Aha! I was right when I said it would be September before I would post again. Don’t worry though — I’m not clairvoyant, I just had a little insider information. We took a little family trip to Utah — our favorite place to visit. We were all together — TheManoftheHouse, both boys, SweetiePie and FinallyAGirl. Everyone just wanted to have a relaxing vacation, but TheSecondChild and I wanted to do some hiking, so, on the second day we were there, we hiked the Timpanooke Trail.
We didn’t get to the trail until around 9 a.m. and we took the wrong trail right off the bat. After about a mile, I realized that something was wrong so we turned around to go back to the parking lot. Halfway back, we ran into three hikers and while I was asking them where the right trail was, I realized that the 3rd hiker was Amber! What are the odds of meeting someone you know out in the middle of nowhere??? That was a fun surprise, and of course, provided teasing material for the boys for the rest of the trip — they think this whole blogging thing is pretty funny.
Anyway, we lost 2 miles and an hour, but we finally found the right trail and hiked away. The scenery and views were gorgeous!
By 2 p.m. we made it to the meadow just below the saddle and stopped for a little snack and rest. We kept on going, but when we came to the bluffs, just below the saddle, TheSecondChild decided that he’d had enough. The trails along the bluffs were steep and rocky with a few washed out places and he was worried about how we’d get back down. So, with just a half-mile to go, we turned around. So Sad! In hindsight, and as I look at the pictures that I took on the way back down, I think that little bluff area was very short and we should have kept going. Oh well. I hiked it when I was in college, so, I’ve seen those stunning views from the top. I hope maybe TheSecondChild will try it again some day.
The hardest part was the 3 hours coming back down. The trails are really rocky and uneven and hard on the feet. I didn’t have my boots tied tightly enough, so I have lots of bruised and blistered toenails that will be my souvenirs for a few months. Ouch! The upside of the whole hike were the gorgeous views and the mountain goats. We saw several of them and there are so many people that do this hike that they don’t seem to be afraid of us. Not that they’re friendly, but they don’t run and hide! I think mountain goats are SO amazing — how do they climb those rocky cliffs with hoofs and not plummet to their deaths??? (This is not a zoomed in picture — we really are that close. This is the bluff area where we turned around — the mountain goats and lots of other people could handle it, but we couldn’t LOL.)
My sore toes hampered any other hiking that I wanted to do for the rest of the week, so we just took it easy and hung out. One morning, we went to the Olympic Park and watched the ski jump practices — always fun! That afternoon, TheManoftheHouse and TheSecondChild went to a gun range where they had a great time playing with machine guns. Men!
The rest of the time was just spent loafing around. I didn’t even take very many pictures.
My very favorite thing was spending time with this little cherub. I got lots of cuddle time and the best part was several times when I got to walk with her and sing her to sleep (no rocking to sleep for this one — she likes to be on the move!) There’s nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby in your arms!
Here’s a shot of her in her new little Liberty bonnet. It fit just right, with a wee bit of room to grow. She’s getting so fun now — she’s a smiley girl and loves to lay out and kick and squeal. She’s growing too quickly!
Now we’re back home and I’m having trouble with re-entry. I spend my days aimlessly looking at quilt pictures, dreaming of all the quilts I’ll never have time to make in this lifetime. There’s SO much inspiration out there! I need to work on lots of UFO’s though. Speaking of — it’s dreary and gloomy here today, so I’m headed to the dungeon to try and make some headway on a certain baby quilt. Happy Weekend!
XOXO,
Anna
I love hiking trails like that but my hips and knees no longer let me do the really long hikes and I have to keep stopping to sit for five minutes to give my hips a break – I’m lucky to do 4 to 5 miles now — when we where in Glacier National Park last time a hike we took we had the mountain goats walking alongside of us and I mean they were only about 5 or 6 feet away I could have almost reached out my hand to touch – but I didn’t! they do not seem to be afraid as long as you keep walking and mind your own business Sounds like such a nice family time.
damn! those goats are beautiful! not as beautiful as #finallyagirl in her beautiful bonne! ;p
hope the toes heal quickly.
I don’t know what I love more, photo’s of FinallyAGirl or the photo’s of that amazing landscape and the trails. WOW! Unfortunately I can’t hike anymore, I was recently diagnosed with arthrosis in almost all my joints. Such a shame!
Your Grandgirl is such a sweetie!
Everything is gorgeous , the beautiful grand daughter and her bonnet is precious – so glad it’s turn out great and fit her perfectly!!!!
Awww, she’s adorable in her wee hat, Anna. :o)
Truly beautiful scenery!!! Little sweetie looks so cute in her bonnet!!
gorgeous views from your walk…………
Little C is adorable. Glad you had a nice relaxing trip wi family! Sorry to have missed you but family time is everything! When you come for extended visits in the future. That bonnet is darling!
Looks like a perfect family trip! The little one is gorgeous (especially in the little sunbonnet)! I know what you mean about the “re-entry” process. I could say the same :) Hope your toes are all better !
I had no idea Utah was so beautiful! And you must surly be as surefooted at those goats…..But more than the scenery that picture of Finallyagirl won the prize for the day….what a little sweetie! And the bonnet is beautiful!
BTW thanks for your encouragement/kickinthepants — I finally finished my little granduaghter’s quilt!
I’m sure the last thing you are is “surly!” Of course I meant “surely!” Too quick to click…..
Stunning views on your hike. And that little baby girl is so cute… You must be totally smitten!
what gorgeous scenery! Wow. Rugged too. I love your mountain goat photo – I love seeing animals in the wild.
What a cutie your grandbaby is. Her bonnet is perfect and she looks so so sweet.
Beautiful scenery ! Sorry about your poor toes :( Your Granddaughter is so cute and her bonnet is darling. xoxo
Sounds like a wonderful trip! Amazing pictures from your hike. Good luck focusing on projects :) I could use some of that, myself.
Wow, it sounds like you had a wonderful family trip. Your hike sounds strenuous and really thrilling and the photos are gorgeous. I love FinallyAGirl’s bonnet, how pretty and what a beautiful baby girl!
Those views! The mountain goat! So cool!
That baby girl — she’s a keeper. She looks so adorbs in her bonnet.
I hope your toes heal up quickly. Ouchie.
Wow, she is extremely adorable! Love reading about your trip. TOTALLY! understand: so much inspiration and so much I want to do and so many UFOs. Question: Did you get custard at Neilsons while in Utah??? I love that stuff!
Beautiful pictures, as always! Love-love the bonnet on baby, who is adorable (as I’m sure you know). Tell me–what do you do to stay fit for hiking in between hiking trips?
What stunning scenery, and I love the goat! As for the grandbaby ……. she is just so cute!!
What a gorgeous place to hike. I’m sure you must have felt like mountain goats yourself. One of my best friends now I met through blogging. Blogs are awesome. Little Darling in her bonnet.
Such a great family trip! And the most adorable baby picture in the Liberty bonnet…..so very sweet! Yes, I love cuddling babies…..that magical feeling of a little babe asleep in your arms…..sigh X
you wouldn’t believe how many brain cells i had to use to “get” be-utah-ful – sheesh!!! probably wore me out more than the trail would have (i followed the link – 15+ miles!!! i’m with TheSecondChild, ‘cept i would have turned back sooner) … FinallyAGirl just keeps getting prettier and prettier – so sweet!
So glad you had a good time with family. Always the best! That baby girl is soooooo sweet, and the little bonnet is perfect.
Oh what a beautiful area you visited, so rugged and unspoiled. My toe hurts in sympathy though. I know how that feels. That little girl of yours is growing fast, isn’t she. But it’s such a fun and lovely time when their personality comes out more and more.
Your photography is gorgeous, not to mention the sweet baby in the beautiful bonnet! I just love a baby in a bonnet!
I love family trips! Don’t know how I miss d this post. FInallyaGirl is just adorable.as you said, nothing quite like cuddle with a baby. Our youngest doesn’t like rocking either…walk, walk walk Nana! But she is full of smiles and the happiest girl. And that’s a very good thing!
What do you mean you are not psychic??????? What a disappointment! You know, you can learn! lol What a marvelous mini vacation …. thanks for taking me along for the ride. I read you about UFO … I’m on it! Cheers!