Bataan prep hike to Dripping Springs

Ah, yes. Here we all are last Saturday at the weather station near Dripping Springs. Round trip hike was 12-ish miles in pretty rugged terrain. Not strenuous, but definite calf kickers. The fires from a couple summers ago cleared out a lot of the brushy junk and made hiking pleasant. Not sure how many of the lovely old hackberries survived, though.

Stu and Quincy are heading to Oregon right now for her visit to Southern Oregon University in Ashland. She has been accepted there and will tour campus tomorrow. They also will see 2 shows there and visit Jacob. (I get to stay home and house sit. Why exactly is that, again?)

Jake called yesterday to share that he spent time with Samson, a yellow lab that brightens up the day at Willamette. Yellow labs seem to be the universal language of tail-thumping affection and acceptance.

Family back east is digging out of more snow. News this morning said Philadelphia has had 70 inches for the year. Awesome (at least, awesome from a distance of 2000 miles!!!!)!