I know, I know...

...to the three of you who may have occasionally read my blog, oh, say, back in the eighties maybe? ...I finally posted something new. As the colors of fall surrounded us on our hike last weekend, I was reminded how quickly things change. Leaves, kids, circumstances, the details and the big things too. Thanks, fall, for the reminder!

One Thousand and Forty-three Steps

We took a trip to the woods to the Thousand Steps Trail in Mifflintown, Pa. It was a more arduous journey for some than for others. The smartest person volunteered to be in charge of BOTH of the dogs, who were a cheerful and willing sled team for their driver. We saw a long black snake and a winding river when we got to the top, and a young Amish couple hiking in their bare feet on the way down. 

I guess a lot has happened since my last blog post one hundred years ago, but this is what inspired me to post again. These people, who fill my heart with love and are an extension of my own being, convened in the woods with happy smiles and the simple enjoyment of each other. I wish it were more like this!

Flowers in Winter, Or Always

It had been a while since we layered up and hiked into the woods, just a little amble through the Michaux. The kids were cute and held hands and fell down a few times. 

Winter is always a mental challenge for me because there is so little green and so much brown. But there were still moments of beauty among the pervasive brownness of the woods at this time of year. 

But still, look at the flowers!

I liked getting lost in the reflection of this little pool...

...and in a pile of rocks. I'm wondering how closeup my camera will go?

And then at the end, some old dessicated pumpkins made a nice arrangement. 

The woods surprised me with more than I expected. I wonder, if I walked forward with delight,

how often I would see flowers everywhere?

We Took a Trip to the Woods

We went to the Michaux for Paul G.'s seventieth birthday campout, and it was just perfect. 

There were lots of mushrooms that we did not eat. 

Sometimes it's just better out there!

Early rhododendron bud. 

More fungii!

The most beautiful cup of camp coffee ever. 

Happy Birthday to you!

Mother's Day Hike

One young son made the trip from the big city back to old timey town for a mother's day visit. Second annual mother's day hike! Not everyone went but it was still fun. 

Little gal was especially happy to see her big brother. I love how the almost-fourteen years between them doesn't matter one bit, and they are able to meet somewhere in the middle of things. 

My little brother and I were close like that too even though there wasn't quite as much time between us. I could always tell him what I needed to tell him and I knew he would be true. It's the coolest to see that kind of connection between your kids, too...aww, I'm getting all mushy. 

 Hope you had a great mother's day, but that is every day, right? 

As Ready As I Could Ever Be

It's here! I found proof in the woods that despite my doubts that winter would ever end, spring has actually arrived. We took the kids to the Michaux to run about and play. They were worried that they would be bored without any electronics, but it seriously took about twelve seconds for them to start skipping and playing their imaginary game.

It took forever, but now is the time. Dust the cobwebs off your boots and lace up! I am laying in supplies, like my new ultralight spork, for adventures to come. I might be able to navigate a bit by the north star. 

Does anyone want to come with me? 

The woods are waiting. 

Maybe I will see you there! 

Woods Trip

A pretty warm winter day made good time for a trek through the woods to the falls and on to the sledding hill. No one felt quite up to the BIG hill so we settled for the HALF-BIG hill which was plenty enough. 

It was a good time with new friends and lots to explore. I can handle these types of winter days! 

My Ideal Self?

do you notice how much lower the sun is from start to finish? this was a long hike at first estimated to be about an hour but stretched long into the fall of afternoon. 

Happy Weekend!

I decided today that it's not always about Friday. While the day holds the promise of the great span of the weekend to come, it's easy to blast through to get to the really fun parts. This spring I have been making an effort to get more out of my days, or my evenings at least, so that I don't feel like I am putting all my energy into work alone. Some weeks I have been better at it than others, but that's ok. What if all the parts could be the really fun parts?

Weekend planning is a prime time to apply the Deathbed Priority Test:

On your deathbed, will you wish you would have spent more prime weekend hours shopping

or walking in the woods with your kids? 

                                                      - Louise Lague

We Took A Mother's Day Trip to the Woods

It was great. Both of my super-duper awesome kids, the woods, and a beautiful day. We conquered the calf-burning start of the trail and then got to the good stuff, with one kid sprinting ahead and the other one looking for bugs and forest cucumbers (I think you will know who is who). There were just enough teaberries to go around and plenty of opportunity for sprinting. Little one started talking about her dreams and also nightmares, which she claims to have every night, and then she said, "the worst one of all is when the vampire tries to eat Scooby-Dooby-Doo," which made everyone crack up. That is just the coolest, that the worst bad dream ever has a cartoon dog in it. I think everyone had a good time floating under the canopy of the green tunnel and talking about future hikes. We ended up at a great AT shelter with flowers, it really has flowers! As noted above the mountain laurel is also almost in bloom. It was a perfect day, 5.2 miles of loveliness. 

We Took A Trip To The Woods

the skunk cabbage was looking lovelier than usual

beautiful murk

it was a great day. 

I Took A Trip To The Woods

always look up

tiki landscape

i love you bokeh, thank you

in a battle between moss and buckeye husks, who would win? the buckeyes have some weaponry but the moss is very, very patient

silver dollars in the sun

will somebody get this moss a haircut already?