Morning coffee: from my front porch

Edition #11

Good morning. This is Jenn. I am an adventurer and writer from upstate New York - living near the beautiful Finger Lakes. I enjoy sharing my travels with others.

Thanks for checking in with me today. Let me know how your day is going by commenting below. I read all my comments.

Today, I am enjoying a morning cup of coffee from my front porch. It is good to be home.

I like to get up early to sit on my porch and enjoy the smells of the morning, listen to the birds and soak in the Spring colors. I love Spring but I do admit that I am a fan of all the seasons. Each season is special.

What I may have in common with a peony

This week, my peonies came into their full bloom. Watching my peonies bloom every Spring is kinda like a ritual for me. Their blooms usually only last less than a week before they start to droop. My peonies seem to come back every year - stronger and stronger. From what I understand, peonies are tough and often survive in not-so-ideal locations. Mmmm….sounds like someone who takes on adventures……I guess I may have a few things in common with a peony.

My front peony bush.

What’s going on this week for me

Yesterday, I enjoyed a paddle adventure in the Nine Mile Swamp located near Hamilton, New York. The Nine Mile Swamp is actually a river. From what I understand, the swamp used to be a hide-out location for a family of outlaws. Stay tuned for my adventure post on my paddle and what I discovered.

This week, I plan to finish my Spring gardening chores. These chores never seem to end but ending but it is worth it. I do need to harvest more rhubarb and hope to make and back a batch of gluten-free blueberry/rhubarb crisp for my weekend company.

Finally, I am catching up on my reading and I would like to share the following interesting and entertaining posts:

Keith’s RWK Newsletter: Keith posts weekly about daily life in and around the Keweenaw peninsula community of Chassell in Michigan.

Field Notes with Erik Hogan: Woodlands and Water: A five part series about thru hiking on the Foothills Trail in South Carolina.

Jon Norris is a professional photographer and Explore Landscapes is his weekly newsletter sharing essential landscape photography tips/advice, images, thoughts, and musings on landscape photography, hiking, backpacking, and enjoying the wonder of the natural world.

Benjamin Williamson Photography: Ben shares weekly inspirational photography from his favorite Maine landscapes and locations, in addition to photography tips and ways to improve your photos. Check out his photos on the northern lights!

More recommendations coming soon.

My curated list of adventure books on Bookshop.org

I just added a children’s book to my curated list of recommended adventure books at Bookshop.org. If you are looking for a book to share with a child, you may like the following:

Childrens Story Book Adventure of a Boy and his Dog: Koa & Kai Dog Dreams

Find out more about how you can purchase this book and also view my complete list of recommended adventure books at Bookshop.org. Every purchase on this site financially supports independent bookstores.

Thanks for joining me on my front porch today.

If this is your first time here, a little bit about me.

I have a reputation for constantly pursuing new adventures. A long-time runner, nordic skier, and endurance junkie, I have dabbled in running and skiing ultra marathons and climbing mountains over 14,000 feet. The bulk of my professional career was spent working in finance, higher education and most recently as a running coach.

I have written and published numerous articles online for my running and fitness followers. Inspired by my high school journalism teacher and mentor, I sense an urge to remain connected to the outdoors and share my journey with others.

Hope you can come along.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.