2026 Happy Blog Challenge

 June 14th Here are some happy things from today: One of the NY Times games that I sometimes play is called Letter Boxed .  I'm not going to try and explain it all right now.  However, the goal is to create words with the letters provided.  In this case it suggested trying to finish it in six words or less.  I finished it in two words.  I'm pleased with that result. One of the people in our household turned 17 today.  To prepare for the birthday gathering I tried doing more cleaning of and around the pool.  In the process I spotted a frog.  Another household member helped me to re-home the little guy to a tree.  That seemed appropriate since Google Lens identified it as a tree frog. There was also a lovely butterfly fluttering around.   There is purple cow vetch growing near the tree where we put the frog. Most of the rest of my day involved cleaning or relaxing.  I didn't attend the party for very long.  I'm trying t...

 April 16th  Sometime in the middle of the night I woke up to see the tiny glow of a lightning bug on my tent. It was a fleeting moment, this glowing dot.  Silently it left, the bright dot got dim and larger as it flew away and disappeared.  Stairs... Possibly yucca... Laurel Fork Falls The top of Laurel Fork Falls. A bridge... Maybe Solomon's Seal. There was a severe ice storm this last season. Much of the bridge and other destruction along the trail was caused by either the ice storm or fires. Stephanie isn't really balancing on the railing... Yay!  I made it to the car! This was the end of the backpacking part of the trail for us, but not the trail. Sunset at the cabin. ☮ Continued reading: No Time Like the Past , by Jodi Taylor. Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

 On the Foothills Trail for April 15th. Happy Tax Day!   I'm so glad that I am no longer in the tax business. At various times over my working lifetime I have worked for H&R Block and the IRS. It is much nicer to be in the woods at this time of year.   We chose a shorter hiking day today, only a little over seven miles. Tomorrow should be around twelve and we break back at the cabin for a night.   The butterflies are amazing. I thought they were monarch butterflies, but I'm having second thoughts. Without the internet I can't check. The stairs built into the hills are agonizing, but I feel so good when I reach the top... until we turn the corner and see more! 😅 Here are some of today's highlights: Rabbit I love that they have suspension bridges. Butterflies  Sunset ☮ Continued reading: No Time Like the Past , by Jodi Taylor. Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!

April 13th This morning we were up before the sunrise and hiking just after 7:30 AM. We were off trail before 3 PM. Silena met us and we went to Whitewater Falls with her, and then back to the cabin for the night. Silena was awesome and had dinner made for us. Stephanie has been awesome and patient with my slowness on the trail. Here are some pictures from today... but they downloaded out of order.  The first group is backwards. Trillium. Someday blueberry  Ladyslipper! Then Silena picked us up...  these pictures are in order. I could see my friends from here.  The camera is having a hard time. Whitewater Falls Silena, Stephanie, and me. Back at the cabin my comfy sandals waited for my sore feet!! Sunset  ☮ Thank you for being here and being part of my daily happy things. Stay safe!