Out There {November 2022}

A good variety of outdoor adventures this month: walks and hikes and disc golf and bikes and roller blading and running and hiking and skiing! Let's recap:

3 November 2022: Return Walk from School

Yes, I made my daughter walk to the school at 7:30 in the morning for her 7:45 choir class every Tuesday and Thursday. It was a delightful time of day (usually) when we could chat and enjoy the morning. This one was especially lovely (and frosty).

13 Novemeber 2022: Jefferson Hunt Nature Trail

A Sunday afternoon stroll/bike ride/roller blade/disc golf on the path Gregg recently discovered in Huntsville that goes past and through the old Jefferson Hunt Campground. A gorgeous day to explore a new-to-us spot.

Look how far away the lake is! (It's not "normally"
that low.)

19 November 2022: Wolf Creek Disc Golf

Between baking pies and making rolls, we got out in the sunshine for a round of disc golf at our local course.

22 November 2022: Christmas Meadows Tree Hunt

It turns out there are zero other Christmas tree hunters in our favorite spot when you go a couple of days before Thanksgiving! It was unbelievably stunning on this bluebird day, tromping through the snow, hunting for the perfect Christmas tree. And I'm pretty sure we found it this year. It's a beaut!

bonus video!

sliding

(while Gregg was tying the tree to the roof, Cal and Sam slid

down the little hill across the road)

24 November 2022: Turkey Trot

A new tradition in the making? We'll see. But it was certainly a fun and invigorating way to start Thanksgiving! (More pics on our Thanksgivings post.)

25 November 2022: First Ski Day at Nordic!

Nordic Valley had it's earliest season opener ever - the day before Thanksgiving! - but we were busy that morning, so our earliest season opener ever was the day after Thanksgiving. They opened Apollo to mid station, with only blue run Goldrush open, so it was quite a shock to our (read: my) legs, but it was so fun to be back on the snow for a couple of runs. Lots of people were showing up who clearly needed to be on the bunny hill first and that one run was feeling a bit crowded, so we didn't stay long. But we had a blast!

Just like riding a bike!

Sam took a few turns to remember how
things worked, on skis, but once it clicked
he was crushing it!

30 November 2022: North Arm Trail

This was supposed to be an conifer walk for our nature study time, and while I swear there was at least one evergreen on this trail, apparently I was totally wrong! Oh well. We enjoyed the nature anyway. And then we came home to study the conifers we have in our own backyard (and living room) nfor the nature journal entry. ;)

I can't get enough of this late fall color palette.

Cool ice on the stream.

Thanksgivings

Our Thanksgivings (both of them!) were marvelous, as always. Can't beat that yummy food and family time! For the Blanchard feast on Sunday in West Haven, we made two pumpkin pies (Sam is obsessed so he helped make the filling and Gregg, being the champ that he is, made the crust), one apple pie, cranberry sauce, a cheese ball (I'm obsessed, so I always bring one), crescent rolls, and sweet spiced nuts (my newest obsession!).

We had a marvelous meal with marvelous company. We're always thankful to spend time with these folks!

We spent Thursday with the Elwoods in Providence. But first we had to prep more food! We made two apple pies, a pecan pie, and stuffing. (And we also brought the rest of the cheeseball, cranberry sauce and spice nuts I had made earlier.)

Double apple pie filling needs the BIG bowl
to mix!

First ever pecan pie doesn't look so bad (from the top -
it actually leaked out all over underneath the crust, but
it still tasted delish!).

Butter time! (For the stuffing! Oh, yeah!)

Before we headed to Cache Valley, on Thanksgiving morning we ran/walked in our first ever Turkey Trot just down the road by the junior high. Sam and Gregg were the runners - they did the 5K in 20 degree weather and totally rocked it! Callie and I did the mile and enjoyed the crisp bright morning walk.

They're ready to run!

Here are the routes. Everyone who ran
brought food donations and loaded them up
in this giant trailer.

Starting line - go!

It was a great turnout and a beautiful,
cold morning.

I spy the boys!

Rockin' it at almost the halfway point.

Cal and I were rockin' the walkin'.

I love that pose - two hands up. Victory!

He ran all the way through the finish line.
What troopers!

Hot chocolate at the end - sweet rewards.

He was so tuckered out he conked in the car
on the drive to grandma's house.

With the Elwoods, we feasted and visited and played our traditional thanksgiving-themed game of pig (this year it was DEER, in honor of Nate's contribution to the meal) in the backyard. Always a hoot when we have to made the sound of the animal and do a little action to represent it once we get out.

These two musicians are working on Heart
and Soul together!

They also love to pull out Grandma's bells and ring
some songs.

Coop looked so much like Kevin in Home Alone
with his green coat and red hat.

Sibs shot.

Minus Meg, plus Gregg.

This was the deer pose we did when we got
out - and Terrell one, so he gets to take aim.
(yikes!)

Uncle Mikey brought his Nintendo switch,
so the kids were all huddled around the 
teeny tiny screen to play video games while the big
TV was playing football. Ha.