Out with the old, in with the new...

If there is a cardigan post, then there must also be a clog post.  So here is a blog about a clog.  (Really more than one, but I couldn't resist the play on words!  :)  These clogs, specifically.  Merrell clogs.  Brown clogs.  Comfortable clogs.  Wear everywhere clogs.

I know, I know.  I already swooned over cardigans and proclaimed they are my favorite clothing item. (See above link.)  So, just to keep things on the up and up, I am declaring that these are my favorite shoes to wear.  Period.

The old pair have been my faithful companions for about 7 or 8 years.  My kids gave them to me one year for Christmas, although I'm not sure which one.  It was love at first sight!!  They have worn like champions, and haven't given me a speck of trouble until recently.  Every so often, when wear them, my feet hurt.  It seems the arch support isn't quite what it used to be.  And, clearly from the picture, they are worn out.  I can't remember for sure, but I highly suspect they were once not smooth, but had a little suede feel to them.  No more.  Very smooth to the touch.  And even I, non-fashionista that I am, know there is a limit to how ratty your clothes can look before you have to stop wearing them.  It's quite evident that these have served their time and can now enjoy a well-deserved retirement.  (Although, I'm pretty sure the only thing they will be doing from now on is sitting in a landfill.  Seems a poor way to treat friends, but remember the arch support thing?  That is pretty big for me, so I won't be wearing them, even around the house.  And I know looks aren't everything, but I highly doubt anyone would be grabbing these off the thrift shop shelf.  Sad.)

Which brings us to the new pair in my life.  Trevor was showing me a pair of pants he liked on-line and the site he was on had a banner or something that showed Merrell clogs.  I had looked a little here and there to find a new pair, but nothing serious until that day.  There were several options, although none exactly like my old pair.  And none as inexpensive as I would have liked.  (I know, what else should I expect from a pair of Merrells?)  So, this pair is where I landed.  A lighter brown, suede uppers and What?  A furry lining?  Yes!  That is something I had often times thought about the benefit of, but never really considered getting.  At any rate, here they are.  New, non-scuffed and lined, and mine!  Love!!!

As I type, the waterproofing spray is drying on them.  Another few coats, and we'll be good to go.  Lots of adventures await me and my new clogs!!  (And by adventures I mean trips to Costco, the bank and any other errands that happen to be on my list.  ;)  That's just the kind of adventurous life I lead.  What can I say?

For the Beauty of the Earth and a little dog sledding...

“Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you.”

-Thornton Wilder

This quote was in my inbox the day before we left for Yellowstone this month.  We went down for our usual snowmobiling trip with Vision Source.  It was fun.  The weather was good, a little foggy to be able to go to Two Top, but we still had fun, were able to snowmobile a lot, and in a new twist, we both got stuck at different points in the day.  

This quote is from "Our Town", a play by Thornton Wilder.  I imagine Emily is saying it as she looks down on her town after she dies.  She realizes how great the earth is, what she had when she was there, and what she is missing now that she has passed on to the other side.

My first thought when I read this is how beautiful and wondrous the earth is.  I can't help but utter a prayer of Thanksgiving when I am out in Nature.  At times I am close to being overcome by the Earth and her MANY facets.  Each beautiful in its own way.  In fact, one of my favorite instagram accounts is usinterior!  Each day I get at least one amazing photo of this place we call Earth, and the diverse beauty of it.  One of the best examples of our gorgeous world is Yellowstone National Park.  Unfortunately, this year, I really didn't get any good pictures, so I stole from my archives for this post.  The great thing about that is the sights are still there, still breathtaking, and barring some volcano or other natural disaster, will be around for a long time.  

The Snow Giants

The falls of the Firehole River - Yellowstone National Park

One of the many geothermic features at Yellowstone National Park

So, yes Emily, Earth is to wonderful for us to realize...in so many ways!!  I'm grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves us so much, He sent His son to create this wonderful planet for us to live on.  Yes, it has its problems, (although, I'd say the majority of those are caused by the inhabitants, and not the planet itself) but, everyday, I am grateful to be here, in such a lovely place to live, to love, and to prove I am up to the challenge of living in such a way so I can return to that same Heavenly Father, whose daughter I am, someday.  That is what life is all about.

Now, on to less weighty matters...

The day after snowmobiling, we got to try dog sledding!  That was a great experience!  Definitely a new one!!  There were two rules.  1 - Hang on.  2 - Don't let go!   You have to hang on because the dogs LOVE to run!  They are bred to run.  As soon as they realize it is almost time to go, they bark, they jump, they whine, they can't contain themselves until they get down to the business of pulling the sled!  So, should the driver not be able to step on the brake, they will take off down the trail!

Well just let me say in my defense that it is really hard to steer the sled, and at one point, I leaned hard into the turn, and thought we were going over!!!  I broke rule #2.  Luckily, our guide, Moffet (is that the greatest name for a sled dog guide?) was in the front of the sled and jumped out, and stopped the sled.  Who knows where John would have ended up otherwise??  I ran fast to catch it, but would have been toast if not for Moffet.

John was a much better driver, to say the least.  I was happy to turn over the proverbial reins when we got back to the start, and he had another successful run with the dogs.  He did not break Rule #1 or Rule #2.  He is a good listener!!

At the helm of the dog sled.  (Do you hear the foreboding music???)