Friday, November 01, 2024

Mining ponies and duck hunters

I walked outside to put the trash cans by the curb for trash day today; it's a task I usually find to be somewhat unpleasant. This morning, however, the sun was just peaking out, the air was crisp, clean and cold, the silence outside was almost loud, and the only noise was the horses munching on their hay. Each time Wynn or Devany saw me as I walked about they let out a soft nicker. Devany has a light, more high pitched voice and Wynn has a deep guttural voice. I love it so much and it always warms me from the inside out when they talk to/with me. There was something so fresh and beautiful about this morning and it made my heart feel much joy. 




Last night the boys dressed up to go join our friends, the Loopers, in town for Halloween festivities. The three brothers dressed Lochlan as a Norman (soldier from old) with wool cloak, "sword" and shield. They did a great job getting him looking the part and he really enjoyed playing it. Madigan dressed as a soldier, sporting a wool shirt and a military dress coat that he bought at a local antique shop. He carried one of his homemade weapons which looked quite authentic. He was really entirely too handsome. Kelton dressed as a hunter, bird dog included; Bumpy was his bird dog and she wore her camo backpack with a large duck stuffed animal attached to it. He also carried one of his homemade guns. Hilarious! Declan dressed as a miner, and took his little horse, Murdock, as his mining pony. Murdock was a rock star. He was almost constantly surrounded by dozens of kids and we even encountered people dressed up like large sharks/dinosaurs which didn't phase him. He's like an old pro at this. We were all completely amazed at that horse's behavior throughout the whole evening, and Declan was absolutely beaming with pride; he loves him so so much. These will be sweet memories... 














The beautiful simple things that fill these days... I treasure them and I pray I do not forget them.
















Monday, October 28, 2024

We did it... finally.

 


The chill made my breath visible. The headlamps of fellow hikers along the pathway ahead of us looked like fairy lights descending below. My wayward hair kept dashing across my headlamp and in front of my eyes making the navigation along the edge of the north rim in the darkness a bit of a challenge. The wind was ushering in the cold front as we descended into the canyon, and there was a strange excitement in the air. I was so filled with anticipation, it's entirely possible that the excitement was created by my own heart. :-) Krista and I were FINALLY hiking the rim to rim of the Grand Canyon together, after waiting years and training for months. 






That one place in the trail where it looks like jumping off a cliff is the only forward option...






 In reality, it turns sharply and descends along this wall. :-) 







The headwaters of the roaring falls - the water apparently comes straight out of the rocks. 





We walked, talked, listened to the absolute silence and simply absorbed what is impossible to comprehend in the magnitude of the place. 


























At this point, Krista was getting irritated with me for being a "drill sergeant". Keep. Moving! We had to push past the pain and fatigue; if you stop too long your body locks up and refuses to comply. 









We completed 22 miles in 11 hours. When I announced this fact to Krista at the top, she teared up... we've worked hard to get to this place and it was such an incredibly special thing to share together. I will treasure these memories all the days of my life.