Be A Turtle

    I am usually a winter girl. I love Christmas, sledding, snow, hot cocoa, sweaters, soup, more snow.  But lately, for some reason, I cannot wait for warmer weather. I'm dreaming up my garden, thinking about house projects, and waiting to put away my bulky winter boots. Gasp!.... I am a boot lover. Maybe even a boot-aholic. Kyle jokes that the first time he took me to Shoe Carnival I leaped out of the Explorer exclaiming "Oh look at all the boots! Red, brown, black!" and I was at the door before he could lock the vehicle. Well for some reason I'm in this organizing mindset and my boots are just taking up too much room. Hmm. Maybe that is why my 65 pound dog is getting on my nerves daily. He just doesn't stay where I put him and takes up too much space....

Here's Archer, our 8 month old German Shepherd getting into some kind of mischief. 

 Today as I'm daydreaming about sunshine and hummingbirds, I am getting eager to go on a hiking trip. Yes, I know. Why on earth do I like these hiking trips? It pours down rain, I get blisters on my feet, my backpack  gives me a skin burn, and at some point I probably will get eaten by a bear because I am slower than Kyle.

(also because I have a slight urge to pet them. TN trip-bear cub)

I guess it's my love for nature, the chance that I might see an animal in the wild, and the opportunity for Kyle to listen to me talk for days and days without escape as we are walking along the trails.
   But I have realized at this point, I might as well get a scooter because there is no way physically I am going to make it on any type of hike. Exercise has not been on my Top 20 list of things to do this past year. So, I found myself googling "how to train for a hiking trip." I chose the website with the tip "Be a Turtle." It says start slow and build gradually. I figured a turtle is a good starting pace for me. Also, turtles are cute. I have printed out their sample schedule and one of these days I'm going to start. First up is a pack carrying only water and a safety whistle and first aid kit for 1/2 a mile. I'll let you know how it goes.

This trip was awesome and so painful at the same time. Motivation to prep.
(notice my safety whistle on my chest strap) 

TN on our first hiking trip during a break from the torrential rain. Motivation to prep. 

And just for fun. Let's all take a moment and remember the beard days. Fun.