure to spend a few hours on this working farm full of animals and plants. The gardens are teaching gardens, designed to inspire and preserve heirlooms. The architecture and design are stunning. The grounds warm and inviting. We were treated to lunch before listening to a panel discussion regarding the Arkansas 529 Program.

Some things I took away from the discussion were:

Student loan deficit is in the trillions.

Nearly 4 out of 10 parents are not saving for their children’s education.

The cost of higher education is only going up!

There are four different levels of investment in AR529. Something for everyone!

The editor of Arkansas Business says you can’t save too much or too early!

Every dollar you save for college is going to earn money; every dollar you borrow will cost you.

You can transfer your beneficiary to your other children or grandchildren.

The UGift program enables anyone to contribute to your child’s 529 account.

You can use 529 to send your kids to virtually any college in the country.

They have 1 to 1 or 2 to 2 matching on 529 contributions up to $500 depending on income.

A child with a dedicated savings plan is 4 times more likely to finish college.

And those are just my notes (aka Twitter)!

 

According to the 529 Program literature you can:

- Deduct up to $5000 of your contributions from you AR adjusted gross income

- Maximize savings with tax-deferred growth and tax- free qualified withdrawals

- Enroll with as little as $10 per month with an automatic investment plan

- Use the money to pay for tuition, books, room and board, etc.

Want to know how and where to sign up or just need more information?

Visit The Gift Plan or call 501-682-1415

And right now the people over at the 529 Program are doing something awesome and giving away $529! Just click on over to their site to find out how to enter.

It’s never too late to start saving for your children's future!

Best Laid Plans

 

Oh I had big plans for this past week. Plans of cleaning, yardsaleing, planting, and soap making.

But of course, the Universe had other ideas for me.

It started with two escaped goats followed by me being down and out with health issues.

The goats were finally located three days later, 5 miles away.

The health thing isn’t yet resolved, but has me rethinking a lot of my bad habits.

And of course all the commotion led to our homeschool week being very out of the ordinary.

But I’m trying not to let it stress me. Stress is not why we do what we do.

We live this way to cut back on stress.

Tomorrow is another day. Monday is another week. Our work will get done. The seeds will get in the ground. That yardsale will happen. The soap labels will get printed and applied.

And it will all be okay.