Happy Palindrome Day! 02/02/2020-the same forward and backward...and apparently this is the only day in our lifetimes that this will happen. The last time was 11/11/1111 and the next will be 03/03/3030. At least it's an interesting little fact. It is also Groundhogs Day and the mid-point of winter.
At this point most Winters, I am sick of the snow and cold and I am excited to see the sunlight last long enough for me to get home and walk the dogs in something other than pitch-darkness. But this Winter has been so mild that I have actually been feeling like something has been missing. Don't get too crazy and think I've turned into a lover of snow and cold, but living in Michigan my whole life, I don't think I've ever experienced a Winter quite like this one...and I have found myself missing the smell of the cold Winter air during a peaceful snowfall. I have also enjoyed the few snowfalls that we have had. But I've also been thankful that most of the bad weather has happened on the weekend, when I don't have to go anywhere.
This crazy Winter has really seemed more like an extended late Winter/early Spring. While the rain and mud are about enough to make me crazy, we have all enjoyed the milder temperatures, and, while we haven't really experienced a real Michigan Winter, now as the daylight hours grow longer, I find myself beginning to long for Spring.
We've been taking advantage of the nicer weather and extra daylight to get out of the house a little more during the week and we've been taking some longer nightly walks. The girls and I have gotten into a nice routine and have found a good route to take to get in a nightly walk of about 2 1/4 miles. While in the past our walks would have been more along the lines of 3 to 3 1/2 miles, Maddie can no longer make that trek regularly, so we've adjusted our nightly route to accommodate her. While our nightly route is just about perfect for Maddie and Cricket, I know that Peaches is always left wanting more. Thankfully she and Cricket find time each day to spend some time running and playing in the backyard.
On the weekends, we have been getting out for some hiking adventures and I'm thankful that on those days, we can get Maddie to go a little further. I've found that if we plan things well, she has been able to average right around 3 miles each time we have gotten out on the North Country Trail this year. I think that the different scenery and new smells give her a little extra incentive to keep going. I know that Peaches and Cricket have really been enjoying those weekend outings on the trail too.
This weekend we were able to get out on the trail on two occasions, once on Friday night in Marshall and the other, today in Albion. My current goal is to complete a minimum of 12 miles per month from January-April, hopefully reaching the 50 mile mark by May 1st. We were able to complete 12.2 miles in January and got a good start today with 3.35 miles for our first February hike. I'm hoping that by hiking more when the weather is milder, Maddie will be able to get out with us more. Because I know once the temperatures start to rise, her ability to walk much will go down significantly. I know she loves to get out on the trail and I want her to enjoy it as much as she can.
Both of our walks this week were in NCT Trail Towns and in Albion we took the route that goes through town, down the Riverwalk, and then into a neighborhood. We saw what appeared to be the Albion Cross-Country team out for a training run. I really would have loved for one of them to take Peaches for a little jog! She definitely had some extra energy today!
I have no definite plan for the girls to complete all 100 miles with me this year, but I also can't imagine being on the trail without them. So I'm just going to go with the flow and whatever happens, well, I'll be happy with that.
With the temperatures near 50 degrees and the sun shining brightly, it was a beautiful day to be outdoors. We all thoroughly enjoyed our time on the trail. Fresh air and exercise is always good for us all, and the walk was a great success. I always enjoy the quiet ride home after some time on the trail.
Cricket was excited to steal the front seat away from Peaches for the ride home.
Peaches was not very happy about that...and decided to pout!
After a quiet ride back to Lansing and a quick stop to grab a few groceries, we headed home to watch the Superbowl...and I had 3 snoring happy girls. Overall it was a great day.
Not many pictures to share this week since my phone camera is currently not working properly and I haven't had it in me to take the time to go to the Verizon store to see if they can fix it, so I had to pull out the faithful old point-and-shoot. Hopefully I'll get that phone camera fixed this week.
Now off to bed so we can start a fresh week with new adventures! Hope you all have a great week!
At this point most Winters, I am sick of the snow and cold and I am excited to see the sunlight last long enough for me to get home and walk the dogs in something other than pitch-darkness. But this Winter has been so mild that I have actually been feeling like something has been missing. Don't get too crazy and think I've turned into a lover of snow and cold, but living in Michigan my whole life, I don't think I've ever experienced a Winter quite like this one...and I have found myself missing the smell of the cold Winter air during a peaceful snowfall. I have also enjoyed the few snowfalls that we have had. But I've also been thankful that most of the bad weather has happened on the weekend, when I don't have to go anywhere.
This crazy Winter has really seemed more like an extended late Winter/early Spring. While the rain and mud are about enough to make me crazy, we have all enjoyed the milder temperatures, and, while we haven't really experienced a real Michigan Winter, now as the daylight hours grow longer, I find myself beginning to long for Spring.
We've been taking advantage of the nicer weather and extra daylight to get out of the house a little more during the week and we've been taking some longer nightly walks. The girls and I have gotten into a nice routine and have found a good route to take to get in a nightly walk of about 2 1/4 miles. While in the past our walks would have been more along the lines of 3 to 3 1/2 miles, Maddie can no longer make that trek regularly, so we've adjusted our nightly route to accommodate her. While our nightly route is just about perfect for Maddie and Cricket, I know that Peaches is always left wanting more. Thankfully she and Cricket find time each day to spend some time running and playing in the backyard.
On the weekends, we have been getting out for some hiking adventures and I'm thankful that on those days, we can get Maddie to go a little further. I've found that if we plan things well, she has been able to average right around 3 miles each time we have gotten out on the North Country Trail this year. I think that the different scenery and new smells give her a little extra incentive to keep going. I know that Peaches and Cricket have really been enjoying those weekend outings on the trail too.
This weekend we were able to get out on the trail on two occasions, once on Friday night in Marshall and the other, today in Albion. My current goal is to complete a minimum of 12 miles per month from January-April, hopefully reaching the 50 mile mark by May 1st. We were able to complete 12.2 miles in January and got a good start today with 3.35 miles for our first February hike. I'm hoping that by hiking more when the weather is milder, Maddie will be able to get out with us more. Because I know once the temperatures start to rise, her ability to walk much will go down significantly. I know she loves to get out on the trail and I want her to enjoy it as much as she can.
Both of our walks this week were in NCT Trail Towns and in Albion we took the route that goes through town, down the Riverwalk, and then into a neighborhood. We saw what appeared to be the Albion Cross-Country team out for a training run. I really would have loved for one of them to take Peaches for a little jog! She definitely had some extra energy today!
I have no definite plan for the girls to complete all 100 miles with me this year, but I also can't imagine being on the trail without them. So I'm just going to go with the flow and whatever happens, well, I'll be happy with that.
With the temperatures near 50 degrees and the sun shining brightly, it was a beautiful day to be outdoors. We all thoroughly enjoyed our time on the trail. Fresh air and exercise is always good for us all, and the walk was a great success. I always enjoy the quiet ride home after some time on the trail.
Cricket was excited to steal the front seat away from Peaches for the ride home.
Peaches was not very happy about that...and decided to pout!
After a quiet ride back to Lansing and a quick stop to grab a few groceries, we headed home to watch the Superbowl...and I had 3 snoring happy girls. Overall it was a great day.
Not many pictures to share this week since my phone camera is currently not working properly and I haven't had it in me to take the time to go to the Verizon store to see if they can fix it, so I had to pull out the faithful old point-and-shoot. Hopefully I'll get that phone camera fixed this week.
Now off to bed so we can start a fresh week with new adventures! Hope you all have a great week!
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