Lost Dutchman Treasure Loop

When I went out, there was frost on my windshield!

And on the roof of my Cube!

My vehicle said was 33 degrees - brr!

And somehow 33 in the Arizona desert feels colder than 33 in Minnesota.

But I had decided that I needed to hike to work through some of the emotions about the diganosis my Mom received.  I wanted to climb, not just walk.

There are lots of hiking trails and parks around my area.

I decided on the Lost Dutchman State Park.

It's in the Superstition Mountains.

This is a nice hike for lots of reasons - one of which is that there's a bathroom.

With soap!

Here's a little birdie - a Phainopepla!

I suspect this one is a female because she's sort of gray rather than black.

Four Peaks (from this angle, it really only looks like three, though)

Me on the way up!

The crags:

Nearing the top of my chosen trail, the Treasure Loop:

At the top!

A beautiful Cholla (pronounced "CHOY-uh")

Mistletoe growing in a Palo Verde tree!

When I got home, the roofers were chugging along, fixing boards and laying down more felt.

I have very dry skin, and my hands have been doing this lately . . . 

It's yucky.  I feel like a snake that's molting.

It probably doesn't help that I'm all stuffed up from this cold and that I don't feel like drinking much because everything tastes funny (due to snot!)

I picked up some new hand lotions from the Honest Company that are supposed to be very nourishing without chemicals that are difficult for the skin, so we'll see if they help.

I also have been taking large doses of fish oil to hydrate from the inside. 

Stephen was sleeping on the bed when I brought in clean socks, still warm from the dryer,

so I piled them on top of him and he liked it!

Look at that smiling little face!

But the BEST PART of the day by far was that my Mom's surgeon called to say that she had read the pathology report wrong (!!!!) and that my Mom's treatment won't be as challenging as we had been told.  It's a miracle - thank You, Jesus!