Needing Nature

We had no intention of hiking Angel's Landing and simply headed up the trail to hopefully see some decent views.  And did we ever.   We made it up to Scout Lookout which given our age and level of fitness was a decent accomplishment, especially given all of the snow and ice on the trail!   You can see my version of Angels Landing below.   We were in awe of those that continued on as we stopped where those chains began.   This was quite possibly the most beautiful and breathtaking hike we've ever taken.   The snow just made it even more so.   We had snow traction attachments on our shoes.   When we purchased them, I thought it was overkill for this trip but I don't see how we could have taken this hike without them.   I have been home for a couple weeks and I just can't stop looking at my pictures and reliving the incredible experience.   

I read somewhere that if you see Zion National Park blanketed in snow, that it's probably photo shopped.   I have experienced otherwise and here is my story:   In a rough never ending winter, we almost booked a trip to Florida.    Flights weren't cheap so playing around on the Southwest website, I was trying to find a place with cheap flights and thought of Vegas.   Where Vegas is a place I can only stand for a couple days, I was looking at the surrounding areas and stumbled on Zion National Park.  When I booked it in January, Zion had highs in the 50's.   Where it wouldn't be a beach vacation, it sure sounded better than the never ending winter we were having in Northern Illinois.  So I booked this amazing place that's right at the entrance of Zion National Park and we counted the days to our trip.  The week before we left the forecast wasn't looking great....Snow, cold, and unusually winter like weather was in the 10 day forecast. ...

So many people we know are moving south.  I love the sun and I love a great beach, but I love seasonal changes.   I may change my mind someday (maybe next week when high temps are forecasted to be in single digits), but right now I know I'd miss Fall, Winter and Spring.  Today was truly a glorious day.   I wasn't even feeling well, but the lure of a sunny day with temps in the low 30's won out.   I'm so grateful I took advantage of this amazing day.  Today was perfectly imperfect.   I had to spend my morning doing things for work, I was scrambling to catch up on so many things, and yet I had the wisdom to drop everything so we could take advantage of the sunshine.   I came home and continued with my work, but topped it all off with a pot roast, mashed potato, and roasted Brussel sprouts dinner and as I sit by the fire I realize I made today the best I possibly could.  

  Home Really Is Where the Heart Is It's been a couple years since we took a vacation and it didn't take long to realize what I've been missing.  I haven't been to Medicine Bow in a while and it was so good to be back.   It was a pretty short trip but long enough to realize: 1.   We REALLY need to get away more. 2.   We have been recreation deprived. 3.   Working more and harder isn't making us happier.  4.   Coming home I had more patience with many of the stressful things about work.  I'm sure that will vanish after a week, but I'll take what I can get. 5.   I am committed to taking more time to get away.   I've been trying to take walks along the river, at the forest preserves, etc. but I think I need to change it up a bit.  More to come on that soon.....

Northern Lake Michigan in July after a storm. 

I took this in the car as I was running kids around from place to place. The flowering pears lining the street were breathtaking and of course the picture taken while driving did not turn out great, but it is my snapshot of the day. When all was done, I went home and sat on the back patio. Sitting in the cool, crisp air, looking at the stars, the spring evening conjured up memories. Memories of similar nights looking at the stars, nights back in high school during Fall with football season, marching band, nights as a child at Halloween, nights in Spring as we played freeze tag and flashlight tag on into the night never feeling the chill, nights camping as a child surrounded by the comfort and security of my family, nights camping as an adult and parent........... All connected with this common thread of a cool evening. Even now after non stop running and sorting out activities, I sit here and can finally breathe. Too chilly now to be without a jacket, I cannot move, relishing the a...

This is my sunbleached chair I left out all winter, waiting for me. Waiting for today. It's March 5, sunny and 43 degrees but my patio feels like 55. I sit here, thinking. I sit here wanting to write. Ideas bombard me. My head clears, the sun warms my soul and I breathe. I love this time of year. I hear geese flying overhead (coming back, perhaps?), but other than the distant barking of a dog and a far off airplane, all is quiet and peaceful. No lawnmowers, no kids playing, no sounds of summer. Don't get me wrong. I love the sounds of summer, but I love now, too. I love this moment. The way I feel now confirms what I already know, that I need nature for my well being. I think we all do, but not everyone takes the time to stop and listen. My brief interlude on my patio on a 43 degree day in early March is all I need. I am not able to focus on much else, and it appears that I'm not getting much done. Or am I?

He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left. - Proverb

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms......... From Henry David Thoreau's Walden describing his time living alone in nature for over 2 years.