start as you mean to continue

If you follow the "start as you mean to continue" logic as applied to New Years and the rest of the year, I had a very good start. Since it was basically one long extended weekend (although I did work on Friday), I managed to actually do all of my favorite things and set myself up well for the upcoming year. (Hopefully.)

On New Year's Day, Artemis and I day-tripped down to Catalina State Park just north of Tucson to visit with friends Lucy and Patrick, who were once again spending their holiday in the "warm" desert. Only, y'know, snow happened.

This year's trip didn't involve the pony or camping for me, but we had a fun day of hiking and letting the dogs play. L&P have Finn-the-poodle, whom Artemis met last year, and now they have Spike, who is Artemis's full, 8-month-younger brother.

It was like a terrier cage match o' fun.

"Really, Mom? Make him stop."
This is payback, since you're usually the one
bugging other dogs.

Snow on the Catalinas

Terrier twinsies!
(Artemis is on the left.)

First experience in the snow...and the cold-
weather wimp didn't freeze.

Snow is a novelty.

Hiking with the dogs...a whole 3.5 miles in an
hour and half, which is what happens when half
the hike is the terriers jumping on each other.

As I mentioned already, I did work on Friday...and work in the form of boot fitting and troubleshooting on Saturday morning.

And Sunday saw the first saddle time of 2015. And it was even trail time. Mimi was having a very good day (her bad days seem to be the ones where it is cloudy, overcast, cold, and damp...as long as the sun is out, she's good to go), and we did 4.5 miles out at Usery Mtn Park with some barn friends.

She was so happy to be out again. And so was I.

"All dressed up...do I get to go?"

my favorite view

still some dusting of snow on the Superstitions

perfect day

"*My* sloppy. *Mine.*"

And the crowning touch was this morning, when I woke up before 4AM to go out for a morning run. (Which is what you do when you live 30 minutes in any direction from the closest trails.)

Not fast...but one party was on the Injured Reserve list, and one
party (myself) was doing the first run back post head cold.
I tell myself it's tapering for the upcoming race this weekend.

The (mostly) full moon was still up and shining (which was good since I forgot my headlamp and had to use my phone flashlight...fail), and it was so quiet and peaceful. I brought Artemis, so she could get her morning exercise, and she did wonderful...she's really turning into a Good Trail Dog.

With that wraps my extended New Years weekend...hope everybody else had a safe, fun weekend and is looking forward to whatever 2015 brings. (Please let it be good.)