Pure Unfiltered Bliss

Nothing like a walk/jog with the pups while it's snowing to clear my mind! I'm refreshed and ready to sew and they are pooped! Hello winter!

Destination Forest

The sun is shining and I have lots of time today.  I think I'm gonna leash up the dogs and head into the woods.

And if I can finish all the chore type things quickly I might even get to squeeze in a little time behind the sewing machine.  That hawk quilt is calling me!

Happy Friday Loves... hope you are making the best of the moment!

Unplugging Felt Right!

I'm back.  Didn't know I was going to be gone for a week, but it did feel good to unplug a bit. 

I'm looking forward to catching up with you and your blogs... I have over 500 posts in my reader, but will make my way through them shortly.  I'm sure there is some great inspiration in that reading!! 

What have I been up to?  Mostly family stuff.  Lots of getting outside, soaking in sunshine, and training Sammy.  We even ripped out the old floor in our laundry room and are in the process of putting down new tile.  My kind of way to spend a long holiday weekend!  Never a dull moment in the Happy family. 

Did I mention we hiked a bunch over the weekend too?  The long walks are good exercise for us all, but they are especially good for draining all that excess puppy energy!

Our walks are through a preserved woods trail around a lake and there are lots of fallen logs that we simply hop over.  

Watch out Katie... Sammy is coming through!

Want to see Sammy jump one more time?  She is lining up.  Making her approach. 

And whoosh!  She is over it so elegantly.  And just look at those ears flopping as she jumps!

So, where was I?  Ah yes, precious, relaxing family time.  A reminder to take in the small things and linger a little longer than our busy schedules allow most times. 

A a chance to have the biggest belly laughs at puppies with sticks.  The simple things!! 

Hope you had a stellar weekend and look forward to showing you my latest finish later today! (hint... it's the dress challenge!!)

First Walk of the New Year

I have been happy to let the first few days of the new year slowly unwind.  For me, unwinding mostly happens outside, with the dogs, in the woods.  Sunshine is an extra bonus!

So sit back, pour a cup of tea, take a deep breath, and come on our first walk of 2012!
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We're still donning blaze orange to assure we are taken for dogs and people and not deer or coyotes.

Nothing but the open road in front of us.

Silhouettes of trees and the sparkle of the lake.

Noisy brooks and streams for company full from all the recent rains.

Fresh deer hooves in the mud and the scent of them in the wind.

Sisters, sniffing together.  Sammy learning the way of the woods.

Couldn't help but snap Sammy's "taking in the woods" pose as she is tangled around a small tree.

Lots of smiling and sniffing along the way.  Pure joy comes so easily here.

Left over moss and ferns look like green gems against the gray.

Katie and Sammy asking if I am done taking pictures. 

I can just hear them, "Can we go now?"

Jumping on rocks... one does and then the other. 

Taking a look all around.

Then back to the trail... nose to the ground.

Taking in the lake.  Lightly coated with a smidgen of ice, but looking so fresh and blue.

Nothing like dipping a paw in to check the temperature and chase at a fallen leaf.

No substitute for a walk with my buddies to clear my mind, rebalance and get a fresh perspective!

Today's Tea Bag Wisdom: "Your greatness is measured by your gifts, not by what you have."

Farewell 2011 {A Look at Favorites}

Puppy & Dirt {Snow} Favorites

Creative Tuesday Favorites

Quilting & Sewing Favorites

Some of my favorites from 2011 as a way to say farewell... and welcoming 2012 with the same gusto and excitement!!  Here's to totally creative year filled with puppies, dirt, and sewing!

Almost Winter Hiking

A few more snaps of our recent time spent outdoors.  For the last three weeks, every chance we had, we would get up before it was light and dash out the door to enjoy the woods. 

It's creeping on to that time of the year that we don't wander as far or as often.  But I'm hoping this late dose of hiking will carry me through the winter months.

Our lake on a crisp, clear, still morning.

One of the first times I have seen such a calm water surface.  Just stunning to see double the amount of trees through the water reflection!

We wandered upon a few root cellars (or stone structures) that were built long ago.  This is the one we normally see from the trail.

This is a new to us root cellar that we found tucked into the hillside not far from where we normally wander.

A closer look through the opening.  And swear the mister and I talked ourselves into the fact that a bear might be nesting in this one.  So much so that I snapped this in a hurry as we rushed off.

This is an old well that I nearly stumbled into.

And this is the third one we saw on the same day. 

A closer look at the front.  Love how it really nestled into the ground!

The sun has been brilliant; even with the weird fall angle in comes down in.

And the woods around us never fail to spark my imagination and remind me how beautiful the world is.

And it just me, or do the few greens that are left look alive and brilliant?  Just takes my breath away.

Wishing you peace and center as we are about to leap into full festivities.  Do so with a clear mind and an open heart so that we may continue on our paths to kick start 2012 with a bang!!