Skiing with Sydney!

XC-Skiing with the Scrapper!

We've been above 0 for about a week and I think my blood is getting thicker (at last!). Mike went to St. Cloud on Friday and stayed overnight to go on a 3-4 hour off road ride in the snow, and on Sunday we headed out to Camden in more snow-flurries. We weren't sure of the conditions of the snow and thought that it would be icy there and so I just brought my snow boats, but Mike brought his (un-waxed wooden) ski's. My plan was to hike around for a few hours with Sydney while Mike skied. Sydney had different plans. The small hound was too quick for me and she took off on the ski trails!

I snow-hiked the mountain bike race course (about 6-7 miles) in the snow by myself while Mike and Sydney skied the trails. It was so lovely. Once I hiked out of the river valley area, the snow was deep and I was followed at one point by three big white tailed deer. It was still below freezing, but I got hot! I was over dressed. I never get hot. So I took off my arm-warmers and scarf and even my lobster gloves. (I still had on a long-sleeved craft and a wool jersey and big jacket...I wasn't going sleeveless!).

I've never spent much time in the snow though. I've gone downhill skiing/sledding and all that, but once done with the activity, I go inside and hang out. I highly recommend walking in the snow. It is so quiet. And the crunch of each footstep is satisfying---like taking a bite out of a crunchy fuji apple! Being followed by deer was also interesting. I felt like I was being watched or followed, and I kept looking behind me and saw nothing. Then I finally heard the crunch of branches, and three HUGE deer went galloping by. Their legs sank to their knees in the deep snow (Do deer have knees?)

Mike and I hooked back up when I hiked back down into the river valley. I heard Sydney's jingle and knew they were close by. Sydney probably ran about 10 miles in the snow...and she was tired the rest of the day. Mike and I then went a spent a lovely and long overdue evening with the Muchlinski's for homemade soup and sandwiches and dessert. Aunt Mary makes soup the real way...she gets her stock by using soup bones! And after a day out in the Prairie snow, nothing taste's quite as good as real homemade hot vegetable soup!

Happy Tuesday!