Stimpson Reserve Trailblazer hike

Our volunteer leader system seems to be working. Janet led 15 of us on the Stimpson Reserve trails today. 

It was dark and gloomy in the forest today, fitting since this is the week of the Winter Solstice. 

Janet lead us in a counterclockwise direction from the way we usually hike. My brain was discombobulated the whole time. We saw many mosses, and I did hear the scientific names for each of them but I couldn't tell you what they were now. 

The one in the photo below was interesting to me, the white specks looked like snow but it was just the way it grows.

Walking among the giants. 

 

We saw bits of snow in the ferns near the top that reminded us of our recent snowfall.

 I found this little sprig that was hanging on to it's leaves tightly, even though it was long past time for them to have flown in the fall winds. 

There are several footbridges on the trail and I always love to walk over them. 

Geneva Pond and the other boggy areas were still very much encased in ice. 

 I've been here many times and I enjoy it each and every time. 

We are lucky to have such a place set aside for us to enjoy.

 Garmin stats:

total miles hiked 4.7

minimum altitude - 556 feet

maximum altitude - 853 feet

total ascent - 728 feet

total descent - 682 feet

Mon Oeuvre - en provence Mystery Quilt progress 3

 "Oeuvre" (the works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively: "the complete oeuvre of Mozart" a work of art, music, or literature: "an early oeuvre" ORIGIN late 19th cent.: French, literally ‘work.’ - Oxford Dictionary.)

I'm caught up with the clues of the en Provence Mystery Quilt - Hurray!

We've been given 4 week's of clues now. The clues are given each Friday morning and there is an online link up party on Monday's for us to submit what our progress looks like. It's fun to see the variety of fabrics people have chosen and it makes each one look unique even though we're working on the same quilt. You can check out the Monday link up photos HERE. 

This past week I was cutting strips for the light/dark purple 4 patches, the dark purple/neutral & for the tri recs triangles, sewing the blocks together and trimming them all square.

When I was spinning and pressing the back center seams of the purple 4 patches I saw something in some of the center mini block that made me smile.

Front

Back - do you see it?

Clue #1's -  neutral 4 patches ✓

Clue #2's -magenta/neutral triangles ✓

Clue #3's - light/dark purple 4 patch ✓

Clue #4's - dark purple/neutral 4 triangles ✓

All of my 3 1/2 inch blocks waiting to see what will join them this Friday.