Of course, there are many reasons to exercise:

Help control weight

Improve mood

Boost energy

Promote better sleep

Fun

However, the busier my daily agenda, the less likely I am to want to attend a class or watch an exercise video. And in the winter when the weather is awful, well, what better reason to curl up and hibernate, instead of going for a walk?

As an author who looks forward to spending hours at the keyboard of my computer, leaving for a long walk can be tough. I do have motivators, my cellphone and my two dogs.

Canines don’t care about the climate and even delight playing in the snow. Our rescue pup, my son’s name for him is Sir Barks a Lot, will do just that until he gets an outing. My poodle is happy to go too, but is more reserved about asking.

The other incentive for abandoning work is my smart phone. Yep, it’s true. No calls are made, but I take snapshots as we walk. Back in the day, I used to carry a single lens reflex camera and a couple of other lenses. Now, it is so easy to pop the cell into my pocket, then my puppies and I take off.

My goal for this year, besides increasing my writing output, is to lengthen our hikes and take hubby along when possible and, of course, take more pics.

These are some of my favorite shots, taken at different times of the year.

Do you have a favorite exercise, or do you avoid it like the plague? 🙂 Please leave a comment below.

In My Country Heart Sierra Creek Series Book Four, the firefighter is a photographer who takes photos as a hobby. Living in the rural town of Sierra Creek, he has many opportunities to find great shots.

Excerpt:

Chance picked up his backpack and shoved the camera into it. Without talking it over, they walked toward the shade of the trees.

“Chance, how do you know so much about flowers?”

“My mother is a botanist. She loves indigenous flora.” He adjusted the pack. “When I was a kid, she dragged me all over the Sierra Mountains while researching and cataloging plants. She wrote a text book that’s still used in universities.”

“Wow.”

He handed her a bottle of water from his bag.

“Thanks.” She took a sip. “But you’re a firefighter. Right?”

“Fourth generation, my dad, granddad and great granddad.”

“Nice to have footsteps to follow.”

“Can be, but…” Chance frowned. “Do you have a list of flowers you’re trying to find?” He changed the subject and she had the sense she had touched a nerve.

“To tell the truth, I don’t know a thing about flowers or gardening. Most of my life I’ve lived in a high-rise building near the freeway and never thought about plants, except to buy them at the supermarket.”

“Then what brings you out on this hot day?”

She took a gulp of water and told him her plan to find a theme for her new jewelry designs. Spewing out her heart’s desire to make something important that would become an heirloom to be passed on generation to generation, she couldn’t stop talking. Lauren realized she was saying too much, but Chance listened so quietly it was easy to continue.

To her relief, he didn’t pass judgment on her goals. Instead, he offered a couple of flowers on the property she might like to view.

Naturally, she was aware of the orange poppy. “Chance what is this pretty yellow flower?”

“A California Buttercup, Ranunculus Californicus. Here, let’s see if you like butter.” He held one of the little blooms under her chin.

“What are you doing?”

“If your jaw turns yellow, you like butter—yep, you do.”

She laughed. “That’s silly, but yes, I do.”

“Lauren, didn’t you do this as a kid?”

“Uh, no.”

“Oh, a deprived childhood.”

“Shut up.” She laughed. “What was the name again?”

“Ranunculus…” He stopped. “You can say, buttercup. Most people realize what that is.”

She sketched a quick copy of the small plant and took a photo with her smart phone. She bet it wouldn’t be as detailed as his close-ups, but it met her needs.

He offered a chicken salad sandwich packed from Sophie’s ice cream shop and she took half. “Thanks.”

Sitting on a log, they shared their impressions of Sierra Creek. As they both came from a city, they had similar responses and fell into easy conversation.

“Do you always take photos of flowers?”

“I’m shooting them for a calendar. The profit goes to help burn victims recover. Every year there is a specific topic. This year’s subject is wild flora.”

“Could I take a look at your camera?”

“If you want.”

She clicked through the pics and with her peripheral vision she saw him lean against a tree trunk. His long legs in front of him, he crossed his muscled arms across his broad chest and closed his eyes. Even in repose, he exuded strength.

She glanced at the photos, pausing on a couple that were breathtaking. “Chance, do you have a favorite?”

“Uh.” He ran his hand over his chin. “I guess the Baker’s globe mallow. It’s often the first flower to grow after a forest fire.” He sat up and took the camera. “Here.”

“What a sweet little pink flower. I’ve never seen one.”

“I guess most people haven’t.” He stretched. “Sounds corny, but it signals renewal. Life after devastation. After the fires in California and that means a lot to me. You understand what I’m saying?”

“Absolutely. I…”

His smart phone alarm went off. He took the call and frowned “Got to take off.”

“A fire?”

He nodded, grabbed his backpack, and jogged toward his parked truck.

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If you prefer suspense, try my Dangerous Series, Dangerous Web and Dangerous Denial.

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