By Nicole

"Behind the Scenes" is a fun link up where we show those photos - but tell the real story behind them.  The sneak peek behind the scenes, a look past the edges of the photo to the real life behind it.  This is only my second link up with Crystal.   Click on over to see what it's all about and to read other great stories. This is my handsome hubby Jason in front of the National Monument at approximately 4 am on a February morning.  We posted the photos of our early morning run on Facebook, of course.   But I never did tell the whole story. We flew to Rhode Island (just the two of us, which is amazing... in our ten years of marriage, we realized we had never been on a plane together!!) to help his mom pack up her house and get ready for her move to Washington.  We spent a few days helping her and getting a taste of Rhode Island.  All I kept thinking was, "I could run this state."  Literally, from one end to the other.  It is ...

The two things I need to do at the beginning of every week are plan our meals and my runs.  Life seems a little smoother when those two things are handled ahead of time! Monday -  Eat:   Stew in the crockpot.  I had some leftover venison and broth when I canned last weekend.  It is patiently waiting to be cooked up with carrots and potatoes.  Yum Run: Two and a half miles at lunch.  If I hustle, I could get in three. Tuesday -  Eat: Burritos.  I was smart last weekend and pre-made about two dinners' worth. Yeehaw! Run: Easy two miles at lunch. Wednesday -  Eat: At the church.  I love that they feed us on Wednesdays! Run: Easy mile on the track with a friend and some stairs if I can fit them in. Thursday -  Eat: Salmon patties and coleslaw.  Homemade tartar sauce. Run: Rest if I've ran all week.  Two miles at lunch if I skip a day.  I shouldn't be so flexible... but I'm not on a real plan right now...

Recently two of our sheep were killed dead by a rogue cougar.  He thinks he can just eat whatever he wants.  Rude.  I was gonna eat that sheep. Not anymore. Anyways, I'm joking about it now, but it is really bothering me.  I deal with my emotions through sarcasm and humor... not sure if it's healthy, but I seem to be coping. These sheep aren't the first animals we've lost to the wild animals.  We've had raccoons eat our chickens , weasels eat our quail.  Heck, even our dog has eaten our chickens... which is why he has to be kenneled if we leave the house when the chickens and ducks are free-ranging.  Rotten dog. The thing about raccoons and weasels is... they can't eat me.  A cougar could chomp me up.  And I know I couldn't outrun it (which is the opposite of what you should do!). I saw the mess it made of our mama sheep.   Shudder.  So, I've only run on our driveway twice since this event.  And it has been in the middl...