Snowshoes

Yesterday I went snowshoeing with Jenny and Nikki. The trailhead is just a couple miles from home and we ended up going just over 3 miles. It was around 20 degrees and windy, but we were sheltered in the woods. We didn't even needs snowpants or bibs to stay warm.

Here are the girls at the beginning of the expedition.

This is Nikki as we headed into the woods. The girls know the animal tracks and fun facts about the area. We saw tracks from deer, bunnies, mice etc.

This is a "hill". So big you can't even tell. I miss the mountains so much I have my Washington license plate hanging in my bedroom so I can look at Mt. Rainier. Pathetic, but comforting.

This picture is from Jenny's iPhone. It could be a Christmas card.

As we walked along in the snow, we were loud and I felt like I AM WOMAN! But if we stood still and listened to the wind in the trees and the birds, I felt like a speck on the face of the earth, small and unknown. You can't beat the feeling you get in the deep of the woods. Serenity.

These are woodpecker holes. My camera was having a hard time staying charged with the cold so I missed an even better tree right across the trail from this one. It had holes from top to bottom.

This is Blueberry Rock, it spans a big area on this "ridge". There was a man that lived around here who became saddened by the way the Angle was changing and committed suicide up here by blowing himself up with dynamite. Big Rick actually heard the bang when it happened, some years ago I think. This area is full of history and stories, I just love that. I know every little place has it's stories and history, it just seems more charming here somehow. ( Don't ever expect me to get the facts all right. If you know something is wrong that I write, just call me a liar behind my back and let me enjoy things the way I remember them being told.)

When we got home I went straight to the bar to check our mail, knowing there was a package for me. I thought it was some coffee and fun stuff from my girlfriends. It SO was not that. Introducing the newest member of our family, Kindle Fire. My sweet friend, Heather in Wenatchee, sent this to me as a surprise. I actually teared up when I opened it and realized what it was. My kindle died a couple months ago and I am lost without things to read. This little bundle of joy has all my books, plus the web and I can stream movies and TV. We don't have any TV hooked up, so this is VERY exciting. It also allows me to play games with my friends back home. IT IS AMAZING. Do I deserve such a nice friend and such a lovely gift? Probably not. Do I intend to use the hell out of it and neglect my children while I play Angry Birds? You bet.

Last night Tyson had a bad dream and came to sleep in our bed. Not much later, Andie woke up and needed to eat. As I sat up in bed I looked over my family as they slept with thier sweet little faces, my Kindle Fire on my nightstand. Pure satisfaction. I love my family. But Kindle Fire, you complete me.