"I like who I am when I walk outside around our land. The open spaces and knowledge of the terrain encourage me to take long, confident strides. (Unless it's muddy or icy, which merits more caution.) I can feel the good the movement does, loosening up those joints that stiffen when I spend too long inside."

Our weather this spring reminds me of the joke about winter acting like a guest who's refusing to leave, coming back again and again to say, "And here's one more thing..."

We have snow in the forecast tonight, and again on Wednesday night, with a "high" temp of 32F predicted for tomorrow. Average highs this time of year are around 50F in our area, so that's definitely on the chilly side. On the plus side, the rain let up and the yard is starting to dry out, and there's been no dangerous weather.

As long as it's not pouring rain, we get our morning walks, which always makes me feel better. I hit the rebounder daily, too, which helps to keep the lymph moving. Our new rebounder is quiet, so I can bounce early in the morning and not wake anyone up.

A while back I read the book, "Move Your DNA", and it was a wake up call about just how much movement matters. I'm rereading it again as a reminder to use good movement patterns heading into my busy season on the homestead (and to take breaks from writing). I figured I'd share a few tips for you to try, too.

Take Daily Barefoot Walks (or Minimal Footwear Walks)

• Why: Strengthens foot muscles, improves alignment, enhances sensory feedback.
• Tip: Start on soft surfaces like grass or sand to ease into it.

I know it's not always safe to go barefoot, but when I can, I do. I got some shoes with toes for when I can't.

Sit on the Floor Instead of Chairs

• Why: Encourages frequent shifting, squatting, and use of different muscle groups.
• Tip: Use cushions at first, and try different floor positions (cross-legged, kneeling, long sitting).

Being able to get up and down off the floor without using your hands or support has been shown to correlate with a longer lifespan—not as a guarantee, but as a strong indicator of overall mobility, balance, flexibility, and strength. (One of the studies.)

Walk More—Especially on Natural Terrain

• Why: Walking is a full-body, low-impact movement that loads bones and joints.
• Tip: Add variety with hills, uneven surfaces, and different speeds to engage more muscles.

I definitely notice a difference between walking on flat surface, climbing the hills, and treading over uneven ground. It's a lot different than circling a track inside a building, so get outside when you can.

Hang from a Bar or Tree Branch

• Why: Strengthens arms, shoulders, and improves grip and spinal decompression.
• Tip: Start with supported hangs (feet touching the ground) if you’re new to it.

Even if you can't hang very long, a little stretching helps. We got a pull up bar that locks over the door frame so it's easy to use.

Make Movement Part of Daily Life

• Why: Adds natural movement back into routines without needing a gym.
• Ideas: Carry groceries by hand, squat while doing chores, take movement breaks at work, or garden manually.

I always say, "If you rest, you rust, and if you don't move, eventually you can't move." Keep your body moving to keep your blood pumping and wastes clearing.

Not everyone can do everything, but the more you do move, the more you can move, typically. Listen to your body and don't overdo it, but stay active. (And if you do end up sore, we have help for that, too.)

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

P.S. Some of you asked about getting the weed guides in print form. I'm going to have my son investigate getting them formatted for print to order on Amazon. Also, the checkout is supposed to work for those outside the US, so if you run into an error while trying to purchase, take a screen shot and send it to me so we can troubleshoot.

This week's featured articles...

While I'm dealing with freezing temps (again), I know our southern gardeners are well ahead of us. I've updated our tomato trellis idea guide to help you get those plant up and easy to take care of and harvest. We have great photos and ideas for every garden.

It's also been 10 years since I got our Vine Spine garden trellis panels, so I did an update to the review. (Spoiler - they're holding up great.) I found an old photo of a late friend with the trellises that I'd forgotten that I had, which was a sad but pleasant surprise, so she's in the article, too.

These cookie dough truffles are one of my favorite Easter treats. You can make them up ahead and keep them in the fridge or freezer.

This simple sandwich spread recipe is an easy way to stretch any leftover Easter ham or other leftover roast meat into more meals.

P.P.S. - August is working on some book projects of his own about quantum physics and the lost continent of Sundaland. While these are outside the bounds of what we normally discuss on CSH, I figured I'd mention it. Let me know if you'd like more information about when those will be available.