Skill-building Summer: The Open Water Swim

     Now, I love to swim in a lake or an ocean just as much as the next person, if by swim you mean splash around, bob in the waves, and in general relax. Actual swimming, i.e. competition suit, cap and googles swimming, is not quite as much fun. We are headed to the shore today to practice open water swimming in a rather murky bay. My friend Tricia and I are swimming, my husband has volunteered to watch the two toddlers and two preschoolers while we swim. I figure it shouldn't be too hard, as the two babies do NOT like the sand. Stick them on a blanket and they shouldn't go far. That should make the beach at the end of the summer interesting. I'll let you know how it goes. Last year, the one thing I wished I had done (in addition to getting much more sleep with a non-sleeping baby) was to do more bricks--combination workouts. So, in that spirit, T and I rode about 12 miles (did a few more hills than normal!) and then ran about a mile and a bit. All before 7:15 in the morning. Phew! It went well, but I can see the need for a LOT more of these in the next few weeks.

P.S. I loved getting this pincushion in the mail this week from my sister-in-law Amber--doesn't it make you want to make one for yourself? (True confession, I bought Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts a few years ago to make a bunch of these pincushions. Have I? Not yet. But they are on "the list." And now I don't have to!!! Thanks, A!