Happy Easter...

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!

~*~

Wonderful...

We had been cooped up way to long this past winter.  The first beautiful day in ages it seems found us scrambling in the morning to get things together and head out to a great place to hike.  We move fast when anyone mentions hiking on a great day.

There were little creeks to follow and enjoy the sounds of.

Following a perfect trail meandering through the hills while listening to the birds that were celebrating the beautiful day also.

Noticing little bursts of color from the wildflowers starting to show themselves.  I was told I needed to get closer to this flower to get a better shot.  Um, no.  No way I was any closer when this little bloom was right on the edge of the trail, with a drop off right after it.  I was good right where I was, zooming in as best I could.

Taking the time to examine a boulder completely covered in so many different kinds of lichen.  Very cool!

A quick drive up to the top of the hill to check to see how much snow is left in the high mountains.  Gorgeous!!!

 And a drive by an old barn that certainly has seen better days.  It's so different than others I have seen.  The back side is built into the side of the hill.  So awesome.

A very wonderful day indeed.

~*~

Friends...

There was absolutely no excuse to stay in today.  Even though Spring started last week, it just didn't feel like the seasons were ready to change.  Winter just had to give us one more chill before making way for Spring just to show us who was boss.

Watching the forecast ever so closely, calls were made to friends to see if they wanted to venture out also.  We were so glad to hear that they wanted to join along our little outing.  Because you know that throwing rocks into the river is a millions times better when your friend is right next to you joining in on the fun.  And they are so handy when the biggest rock ever is found and the two of you desperately need each other to help haul it over to the waters edge.  Makes it all the more awesome.

Walking over logs to get to the best rock bar ever, collecting the greatest rock ever to add to your rock quarry in the back yard, listening to all the birds finding their way back to the river and just having a wonderful afternoon with special friends made it a grand afternoon at the end of the day.  

Any excuse that would have been made in order to stay home would have been a sad one indeed knowing what a great time we had with friends.

~*~

Breathe...

A bit of an unscheduled break of sorts was taken just to remind myself to breathe once in awhile.  Time to think about things that just come up and stop you in your tracks.  

Things that make you stop and wonder if they are truly as important as you once thought.  

Things that happen and undoubtedly zaps the simple happiness out of you with a snap of a finger.

That is what has been going on around here.  

It all started at the beginning of the month when the 10th anniversary of my Daddy's passing, which hit me like a ton of bricks.  An anniversary of no celebrating at all.  That day always stops me in my tracks and makes me rethink things.  But something about this year really did a number on me.  And then having to deal with an adult "child" once again really made me rethink how things are going to occur around here from now on.  My terms, not someone else's.

So I have focused all my attention to the truly important things here, my little world.

Trying to do things that will most definitely be better for the family and my myself.  Lifestyle, food, ambitions, goals, etc.  There is one person who doesn't quite understand how giving up soda fits into that equation but I will continue to trudge on with that matter until I can convince that person that they will be much better without it.  It's going to be a really rough road on that particular matter.

This week will be all about completing goals, relaxing, and re-making to-do lists.  Much brighter days ahead.  Because it's about me and my little world.

~*~