A Get Away

This is a ski slope at Alpine Lake.  It is no longer an active slope but with a few inches of snow you could make it happen!

We all need a get away once in a while.  My sweetie and I have been induring some stressful times as most people in our times have/are.  To add to the stress, my sweetie has also been busy with the many projects we have going on around our house.  Project #1: we are finishing the den where we have the woodstove.  We would love to enjoy its warm glow during cold and cooler weather but the room is unfinished and not very enjoyable to be in.  So, a couple of months ago we began working on it and only have a few more things to complete to call it done. Project #2: the outdoor living space.  This project is being done in 3 phases because of cost and time issues.  The first phase is clearing the area of trees and creating the space for an outdoor fireplace and seating area.  This phase, well,  it's going pretty well.  We should be putting in the fireplace this weekend.  I really shouldn't say "we" since it's my sweetie and son who are doing most of the work.  My job is to pick out the materials and approve the designs. I like my job in this. 

2nd phase of the outdoor living area is to install a pizza oven and add more sqare footage to the space.  That will begin this fall.  Next spring we will be adding more space and a firepit.

Stopping for a rest on one of our hikes.

Anyway, about the get away.  My sweetie and I booked a 3 bedroom house in Alpine Lake, WV.  We've been looking at this area for awhile because we would love to buy a lot or a house in this area.  The lake is a non-motorized lake, and there are hiking trails in the area.  It's a woodland community that has a serenity that reaches down to my soul. We woke up each morning to the melodic chirping of the birds...well, honetly I think it was Sadie, our border collie, that woke us up with her whining...she needed to go out to do her business.  The temps are at least 10 degrees cooler than in our area; we lit a fire in the fireplace each evening and morning...another peaceful and relaxing activity that reached down to my soul! 

Sadie taking a break during one of our hikes

We tried not to think about the stress that has been hounding our lives, nor about the work that needs to be completed in the next few weeks.  We read, watched a couple of movies, hiked, enjoyed fireside chats, made breakfast lunch and dinner together (the nearest resturants and stores are 20 mins away); we simply rested, which isn't an easy thing to do when you have so much going on, but if you put your mind to it, it can be done.

Sadie is an excellent trail dog.  She runs ahead to scope out the area but doesn't get out of site from us.  Here she has stopped to wait on us as she often does when she gets to far ahead.

Of course, all to soon our little getaway came to an end.  We drove home and stepped back into our regular lives.  I must admit though, the getaway accomplished what we needed, R&R so we could "carry on".

Till next time

~willa~