Sunny Days...

The last several weeks Spring Time sure feels like Summer and I couldn't be more pleased by the idea.
It's getting to the point where all I want to do is go on adventures. Camp, hike, kayak, play play play.
Here are a few pictures of having some fun in the sun...

John Muir

I decided that I would see about booking a cabin for the first time and it just so happened to be Earth Day weekend. I got together with some of my best friends and we headed up the trail. Making it to the cabin just shortly after the sun set behind the mountains with a fire already started for us from some friends that went up earlier that day. It was the perfect day. The sky was super blue and without a cloud in the sky. Considering that they were calling for rain all weekend earlier. It was such a blessing to have such wonderful weather all weekend.

That evening, we had a wonderful time of cards, drinking, story telling and just talking for hours and hours. Time flew by, and before I knew it the sun was coming up. I can't tell you when the last time I stayed up all night. But I'm positive this was the most fun I've ever had staying up until dawn.

The sun came up through the windows and Aspen slept on my feet. She is definitely a cabin camping dog as apposed to a tent camping dog. I'm going to have to try and change that this summer however, as it is difficult and can become costly to book cabins.

The group booked it down the hill in search of fallen trees to use for fire wood and fresh water as we used up a lot while mixing drinks the night before. Once back some people thought it a good idea to take a quick cat nap. As for me, naps are usually out of the question so I read a little bit and then took it outside for a short little yoga session on the porch.

To be able to have such beautiful weather and an amazing view it put in perspective that we are extremely lucky to have a place such as this to enjoy nature all around us. I was at such peace up there, and with such excellent company to share it with. If only we could live in a moment forever. But alas, it is not possible and after another night of talking until dawn I began to wish the weekend would never end.

Back to civilization, back to what most would call the real world, back to work. All we can do know is hope that the next adventure will be just as grand.

A not to sunny weekend

So my attempt to get out and enjoy the sun over this last weekend was kind of a flop as there really wasn't much sun. But I did take Aspen for a run at Twin Lakes Friday. We ran almost the whole park before turning back. But because she had gone for a long walk with my mother that morning I figured I wouldn't push her too far. She'll be just fine for hiking up to the cabin this weekend.
I did manage to get out to Eagle Beach and take a few shots of the birds hanging around.

Geese and Mallards on the marsh at Eagle Beach.

Aspen out watching the geese at Eagle Beach with Eagle Glacier in the background.

Friday after work I took some friends out for a night on the town sense my other plans had fallen through due to life's difficult times. My friend's I took out never go to the bars. So it was only fitting we got them smashed and made them sing Karaoke.

Summer Lovin'

Well, it appears that after we had summer like weather Mother Nature decided it would be a good idea to snow some more. But now a couple weeks later we are back to feeling the warmth from the suns rays. I had to change my prior camping plans due to some personal matters but I was still unable to give my cabin away when I had booked it nor was I able to change the dates because nothing else was open. Not to mention, I am unwilling to have a cancellation penalty for it, that just seems silly. But then my luck changed and I was able to find a few friends willing to take the cabin for me... that is... if I go with them of course. Well... that's better then just getting rid of it.
So I will be camping next weekend the perfect weekend for camping as it is Earth Day weekend. Woot! I'll be sure take lots of pictures.

Because of the personal matters I've attempted to rebook plans with some friends next month and hopefully that will work out nicely. I am so excited for Summer and so excited to have a life again as I won't be taking any classes over the summer and I'll get to enjoy the sunshine.
I'm very much looking forward to trying out some the the Campfire Gourmet a friend of mine had posted on her blog. If you don't read her blog... well you should... because she's awesome and so if her blog!

Like this Campfire Pizza! YUM!

campfire pizza by the queen of subtle

Or this tasty looking cake!

Bread and Honey

Although, the cake might just wait until next month... I'm not sure. Again, we'll see. I'm sure as this weekend is looking like it will be a gorgeous one I'll be posting more pictures from hikes and other fun miscellaneous adventures.

Egg Hunting

I went out to a friend's parent's beach house for a little while this morning/early afternoon to have an Easter Egg Hunt with a very special little girl. So much fun, the weather was amazing considering we got 2 inches in the Valley this morning, what a cruel joke played by Mother Nature (none downtown and out the road though... thank goodness!). Here are some pictures from the day.

The weather has been so nice in fact this Spring that the Blueberry bushes already flowered! I'm so excited for blueberry picking this year!

Spring Traditions

With the coming of Spring come the popping of tree buds and the warming from the sun. It's nice to have the sun out and be able to run outside and start to plan camp outs.
The first big thing of the season would obviously be Easter, the day where we celebrate Jesus' resurrection... for which we celebrate by dying eggs and hiding them as well as eating chocolate bunnies. What this has to do with Christ is beyond me. But I don't mind. I personally think that no matter what you believe in as long as you spend time with family and friends and practice good values it's all good.
Egg dyeing of course is a MUST if you have kids. Hell, it's a must period. Because it's just plain fun and it brings in the color that was missing during Winter months.

And of course the delicious deviled eggs that for some reason make me think they should have a different name for this holiday.

Oh well, they'll be fantastic no matter what. I wish everyone a wonderful happy Easter.

Twenty Five

When I was a little girl I had a plan (Not that I wanted to follow it or anything). My plan was to be a teacher (elementary school of course) I was going to have a cat and a dog similar to the kind I grew up with. I was going to be happy and married by 25. Hah!

Now, sure I still want to teach, but maybe it won't be in an elementary setting. Perhaps it'll end up being my own business as a day care provider. We all know there aren't enough good day cares in the country. I did manage to get animals similar to what I grew up with as a child and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. They are everything to me. But now that I'm 25 I don't see myself getting married anytime soon. I mean hello, you kind of need a partner first right? haha! And who the heck wants to have a quick engagement?! Not I!

So I'm taking it day by day. Seeing what I might do. Planning little things here and there. Working and saving money. Or at least trying to. When you have to go out of town for a wedding every few months it can make this a little difficult. But that's not that it isn't worth every penny to share in the next chapter of a friends life. Coworkers have started commenting on that they would like to know when I'm going to take a vacation for ME. Just me or even with friends. No weddings, no family, just fun. I said I'd let them know.
Around my birthday I went out taking pictures and hung out with friends and family mostly. I was able to sneak up on an Eagle outside out house that weekend and got a few really fun shots. Went to the beach and walked around a little bit with my mom and Aspen. Went out with some really good friends in an attempt to make this the most memorable birthday yet. Twenty One was not a good year for me & I would rather just erase it from my memory. I mean, the company on my night out was great. But my phone ringing off the hook with an ex was such a downer that it ruined the whole day. No one wants a birthday to me memorable because it was so awful. So we remedied that this year.

Some of my friends and I decided to take an impromptu picnic and so we packed everyone up and had a blast, even though it was raining.

It did not occur to until after I had washed Aspen that something was wrong. She looked like she was in pain. She wouldn't hop up on anything, and she wouldn't go to the bathroom when I'd walk her. I thought maybe she was just warn out so I went to bed but the next day is was worse. She wasn't sleeping, she wasn't hardly moving, still wasn't going the bathroom. In fact, she was walking like a little kid who had to go potty so bad but knew they had to hold it. She didn't want to be touched. After a visit to the vet and an xray and ultrasound, we found out that she had a slipped disk in her back. And because it was probably so painful she wasn't going potty, so in turn she had a bladder infection and a urinary track infection. So more puppy pain pills and antibiotics for Aspenoni.
She goes in for a check up tomorrow to see how she's doing and if it's all healed. We're really hoping it is because she's acting more like her old self (3yr old old self that is) rolling around, doing tricks, jumping up on things (even though she's not supposed to) pulling on walks, asking to go outside.
I really hope she's alright, because a friend and I had planned a kind of co birthday party weekend for a friend and my other friends husband. We rented a cabin and I'm really hoping Aspen can go. It would not be the same without her there.
Spring Break is over for me (not that I really had one) and I have to get back into the Math groove as I took a week off unintentionally because I was taking care of Aspen. But I guess there are only 6 more weeks left and then this semester is over. Yea!