Reaching the Peak

The trail began as a flat dirt path surrounded by green grass, wide enough to walk beside a friend. Gradually it shifted. Rocks replaced dirt and the grass disappeared as the trail narrowed and pushed deeper into the woods, steeper with each step.  Stepping over logs and clinging...

Making a Plan

Scattered all over the table and spilling onto the floor, our gear for tomorrow's backpacking adventure filled our dining room. Afraid we would forget something essential, we checked our list meticulously. Hiking gear, food, fuel, first aid, rain gear, cook stove, tents - all accounted for.  Earlier...

Empty Promises

After a long day of hiking, our canteens were empty and our bodies yearned for rest and replenishment. We passed a sign on the path labeled "Spring" with an arrow pointing to a spur trail through the woods. Water from a cold, clean mountain spring was just the...

Climbing Mountains

The rain began pattering our tent before the sun came up. Yesterday, we hiked a few miles up a steep trail and were blessed with a beautiful view of the valley from the mountain peak. The mid-July weather had been perfect--sunny, not too hot, not too...

Summer Phone Wallpaper

We hope this summer wallpaper will be a reminder to enjoy and celebrate the simple great things in life. "All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope." - Winston Churchill Download and enjoy one (or...

Clearing the Clutter

I love watching the home decorating shows on TV. The designer takes something that was once outdated, unused, or forgotten and transforms it into something new, beautiful, and inspiring. Most often the transformation is something the homeowner would have never imagined. While the end product always...