Ode to My Buddies

It's been a while since I kept up with editing and sharing all of my photographs. This morning I sat down and started going through everything and I was so happy to find a whole bunch of pictures I took whilst adventuring with my buddies–aka, my niece and nephew. Sierra and Damian are my sister's spuds and they are SO AWESOME. :) We had a great summer together before I moved to Oregon. So, here's an Ode to My Buddies.


I saved itty bitty shampoo, conditioner and lotion bottles from my travels over the past four years so we could make secret potions. Sierra turned me into a chicken dog. We woke mommy up with all the racket.


This September, we hiked the Falls Trail at Rickett's Glen–one of my favorite state parks in Pennsylvania. Lush, old-growth forest of giant pine, hemlock and oak, some 500-900 years old! The Falls Trail is rated difficult, mainly due to the steep, rocky terrain, but that's what makes it so fun! Plus, my buddies are tough, so I knew they would enjoy it. My mom and I used to go hiking at RG a lot because there are more than twenty-two waterfalls in about a 4-mile loop. The trail loops through two gorges–Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh. I like to end with Ganoga Glen because it is more scenic.


We didn't let the rain stop our adventure in the woods. It's the best time to hike a waterfall trail! Plus most people are at home curled up watching TV or eating "mash-uh-puh-tate-uhs" as Damian calls them, so, you pretty much have the place to yourself! I wouldn't be caught dead here on a sunny summer saturday. It's like a zoo.


Sierra is five. Recently, she learned how to spell PIZZA and MOM and memorized her phone number. This is very useful, since now she can call and order a P-I-Z-Z-A, give her call-back number and tell them to bill it to her M-O-M. ;)


Damian is four. He loves anything with wheels, especially trains and he also squeaks a lot. A cool dude for sure.


Sierra went to kindergarten this fall. Damian didn't start school til the following week.


He didn't seem to mind at all. Of course, we were playing at Knoebel's. I caught the brass ring for the first time in my whole life of riding this carousel! :)

I heart my buddies. O yeah, my sister is really rockin' too. :)