And
I've been meaning to post some recipes.
and in general, I've been meaning to post.
I'd admit to being very bad about taking the time to do that.
Amidst being back to work, picking up an 'extra' bit of part time work, and tackling the spring chores, it's hard.
Today, I want to share what I did yesterday.
Let me be the first to say that during the children's growing up years, we did a lot of dividing and conquering and so spent a goodly amount of time with the kids. We next to never took time as a married couple to ourselves. It was all about doing what we felt we needed to with the kids and it was mutual.
Now that the 'kids' are young adults, we find that we really enjoy taking a day apart and leaving all the stuff... the unfinished work, the bills, the housework, the detritis of the everyday ebb and flow of life...
Just get in the car and go. Often not further away than we can do in a day.
What amazes me is the absolutely awesome places we've found while wandering.
Yesterday, we traveled to the ancestral home of my husband's maternal side of the family. I'd never been.
We lunched at a little downtown soda fountain in a 'been there since 1930' pharmacy. We went to an old, old general store and found some interesting things.
Really, seriously... anything you can imagine.
We saw the cemetery where his ancestors were buried.
Then, we decided to see a state park that we found on the map. It looked like it would be just right down the road... turns out... no... not at all. Ended up stopped in a little 'hollow' between two mountains to get directions. Turns out we needed to get back on the major highway, go down two exits and off, then drive 'a long ways through the country' till you come to an exxon station. uhm... yeah... that was exactly what you did. Except that each turn was a long way from the last one, growing successively longer until I began to worry that we should have packed overnight bags and food. And the dog, and some fishing gear, and a tent.
We actually finally found South Mountains State Park. And we met the rangers who were all kinds of friendly and welcoming. And we decided to hike to the waterfall.
In retrospect, I should have carried a walking stick too. This park wasn't on the 'agenda' when we left the house... next time we have one of these dates, I bet that I'll pack a little differently.
Stunningly beautiful sections of trout habitat.
New word of the day...sorry for the poor photo... but really, you know you have to look up Migmatitic Metagraywacke.... you know you do...
Then, about 5 minutes climb after you are SURE that you can't take another step,
because your legs are shaky and when you turn and look back you get dizzy from the height...
there it is...
and down below it, the full pool...
Friendly folks to take your photo... also resting from the last 50 yard climb.
worth every step.
Guess what??? The way back is down all the way!
and at the bottom, the little stream is still so cool and so quiet.
and then you get to the parking lot and THEN you see the following sign!~
and
Actually, we took a slightly different trail about two thirds of the way down, as it followed the little trout stream and had some interpretive displays.
A plan is afoot to return and camp for a day or two... now that we've found it, it's much too nice not to sneak a peek at some of the other 18,000 acres... It is chock full of more than 40 miles of trails, and wildlife and a breathtaking array of wildflowers.
So, here's to taking a day and wandering on the path less travelled,,,
and possibly hiking up a mountain to feel the spray of a waterfall on your face,,,
with someone whose company you enjoy!
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