SNOW MY DEAR

This morning we woke to about 3 inches of fresh, wet snow. By now, though, it is nearly all melted. It started to snow last night after a day of rain showers. I don't mind the rain and snow and blustery weather. Soon enough summer will saunter in pushing spring aside. I want to enjoy spring as long as possible.

Yesterday I woke at 5:30 a.m. for my morning run. I was hoping to put in 14 miles but think I only did 12 miles. I forgot to wear my watch, which allows me to track my mileage by time. It is fine though. I felt good doing that distance and had a great run.

Luna and I headed down the gravel road to Paige Hill, a private road that leads up, up, up to a sugar shack where it turns into an old carriage-type road, covered in leaves and grass. From the sugar shack, it dips and climbs and eventually pops you out on a ridge with a full view of Mt. Mansfield, Mt. Mayo, and Bolton Mountain, among others. Usually, I turn around at the view, the 5 mile mark, and retrace my steps home for a 10 mile trip, but today I decided to drop over the ridge and follow a faint trail to find out where it led. What a great decision!

The trail headed straight down for a bit before flattening out on a ridge. The trail, with its roots, bare- and moss-covered boulders, ankle-sucking mud, and vernal pools, reminded me of the Appalachian Trail. After running a short distance, I came upon a wooden sign, nailed to a tree, that read "Beech Corners." I decided to run a bit further before backtracking to Beech Corners. At the corner sign, I decided to head left, following the trail in the direction I needed to go to get back to the carriage road.

The trail was steep and muddy but very runable. Luna and I cruised down, jumping over rocks and leaping around mud holes, sometimes landing directly in them, before coming to the carriage road. Looking back I saw a sign that read "Moose Ridge." Note to self: Take Dave on this trail the next time we hike Paige Hill.

Luna and I made it home at about 9 a.m. and were served delicious waffles topped with strawberries, bananas, fresh maple syrup (tis the season), and butter. I brewed a cup of coffee while Dave served the waffles and bacon. I felt thankful for my life, thankful for the ability to run, thankful for my home and my little family. Thankful to be so full of life!