Kid Friendly

Nolan Trail
   Easy to follow Trails Takes
Newport News Park
   Easy to follow Trails well marked
First Landing
  Easy to follow trail, Pay attention to signs Keep kids  from going of path 
  Depending on route you choose will decide childs age

Distance

Nolan Trail  5 Miles

Merchant Mill Pond

Lassiter Trail 7 Miles walk from Parking 1-2 Miles

First landing

Nice Hair

 

I saw this duck and Elvis came to mind

Writing week

Let the writing begin... All next week I will taking every spare moment to write write write... I belong to a group called Book in a week.  I found them in the Writers Digest and  since joining have enjoyed the challenge but alas I took a great bit of time off and this week will be my first time back in a long time.. So from Monday to Sunday I will be letting my creative juices flow and spelling be damned.. Ha now that's funny, 10 pages 250 words a page in  7 days. Will let you know how it went wish me luck...

Snow Day

Well for a change  the weather man got it right. and  we had 5 inches of snow earlier today. The kids  where up at 7am and it was so funny to hear their reaction " Mommy you have a billion snowflakes covering your garden." I am sure you guessed that was my 5 yr old. then a very excited  girl came down and before I knew it  folks was dressed and outside. 

They had a blast and so did I watching them and of course I could not resist when the neighbor offered me a ride down the street on the sled.. I laughed so hard and loud going down the street folks must have thought I was crazy but you know that was one of the best moments and one I can count  when I say there are times  when I have felt my freest. Not confined just free, spirit soaring like a bird above all things. That kind of free.. I was humming on the way to work in a snow storm and happy to be there, got to work for a bit and came home still humming and feeling great. G-d I love when I have moments like that and what made it even more is it was with my kids.


Not bad for a Snow Day

check out the slide show

Drinking and Blogging

Just a quick note Drinking after not eating all day and  trying to blog not a good idea. I'm just saying......

Valentine's day cards

I saw a card long ago that made me laugh. It was a I hate Valentine's day card. Sadly I have not seen them since. Over time I have seen cards that where cheeky, dam riske and gross. Sadly today I don't recall to many if any memorable ones. You know the ones you cherish for ever.

This year is no different except this year I will be sitting overnight watching over the homeless in a local program. At this moment it feels like there is no home for my heart so maybe watching over them on Vday has a purpose. I once read where a young girl said she did not beleive in coincidence. Neither do I maybe there is a pourpse to the timing of things in my life.

Maybe as the hawk or eagle that flew overhead is reminder to step back and look at the bigger picture and appreciate the details this to is what Valentines day and the homeless mean.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

bloging life

Blogging was suppose to be a way for me to vent my feeling no matter what they where or what others may think. I have found that there have been many times when I needed to and I have not because taking others into cosideration has affected that. I fond that again I concern myself so much about others I get no relief and the facade is built yet again . Protecting others and how they are seen. Some would say that's a good thing .... I'm not so sure it maybe good for them but ... You get the picture... Then maybe you don't

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

After the storm

Afternoon walk with Grandma

Old Still

 Blue Dragonfly

Butterfly

Lion at Nolan Trail entrance Newport News VA

Merchants Mill Pond Park

Yesterday was a wonderful 34 degrees and my daughter and I head south to North Carolina's Merchant Mill Pond state park to hike with the group we belong to. Well due to getting turned ( read as lost) around a few times( 3x's) we miss the group be hiked it on our own.

It was amazing to see the dark and dankness of the swamp hold such brilliant greens from the algae and moss growing on the Bald Cypress. Spanish moss hung like the delicate hair of a well polished lady from the trees. Bald Cypress rose from the water with wide strong trunks and cove Like openings which housed giant spiders and bats which I had the great pleasure of not meeting. The water reflected the beauty of the scene like a perfectly polished mirror.

Crossing the foot bridge over the swap you emerge into shades of brown and green. The older trees in there glory stand with the green of young pine trees first years. Moving up the path the younger trees take dominance some standing a little higher than five five. Leaving the bright green of new trees you cross bridges still laden with the dusting of snow from the day before.

The trees here don't seem as old or as majestic as the cypress but they have an aura all there own. Energetic energies of youth seem to be abound in the bright green needles as they line the trail. Moving along the trail you pass into Beech trees which hold the white paint marks guiding you along the trail. Crossing other small bridges you make your way along and over streams That seem to be cut from the ground. Fallen trees lay covered in mushrooms and moss and ferns.

It's getting late and racing the setting sun back to the trail head we pause and sit on a memorial bench built along the bridge and in the waters of the Lassiter Swamp. Sitting there only mere seconds an eeriness comes over us from sitting over the water with only our feet on the bridge. Jumping up we shake of the feelings while laughing and race back to the visitor center. Checking out the visitors center before we go we find out about the gators, bears and bobcats as well as other inhabitants of the park.

Looking back the best lesson learned from this day is hit the visitor center first. 

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Sunday School

Not just for kids anymore , well at least not at my Shul.  I very rarely come to Sunday school with my kids but when I get a chance  I go and  it is always a wonder for me at what knowledge I learn from just listening to my Rabbi. I am also amazed at the amount of knowledge I have when it comes to my religion and its history and rules.  I realize that I am  fortunate to have the ability and love of  knowledge that allows me to absorb what I hear and read thought my ability to   quote  who wrote it  not so much. Today we  was learning  Tub Shavat,  and reading excerpts from   Trees Earth and Torah a Tu B’Shavat anthology  If you have a chance to read it please do. Reminds you of your place in the world..  

Will have to go to Sunday school more often ..

it's been quiet here

Life has been busy and stressfull. There is so much I want to do but I have to get a schedule together that will allow me to do so. Once I figure that out I will hit all my blogs on a regular basis even if only weekly for the time being

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]