Winter Adventures // Favorite Things

6 more weeks of winter, at least here in the United States. Really, aside from those of you in California or perhaps Florida and Texas, are we really surprised??? Wow. It has been a cold winter. So much so that when it was 30 degrees this week I thought about ditching my coat altogether. Brrr.

Now, this is posted under "favorite things," which if you know me and you know my feelings about being cold, you know "winter" and "favorite" might be sort of an oxymoron. I have tried (really hard) to complain about being cold only once a week on Facebook, and have taken matters into my own hands--wearing base layers, wool socks, and snow boots (even when there is no snow), along with snow gloves and my parka. It hasn't been pretty, but at least I haven't been wearing my snow pants in public. Yet.I am trying to appreciate the beauty that comes with winter. And there is plenty of beauty. Icicles. Half frozen waterfalls. Extra hot chocolate (sometimes with whipped cream thanks to @gogokim's instagram feed.) Sledding. Ice skating. More hot chocolate. And snow days. Pleeeenty of snow days. One might even say too many snow days. But I digress.

These pictures were all taken over new years. We tried to repeat our epic Cross Country New Years Skiing Extravaganza from last year, and it would have been epic this year too, except we had no snow. What??? So, instead we went hiking in 20 degree weather and enjoyed the frozen falls and the warmth of our Herrington Manor cabin, and paid to tube down the man made hills. Totally worth it.  Sometimes you just have to make do, you know?

And winter, if you are listening, I would be perfectly happy if the Groundhog was wrong and spring came early this year.