The Year of Me: Week 4- Cromwell Valley Park

So this week I spent my me time hiking in the woods at Cromwell Valley Park in Baltimore County. This is the same place I shot these images and these images.   I went early Sunday morning with my camera and took a nice long, snowy walk.  I did pass a few runners while I was there...but otherwise it was just me and the birds.  And while I am on the subject, who the heck runs in the ice and snow?  The snow was pretty deep, although a single lane path was packed down from walkers, but still?  Broken ankle, anyone?

I followed a beautiful stream, and although it had not snowed in a few days, the temperature has been below freezing, allowing the snow to remain stuck to the trees.  It was a beautiful winter wonderland.  

During my hike, I passed one of my favorite abandoned buildings.  I wish walls could talk so I knew what the story was behind this house.    This house was the backdrop to a few of the portrait shots I took here in the spring.  I linked to those sessions above.

The lime kilns are still standing here at Cromwell Valley Park.  The rocks stand beautifully from the snowy landscape.

The weight of this wet snow on the trees for days at a time has taken its toll.  There are many trees and branches down from the last snowstorm.  Many of us lost power.  Here at These Nine Acres we lost it for 12 hours, but many went without electric for days.

When I found a flat rock next to this stream that had relatively no snow on it, I sat down, closed my eyes, and listened to the small waterfall off in the distance.  The birds were chirping.  The squirrels were scurrying through the snow.  It was so noisy in the quietness.  It is never truly quiet here in the woods...even in the midst of winter.

Tonight they are calling for more winter weather all the way through Wednesday.  This time ice will be the culprit.  I fully expect to be without power during this bought of Mother Nature's wrath.  I just hope that I am wrong.  One can hope, right?

Stay warm....I will prepare a post for tomorrow to go up in the morning just in case I am without power.

Until next time,

Another Snow Day

Well, ladies and gentleman, it is another snow day here at These Nine Acres.  Yes, that is right.  My kids have now officially been off school for almost as long as the Christmas break.  They were off Monday and Tuesday for teacher staff development and now they have had Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off for snow days.  If this continues, they will be making up days in July!

The good news is the electric has stayed on and I was able to finish editing the snow pics I took on Thursday.  There aren't many here because, as I said yesterday, it started to snow while I was out and my camera was getting wet.  So, this is all she wrote, folks.  I hope you enjoy.

Buddy tasting the snow

Toby being a scardey cat of me and trotting away

J.C.  hoping I might have a treat in my pocket... Toby still running in the background

My big boy...Me in his pupil

Seriously?  Still running from me?  *sigh*

My two boys...Toby finally stood still, although pretending I am not there

What a tangled web we weave

The stream on These Nine Acres

Shadow is not sure what to make of this white stuff...Flappy deciding whether to come out or not

Today is Friday, y'all!  

Have a fabulous weekend.

See you on the other side...

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Snowed In

Well.  

Well, well, well.  

Mother Nature caught me off guard.  Of course, I haven't seen the weather or the news in days, so maybe it is my own fault.  

Here at These Nine Acres we were not prepared for the snow we got last night.

The snow we got yesterday morning was just enough to make the kids have another day off of school.  While they were outside playing, I grabbed the camera and went out for a walk

around our property.

I took a few pictures, but my session got cut short because it started to snow again and my camera was getting wet.  I would have had more images to show you from the time I was outside, but I usually edit at night when the kids are in bed.  

And guess what?

After the kids were in bed the electricity went out and it stayed out until 5:30 AM this morning.  

So, this is all I have to offer today. 

Hopefully the electricity will cooperate today and I will have some more snowy images for you tomorrow!

Stay warm y'all!

Wordless Wednesday- Bird Yoga

Have a wonderful Wednesday, y'all!

In the Midst of All This Cold, I Needed Some Warmth...

so, I traveled back to Florida in my pictures.  Ahhh...that's better.  Warm, sunny, tropical.  We all need a little of that in February.  

Well, all of us north of Georgia, that is.

Don't ya just want to dip your toes in the water...feel the warm air on your skin.  

*sigh* 

How long until spring?

Stay warm, everyone.

xoxo

The Year of Me: Week 3- Elizabeth Jabcob Spa and Salon

Those of you who regularly follow These Nine Acres know that I don't make New Year's resolutions.  Instead, I choose a theme to focus on for the next 365 days.  This year my theme is "me."  It may sound selfish, but in order for me to keep my cup full for my husband, 4 kids, and a budding career, I have to make sure I take time each week to recharge my batteries.   I am using Monday's posts as a way to communicate what I did for myself the previous week so that I have a sense of obligation to stay on track.  I am also trying to encourage other women to do the same.  All of us need to take time for ourselves to think, to follow interests, to learn, to relax.

If you have missed it, you can read about week 1 and week 2.

This past week I decided to make my me time at the Elizabeth Jacob Spa and Salon.  I can't say enough positive things about this place.  I first discovered EJS&S through a friend who recommended I try the Keratin hair treatment this summer.  Ever since then I have been going here religiously every six weeks to get my hair done.

First, let me say I am not a good salon kind of girl.  I like to think I am not high maintenance.  I don't like to sit still much less have people cater to me.  I have always steered clear of salons and spas that have that uppity-better-than-thou feel where the women come it with furs and want a glass of wine while they have their nails done.  Not that there is something wrong with that if you like that kind of thing, but I am more of a down to earth outdoorsy girl who would rather get in and get out than be pampered by staff.

Elizabeth Jacob Spa and Salon is NOT that uppity type of place.  The staff is amazing, down to earth, and while they cater yo your needs, there is no snotty pretense to their interactions with the clientele.  Every time I have gone here they take an interest in my life, my kids, and my career.  I feel like they have been long lost friends that I am becoming reacquainted with.  While they always offer me coffee or water while I am there, it has a feel of a friend offering me a drink while we chat over the kitchen table.

On top of having top notch staff who are AMAZING with their specialties (hair, nails, massage, facials, etc.) the salon is located in a beautiful part of Northern Baltimore County.  Coming here for the scenery is worth the drive.  What better place to relax and unwind than in this beautiful setting?

While the exterior is very natural, the interior is beautiful, sleek, and modern.  See Emily at the desk?  She is the stylist that does my hair.  LOVE HER!  She is sweet, patient, and amazing with hair.  The inside of Elizabeth Jacob Spa and Salon instantly puts you at ease...an indoor waterfall, and two levels of service area scream relaxation.

In addition to offering amazing spa and salon services, Elizabeth Jacob S&S offers excellent products to purchase.  Trust me when I say I am the product Queen for hair.  I have tried EVERYTHING!  I have to admit I was skeptical when my stylist suggested I try the products below for my hair.  However, I have to say I am hooked.  I can not even think about using another product in my hair after using these shampoos and conditioners.  They completely changed the health of my scalp and hair.  My mother even liked it when she was here visiting, so I sent a bottle of shampoo home with her!

Here is the salon area of the building.  For my Me Day I went and had my hair chemically straightened.  People, my natural hair texture resembles a Brillo Pad.  I am not exaggerating.  I have struggled for years trying product after product and treatment after treatment to try and change my hair texture with no lnag lasting results.  I thought I would die when my stylist recommended this treatment which is similar to a reverse perm.  I had high hopes I would finally like my hair after 38 years.  And guess what?  I LOVE it!  Finally I have the texture of hair I always wanted.  And the best news is that I really only have to touch it up about once every 6 months!

And just around the corner is the area where they do manicure and pedicures.

I just heard from the staff that there is a new nail polish or treatment or something (see how much I know about "girly" stuff??) that doesn't chip.  It is kind of like acrylic nails where it goes on and grows out with your own nail, but it isn't a fake nail.  It is just some sort of gel polish.  I think I may give that a try for a future "me" day.  I don't do my nails now because within hours of getting them done, I am chipping them.  :(

While I haven't had the pleasure of trying out the spa services just yet,  I did get a tour of the upstairs where they have all of their treatment rooms and a sauna.  OMG.  I can't wait to try out the facials and the massages and perhaps even the sauna.  I think many more me days might be spent here.  It might just become my second home!

Let me just note that I have not received payment or any sort of kick back for this post.  It is my honest to goodness opinion and I love giving a shout out to local businesses who are doing an amazing job.  So, with that said, if you are located in or around the Northern Baltimore County area and are looking for a top notch spa or salon, check out Elizabeth Jacobs Spa and Salon.  Tell them Tracey sent you.  You won't regret it!  You can also check them out on Facebook (of course I am a fan :)

Have a great week, everyone!  Make sure to take a bit of time out for yourself.  

xoxo

Mish Mash

My whole week has been a mish mash, so I figured I would end it with a mish mash of images.  

The first is a yellow finch outside my window feeding during a snowstorm.

The second was taken from my mudroom the morning after a little snowfall.  That is our barn in the picture.  You may remember it from this picture from the blizzard last year.

This is a picture I found on my memory card when I went to transfer pictures.  Apparently, Brian decided he wanted to document the monumental breakfast sandwich he made for himself last weekend.

The sunset taken by the G11 in sunset mode.  During editing, there was no color alteration at all.

This is a picture that Ladybug took of a motorcycle that she entered me in a contest to win.  I have always wanted a motorcycle and I want to take a motorcycle safety class.  I would look good on this baby, no? :op

Keep your fingers crossed I win the drawing!

Have a great weekend, y'all!  

I'll be back on Monday to tell you about my latest "me" time!

Winter Macro

These were all taken with a 100mm macro, handheld.  It was VERY windy out and I had to have the patience of a saint and the stupidity of a criminal to wait out in the freezing cold to get these.  A fast shutter speed and lots of light helped a lot!

Eastern Hemlock and Berries

If you are a hiker, I bet you've come home with these on your sock

I found green in the snow!  There is hope for spring, people.

Hey, y'all!  

I hope your week is going well.

We are chugging along here at These Nine Acres.

Nothing exciting to report, just working on some editing

and the normal daily mom and wife stuff.

I hear there may be more snow coming along this weekend.

I am determined to go sledding at some point.

I will make sure I video me making a fool of myself if I do.

I'm sure you all would enjoy that ;0)

Until tomorrow!

Skating (or Fishing, as it were) on Thin Ice

This is the lake at Codorus State Park.  It is partly frozen and covered with snow.

They key word here is PARTLY.  See the ice fisherman?  Um, yeah.  

They are out on the ice.  I, personally, think they are nuts.

They would walk out on the lake with their supplies on these sled like things.  

Me?  

I stayed on the shore where a human belongs.

Granted, in some places the ice was thick enough to use a drill to make a hole.  

But, folks, look right behind him.  

See those darker strips?  

That is where the lake is NOT frozen.

Apparently it is important to know the difference between the types of fish.  And also, there is a white perch alert.  I have no idea why there is a white perch alert, but there is.  I did not spend any more time out in the cold than I had to ;0)  So, I didn't read the sign.

But instead of warning us about the white perch, I think the park should post thin ice alerts.  Not that the fisherman would listen...

Those men are nuts.  I was the only person around NOT on the ice.  And believe me when I tell you I was afraid I would have to figure out how to use this contraption:

Because one wrong step and they WOULD be swimming.  Under the ice.  It is a good thing no one went under...I would have no clue what to do with that crazy looking thing.

Sending warm, toasty thoughts your way.

Until tomorrow, friends!

xoxo