the weekend outdoors

We made the most of this weekend's warmish weather and spent as much time outside as we could.

Sundy morning waffles are so much better eaten outside on the picnic table.

But for Liam, forget about waffles: there is no better way to start the day than with an extra helping of mud.

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In the afternoon, we went out to Wedington for a hike.

Winter in the woods is so much more than drab browns and greys. The bare bones of the trees are striking against a cloudy sky.

And splashes of brilliant green are everywhere, waiting to be discovered.

Spring bulbs, like these daffodils, are beginning to peek out from beneath the leaves.

Every leaf, rock, branch, and bug was a treasure waiting to be uncovered by our little explorer and his beagle sidekick.

And a pile of leaves and branches are as good a spot as any for taking a break.

Then it was back to the trail for more exploring.

We found mushrooms.

We found small pools in unexpected places.

We found a "holstein cow" tree.

We found a stream.

We found benches for taking another little break.

We found deer droppings (exciting!).

And we found a good place to stop for a snack.

We found lots of things. But mostly, it was just great to get outside, stretch our legs, and feel connected to the land around us.

And then we found our way back home.

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Early in the evening, we spent some time in the yard, readying the garden for spring.

Apparently, I missed a couple bulbs of garlic when I dug them up last summer. These were growing in large clumps that needed room to stretch and grow. Much better.

There is still a lot more to be done before spring planting can begin, but this small taste has me yearning for spring to hurry up and stay for awhile.