InstaFriday

This post is flooded with yoga pics, just FYI...

Two of our library favorites from the past week:

Enjoying some new books under the flowering trees outside the library on Saturday morning.

Siding is mostly done.  Now Craig's next project is rebuilding the deck railing.  There's always something to work on...

The old railing has been taken off and the new will be stained to match when we re-stain the deck this year.

Steak & veggie kabobs with avocado dipping sauce for dinner Saturday night.

Made some homemade vanilla ice cream on Saturday too.  We prefer it fresh from the machine when it's still super soft and creamy.  And we're just counting down the days to berry picking season!  Perhaps a paper chain would be in order?  But some raspberry sauce made from frozen raspberries is tiding us over for now.  :)

Raspberry sauce is deeeelicious on our whole wheat oatmeal pancakes too!  (Breakfast Sunday morning.)

After both kids took a three-hour nap on Sunday, we sat down and read every single one of this week's library books.  It was one of those perfect, leisurely Sundays.

Dinner on Sunday:  balsamic grilled chicken, grilled veggies and salad.  So good.

I love how kooky this headstand looks!  A little yoga in the yard on Sunday.

So excited for how much straighter my arms are getting in crow pose!  Before, it used to be too uncomfortable for me to press my knees so high into my arms, so I'd just create more of a shelf with my bent arms and balance that way.  But for some reason it's not so uncomfortable anymore.  Progress!!

Lifting up into forearm headstand with stag legs in both directions for an IG challenge.

Another variation.  Transition into forearm headstand (with stag legs) from crow pose.

Somebody has his first loose baby tooth!!!  And his mama is feeling ridiculously sentimental about this milestone.  :(  Tear!  But as with the start of Kindergarten, he is sooooo excited about this and his joy in contagious.

More from the weekend.  Inspired by an IG yogi to do a wall-supported piked handstand and lift one leg.  This was awkward to get into for the first time because I didn't realize (while upside down) how much I needed to get my booty straight over my head and pull my head in between my arms.  Took several readjustments - exactly why I love taking photos of my practice!  I still need my legs/feet a smidge higher to make 90 degrees.  The top and middle pics on left are just me spacing where my hands should be placed before getting up.  Stacking my torso like that took way more core and shoulder strength than I anticipated!

On Sunday, I got all my weeding done and my garden plots tilled for planting soon.  After lunch, I got out for a bike ride while Craig stayed home with our napping kids.  Love productive days like that!  There was even still time for some yoga.  :)  I like this frontal view of bakasana (crow pose) for a change. 

Every day is a good day to get upside down.  Took my wheel pose right up the wall again.  (Actually the side of our deck hubby is working on.)  Still need to get my arms more in line with my ears... and straighter!  But I need a little more back flexibility for that.

I managed a lifted straight leg with this one.  Progress!  Love this pose.

A semi-pike headstand - still working on making 90 degrees.

Stayed home with a feverish Sophie one day this week.  We snuggled with some movies until Nana could get home from work and relieve me to get to work.

I normally avoid cooking during the week at all costs.  All my meals are prepped in advance on weekends and ready to go when I get home from work.  But I made an exception tonight when we received some homegrown asparagus from Craig's uncle on Monday night.  A little extra time in the kitchen one night was totally worth it when I sat down with this asparagus frittata for dinner.  With tomato, fontina cheese and a little bit of sea salt... it was heavenly!

And to go with, I pulled some rhubarb from my garden and made these oh-so-delicious rhubarb streusel muffins.  Recipe from Smitten Kitchen.  Made with part whole wheat flour and very little sugar, the rhubarb and crumb topping give it the perfect amount of light sweetness.

Handstand-a-day challenge on IG.  Love this version of hollowback with booty to the wall but legs pulled off.  Still working on balance in handstand so I can straighten out a little more.  

Catching up on more weekly IG challenges.  Here is down dog.  One of my biggest challenges with flexibility is working the core with a straight back to fold into my quads.  My hamstrings are coming along but I struggle to tilt sit bones (butt bones) up in this pose without rounding my back.  Same goes for any seated or standing straight folds.  My heels aren't to the floor yet either - some days look better than others.  Just gonna' keep working the Sun Sals, which seem to be helping overall.

Still one of my biggest goals:  uttanasana!  This is what I'm talking about with the flexibility thing... gotta' use core and straighter spine to pull my belly towards my quads and get those sit bones pointed up to the ceiling with straight legs!  This is hard as heck for me!

Lifting up with straight(-ish) spine on the inhale.

And folding into it on the exhale.  Legs should be straight with booty straight up from feet, straighter spine and palms flat on floor beside feet.  Working on it!

Virabhadrasana or Warrior 1 pose.