Mother Nature is showing off again

Do we look happy?  Of course we do.  And why shouldn't we?  After all, Grandma and Grandpa gave us two days off and took care of our children and goats so my sweetie and I could escape without kids.

Steve and I did what we usually do when we have time without kids: hike in beautiful scenery, eat insanely good food, read, knit (that would be me, not Steve), and other activities related to these sorts of circumstances, nudge nudge wink wink.

Mother Nature put on a show for us, with some dramatic cloud formations and colors.  We hiked at Bowman Bay, Ebey's Landing State Park, and then went to Coupeville to a lovely Air B and B.  In case you never heard of this sort of thing, it's a great alternative to hotels and can be quite a lot cheaper (and funner).  Google it.

It's so easy to get caught up in day-to-day life, taking care of all the thousands of details involved with making a living, raising children, and running a farm and household.  How quickly we slip into predictable routines where we take each other for granted, or worse, where we resent each other.  

Does this ever happen to you?  Sure it does.

Without wanting to come across as preachy, and realizing that I am basking in the afterglow of having spent two very relaxing, bonding days with my husband, I want to encourage every couple to spend some time without kids.  I know, I know... it's really hard to do, especially if you don't have reliable people you can trust with your kids.  But if you can make it happen, do it.  It's so worth it.  Even if you can only get away for two hours to go on a walk, or to drink coffee together without any interruptions.

Our getaway ended at Deception State Park with this big finale:

Back home, life is back to its busy pace.  Baking Christmas cookies features big on the list, as well as our new obsession: cutting out paper snowflakes (Thanks to Brooke at the Upper Skagit Library for inspiring us!  See?  You created monsters!).
I made a Christmas wreath from materials cut in our and the neighbors' yard (cedar, hemlock, fir, holly), and if you want to make one yourself, check out the tutorial I wrote about it last year.

I will leave you with an image of my son Luke, who is starting to help with milking chores.  Finally a kid who is interested in milking the goats!  He did great, milking an entire two quarts from our goat Quasar while our other doe Dandelion looked on.  Luke even managed to get most of the milk into the pail!  Go Luke!