Solstice Hike

So we're not a very religious crew, however if there is an established religion that we are drawn to and dig their ideals it's Paganism. Pagans worship the earth and most of and the best of Christian practices were lifted from the Pagans. Yearly, there are two big days in the Pagan calendar; Samhain (Halloween) and the Winter Solstice. Every year on the Solstice, the family and I get outside to celebrate the Earth and then following some traditional Pagan guidelines we have our own Solstice ritual celebrating the rebirth of the sun. Good times!

This year we have to head to Scranton, PA for some family business on the Solstice (tomorrow, the 21st). So with the Nor'easter raging outside we decided to have our outdoor celebration today (20th) and then do our ritual on Christmas Eve. Like I said, we're not dedicated to the religion just yet, but we do love our traditions.

We woke up this morning to 7 inches of fresh out our door. Carli was out in the storm by 6:30 to do a Starbucks run and shortly after her return we had loaded the car with snowshoes, poles and Kennebunk and we were off to the Middlesex Fells.

This was Lily's second time on her snowshoes and she rocked it! She was all smiles despite the still fast falling snow and the wind whipping it into our faces. We have to leave for Scranton by Noon so we kept the hike to about an hour, just a quick out and back, but enough to enjoy nature and remember that it's because of this amazing place called Earth that we can be who we are and do what we do. Happy Solstice.