Hiking

So the worst nightmare a hiker fears...maybe one of the nightmare's...I left my keys and had to hike ALL the way back to get them. We half ran half sprinted back to make beat the sun going down. Thankfully, my keys were there and I remembered the exact spot I left them. I didn't bring a backpack...I ALWAYS bring a backpack...this was supposed to be a short, happy hike with some friends...no biggie...till I left my keys...then it turned into a longer hike! I'm certain my friend might never hike with me.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed our fall hike, the fresh air, and the beautiful fall colors. The river was rushing, foaming, and churning madly, loudly downstream towards the dam....the dam was overflowing. Right then I was wishing for a wet suit and a red kayak!!!

I hope you are enjoying your fall! Hot cups of apple cider, cinnamon and mulled cider candles, colored trees, picking apples, and apple pie, sitting around the fire pit roasting marshmellows, mums and pumpkins....what is your favorite thing about Autumn?

Yours Truly~

Aubrey

Fall and Lentils

The world around me is a fury of orange, reds, and yellows. Fall has to be the most gorgeous time of the year in the Adirondacks.



Today is Columbus day{we got a library book about this holiday}. We did some school work and are heading to the Black River for some fall hiking with our friends. I don't normally take off for this holiday, but it is a gorgeous day..cool, crisp, sunny, and it would be plain torture to keep my kids locked inside for school on a day like this{another reason why I homeschool}....And sadly, I will not be here for another Fall season in the beautiful Adirondacks!







Lentil Soup in the crockpot...for supper!





1 cup dried lentils
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
32 ounces chicken broth
1 cup water
8 teaspoons tomato sauce
Directions
In a 3 1/2 quart or larger slow cooker combine the lentils, celery, carrots, onion, garlic and ham. Season with basil, thyme, oregano, the bay leaf and pepper. Stir in the chicken broth, water and tomato sauce. Cover and cook on Low for 11 hours. Discard the bay leaf before serving.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 222 Total Fat: 6.1g



Lentils are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and folic acid.



Lentils, like other beans, are rich in dietary fiber, both the soluble and insoluble type. Soluble fiber forms a gel-like substance in the digestive tract that snares bile (which contains cholesterol)and ferries it out of the body. Insoluble fiber not only helps to increase stool bulk and prevent constipation, but also helps prevent digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis.

Lentils are excellent in lowering cholesterol, they are of special benefit in managing blood-sugar disorders since their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal.Lentils also provide good to excellent amounts of six important minerals, two B-vitamins, and protein-all with virtually no fat.

History:
Lentils are believed to have originated in central Asia. They are one of the first foods to have ever been cultivated. Lentil seeds dating back thousands of years have been found at archeological sites in the Middle East. Lentils were mentioned in the Bible both as the item that Jacob traded to Esau for his birthright and as a part of a bread that was made during the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people.

I think I would LOVE to try this:
Moroccan lentil soup is easy to make. After cooking lentils, add diced vegetables of your choice and season with tamari{soy sauce}, coriander, cumin, turmeric and cayenne.

Off to go hiking~

Aubrey

Dear Diary...I DID it! I climbed Mt Marcy!

This climb was on my Bucket List...somewhere I don't remember what
number, cuz I always lose my list and have to rewrite it every
year, but anyway it's filed somewhere "up there" and I
mentally scratch it off my list with great satisfaction and
joy when I do that!!! Some of my lists consist of doing things
within a five-year period. This one however, was on my
list of "things to do before I leave New York"! My list is
pretty long:

1. Visit statue of liberty
2. Empire state building
2. Ground Zero
3. Nagra Falls
4. Go on a hot air balloon ride
5. Climb Mt Washington (highest peak in New Hampshire)
6. Camp on Cape Cod in Maine
7.Visit Boston and Plymoth Rock

I wonder if any of my computer friends keep lists like
this....I hope they'll share some of theirs :D

Mt Marcy is the highest peak in the Adirondacks as well
as New York. Friday at 4am I woke up fully dressed to
go hiking, gear packed ready to go. It was a 2 hour and 40
minute trip to the Adirondack state park.

We(hiking buddies)started the hike at around 7:30.
After about 3 miles we reached Marcy Dam pictured below.

We had to register in two different places

I was disappointed that I didn't see any wildlife, cept for
some birds and a chipmunk.

The trail started fairly easy with boards covering muddy areas.

This is the footbridge over Marcy Dam.

After a couple miles, we came to our first trail signs, with
trails breaking off in different directions.

After another mile, the trail began to get rockier and I
do mean rockier, as you can see, we began boulder hopping
so to speak...we had to calculate our steps and using our
hiking sticks to save our knees...at least mine. :P

after a few miles, we noticed no signs, and when we
did... the trail split in two, one way pointing
to Mt Phelps and the other way...well who knew?
Because we decided not to wait on the High Peak info center
to open to get a map.....We knew we would hike somewhat
around Phelps, but eenie meenie miny mo...we took the other
route and inwardly I was praying we were on the right trail
to Mt. Marcy...so much for everyone telling me the trail
was well marked. :P
We continued hiking up...gaining elevation quickly, I
thought of how people all around me are walking the
trail of life with no assurance of where they will end
up...they "HOPE" they are on the right path, but they
aren't reading the map, or seeing the signs. Right then
on the trail I was suddenly very thankful that God gave
me a map and a sign that I am indeed on the right path
headed for Heaven and there are signs everywhere in my
life, in my heart, and in His Word that I'm on the path
to Heaven. Funny how you can be out in the middle of nowhere
and God gives you a message! Too bad I can't preach. haha

When we got above the treeline, we followed these
yellow blazes painted on the rocks.

These rock formations are also used to lead the way to the
summit...they're called Rock Cairns.


We thought the rocks could not possible get bigger...but boy
were we wrong...they were bigger than me...much bigger...The
last mile was nothing but rock climbing only without a
harness or carabiners....although not liking heights I
was kinda wishing for some as this point.


I stubbornly refused to wear hiking boots...insisting on
wearing my trail running shoes...big mistake! My feet
are still hurting from walking over so much rock and
boulders...We rarely saw much dirt on the trail after
the first three miles.
So it turns out I didn't give myself enough credit for
being able to do this hike...I was nervous about it
to tell you the truth and figured it was gonna be
sure willpower and determination that got me to the
summit. We made super good time and arrived at the
summit peak an hour or so earlier than we calculated

This marker marks the summit!

We could see Lake Placid from Mt Marcy too.

The whole way hiking I was silently asking God to give
us clarity when we reached the summit so we could see all
the peaks of the Adirondaks and just enjoy the summit views.
I knew that afternoon summiting would limit any visibility and
we probably would be summiting in a huge fog. When we
reached the top we could see ALL the peaks. There was
some black menacing clouds in the distance that the
Ranger told us they sorta freaked him out, but the funny
thing was that they hadn't moved all morning. I smiled
to myself, thanking God that he kept the storm cloud
away until we made our summit. It was beautiful and
breathless and what an exhilarating feeling to be
standing on the highest peak in New York and accomplish
a mission I had set out to do. I felt pretty good!







Eating an MRE in honor of my hubby :D Pretty Gross!

Plaque honoring the man who first climbed Mt.Marcy.

We finished the hike in 10 hours...about 15 miles total.
So now I've shared my story....:D Now I need to go
soak these sore muscles.

Dear Diary, back to school already?

Today is the first day I didn't have to run around town,
visit a friend,or have people over...in the last couple weeks!!!
I cleaned house, painted a wall in my kitchen with chalkboard
paint(pics to come) caught up on laundry, squeezed in a devotions
and chat with the kids,went through some fabric to design some
new clothes for kiddos school year. Amazing the clothes you can
come up with in repurposing what you already have...hopefully
tomorrow between the gym, grocery store, and library I can
sew a little. phew...tired thinking about tomorrow already.

Last week, we went on another hike in search of more blackberries!
We didn't find any, but we went toad hunting,wrangled a snake,
and even did a little rock climbing!






Then last weekend, some missionaries to Bulgaria came and
stayed with our family while they presented their mission
to our church. We had a great time and I of course snuck
in a photoshoot for them!








School starts Monday for me and the following Monday is the
kids start date. Where did summer go??? I don't think I've
ever had a summer go by so fast, have you? As most of you
know I homeschool my kids, it's a disease. Once you got it
it just doesn't go away. This year I panicked a little
about school curriculum...wanting to provide a more
structured curriculum I checked out ACE School of Tomorrow.
It would cost close to 900.00 to adequately provide all the
books for all four kids. YIKES! That's more than my budget will
allow. I found 4th grade on Ebay...the whole shabang for 10
bucks!!!! It is used and I'll have to erase ever single book...
but I figured I saved 180.00 dollars. Then the Lord just
directed me to call my sis-n-law who homeschools, she had
just pulled out 7th grade switched-on-schoolhouse to find a
new home for as she wasn't going to use it...but God knew I
would, so I now have all three grades spoken for, and God
will provide for lil' girl's schooling in time! :D I love
how God provides...and it the nick of time! He knows my
needs before I do!!! Sometimes it pays to be "poor"...
we rely a lot more on God and are faith is increased
ARMY WIFE