Autumn 2013

This pictures reminds me of the Big Piney River in Missouri  where I grew up.  I always loved setting on top of the bluff and over looking the river.  It was so peaceful and beautiful.  

Autumn is my favorite season. I love all the colors of the trees and the crisp air  I love the memories of raking huge piles of leaves as a child and then jumping in the pile with my sister and destroying it. I remember fondly gathering walnut and hulling them to eat during the winter.  

Walking through the woods was a favorite of mine. The autumn colors were always so breathtaking. What a gift nature gives to us. I enjoy the cooler nights and the warmer days. I especially love the fact that the bugs and snakes are gone for now, and I can enjoy my walk without a concern about either of those.

I love the memories of getting my children all dressed to go trick or treating and having them come home and count all of their candy.  

For me autumn is a time of reflection, and getting prepared for winter.  I love to see the squirrels gathering the acorns and storing them for winter.  

Color me SPRING

One of my favorite seasons is spring.  I love watching the trees and flowers come to life after a long COLD winter.  Of course, along comes with spring the allergens that effect so many of us.  I am just grateful for the medicines that have been developed to help with that. 

I remember when my oldest child Lori, was growing up, she couldn't go outside

as her allergies were so bad.  Each spring we would go to Missouri and visit my parents on the farm. My other children four would run and play outside, but Lori had to stay inside and read.  And when someone mowed the lawn she was miserable.  She was a good sport about it, and would try to do activities with us, like floating the river which was an annual event.  I think we all loved that. 

In addition to the pollen, all sorts of bugs, snakes and other creatures come out of hibernation.  Even with all of that going on, I look forward to the warm days and the cooler evenings of spring, to the rebirth and renewal of the earth.  It's Spring......Let's REJOICE!!!

Shoe Shoeshoeing in the Wasatch Mountains of UT

I love hiking and snow skiing in the mountains, but had never thought about shoe shoeing until this year.

 I decided it would be a wonderful idea to get my husband and I snow shoes so we could get out in the fresh air and enjoy the mountains together, since he doesn't ski as of yet. However, finding the snow shoes just before Christmas was a challenge.  It seems that snowshoeing is now one of the fastest growing winter sports in the world, and I can understand why. It is easy to learn, virtually inexpensive compared to other winter sports.

On Christmas Day we had our first snowshoeing adventure.  We began at the Little Cottonwood Trail which was idea as the elevation gain was not difficult for a beginner.  We enjoyed the hike through the snow covered trees and the sound of the bubbling creek nearby.  The natural setting of the steep granite cliffs was beautiful.  We only did a short hike on Christmas day, but went back on Saturday December 29th, and went further up the trail.

My husband said he felt exhilarated when we got back to the car.