We got back home from our visit to family in NY, last night. It was a wonderful time and I’ll be posting pictures from those memorable visits this week.
At 8 o’clock this morning, I woke up too late to get myself and the babies out the door for church, so Rich went with Jacob, Ethan, Grace, David, and Caleb while I stayed behind with Seth and Sarah.
The weather was misty, slushy, and wet. I had my eyes on the great outdoors as I took care of the little ones and got started on the unpacking.
Hours later, after Rich and the kids got back from church and everyone was resting and/or napping, I asked my husband if he would go on a walk with me.
The two of us pulled on our boots and walked away from the house, to the woods, hand in hand. We talked and laughed and remembered other walks, in other times, in other woods. Glad to have today. Glad to have each other.
We walked through mud, wet snow, small puddles. The air smelled fragrant. In the woods it smelled of wet bark and pine, when we came into the field it smelled like slightly warmed earth…still wintry cool, a bit thawed and alive.
Because of all the snow and then the spring like air, we had a very white and foggy morning….I loved how the fog was still gently covering the floor of the woods at 1:30 in the afternoon.
Isn’t it magical?
Rich thought I was crazy when I tasted the drops of water on the pine needles. It was delicious though. I read somewhere that you can make a healthy tea from pine needles. Has anyone ever tried it?
Deer tracks:
Rich, being a stinker during a self-timer photo;
And the one we kept;
When we left the woods we stomped our feet to get the snow off them and walked back up to the house. He’s taking a little nap now and later on we will watch football, drink coffee, and play PIT with the kids.
Happy New Year!
PS, We hugged and kissed, too. Kisses in the fresh air are especially nice. I can’t think of a better way to spend the beginning of the new year…with my beloved husband.
Good to be Home 
How pretty! What fun to go on a walk alone, together.Enjoy your Sunday. =)
Beautiful pictures, Shanda—I am amazed at the beauty of your woods in January. I enjoyed all of the shots–especially the close up of the moss. Glad your new year is off to a good start.
Beautiful post, Shanda! Today is our anniversary and there’s plenty of kisses going on around this place of ours today, for sure!
awesome!! What a fabulous day for you.. yes,, it looks magical.. i’ll have to look into that tea. 🙂
It does look like a magical walk.
sounds romantic:)
Lovely…ethereal…
It got foggy here too! It was great to spin some tales with the kids about the fog; all sorts of mythical creatures etc.As for pine needle tea, I don’t know. I do know that my great grandmother would nibble on the new pine buds in the spring.
very “magical” looking. I like the gentle fog. I have heard of making pine needle tea, but never tried it myself.
Beautiful pictures, and what a wonderful blessing to have a few moments alone. Our children love the game PIT! Pine needle tea sounds delicious.
Beautiful! I love the fog in the pictures! I agree what a nice way to spend the afternoon!
the pictures look whimsical! happy new year shanda~
We had fog here this morning and it had rained in the night so everything was covered in droplets of water with the sun making everything “sparkle!” Great pictures!
Loved looking at your pictures! The fog in those was so cool looking! It’s been awhile since I’ve been on Xanga so I’m trying to reconnect. You have a beautiful family! It’s been so long since I’ve been on that I was pleasantly surprised you had a seven month old -lol.
Shanda,The forest pictures look like a fairy land…beautiful!What a joy to walk hand in hand with the man of your dreams So glad you’re enjoying this New Year and soaking up all the good around you.~Cinnamon
The woods look so magical and special. Wonderful to get out on such a walk with Rich. I was looking at a book we bought David for Christmas. It lists edible plants, so I was just reading about pines and all the uses for food, tea, etc. A rainy day here. Yesterday was stunning and I will be posting some finds that Nick and David had yesterday at our nature area, the tide pools.
our family played pit over Christmas and had lots of fun not being quiet while playing it to say the least 😉
Wonderful
i ALWAYS leave your site blessed!! your walk in the woods looks and sounds simply magical and delightful.your love and adoration of your husband and family are TruLy an inspiration!blessings your way, i pray!~r
Looks beautiful!
I always smile when I read your posts…so uplifting! I haven’t played PIT in years, I do remember it being very loud and so much fun.
the beautiful outdoors, the mist in the trees, the fresh smell of the evergreen, your husband by your side, time spent with just you and the littlest ones…what a beautiful beginning to the year! May the Lord bless you and Rich and your family in the year ahead!
What a great way to spend the day:)