The texture of moments on a winter hike
Posted on | January 10, 2006 |
Bright winter sunlight like a pitcher of lemonade spread across the morning sky. Today was one of those days where each moment was saturated with goodness. A long nap with Bean curled in the nook of my arm, my nose pressed into the softness of his hair. Pad thai at the local noodle shop with painted paper umbrellas hanging from the ceiling and pink plastic chopsticks.
A hike up a small mountain in late afternoon. The land around rubbed flat ages ago by a glacier. Tall black pine silhouettes and the sun setting into a ragged cloud line, like someone’s white laundry hung out to dry after being washed with a lone red sock.
We passed two old men sitting on mono skis, taking a rest shooting the breeze in the middle of the trail while their dogs sniffed the tell tale yellow signatures that marked snow banks. A dad and his son on a sled shot by us like a rocket, the grin on his kid’s face spreading out into the whizzing air around his head.
The moon was so milky and almost full on our way back down the trail that our figures cast pale shadows on the ground, our bodies backlit. Bean in the backpack sang the whole time and stuck his tongue out inquisitively into the cold air. His cheeks like cherry stains, ruddy and round, tucked into the hood of his snowsuit.
Heading towards home we stopped at a coffee shop to eat nutty carrot cake and cappuccinos, and the warmth of the cup made my hands tingle.
setting sun
me & the Bean
moon tree
underbrush
twilight over the valley
Comments
24 Responses to “The texture of moments on a winter hike”
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January 10th, 2006 @ 11:53 pm
today’s adventure sounds like such a marvelous way to spend a winter day!
January 11th, 2006 @ 12:04 am
Your every day sounds like a chapter in a really interesting book! My day, uh…let’s just say I survived it. HA!
January 11th, 2006 @ 1:02 am
oh i just love this glimpse into your day. the photos are fantastic. such fun and joy in your face.
January 11th, 2006 @ 2:34 am
I’m trying not to drip with envy reading about your day…sounds FABULOUS!
January 11th, 2006 @ 3:41 am
*happy sigh* I love your observant eye for detail.
January 11th, 2006 @ 9:05 am
ZA-ZING! Splendor in the winter— and so lovely that you share it with us all– that photo of you and Bean is a keeper!
January 11th, 2006 @ 9:20 am
Color me green …
January 11th, 2006 @ 9:57 am
such imagery!
you are exquisitely blessed to live in such a wonderland!
January 11th, 2006 @ 10:39 am
You sound as happily present in the now as I am … and not many people are.
January 11th, 2006 @ 10:59 am
Is that Mt. Philo? When we lived in VT that was my favorite easy hike. Perfect for getting out with kids without being too epic. Darn jealous!
January 11th, 2006 @ 11:13 am
Pink cheeks and rosy lips on a baby are one of the world’s most beautiful things, aren’t they?
January 11th, 2006 @ 11:21 am
Okay I love thispost, like all the others, but I particularly love this one because only you could make yellow snow sound so pretty! ROFL!
January 11th, 2006 @ 11:23 am
beautiful… Lily kept wanting to see the picture of the baby and happy mommy.
January 11th, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Lovely..
January 11th, 2006 @ 1:16 pm
AWESOME. God, I ache for New England!! Take a few extra-deep breaths of that crisp, clean air for me, would ya?
January 11th, 2006 @ 1:17 pm
Beautiful - I especially like the moon tree.
January 11th, 2006 @ 1:20 pm
i love the phrase, his cheeks like cherry stains…that just did something for me…
it has the right sound…
and you have inspired me to want to take
my kids out walking/hiking…although we would be hard pressed to find a hill of any capacity here…heehee
January 11th, 2006 @ 2:09 pm
aww, what a precious pic of you and bean. so sweet. you both look happy and full of life.
January 11th, 2006 @ 2:45 pm
I so love the picture of you and Bean!
January 11th, 2006 @ 6:51 pm
what a delicious day. and your pics are amazing…as always.
January 12th, 2006 @ 1:06 am
Lucious detail! I enjoyed losing myself for a minute while I read about your day. Wonderfully woven.
January 12th, 2006 @ 10:00 am
New visitor. Love your words and your images. And I live in Northern New England myself! When the rain goes away and the snow comes back, you’ve inspired me to bundle up my kids and take to the woods!
January 13th, 2006 @ 12:02 am
Bee-you–tee-ful!
January 16th, 2006 @ 8:55 pm
oh my goodness, it all sounds so lovely.