Our Glorious Day

This morning was cold and foggy but we were determined to get out and do some hiking. So we bundled up & grabbed Bear & headed to a dead-end road at the edge of town that leads to a plethora of trails. We walked, jogged, and explored our way up towards McCullough Peak. Let me tell you a little something about my boys – they are Troopers! Yes there were a few whiny moments (focusing on their boundless hunger) but mostly we just enjoyed the great outdoors. We're so blessed to live here, the woods were damp & dim but as we reached higher elevations we got above that fog and found honest-to-god Sunshine, mmmmmm.

Alex found a nice rock that fits just right in his palm, and he marveled at how different it was compared to the crushed gravel on the forest service road. He loves finding objects, special sticks or rocks, and finds unique and lovely qualities in them. I wonder if he’s seeing some little spirit in each one, something intrinsically worthy in his eyes.

Casey with his short little 6-yr old legs provided a running commentary on our places, who was first, who had slipped into last position. But at one point I caught him singing a wonderful little song to himself, a song inspired by the pile of horse manure he’d just passed, so in his little voice I got to hear how to “watch out for the horse poopoo”.

We saw the occasional other folk and met some nice doggies (good job pups!) along with two especially not-nice dogs that worked together to bracket & intimidate Bear (while their owners just laughed it off, oh they don’t DO anything, just make a lot of noise) but our good-natured fellow did very well and gleefully hiked along with us, sometimes “yo-yo-ing” up ahead then back, but for the most part he just trotted along beside us. Of course if he came upon an especially choice stick he’d scoop it up & toss it hopefully in front of us, wagging his tail. We want him to relax & explore when we’re out not “do his job” of fetching, so for the most part we don’t throw things for him when we’re out walking in the woods. I’m not sure he’s got that yet, I suspect he thinks he just hasn’t found the stick we’re looking for!

After burning off so many calories we piled back into the car & took it to the Ruby Tuesday’s parking lot where it could hang out while we filled our tummies with some good food. Now I’m home with the little boys being mellow, while Derek headed across the valley to do some gaming with buddies Wes & Roger. I’ll do a bit more ‘puter work & then grab my knitting needles & finish up my latest hat (thanks Pamela for the jump-start you gave me!! I’m sure having fun!) I also have about ten more pages in my book but it’s sooooo good & interesting, it’s wrapping up a grand adventure, and I don’t want it to end!!! You know the feeling when you’ve rushed thru a book only to hit the brakes and stretch out those last few pages……

Thank you Gene for researching the spelling of the character Inigo, not Indigo as I thought. Huh! I've been quoting that wrong for many moons!