I made it to March!

Ugh, it's March already and we are almost done with this harsh winter of 24/25.  There was a time, in my younger days, when I loved winter in the North Country.  I went downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing.  For many years, I spent a week in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks with friends.  Those were the days!  I've climbed several of the 46 High Peaks in the winter.  There are so many memories from those days.  But one I will cherish for the rest of my life.  My friend, Nancy Lauterbach, and I spent a long weekend in the Keene Valley area of the Adirondacks.  With the help of our Inn keeper, we left a car at our finishing point and she drove us into Lake Placid to the start of our day.  We cross country skied the Jack Rabbit Trail all day long.  I don't remember how many miles we covered.  But I do remember it was one of the best winter days I have ever had.  It was such a pleasant day on the trail, excellent snow and weather conditions.  We stopped at a ski touring place for lunch and that hot bowl of chili was just what we needed on a cold winter day.  We mostly had the entire trail to oursselves!  In the afternoon a man and his Black Lab passed us.  I don't know who was enjoying the trail more, that man or his dog!

Now that I'm older, well okay, I admit, I'm a "senior citizen," those things are in my past.  I'd rather curl up on the couch with a good book or watch a movie, or any number of things that can be done in the warmth of my home!

Compared to the last several years, this was a particularly rough winter, temps well below average, strong winds, snow. . .

But now we are into March and even today's temps in the teens can't take away my excitement!  Soon I will be firing up one of my two smokers to smoke a piece of meat.  And my annual cousins' reunion isn't too far off.  Bring on Summer!!!