Sugar Shacking

Vermonting it this weekend by checking out the local

 Sugar Shacks and seeing how maple syrup comes to be. 

Kelly Stand Road

Yesterday while Jeremy napped, Gwen and I went exploring to check out the fall leaves. Kelly Stand Road is a good one for this sort of thing.  It was just what I needed.  The colors were unreal.

Lowell Lake

On Tuesday, Catherine and I headed to Lowell Lake to do some hiking.  It's a 3.5 mile loop around the lake and it was a dream.  The leaves were so vibrant and seemed to seriously appear just that day.  It was overcast which made the leaves jump out even more.  We had to keep stopping to try and capture the beauty we were seeing, which of course the pictures never do it justice.  I love these mountains I live in.

Stratton Mountain

Yesterday, Laura and I climbed Stratton Mountain along the Appalachian Trail.
I loooove climbing mountains!  I feel so alive on mountain tops.  It really is one of my favorite things.  Dave dropped us off at the trail head off of Kelly Stand Road at about 7:45 and we were off.  It was cool to hike along the Appalachian trail and think about the many miles and states it covers.  I was hoping to see some really stinky thru hikers (hikers doing the WHOLE Appalachian Trail), but we just saw a slow couple from New Hampshire.  It only took us an hour and half to reach the top and was a much more pleasant hike compared to Mt. Equinox. 

It was overcast and a little rainy. It didn't bother us a bit during the hike because of the coverage the trees offered.  Once we got to the top though we were in a cloud with constant mist.  I climbed to the top of the fire tower - the exact spot where Benton MacKaye had the inspiration to create the Appalachian Trail.  I couldn't see any of the surrounding mountains, but I got an awesome view of the tree tops.  Then we took the gondola down to the ski resort, had a quick snack at the deli, and Jeremy (and Gwen) picked us up in a nice warm car.  It was the loveliest way to start a Saturday.

I can't wait to do it next summer with Gwen and Jeremy!

Birthday Weekend

[Birthday Self-portrait at 28]

last year's here

My birthday weekend started out with some morning mountain biking with Tiffany.  It was such a great ride!  I loooooved it.  Then Amber and Evie rolled into town (from Texas!) and we made our way to Mad Tom's Apple Orchard.  It was a gorgeous day to be out gathering apples.

 We got Cilantro for dinner which is always my favorite!

Sunday was a relaxing day.  We went to church, took naps, collected eggs from the Finnegan's chickens, and ventured to Equinox Pond.

On Monday (my 28th birthday), we went out to breakfast at Up for Breakfast where I had a delicious meat lovers omelette.  Then we went to hang out at our local library which is AMAZING!  The kids' room is impressive... I know that Gwen and I will be spending some time there this winter for sure.

Then we came home, made an apple crisp, hung out, and had pizza for dinner.  Then we opened presents and had wafer cake!  It was perfect!

  2 and 8... get it?  Wafer cake is the BEST!!  even the GF version.

 Gwen thought my balloon was pretty awesome... I think she is pretty awesome!

What a year this has been?!  I opened my private practice last October and I brought Gwen into the world in June.  I am really living my dream.  I am truly the happiest I have ever been and I can't believe my life is turning out how I envisioned it.  God is good.  God is so so good.