The Last Week and a Half in Pictures, Mostly

I've worked more hours in the last week than I have in over three years, so my brain is a bit fried. All I want to do is watch mind numbing TV and eat piles of chocolate.

Here are some images of life since I last posted because I am too lazy to include more words:

I walked around a lake.

I jumped off this.

I walked in the woods near this lake.

This house centipede hung out with me at my office.

Spring Walking

Yesterday I took advantage of the mild weather and headed out to the woods to one of my favorite spring hiking spots. None of the spring wildflowers were up yet, but I'll go back over the next couple weeks and keep an eye on their progress. One of the best things about hiking at this time of year is the bugs aren't out yet. No mosquitoes! No blackflies! No deer flies!

The disadvantage of where I went walking is the gunfire. I had to modify my intended route because someone was training their hunting dog, and at one point guns were being fired on both sides of me. Needless to say, I hightailed it in the opposite direction.

Later in my hike I was turned back by trail closed signs, presumably for nesting Canada geese. I prefer loops whenever possible, but even with having to double-back along the same section of trail it was still a lovely day for a walk.

I heard peepers and wood frogs and saw a painted turtle and a garter snake. It felt blissfully good to be in the woods again without wearing a coat!

Sugarbush Tour

On Saturday my sister and I took her son for his first visit to the sugarbush at the local nature center. We wore our snowshoes and moved through the 6 stations at a pace perhaps not ideal for a 3 year old but one dictated by the older volunteers providing the interpretive programming. He did wonderfully, both with the snowshoes and with the slow pace. He even correctly identified the real maple syrup in the taste test at the end and was also quite taken with the maple candy. Of course.

Sunday Morning at the Zoo

On Sunday morning we decided to take advantage of the last of the milder days with a visit to the zoo. To be honest, I am not a big fan of zoos. I find them depressing and sad. They also fall into the category of 'been there, done that' because they rarely change and thus tend to bore me. But during this visit I tried to look with new eyes as I snapped pictures with my phone with the intention of sharing them here on my blog. Of course, it's hard to get good photos through fences and snot-smeared windows. So please try to ignore that aspect of these shots. The first photo is particularly bad, but I just had to include it because, while my husband finds these little guys repulsive, I think they're kind of adorable.

Weekending

On Saturday we spent about four hours working at the marina, most of which was spent cleaning the kitchen. Many more hours will be required before we reopen in the spring. Shortly after we arrived the two resident swans made an appearance, so I zipped down to the river with my cell phone to snap a few pictures. They are as slow and methodical about walking on the ice as I am. Not that I would ever consider going out onto the ice on the river.

On Sunday we drove south to Ithaca where we enjoyed a hearty lunch of polenta fries, antipasto, and wood-fired pizza before making a stop at Buttermilk Falls. The falls were almost completely frozen over in a gentle cascade of ice. I would've loved to have hiked up the trail along side the falls, but my husband's back was bothering him and a light rain was falling. Perhaps not the best conditions to tackle what was likely a slippery route.

We also dined with friends and family, watched a basketball game, and tuned in to the halftime show during the Superbowl.

Did you do anything fun or photogenic this past weekend?

Around the house

When my sister acquired a new DSLR she generously gifted me with her old one. I've been itching to play with it, but I am not so inspired as to want to brave the negative wind chills. Not even with blue skies and sunshine, a rarity in this area during the winter. Instead I decided to try to find things INSIDE the house worth photographing.

It turns out that this is harder than you might think, especially when attempting to avoid the dust and cobwebs, without, you know, cleaning. My laziness knows no bounds.

These photos show glimpses into our dining room, family room, kitchen, and master bedroom. I know these are no photographic masterpieces, but I also know that the only way to get better is to take lots of pictures and just keep experimenting and playing.

But first... I better go do some dusting.

Grey Day at the Marina

On Sunday afternoon we stopped at the marina. While my husband took care of some business in the ship's store, I wandered around taking pictures with my cell phone. Even though the day felt mild compared to the windchill of -27 degrees we'd experienced last week, I wasn't really dressed (or shod) for tramping around in the snow. Regardless, I did manage to snap a few photos I liked.

I'm ready for summer and sunshine and shorts and tank tops, but in the meantime I'm trying to make the best of these wintry days.

Short Hike up Rocky Mt

Yesterday we took a drive up to Old Forge with hopes of doing some snowshoeing. Unfortunately the snow depth was not sufficient. So the snowshoes stayed in the truck while we bare-booted it up Rocky Mountain. It is a short (1 mile round trip), easy hike with broad views from the summit. We've both climbed it before, although this was my first ascent in winter.

I had my new trekking poles (a Christmas gift from my dad and step-mom), which came in handy with the snow and ice-covered rocks. I've never used microspikes before, but I could imagine they would have made things even easier. I might have to put those on my wishlist next Christmas...

It was an unusually mild day with temperatures above freezing at the trailhead. There was absolutely no wind until we reached the summit, where it was misting and blowing pretty hard.

This is no High Peak, but it is a fun little jaunt.

Looking down on Fourth Lake from the summit of Rocky Mountain

views from the summit

new trekking poles

heading back down into the woods

Thankful

I am thankful I live in a place where I am able go for a hike in the woods at any time. We have so many beautiful places within just a short drive. THIS is how I prefer to spend my Black Friday. Or ANY day, for that matter.

More info: Clark Reservation State Park and Council of Park Friends

The Bog Trail in November

On Saturday morning I met my sister and her son at Second Home Nature Center. The weather was a little touch and go: temperatures in the upper 40s with occasional sprinkles. No matter, we're almost always up for a romp in the woods. Or, as the case may be, a stroll through the bog.

For whatever reason I just cannot figure out how to dress for a walk that involves my nephew (he will be 3 years old next week). I am so used to dressing for outdoor activities that require effort. My motto has always been if you're cold, you're not walking fast enough. However, this just doesn't work with a toddler. So the last two weekends I've come home from our walks frozen solid. Please, next time, someone remind me to wear more layers!

The breeze off the lake didn't help with my lack of layers. I'm also a big fan of "there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothes."

My nephew had a great time throwing rocks into the lake, picking up sticks and leaves, reading signs, and playing with using the telescope.

Even though the weather was a tad gloomy, beauty can be found at the nature center year round. All you have to do is look in any direction, any day.

witch hazel

the tamaracks pop with their yellow-green color

You can read about my October walk at Second Home Nature Center here and see pictures from a walk on the bog trail in August here.

Morning Hike at Great Bear

Saturday afternoon was supposed to bring rain, so I got up and going earlier than usual. I'd been looking forward to hiking at Great Bear Recreation Area all week. There were 8-10 cars already in the lot, but only one person had signed the register before me. I think people forget (or are unaware of) how important it is to sign the register. In this case, it is less about alerting authorities if you don't return to a trailhead (this register only requires you to sign in, not check out) than about showing usage for the recreation area.

I headed out on the 3 mile loop, but it wasn't long before I was wishing I'd opted for the longer route (~5 miles). I still felt that way when I got back to the car. I guess that will make me that much more eager to go back soon and hike the longer route!

I've spent time at Great Bear since I was a kid. My mom would take us girls and often our friends and hers for picnics, swimming, exploring, playing, hiking, and reading. It was a super fun place for kids with lots of ruins and old buildings to explore. Over the years the area which is now used for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing had apple orchards and was a source of spring water. One of the old pump houses is still standing near the river.

piles of stones cleared from farm fields

A volunteer organization, the Friends of Great Bear, helps with trail maintenance and has done wonders to improve the park in many ways.

one of the many foot bridges in the park

Great Bear is my favorite place to hike locally. And with my hike there yesterday I can also cross an item off my list of October goals.