Backpacking vs. Camping

We used to explain our vacations as camping. Then we realized that other people's definition was a little different than ours. We don't camp, we backpack. Do you know the difference? We recently took a backpacking trip in the Adirondacks for a week. Here are some highlights. I tell you, this is the way to go for us. Hubby is so thankful that I'm even willing to spend our vacations this way and he's so into it that he loves doing all the work so do you know what I have to do? Absolutely nothing. A true vacation.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthdays are still my favorite, though 31 is not quite as exciting as 30. My hubby did great this year, he watched Zane so I could work on the yard uninterrupted (that's what I wanted) while he installed these under cabinet lights above the stove.

Before

AfterWe ordered in Chinese, also what I wanted, and he bought me these snazzy slippers.

And best of all he watched Zane while I took a 3 day road trip to Pittsburgh to visit my longest friend and her new baby.

Vacation

Vacation is definitely one of my favorite things. And when you feel relaxed and glad to be back to your life at the end of a vacation, it was a vacation well spent. Here are some visual highlights:


Zane waking us up at the crack of dawn so we don't miss the sunrise

Zane playing with rocks on the beach of the ocean, I mean Lake Superior

Zane sleeping in the tent while we enjoy the the sunset

Taking naps outside the cabin

Playing on the beach

Canoeing on Burntside Lake

Wilderness Escape

As I started packing for vacation to Minnesota, I thought back to our first 2 years of marriage living there and all the wonderful memories...


canoeing...


winter camping...


camping out on Lake Superior...

and so much more. Cross country skiing, polar dips, building quinzees, BWCA trips, the list goes on. But I tell you, were it not for these books, I don't know if I would have been willing, let alone eager to experience all this stuff. I wanted to be a pioneer woman ever since I was a little girl reading these stories . Turns out I married a pioneer man at heart and we lived the first season of our marriage in this beloved cabin pictured below with no plumbing, an outhouse 10 yards away, and a lot of warm, cozy memories.



So, Minnesota, here we come! We've missed you and can't wait to play again!