Back in the game. . . and with a goal this time, too!

So we put our house on the market this summer, after we fixed and painted and did a ton of yard work.

But nothing happened, I guess it just wasn't meant to be at this point in time, so we took if off the market until March or so. We're going to hopefully (my fingers are crossed that we follow through with this one) finish the basement over the winter.

Unfortunately, hiking and camping didn't happen as often as I had hoped this summer because of the house being for sale. But now that we are "back to normal" I'm hoping to get a good couple of hikes in each week. I am working at an adventure-y type clothing store right now, and having a ball doing it, and I am so inspired by many of my customers! They show me pics of their adventures and tell me their tales and all I want to do is get out there and do it myself! My new goal, or number one on my bucket list, which I've never had before, is to climb a mountain in the eastern U.S.

We can easily drive to Mount Washington in a day, camp there and then hike the mountain the next day. The not so easy part is getting in myself and my husband and the dogs in shape to do that type of exercise! We have, as my husband says, "gotten a bit soft". Yeah, no kidding on that one! Our puppy is the fittest one of us all; she can go all day. But our cattle dog needs a lot more exercise, just like Matt and I do. Maybe with this grand goal in mind I'll spend the winter walking and hiking with the dogs so when Spring comes I'll be ready to go!

Matt, the dogs, and I are going camping over Columbus Day weekend. That's supposed to read: WE'RE GOING CAMPING!!!!!!! I am so excited and have already done most of the prep cooking for the trip. We're not taking the huge tent since it will just be the four of us. We'll take the six man and we've already decided to take the kids' old sleeping bags for the dogs to ensure that they stay warm at night. Chief, the cattle dog, has a hard time sleeping in a tent, so I may pack an extra pad for him so he is more comfortable. 

I'm hoping Matt orders the backpacks for the dogs before the trip so we can start getting them used to carrying gear and having a job. I think it is really important for a dog to feel important and giving him a job, such as carrying gear, is just the way to do it! 

I'm off to get ready for work tomorrow, pack lunches and iron. So I guess if I were to preach a lesson today it would be to dream big! (though I'm not much of a preacher, so just dream, I think that is definitely good enough!!)

~Beth