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Walking
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
32 posts | 9 read | 2 reading | 13 to read
I wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civilto regard man as an inhabitant, or a part and parcel of Nature, rather than a member of society. I wish to make an extreme statement, if so I may make an emphatic one, for there are enough champions of civilization: the minister and the school committee and every one of you will take care of that. I have met with but one or two persons in the course of my life who understood the art of Walking, that is, of taking walkswho had a genius, so to speak, for SAUNTERING, which word is beautifully derived "from idle people who roved about the country, in the Middle Ages, and asked charity, under pretense of going a la Sainte Terre," to the Holy Land, till the children exclaimed, "There goes a Sainte-Terrer," a Saunterer, a Holy-Lander. They who never go to the Holy Land in their walks, as they pretend, are indeed mere idlers and vagabonds; but they who do go there are saunterers in the good sense, such as I mean. Some, however, would derive the word from sans terre without land or a home, which, therefore, in the good sense, will mean, having no particular home, but equally at home everywhere. For this is the secret of successful sauntering. He who sits still in a house all the time may be the greatest vagrant of all; but the saunterer, in the good sense, is no more vagrant than the meandering river, which is all the while sedulously seeking the shortest course to the sea. But I prefer the first, which, indeed, is the most probable derivation. For every walk is a sort of crusade, preached by some Peter the Hermit in us, to go forth and reconquer this Holy Land from the hands of the Infidels. It is true, we are but faint-hearted crusaders, even the walkers, nowadays, who undertake no persevering, never-ending enterprises. Our expeditions are but tours, and come round again at evening to the old hearth-side from which we set out. Half the walk is but retracing our steps. We should go forth on the shortest walk, perchance, in the spirit of undying adventure, never to returnprepared to send back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms. If you are ready to leave father and mother, and brother and sister, and wife and child and friends, and never see them againif you have paid your debts, and made your will, and settled all your affairs, and are a free manthen you are ready for a walk....
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peaKnit
Walking | Henry Thoreau
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Todays #festivephotochallenge is family time, this is the Christmas Eve Jolabakoflod celebration. I overheard my youngest say it was the best gift to my sister, and her saying that is truly the best gift! 🎄🎁 #wintergames

JenReadsAlot Cute! 2y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Yesterday I was able to go to one of my favorite trails and walk in the woods. Someone wrote hopeful messages on benches and signs. #keeplitsypositive

rockpools That‘s nice. 4y
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hike.read.repeat
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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This made me lol.

Texreader Ha! Right! 4y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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On the way home from holiday hiking I stopped at a winery! Altogether this week I ended up with about 48K steps and around 304.5K steps this round. OTOH I seem to be in a little reading slump and only finished six books. I have a plan for turning that around though. As for screens before bedtime, I think a more realistic goal would have been having a more consistent sleep schedule, which I‘ve been trying to do. #bfrc4 #wrapup

Susanita Now I‘m going to activate a go-to-sleep podcast so I don‘t have to hear THAT channel coming from the other room. 4y
wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 Fantastic step count. 4y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Free hiking tomorrow at US national park service facilities!

Busy week with a much needed pause in the action for me. Yesterday I helped a friend at a craft fair and got some shopping done. More steps than expected but also standing on concrete floor hard on my knees. Today football palooza for myspouse and his buds means reading time for me.

Stats for #bfrc4 #checkin
-53K steps
-no books finished
-good sleep most nights

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 And enjoy walking in a national park this weekend. 👍🏻👍🏻 4y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Picture is my new “inspirational” Fitbit cover photo. It was a fun, stressful, and busy week. One work thing is done, with another thing starting tomorrow, and then we‘re done with large scale events for a while. Yesterday I got a haircut and facial, then I watched the parade on TV.

56,665 steps
One book finished
Getting back to “normal” sleep

#selfcare #BFCr4 #checkin

Bklover I was so happy to see them win! 4y
wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 4y
Susanita @Bklover I still can‘t quite believe it! 😃 4y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Good week for walking but not as good for sleeping, reading, or posting. My Fitbit was uncharged for several hours on Monday, so I‘m estimating 52-55K steps. Finished one book. Been a little distracted. #BFCR4 #checkin

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 4y
31 likes1 comment
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Last week I walked ~49K steps and finished two books. More later about screen use and sleep. 😴

This week I have activities every night and a big “thing” at work, but somehow 🤔 I‘ve managed to accumulate all these library books plus a few others that aren‘t shown for various reasons. The Fodor‘s guidebook is research for #readingretreat2020 but still...

#bfrc4 #checkin

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌 Sounds like a great week to me! And that's a pretty awesome library book haul. 4y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Pretty good work week...aside from screen use Wednesday night😃...and not so good on the weekend. OTOH I did some socializing, errands, and reorganizing. Newly arranged nightstand in the photo. Yes, that‘s a mermaid themed nail file in my Nationals coozie repurposed as a holder thingy.

Totals: ~45K steps and two books completed.
#bfrc4 #checkin

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌 Sounds like a great week! 4y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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The Fitbit needs charging, and I‘m planted where I am for at least the next hour, so I‘m calling it for this week at ~53K steps. No idea of the total. Finished one book for a total of seven. I‘m all in for a round 4, with perhaps more realistic goals.🤷🏻‍♀️#bfrc3 #wrapup

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 Great job! 5y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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I‘m combining #selfimprovementsept and #bfrc3checkin today. Yesterday I was feeling some lingering effects of last weekend‘s hours of standing on a concrete floor, so I decided to do #SelfcareSunday a day early and get a pedicure before coming home and reading on the patio. I managed to walk ~45K steps this week and finished one book. It‘s gonna be another busy week, but I hope to finish strong. I‘m down for a Round 4 later in the month.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Nice color 💜 5y
wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 And I love the color! 💜 5y
OriginalCyn620 I love pedicures! 😊 5y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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What else would you do after seeing Jose Andres speak but go down the street to his restaurant? For someone who doesn‘t drink much, all his eateries serve yummy cocktails! We sat next to the world‘s pickiest diners, but my sister and I loved all our dishes. I had some Fitbit issues earlier in the week, but today I walked all over the convention center + several blocks to dinner & reached over 11K steps. I also finished a book. #bfcr3checkin

Nebklvr Awesome way to live life! Good eats and exercise! 5y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Girls‘ weekend at the beach! Sand, wine, and gossip.
Books read: two, plus one DNF
Steps: I have no idea! I‘m on vacation! But steps in sand count more, right?
#bfcr3

Crazeedi Gorgeous! 💕💕 5y
Lcsmcat They definitely count more - you‘re working harder. 😀 5y
wanderinglynn Steps in the sand totally count more! 🙌🏻 Plus bonus for all the mental wellness that vacations allow. Hope you‘re having a blast! 5y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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I‘m at about 58K steps for the week and not likely to get many more in the next 2.5 hours. Other accomplishments:
-I finally earned my Africa badge!
-I had an #adventure at a new park (pictured) where I never saw the river but did see lots of trees. I also realized I should probably get actual hiking shoes.
-No books finished, but I‘m very close on a couple. I also bailed on a few and feel so much “lighter” for it.
#bfcr3 #letstravelaugust

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🎊🙌🏻📚 5y
OriginalCyn620 Pretty! 😊 5y
wanderinglynn Wat to go! 🙌🏻 A great week! And a lovely photo. 5y
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Susanita
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Mixed results his week. Some good days like Wednesday and some not so good days. Only did about 48K steps for the week. Love the new Fitbit look. Finished two books. #bfcr3

wanderinglynn Way to go! 🙌🏻 It sounds like you‘ve made great progress this week! One day, one step at a time. 💜 5y
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Lisaw13
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Got my 30 mins in today! And we're off!

#BookFitnessChallenge #BFCR2

wanderinglynn Great job! 🙌🏻 5y
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Lisaw13
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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My goals for #BFCR2! Already started exercising this week so getting a head start 😊

wanderinglynn Great goals! 🙌🏻 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Lots of walking yesterday through the Riverbanks Botanical Garden and Zoo. We spent most of our time in the garden, which was just beautiful. Total serendipity finding out about this place: hubby picked up a brochure at the SC welcome center when we made a stop to change drivers. #litsywalkers

OrangeMooseReads Looks beautiful 5y
gradcat Stunning...I would like for heaven to be like this (because, of course, that‘s where I‘ll end up!)...♥️ 5y
Soubhiville So beautiful! 5y
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Crazeedi You are seeing some beautiful places! ❤ 5y
Lynnsoprano @gradcat Of course you will...you‘re a Litten! 😘 5y
gradcat Ha ha! I love that!! ♥️🥰😊 5y
Caterina Oh I love Riverbanks!!! ❤️💕😊 I grew up in a little town about 45 minutes from there, I can't count how many times I got to go to the zoo and gardens. It's beautiful. ❤️ 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#Litsywalkers it‘s a mile to the nearest Dunkin‘ Donuts and it was a perfect morning, so we walked there for coffee-no donut for me😄-and then home. The best part was walking past this fragrant jasmine. I wish my photo could carry the scent.

Lizpixie I think this is actually Murraya, also called “mock orange” here in Australia. I have two huge ones in my front yard & next door has two on our fence line. When they‘re all in flower, the scent is almost overpowering!🌿 5y
Lynnsoprano @Lizpixie Here it is known as orange jasmine, but it is Murraya. I wish we had one in our yard! 5y
Lizpixie You should plant one, I love cutting a bunch of outer branches when it‘s in flower and putting them in a large vase. The whole house smells amazing. They‘re very easy to grow, you can use them as hedges and they can handle being cut right back. My hubby hacked one of ours almost to the ground because it was blocking the electricity box, it‘s now over 8 feet tall again! 5y
Lynnsoprano @Lizpixie Hubby informed me that it‘s an alternate host for the bacteria that cause citrus greening, a disease that is threatening the Florida citrus industry. He should know, he‘s a plant pathologist. So I guess that‘s a no on the idea of planting any. 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#Litsywalkers I‘ve really gotten off schedule and haven‘t done enough walking lately. But we went out after church today, and I saw this strangler fig wrapping itself around a tree as we were walking by. They usually end up killing the host tree, but use the trunk as a support even after it‘s dead. You just never know what interesting plants you‘ll see around here😄

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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#Litsywalkers The plan was to skip a walk today and play pickle ball instead. But because there‘s no school today, the boys and girls club gym where we play was in use. So, even though rain was threatening and we carried umbrellas, we ended up taking a nice, long walk. Bonus, the sun came out as we neared home.

AmyG How beautiful. 5y
Lynnsoprano @AmyG It‘s a desert rose I have in a pot near the front door. I forgot to take pictures while we were walking. 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#litsywalkers I‘ve been told that Barbados cherry has more vitamin C per gram than citrus, but I‘d never tasted it. When we passed some bushes with ripe fruit on our walk yesterday, I decided to try one. I think I‘ll stick with citrus 😂

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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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I have been a bad #litsywalker lately. Life threw me a major curveball recently, and I‘m slow to adjust. But hubby and I got out for a long walk today, and it was just what I needed. The ibises were out, too, although it was a small group. It‘s common to see dozens in our yard at a time. Don‘t know why, hubby started referring to them as the bourgeoisie years ago, and I can‘t think of them any other way😂

Samplergal I love them. We live on a lake and have so many plus ducks and some turtles. We have new ducklings this week. ❤️❤️ 5y
CarolynM Hope you've got a good swing at that curveball now😉😘 5y
Cathythoughts Those curveballs are really something ... hope your ok 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Lynnsoprano @CarolynM @Cathythoughts Thank you 🙏 I‘m doing okay, but an unexpected major life change. I wish I could talk about it more because of the support from this wonderful community. But it involves another Litten who wants to keep things quiet right now. Thanks for your concern 😘 5y
Crazeedi @Lynnsoprano you and your life change are in my heart today Lynn. Just know you are loved❤😘 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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Normally, it‘s just a short walk on Sunday afternoon after we get home from church. But I needed something from the pharmacy, which is about a mile away. So we decided to walk there and back. A hot day, but there was a decent breeze, and I spotted this beauty. #litsywalkers

Crazeedi Lovely!❤️ 5y
Dragon Gorgeous colour 🌸 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#litsywalkers For all the visits we make to our son in the Orlando area, we had never visited Wekiwa Springs State Park, which is 15 minutes from their house. Beautiful walking trails, and the spring is a gorgeous swimming hole. I wish we‘d had our swimsuits. Did 2+ miles of trails, and can‘t wait to come back.

mrsmarch Wahhh...that‘s on the opposite side of Orlando from my in-laws‘ condo! And I don‘t wander very far afield. 5y
Lynnsoprano @mrsmarch I understand. We hate driving in Orlando. Sometimes we‘ll stop at or near “the attractions “ on our way, since we‘re coming from the south. Basically, we go to the same places because we know how to get there and back to our son‘s place. 5y
mrsmarch @Lynnsoprano Their condo is just outside WDW AK off that main road, whatever it is. I go to the nearest Publix and the big Target. Last time I went as far as Celebration. That‘s it. Driving from the airport gives me the heebies. 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#Litsywalkers The part of my master gardener training that I had the most trouble with was plant identification. I‘m not getting any better at it. We saw this red flower and the plant it‘s on growing among a hedge plant we know as we walked this morning, but neither of us know what it is. Time to hit the reference books 😄

CocoReads It‘s pretty though 5y
squirrelbrain There‘s an app I use (in the UK, so not sure if it‘s available elsewhere but it worked for me in France!) called PlantNet. You take a picture on your phone and it consults it‘s database in a few seconds and (usually) comes back with an answer! It‘s worked on leaves for me too when there weren‘t any flowers to take a pic of. 5y
Lynnsoprano @squirrelbrain Thanks! I will have to check that out. Hubby tried something like that a few years ago that didn‘t really work for him, so he deleted it. Pretty sure it was different. Sometimes our tropical plants don‘t make it into databases. But it‘s definitely worth a try. 5y
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Crazeedi @Lynnsoprano looks like an azalea or maybe rhododendron family, the flower looks like a azalea , but the leaves look rhododendron . I'm assuming the flower is on the wider leafed plant (edited) 5y
Lynnsoprano @Crazeedi My first guess was a salvia, and we‘re pretty sure that‘s what it is: tropical sage. Nothing in the rhododendron family grows here, we can only grow azaleas in pots, because our soil is very alkaline. 5y
Crazeedi @Lynnsoprano very interesting , the leaves in whorls sure do look like rhododendron , that's interesting. We are so very acidic that rhodies and azaleas and hydrangeas and blueberries etc love it here!!! We lime our garden soil! 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#Litsywalkers I wasn‘t sure I‘d get a chance to walk today. I spent most all morning and half the afternoon at our local high school, working with the the choirs in preparation for their performance assessment next week. It was cloudy and threatening when I got home, but we got out for a short walk before the rain came. We also did our civic duty and pulled some coconuts out of the street.

Kaye Good job. 👍🏼. It‘d be strange living where there are coconuts in the streets. All we get off our trees here are leaves in the fall, or acorns and pine cones. 5y
Crazeedi Hi lynn! Hope you have a great week! 5y
Lynnsoprano @Crazeedi Hi, Diane! How are you doing? Are you getting around okay yet? 5y
Crazeedi @Lynnsoprano yep! Doing much better! Just have to get my leg strong again. 😊 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#litsywalkers It was the perfect morning for a walk: sunny, breezy,low 70s. Did about 2 miles, then pulled some weeds in the yard. One disadvantage of walking with my plant pathologist hubby is that we tend to stop to look at diseased plants. My pictures, though, are of healthy ones😂 I couldn‘t resist this huge staghorn fern.

DivineDiana That is quite a spectacular plant! 5y
Freespirit Lovely💕 5y
Crazeedi Awesome! 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#Litsywalkers We are setting record high temperatures in South Florida this week, but hubby and I still did a bit over two miles this morning. It would have been nice to get out early, but I had a very early doctor appointment with fasting blood work, so our walk waited until after we had grabbed coffee and bagels. The plant is called a starburst, and is one that I enjoy seeing but would never plant in our yard.

Cathythoughts Lovely 💕💕💕 5y
sammisho That weather sounds amazing. We are gearing up for ANOTHER snow storm in kansas city 5y
Kaye Beautiful 💖. Enjoy the weather. 5y
Mommamanzi They are everywhere up here in Orlando in full bloom, it‘s so beautiful. My sinuses however are NOT happy! 5y
Lynnsoprano @Mommamanzi They‘re gorgeous, but the plants spread and get out of control really easily. Sorry about your sinuses. I‘m seeing the ENT tomorrow about mine, but I think it‘s chronic sinus infection hanging on after catching darling granddaughter‘s cold😄 5y
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Lynnsoprano
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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#litsywalkers It seems as if something has gotten in the way of my walking every day this week. At least we got out for a short walk this afternoon. And I found this cocoplum that is beginning to fruit.

Kaye Looks great to see green leaves again ! 5y
Wife 🌹 5y
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JoeStalksBeck
Walking: Top Essays | Henry David Thoreau
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My daughter and I out walking and discovering nature

SusanInTiburon Keeper! 8y
Gezemice Beautiful! Great way to spend time together. 8y
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