A long hike

Note to selves: When taking children on a hike, it is best to check the length and terrain of said hike.


Although is was in the 30s today, it was bright and sunny. So we decided to take a hike. We chose the trail on Shuman Point on Lake Wallenpaupack.


There were no trail maps at the trail head to take with us, but there was one stapled to the info board. We took a look and started the hike uphill. The children didn't care for the uphill portion. We encouraged them and arrived at the top.

The trail went along the lake shore for most of the hike, and there is a point where a side trail leads to the water. I wanted to go to the lake's edge as much as the kids.

I thought the bushes in the water with ice blobs on them were pretty nifty.

Gary showed Ellie the fine art of rock skipping. She tried skipping a few rocks.


At this part of the hike we thought we were about half way. That was not the case.

And soon after we started on the main trail again, the children were wanting to be back at the car. They had enough of the great outdoors.

But on we all hiked. We came to another hill, and at the top, the trail went back into the woods a bit.

As we came to another turn and saw the lake again, we knew we had a much longer hike than we thought.

But on and on we hiked.

We finally made it back to the parking lot and drove on home.

I looked up the trail for writing this post and read that the trail we took is 3 miles long. The kids do not care for three mile long hikes with two hills.

The last snow day?

Another day off. A Saturday of sorts. All four of us stayed home. Slept in. Well, no the kids didn't sleep in. They were up early. When they have to get up, that's when they try to sleep in.

We had a fire all day. The kids and I were out in the snow.

Josh and I sledded. On the one run Ellie and I did, we went over a rock and cracked the sled.

Ellie and I made a fort out of the tree branches from a fallen tree. Ellie called it fairyland. She also made a fire using leaves and branches and she wanted to hang a pot over it. Quite creative. I was able to find sticks to make a spit.

Laughing at Spring

Winter is laughing at Spring. It is not done with us yet. The kids have another snow day. And if Gary had left 15 minutes later for work, he could have stayed home too.

Ellie seemed upset that we had snow. She said that it's Spring and we are not suppose to have snow.

But she's quickly warmed to the idea of no school today.

Josh saw the "tow" and started stripping off pajamas to put clothes on for going out to play. But when Ellie asked to watch TV, he thought that was a better idea and going outside could wait for later.












And I was obviously mistaken about my previous thought that there wouldn't be a need to plow the roads again.



We did go out later, and the kids ran around a bit and we went sledding. We tried a new section of hill across the street. I was lamenting yesterday that I didn't see it sooner when we had snow.

I got a second chance today. Here are the kids going down. They are quite tickled about Ellie saying a word we tell them not to use. They watch the video and crack up when she says "butt."

.

Through the woods

We took a walk through the woods around the cabin today.














The high today was 52 degrees.

Josh still felt the need to wear a scarf, hat and snow mittens.

Tumbling stones

More of the stone wall along the driveway fell. Since we probably won't have anymore snow, I can stop using the driveway, park in the street, and Gary can fill the driveway with the stones to rebuild the wall.

Numbers

13 days, 13 hours, and 33 minutes until the Phillies home opener.

I thought it was interesting the difference in population between here and Lansdale. Here are some numbers.

Over 20,000 people live in Lansdale borough; about 2,000 people live in Salem Township.

Lansdale Borough is 3.1 square miles; Salem Township is 31.5 square miles.

13 elementary schools in North Penn School District; Essentially 2 elementary schools in Western Wayne School District.

Courageous

The creators of Facing the Giants and Fireproof have a new film coming out in September - Courageous. Click to watch the trailor.

And if you didn't realize it, their first movie was Flywheel. It never made it to the big screen and it was definitely not a big money production, but it is still a very good story with a great message.

Finally . . .

. . . I am feeling better.

Gary's mom is visiting us this weekend. It's always nice to have family visit.

And today we went to Promised Land State Park for an outdoor adventure. We packed a lunch, and planned to hike a bit.

The sun went in by the time we got there, and it was colder and breezier there than at the cabin. We ate in the car.

Is spring on it's way?



We took a track finder booklet with us and hunted for animal tracks. On the way back from our hike we found some tracks. We think they were either bobcat or coyote. They were in the snow and did not have the best definition.

The kids were very excited to find tracks to look at.

And Ellie was most excited about her sleepover birthday party tonight. She bought a gift, wrapped it, and wrote in the card. She packed her bag and kept asking if it was time to go yet.

She barely remembered to say goodbye to me when I dropped her off at her friend's house.

Ash Wednesday

I went to two Ash Wednesday services today. I received ashes on my forehead twice, as well. As did Josh and Ellie.

The history behind it. It is a humbling experience.

The imposition of ashes on the foreheads of Christians is an ancient Christian practice, going back at least to the 10th century. Biblically, ashes are a symbols of purification and penitence (see Numbers 19:9, 17; Hebrews 9:13; Jonah 3:6; Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13 ).

In the early church, people who had been separated from the church because of serious sins might seek to be re-admitted to the fellowship by observing a formal period of penitence during Lent. These people were generally sprinkled with ashes or given rough garments sprinkled with ashes as a sign of their sorrow for their sins.

Beginning in the tenth century, the observance of Ash Wednesday became a general rite for the church. The ashes, which were a symbol of purification in the Old Testament, remind us that we are mortal. In many churches the ashes are made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Ashes are placed on the forehead, usually in the sign of a cross, in a ritual known as the Imposition of Ashes. As the ashes are placed on the forehead, words such as these are spoken: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," recalling God's words to Adam in Genesis 3:19.

-- Lynn W. Gilliam
Editor of Pockets
The Upper Room

Rip roaring

That's how my new doctor described my sinus infection.

I knew I had to see a doctor today. Last night not sleeping was too much. But since moving up here, we haven't found one. They aren't on every corner around here. One I did call was not taking any more patients.

But while driving home from Dickson City, I passed a building that used to be my grandparents' doctor's office. I saw "family practice" on the sign and turned around at the next road. I called Myrtle to look up the number since it wasn't on the sign and Josh was sleeping. They could take me right away, so I woke Josh and went in.

The doctor was very friendly, and I liked him right away. He asked if I got infections often. I do. He took a look at my sinuses with a nose scope thingy. I didn't so much care to have something go up my nose. He did however find that I have a deviated septum and could have medical surgery (meaning covered by insurance) to fix it.

And not have as many infections.

Upon leaving the doctor's, I headed straight for CVS. I am now armed with an antibiotic, probiotics, and a nasal decongestant to fight this wretched infection.

Here I sit

I've been up for 3 hours. I can't sleep very well, since I can't breathe through my nose. I am exhausted. I haven't been able to sleep through the night for four nights. I usually never wake up, unless there's a child issue.

At 1:30 am, I decided to stop trying to sleep.

For four days and nights, my sinuses have been blocked. It's a little wearying.

Right now, finally, sitting up is actually working and I can breathe through my nose enough to not dry out my mouth.

I've spent my wee morning hours watching Law & Order: SVU.

But now, I think I just might get some sleep with the one side of my sinuses open enough to breathe through.

Picnic

Today was another snow day for Ellie. And I mentally prepared myself for a day with the two of them together all day.

The morning was limited TV time and pretend play.

Around lunchtime they started acting secretive. And even though they were hardly keeping any secrets, I played along, like I didn't know that they were dragging a table and three chairs outside. Or making the plates and cups disappear.

It was a big surprise when they led me outside with my eyes closed to discover our picnic lunch on the porch.

And although it was sunny, it was NOT picnic weather. It was only 35 degrees and breezy. But they had been outside playing and thought that eating out there would be fun too. In the photo, Josh looks to be in pain, but he's really smiling his goofy smile. That's generally all I get these days from him, if I'm lucky.

It was a quick lunch. Josh actually finished inside. And Miss I Can Stand It, took off her coat to prove it.

A few hours later, I decided it was time for a proper outdoor activity. The kids suited up in winter gear. And proceeded to go play in the water in the ditches. I hadn't even gotten outside to join them before they had wet feet. Snow boots do not keep feet dry and warm when immersed in water.

Our big outdoor activity was suppose to be a walk, but it turned into an investigation of all the area water ditches. Their idea was to see where all the water goes. We got out our plastic boats to watch them float down the hill. The boats were too big, but the kids didn't give up trying to give them a voyage. They both paid no mind to foot or hand getting dunked. Just sloshed right through the water.

Both had drenched boots, socks, and mittens. But they didn't complain about wet appendages and would gladly go investigate the water again tomorrow.

They just might request rain boots instead.

My turn

I had a fever, sinus headache, body aches, sore throat and complete unhappiness this morning. I didn't get a good night sleep, from waking what seemed like every hour from the sore throat and stuffiness. And the stupid cat walking all over me.

Gary got me some drugs and I started feeling better. Not great, but more like a person. And my fever broke.

I had some time to myself, while Gary took the kids to buy Josh the vehicle he saved for. But Josh came back empty handed, because Toys R Us didn't carry what he wanted at the store, only online.

We think Target has it, but if not we'll have to order it online. Ellie saved for a gum making kit, which will be an online purchase.

Now I am sitting here about to go to bed, and I am not looking forward to it. I anticipate waking too much from being unable to breath and getting a sore throat again.

Optimism.

Fever

Ellie's been sick for four days. Josh picked it up yesterday.

Here's the poor boy asleep, snuggled in the chair last evening.

I noticed the laundry hasn't been piling up. But when several members of the family spend their days in PJs, there's less to wash.