Springtime, CSA's, Naples, FL and CSA's

This is my backyard today... dogwood in full bloom, irises coming up, grass taking off. I had Monarch Landscapes come out and clean up the front yard and replace some plants a couple of weeks ago... I would love for them to come back and take care of the backyard sometime soon. What a luxury ...sigh.

Spring also means fresh produce starting to come in!! Strawberries, lettuce, onions, radishes just for starters....I joined a local CSA two years ago and found myself cooking more and trying new things. I am a pretty flexible eater but I shop and eat out of habit, I guess. I have loved buying locally ..it makes me feel good to support my local economy and real farmers ... not big factory farmers and multinational corporations. Do I really want to eat anything from Conagra or Tyson? Do you? This year I'm going to check out the West Nashville Farmer's Market .... they have hours from 9A-noon every Saturday starting May 1 and a bazillion local farms and artisans participate. In addition to produce they will have eggs, meat, cheeses, breads, and pasta...I'm hoping for milk, too!

I went to visit my mom in Naples, Florida, last weekend... we went to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on Saturday morning. You can walk out into the swamp on a raised boardwalk that takes you through Cypress swamps, prairies and marshes ...there were lots of people out looking for birds and whatever else was out there. We saw deer, snakes, raccoons and lots of birds but, sadly, no alligators. I get to go back to South Florida next month for my niece's high school graduation... just cannot get enough of the beach!!

I'm looking forward to my first brick workout of the season tomorrow night. My goal this season is to focus on these workouts, specifically bike-run. I have been thinking a lot about the psychology of endurance events and this is an area I need to work on.... a lot of the time I struggle in the latter part of races just trying to keep it mentally together. I'm tired, I hurt and I start to doubt myself.... My theory is that by focusing on this type of workout I will get stronger mentally and physically...more confident. Perhaps I should be a sports psychologist..