Yesterday our family was having a quiet Sunday at home, when the pouring rain stopped and the sun came out! We immediately headed outdoors. 

Last week I had a delightful and magical dream that the three of us were in the woods, with beams of sunlight shining in, and we were finding tons and tons of mushrooms. They were huge and beautiful and we were elated. I told Jeff about it when I woke up and we were feeling inspired to do a little mushroom hunting after that. So, yesterday we headed up the mountain behind our house and into the woods.

 I used to go on that hike every day with our dogs. Sometimes I brought the goats along to graze. (When we had dogs and goats.) I hiked up there when I was pregnant with Bracken. There was a clearcut up there years ago, which we are not pleased about, but it does make the view incredible. Jeff came along on the hike every now and then, but most of the time I went just me and the dogs. I loved the quiet and I loved being able to look out at the mountains all around and see so much sky. I went a few times after Bracken was born, with him in the Ergo, but not nearly as often. The trail started getting overgrown and it had been awhile since we’d been up there. This time Bracken walked himself. I carried him here and there, but he insisted on walking. I was amazed his little legs were up for so much hiking, but they were. When we reached the top, Bracken was so happy to be running free (we’ve been a little cooped up with the pouring rain), he was singing. Jeff grabbed a walking stick for himself and then found another one for Bracken. Bracken looked like he had been walking with a walking stick all his life.

 Bracken on my front in the Ergo (you can see the tip of his hat), on our way back down….

 and Jeff: one of my favorite faces to see!

 Eyes toward the sky.

 Sweet silliness.

 The forest’s tasty treat.

 Jeff showing some of the biggest huckleberries we’d found.

We didn’t go that far from our house, yet our hike transported us to a whole new perspective. We got a break from our house, a break from the rain…. to move our bodies, breathe the forest air, and gaze around us at the mountains. 

I did find two mushrooms, but they were past their prime. So, we didn’t find all those mushrooms I’d dreamed of, but we did find huckleberries. The bushes everywhere were loaded. 

We ate on the way up. 

We ate on the way down. 

It was a huckleberry hike, and it was invigorating and tasty all at the same time.