Hiking

When my brother came to visit on President's Day weekend with his two friends, he insisted for me to take the day off work to spend the time with him. I obliged and we had a very fun time spending the day hiking in the desert.

The weather was perfect: overcast, and a little chilly. Not only is that refreshig weather to hike in, but considering the nature of the desert, it took the threat of rattlesnakes away. We started out the hike looking wistfully at a marked trail head, but that is all of the credit we gave the wooden weather-beaten sign marked 'Moonlight Trail'. Without much talk about it, we all turned from the sign and blazed our own trail. Our goal was soon a small hill in front of us.
Without much ado we soon were atop the hill and ate a small snack of granola bars. Going back down was a bit tricky, as the many rocks had little to hold them stable. My dad and I chose a wash to descend, which seemed quicker to us at first. It might have been the faster route except the the reliabilitly of the rocks we did have to choose from were very few. We both ended up silding most of the way down, and me taking about half the hill down with me. My shoes were just about worn to flimsy pieces of rubber by the time I got down...

During the hike I enjoyed looking at the landscape. Cactuses are an amazing thing. They have a defense system to protect them during the long years it takes for them to grow. Every bit of moisture in the air is precious to them. They bloom beautiful flowers in the spring; the bright colors vastly contrasting the dull gray and tan desert. Barrel cactuses are filled with drinkable water inside. The desert may be desolate, bare, and empty compared to ubundant forestes with underbrush, trees, ivy, moss - any type of greenery- covering every square inch, but the gems of the desert musn't be belittled. The life is rare, the moisture dear, and the toil hard. I have a lot of respect for desert vegetation, though forests are beautiful as well.

Update

Yes, it has been a while.
Things that have happened...

My brother got married in December and I have a delightful new sister-in-law. This was my first time being a bridesmaid, and it was fun. The reception went wonderfully smooth and everybody seemed to enjoy it a lot. I had the opportunity to meet a whole new array of charming people.

Christmas was fun, as it always is; though the family missed the abscence of a sibling due to her work. Last Christmas I appreciated even more the irreplaceable meaning to the celebration. I was thrilled to have a chance to go to church on the actual day. A fleeting thought crossed my mind, and I wonder how Chirstmas would be with no presents? I think that I would rather like it. I suggested this idea to the family in the midst of last minute shopping, stress, company and the usual hubbub, but the few ears that caught the quiet suggestion dimissed it. Mom said that she agreed, though I doubt the popularity of the idea of presents would allow my radical idea to take many steps. Maybe I'll follow through with it when I have a family.

For Christmas we were delighted to entertain my dad's brother, his wife and three children. Grandma came for New Year's, which we were equally happy about.

That is a basic update. :)