Sunshine and Happy Faces

This was one of those weekends where the whole world pours outside to dance in the weak early spring sun. It was 55 degrees and sunny even though it’s only mid-March. We’ve had a mild winter yet again but that has done nothing to dampen our longing for spring.

There was a time when a weekend like that would have been filled with strenuous hikes, glorifying in my body’s ability to climb small mountains in a few hours, and basking in sweeping vistas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Even though I’m nowhere near that in shape any longer, hiking still calls to me. Yesterday we suited up and drove to Valley Forge park where the walking trails have gentle hills and are in full sun to try to capture a bit of that feeling.

We decided to walk around Mount Joy, an ironic name for a tiny hill. The dog didn’t care that she was on the leash held by fragile humans; she lunged forward with glee, dragging us up and down the small hills. Tori ran full out since she didn’t need a leash, pacing adult joggers step for step.

It was beautiful.

Today is cloudy again, and life is back to bearing down on us. Work calls, even though Tori is home today, and I am back at my desk. Bills have to be paid, my mom needs to be taken to the doctor, Tori’s room needs cleaning and, frankly, so does the rest of the house.

But I won’t easily forget that we got to spend the day in the sun.

All photos taken with my iPhone 5 with Camera+ and edited in Snapseed (heavy on the ambiance, structure, and drama filter) to get this hyper-saturated effect, except for photo with Tori’s arms up; didn’t use drama at all on that one.