A Walk On The Mild Side

Weather. We've been talking about it all winter. Again and again we hear weather reports about our unusually warm winter. While it's nice to have less shoveling, I kind of miss the white stuff, the whipping winds and the burst of cold. It's just different. No layers, no wet boots, no trudging, no hot chocolate, no stories of roughing it out there in these winter months. 

As they say, make hay while the sun shines. It seems we are. While I'm out walking I see the usual runners and walkers, rain or shine and I'm still surprised as the bikes go whizzing by and the zippy sports cars buzz by with tops down...it's supposed to be winter

Yesterday, I took the dogs for a walk in the woods. As we rambled along the blue trails through the leafless hardwoods, deciduous maples and pine thickets, I reminisced of winter days we did these walks regularly as a family.  We used to bundle the kids up in snowsuits, boots, mittens and scarves and push through the snow, then up to their knees. We'd stop to skate where ice appeared in the middle of trails, create stories of chipmunk families ice skating there and gathering for hot chocolate on the mossy carpet for a story.

Today, our kids are teenagers and not so eager to go trailblazing with mom. It's more likely that there will be eyes rolling or looks of horror. I get it. That's okay. Maybe someday. Besides, time alone with the dogs is a delight. 

The sun was setting as we left THE TRAILS.......we walked along THE ROAD, quiet roads during school vacation. We continued despite the darkness....through BAUER PARK where we surprised some deer and they startled us as they darted off. The dogs sipped from the pond to wet their whistle after miles.

The moon, the setting sun and the stars were our lights. I used my flashlight only for the sake of cars which passed infrequently. We slowed down as we walked through the green or THE MADISON GREEN HISTORIC DISTRICT and sat for a minute on a bench near the flag at the war memorial.

As we approached our MADISON CENTER, my husband called to offer us a ride home! Perfect timing. We strolled through town to check out all of the store windows, Scranton Library, the movies playing and even a drink for the dogs in the water bowl set out by "The Modern Dog"! 

Our walk turned into a great exploration. 

http://www.madisonlandtrust.org/

http://madisonct.com/

http://www.madisonct.org/bauer/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madison_Green_Historic_District 

http://www.scrantonlibrary.org/

/http://www.madisonartcinemas.com/

Pet Supplies Madison, CT - The Modern Dog