So Many Things to Say

Wow, I’ve had a lot of thoughts I’ve wanted to share with you but, it’s been the holidays, and I’ve been on a(nother) writing jag, and so it’s gotten away from me.

I’m going to start with what’s easy, and work my way forward from there.

Happy New Year!

I can still say that on January 4th, right?

We had a white November and December, and then we had rain, and warm temperatures and so it was a mostly green Christmas. Which meant, for us, it was a holiday of hiking, instead of a holiday of skiing or snowshoeing. We hiked at Shirley’s Bay by the Ottawa River, which was pretty:

This creek runs to the river.

Which was very atmospheric on the day we were there.

And, doesn’t this look a bit like The Road Not Taken?

Then, on actual New Year’s Day, because I kind of have this theory that the way you start the year is the way you’ll keep living it, so you need to do the things you want to commit to all year, we went on another hike.

This was at Mud Lake, which we love so much that I’ve written about it before.

Mud Lake is truly magical at all times of year. We’ve never been there when it’s been this cold (because even though we didn’t have snow it was COLD) and I’ve never seen the whole lake frozen.

It was amazing. People were skating everywhere – not just on the little hockey area I’ve seen them at other times. It’s hard to describe what it was like to hike around this lake while everywhere we went there were skaters just a few feet from us.

I didn’t take my camera, and then I wanted to kick myself for NOT taking my camera, so here are pictures courtesy of my husband’s iPod:

Just a reminder again – this is in the MIDDLE OF THE CITY.

Gotta say, snow or no snow, Ottawa’s not a bad place to live!

In addition to getting out in the fresh air, and working my muscles, I experienced something new, and beautiful on January 1, so I hope that carries through the rest of the year. For me – and for all of you, too!