To The Woods!

What a great way to start off the new year! Yesterday was gorgeous - 2008 went out in a huge gust of wind, but 2009 started with a calm, sunny day with blue skies. I'm feeling good! The days are getting longer again, which always feels like a turning point for me - like I have survived the worst, and it is all downhill from here. Tomorrow is the last day of deer season here, which is another turning point. After tomorrow, our little universe can expand again. I'm feeling refreshed from my time off from work - this is the longest vacation I've had in about 10 years. And I feel energized by the goals I have written down for myself.

The dogs and I have been out hiking and playing outside every single day, making the most of our vacation time. (I almost think that they are looking forward to having me return to work so that they can get some rest!) So, back to our regularly scheduled programming, here are some photos from our hikes over the past couple of weeks.

It is hard to get good pictures of L while we are hiking. He's never still for long - usually I don't see much more than the bright orange flash of his hunting collar as he zooms around. Most pictures of him are either black and white and orange blurs....


... or "where's waldo" type pictures.

Z is much easier - he sticks to the trail a lot more, and stays close, except for when he thinks that L might need a hand (or a partner in crime.) The split in between his toes is healing, albeit slowly. Because of where it is located, any time he is up and about, it re-opens. It will take a while to heal completely, but he isn't letting it slow him down.

We haven't had any real snow - only a few light dustings. But it has been cold enough some days to freeze over the beaver ponds.

We have lots of pictures to share of odd things we have come across over the past couple of weeks, some naturally occurring, and some not so much. So, back to the woods! Whee!