The Years To Remember

2/22/22 One week left of this wretched winter month.  I went on a 5.2 mile hike to Barkersville and LeVine Preserves in the northwestern part of Saratoga County. It got up to 50 degrees, but we were on ice and snow the whole way. The thickness of the ice on the creeks was an impressive 1 to 2 feet thick. We got the nicest slice of the day with some sunshine and no wind, but 2 hours later, a front is blowing past with wind and rain. Ralph trying to get us still for a picture. Success!                           Exploring the old foundations.       Cadman Creek 2/24/22  A 4 mile neighborhood walk yesterday and a 4 mile hike in the Normanskill Ravine Preserve this morning should keep me limber for future summer hikes.  Tomorrow we're supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow so I bought some paint today to begin to transform the fireplace. I fully expect to have to try a few times before hiring someone ...

Thurs 2/17 Another hike today up to Thacher Park. I needed it as I spent all of yesterday painting the kitchen & dining area. I thought it was going to be a 2 hour paint job, but when I was done it was 5:30 and I was exhausted. I also bought new curtains and I'm searching for 2 chairs so I can ditch the love seat that just doesn't fit my aesthetic anymore. It felt so good to settle in with a glass of wine and a good book after a day up and down the ladder. Dean Koontz's Quicksilver will be finished tonight. As per his style, I started reading and got pulled into the fast paced, mounting crisis to the exclusion of all else.  The hike was a fun 3.7 miles on the red trail at Thacher. Lots of laughter, maple doughnuts, and no rain! Hang glider overlook at the midpoint of the hike: Allison, Denise, Jim, Esther, Mark, Me, Paul, photo by Geri                                         ...

 Things are looking and sounding decidedly more spring-like. After a string of 40+ days, the birds are singing and have an air of busyness about them, even though it's much colder again. The 10 day forecast shows even more days in the 40's and 50's so I can start planting indoor seedlings so they'll be ready to plant in the yard come April. My salad greens project is a success. I have greens almost every day for a salad or to add to a grain bowl. They are so pretty! Lettuce was the only thing that really didn't produce much at all - which is fine as I prefer the hardier leaves of beets, spinach, and arugula. I added roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli, blue cheese, sunflower seeds and a hard boiled egg and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette for a vegetarian dinner. ***** Tues 2/15 was a great sunny day for a short hike at Bennett Hill Preserve and lunch with the Mates. It's been awhile since I climbed a tree, but climbing trees is good for the soul. Three miles ...

If I've learned anything about myself, it is that I must make plans to get out of this frozen hellscape during January and February. Schedule it way ahead of time so that I don't get blocked out by changing schedules and random pandemic outbreaks. Yikes, it's been a rough winter. The first week I painted a wall or two, did a LOT of Yoga With Adriene, and took precious few walks cause it was sooo cold. On a rare day of non freezing air I headed over to the Barberville Falls to hike the ridge trail. The streams in the woods were completely frozen, as if Frozone had come by and zapped them. The falls had a tiny bit of water flowing under this ice mass. Then an ice storm came through and left a 2-3 inch thick layer of consolidated sleet and frozen rain, with a dusting of snow on top. I've been chipping away at the driveway but at least I can drive over it to break it up. I invited Dale to join me in a trip to MassMOCA so I could see In The Light of A Shadow in action. We...