A Beautiful Walk At Colonie Town Park

My youngest and his girlfriend enjoy going for walks around our area. One of their favorite places is the local town park. Judging from the few people around, this location isn't well know. That might be because of the many choices we have, or the close proximity to the Catskill Mountains, Berkshire Mountains and Adirondack Park. I was so excited when they asked if I wanted to bring my Goodest Boy along on a cooler summer day. 

Kito was happy to go for a walk with his Mama.

Colonie Town Park is a hidden gem that I encouraged folks to go to. The 160 acre park is alongside the Mohawk River. It has a swimming pool, two pavilions, picnic areas, a playground, cross-country ski trails, a dog park, tennis courts and football and softball fields. We went there for the nature trails. 

Doggo loved walking through the woods and sniffing all the smells. Sometimes I had to redirect him when his Beagle nose sensed something off in the distance.

Of course I had to take nature photos because, who wouldn't with all this beauty surrounding them?

The Mohawk River Was absolutely gorgeous, with the Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge ("Twin Bridges") off in the distance. 

Kito was so thirsty by the time we arrived at the Mohawk. No that wasn't anything dangerous in the water. They make sure the park is safe for the animals who visit.

Back to our walk as we head to the car. Doggo loved this walk and even had a nice gentleman who works there comment on his cuteness. 

Seriously, isn't that covered bridge lovely?

Tired Doggo slept most of the way home after the initial "I don't like cars" whining.

Until Next Time!

    Ingrid

Thoughts on Life

I don't normally put my life out there, but I figure there aren't a lot of people reading this blog so I need to do something cathartic.

My life has been through many highs and lows. I made wrong decisions which led me to bad marriages. I wish I could say that it has left me believing in love, but it hasn't. I realize many people, including a few of my friends have amazing marriages. I feel like that was because they took the time to really know the person they were marrying. I never did that. I was so grateful that someone seemed to love me that I listened to the courting ritual they used. They told me lies and I bought the stories. After they reined me in they treated me terribly.

Do I wish the marriages hadn't happened?

No. Each marriage gave me something.

I was able to raise the son from the first marriage by myself, for the most part. He turned out to be an amazing man, and I am so very proud of him.

My second marriage gave me five children whom I love dearly. Input from their father has left a few of them confused, but I will never stop loving them. Other things this marriage left me with is empathy toward those who are suffering or are hurt. It taught me how to be strong. It helped me find who I really am (more on that in a minute).

Finally, my last marriage. This will be the last. This is where I realized that I can only trust God. He has done many amazing things in my life, and he has kept me alive when I should have been dead long ago. Not because I was suicidal. So many times in my life, because of coincidence or because of men, I should have died. God wanted me alive. He is my best friend and I spend a lot of time diving deeper into being a Christ-follower (a Christian in more than just words). God and I have had many really good conversations.

Who have I learned I am? 

My oldest using the Black Magic Pocket Cinema
(video camera) on the Dolly track.

I am nothing like my first two husbands thought I was. I am much more intelligent that I gave myself credit for. My oldest is a web developer/systems manager, and production volunteer (he had been Interim Multisite Production Director on top of his IT Director job). He taught me to use computers, now I'm taking coding classes.

He voluntold me for the production team at church and I absolutely loved that! I learned computer programming, video cameras, how to program lighting, wiring of lights, directing cameras, and what each piece of equipment does and how to set it up. I am eternally grateful to Rob, Bev, Mike, Matt and Scott for sharing their knowledge with me. 

I learned that I'm pretty funny. I kept the people in production (and my kids) laughing. I think the snarkiness adds to that. I stopped being self-centered and learned to let things go. I learned that I am pretty independent, and often prefer to do things by myself. I learned that I love, love, love hiking in the mountains. I learned that I want an off-grid cabin in the woods. I don't want to live there (yet), I just want to spend most of my spare time there. Maybe one day...

Buck Mountain Summit
overlooking Lake George, NY

Have a great one!

Ingrid

Happy Trails to You

I had intentionally kept away from my blog after we moved because the ex that was left near our former home just won't stop trying to make my life as miserable as his own.  When I realized that he had been given my new address by one of my siblings, I decided to get back into blogging.  I am not going to try to hide from evil.  Life is too short to let him feel like he won.  By letting him see that he can't break us, maybe, just maybe, he will move on to another victim.

There has been so much that has happened with my family, and so many exciting adventures that we have been on. I have many blogs in draft to share with you.  All I need is to edit some of the older photos, since they were taken with cell phones. I wasn't sure where to begin and decided to bounce around time-wise as I go through photos and share posts.  I hope I don't make you dizzy.

First stop: John Boyd Thacher State Park. Or simply Thacher Park, to the locals.  Our family adopted a couple of trails along the escarpment here. We go up there, clean the trails and trim the branches. The drop-off from the trails to the valley below is about 800 feet, on the average. Saturday we decided to hike Paint Mine Trail, one of the trails along the hill. We did leave the trail and went up several connecting trails before doubling back to the car.

If you are ever in the Capital District you have to stop by this park for a hike, and maybe even a picnic.

The first thing India did was to share a frog with me.

Amanda took this photo of Ken and me heading to the trail. 

(Yes, that is proper English.)

Waterfalls Galore!

But really, can you ever get enough?

Off in the distance.

I love the sound.

Does anyone else see a chicken wing?

I thought this was so creepy looking.

A Fairy home is hiding in this tree.

Such a cool mushroom.

What a beautiful fence.

Trail in the woods. 'nough said.

A lonely bench.

Can you see him?

It's a cute little snake.

The trunk to this tree is hollow.

Yet the tree still thrived.

A penny for your thoughts.

My favourite insect, the dragon fly.

The overcast sky went away and revealed this beautiful shade of blue. 

Love the contrast with the trees.

Ken got to experience riding on a swing for the first time in his entire life.

Release your inner child.

"You shall not pass!"

Looking toward The Helderberg Escarpment 

and Massachusetts in the background.

This is hard to see,

But three hawks were circling.

I found the over-spray amusing.

After all, I am easily amused.

Isn't he lovely?

Reeses was fascinated by the other dogs.

It turned into such a beautiful day.