just another day at the gap

Chaya and I continue to check out the local trails. Check out the ice at accuweather just a few days ago:


While the roads were slick, the trails were much better bordering on crunchy in some spots.

It's cool to hike trails you normally ride. You notice details like gnarled understory wood and saplings strangled by vines that fly by on the bike.

Above: the light was particularly striking come late afternoon...

Above: we spent sunday hiking around the gap. The ice was finally clear and we made it up to the powerline and found this cool trail!

Check out the ice melt!!

RIP little birdie.

More gnarled branches.

We saw not one, but TWO red tails!!!


more ice & mud. the end. :)

what's missing in this picture?

What's missing from the above picture?
Hint: it's creamy, baked and a gourmet item normally only served around the holidays or for gatherings deserving of such a treat.
Answer: a full 10 oz serving of baked brie cooked in a light pastry dough.

Where did it go you may wonder?
Hint: see below.
Answer: right into my labrador's belly. note the clean plate. dove in when all were in the kitchen. sneaky little bastard!

ice

Chaya and i were intent upon leaving town today - getting lost in the woods on the twisty, rocky forest trails. Unfortunately, upon entering we quickly encountered ice. Sheets of ice, inches thick covering the gravel covered fire roads. As we ascended up bear meadows, the tire tracks providing some traction turned to a smooth shimmery icy surface. A full day of rain had smoothed over the ice resulting in a dangerously slick road. Before we knew it, the forester was sideways in the middle of the road. (see right)

lesson learned: all wheel drive doesn't mean a damn thing on ice! ok, so i did know this.

The trails were similarly icy so i decided it wasn't worth trying to drive any further. Slowly and cautiously, we turned around (after all, we already were half way around in the road) and made our way back to sound pavement. What a bummer! i've been craving forest time lately. been tense and feeling uneasy. Unfortunately, today was not the day.

We headed out 45 only to discover that it was not only Christmas, but also... red tailed hawk day! they were everywhere. kiting in the sky, seeking out food. (See below, his face is a bit squat compared to most redtails so i'm not 100% on the ID). This day was quickly looking up! We chased some for a while, watching them hunt, and taking pictures.

I was considering Scotia when i remembered Musser Gap just down the road. This trail always reminds me of G, chaya and pepper splashing around in the mud along the power line! We set out for hike #2 up the gap. The trail was similarly icy however, the car was easily left in the (not so ice, phew!) lot.

It was beautiful there. Ferns, evergreen and deeply contrasting against the icy snow!

it's always summer in the life of a labrador. must be nice. the trail was slick. I skated my way up and down. Chaya wiped out many times.

I'm coming mom!

D'oh! all wheel drive, low center of balance AND those little toenails didn't provide sufficient traction on the icey trail today.


beauty in the details...

today was warmer and sunny thus melting was in full effect. snow / ice melt was running down the trail under cutting the ice (see below). In some spots feet would fall through into a muddy wet mess of leaves. The ice above formed beautiful crystallized patterns (below).

more details from the trail.


While it didn't start out as planned, the day turned out alright. the woods, beautiful as ever. Although i have a feeling the fire roads will be out of commission for a long while given the ice there today.

gifts

The holidays to me have never been about religious ritual. They have always been about family and friends. In my family, presents are not something given on an annual basis to mark a birthday, anniversary, or holiday. They are more random, spontaneous and given, when something appears that one of us knows will make the other really happy. this could be at any time - or never. They could be purchased, hand crafted or picked from the garden. It really is the thought that counts.

This year i decided to spend my holiday weeks in state college. regrouping from an exhausting semester and catching up with friends in town and elsewhere.

Week one: still in progress has been marked by holiday dinners with friends. i was hoping for one all important "gift" this break - time outside to ride and hike. unfortunately, the weather has not seen eye to eye with my plans. Case in point, out my window this morning:

I woke up to a frozen world today. sleet turned to rain. My driveway and front stoop, a block of solid ice.


it rained. then it rained some more. so i ran out my frustrations at the gym - high resistance elliptical. Then i did what any girl would naturally do on a rainy day (see below - even went all out on the toes but taking pictures of feet is just too weird (even for me, ha!).)

look at those nails! they're real people - all natural! :) this was my gift to myself

This past weekend pam and I held our annual cookie bake fest. We ventured into the world of candy making toffee and another recipe in addition to the best cherry chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER. it's seriously that good. (see below). Luisa (see above), the cutest baby EVER and the most precious gift a family could have (check out those eyes folks - she's gonna be a heartbreaker).

Last night, cyclist festivities in bfonte. i suspect pictures could end up on facebook at some point and yes they naturally will include props and dancing. Tonight, tbone's bday party /dinner. We made ridiculously good margaritas with Patron tequila and orange liqueur. Mmmm what a smooth treat!

In short, to me, the holidays are about recognizing and appreciating what you have, and spending time with those close. From time spent in the kitchen at pams, to time out eating homemade food and dancing with cycling friends, to drinking fancy margaritas and playing with dogs a gdoggs, to talking on the phone with those too far away to see in person (ugh, miss u both so much), to enjoying a holiday dinner at another's family's home and in the near future my first 'holiday-time' dinner at my own home and mellow new years at the most awesome new found friends home ... the most precious gift one really can recieve is that of good friendship and love.

how did i get so lucky?