March arrives with a bang

This week's weather has been crazy as we moved from February into March.  We've had mid 40s, freezing rain, beautiful sun, and 6 inches of snow over the course of the week, but it is clear that Winter is nearing it's end and Spring is on the way.

Peaches had her annual vet appointment on Tuesday evening so I took the girls to Mason for a walk along the Hayhoe Trail before her appointment.   It was a great evening for a walk there.

Peaches' appointment went well.  She had an excellent check-up and was happy to see all of her friends.  Dr. Gretchen said that she's in great health for her age and her blood work proved that even further.   I'm so glad she's doing so well.  

Our Wednesday night dog walk was fun, and we walked four really nice dogs.  My walking buddy was Swiss Roll.   He was a really nice boy and loved his time out on our walk.

I was happy to see my Crocus are almost ready to bloom.  I love them so much because they are usually the first flower to sprout every year.  I can't wait until they are in full bloom. 

Friday we expected a pretty significant snow storm to move through Lansing starting mid afternoon, so the girls and I got out early for a good walk. 

We hadn't visited Fenner Nature Center in quite awhile and I decided it was time we got back there.  This time of year, the trees are all tapped for Maple Syrup season and I love to see them.

It was an excellent way to spend my lunch and I know we all thoroughly enjoyed our time there.  

We got in another quick mid afternoon walk before the snow started, and then we hunkered down for the night.  Mina was happy to snuggle up in her cozy cave.

We awoke to a beautiful sunny, snow-covered world.  In the end, we got around 6 inches of very heavy, wet snow.

When I went out to shovel, I was happy to see my neighbor, Bill was out with his snowblower working his way toward my house.  I so appreciate how nice it is of him to clean the sidewalks and drive on our block.  

I finished shoveling my driveway while Bill cleared the sidewalks, and then I loaded the girls into the car so we could head out for a fun weekend road trip.

Just a few short hours later, we arrived in downtown Chicago to start our weekend fun.

We picked up with Emmalee and then headed to Lincoln Park for a lovely walk.

The girls LOVED all of the new smells and really enjoyed our time along the lakeshore.  It was nearly 50 degrees and a great day for a walk.  

After our walk, I had a tasty Italian dinner downtown with Emmalee.  What a fun afternoon we had!

We got to our hotel after dark, and after dinner and a little playtime, the girls settled in for the night. 

We were up early on Sunday morning for a fun filled day.  Our first stop of the day was at Fort Sheridan which is about 30 minutes North of downtown. 

There are beautiful views of Lake Michigan.

There are also some really pretty wooded areas as well as grass lands.

While we saw other people there, it wasn't overly crowded.  We ended up a little muddy, but we loved this beautiful spot.

I also enjoyed learning the history of the area.

I forced the girls to stop for a couple of pictures before we headed back to the car.

Our next stop took us for a walk along the Chicago River North of downtown.   This was a nice little trail in an untouristy area.

Finally, we headed downtown to do some more exploring.   We started our adventure at Navy Pier and then took a walk at Milton Olive Park and Jane Addams Memorial by Ohio Beach.

There were great views of the Lake and of the skyline.

The girls were so well-behaved and had a great time.

We then headed back to to Navy Pier for a nice walk before heading back to the car.

We had had a busy day with lots of walking and plenty of adventures.   I think the girls really enjoyed their city adventures. 

We had dinner plans for the evening and the girls got to meet the sweet and beautiful Isabel.  Mina and Isabel had some fun playing and Mina played several rounds of fetch with anyone who would throw the ball for her.  It was a long and busy day for me and the girls, and we were back at our hotel after dark once again. 

After a busy day, it was nice to have a very quiet night.  

We have plans for one more short adventure tomorrow morning before I have to drop the girls off for a night of boarding while I attend some work meetings.  I'm so glad I decided to come into town early and share some adventures with the girls.