YES! It Really IS Spring!

I took this photo from the Blackwells Mills Causeway of the D&R Canal in Franklin Township, New Jersey.  ~ 3/21/15 ~

Well, it is officially spring as of yesterday, March 21st.  It was really kind of hard to believe it as my reading group and I sat and looked out the windows to view the snow falling softly at 9:15am from my table in the back corner of the classroom.  I know we usually have the occasional snowfall in March and April but it was still a little strange to get as much as we did this year on the first day of spring since we were really looking forward warmer weather!

Spring is often a time to start spending more time outside doing fun activities like visiting the park, riding bikes and hiking.  So, in the spirit of spring Freddy and I headed out this morning to spend time outside, even though the ground and trees were covered with snow.  Our first stop was the dog park.  What a fun time my best buddy had while playing with his furry friends.  Afterwards, we decided we would take a friend up on their offer to paddle on the canal under the snow-dusted branches.  It was beautiful!  I had been wanting to canoe all winter, but the canal has been frozen most of this year.  As we paddled, the snow began to melt.  By the time we returned with the canoe, most of the snow was gone which made me realize that the beginning of spring was truly here after all.

Apollo and Freddy at the dog park

Walker, Apollo and Freddy playing at the dog park

The canoe is all ready to be pushed off into the canal.

Freddy is such an adventurous dog!!  He is always up for anything.

Would you like to read more about spring?  Take a trip to the library to check out these books!

A Day in the Park

It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day outside today!  I spent a lot of time outside in the park. Freddy loved walking through Colonial Park past groups of people at picnics, a fair with bands playing in the gazebo and new doggy friends.  We took a walk over to peek into the rose garden and then walked around the fields of labeled plants and trees.  Of course we could not leave without going to the dog park...it is Freddy's absolute favorite!  Have you ever been to Colonial Park?  It is beautiful!  Check out the site:  http://www.somersetcountyparks.org/parksfacilities/colonial/ColonialPark.html

Freddy loves to run around with friends at the dog park.

The Great Outdoors

My oldest sister came to visit me this weekend.  We decided we wanted to do something outside, because the weather was going to be beautiful.  The first thing we did was take Freddy (my dog) to the dog park to run around.  We didn't think it would be nice to make him stay inside all day when it was so nice and sunny outside.

Next, we dropped Freddy back home and I drove just a few minutes away from my house to the canal. A canal is a big, long ditch dug by people and then filled with water.  It looks a little like a stream or river.  I live near the D&R Canal.  It is not far from you either!

We rented kayaks at Griggstown Canoe and Kayak Rental.  You can find more information about it here: http://www.canoenj.com/griggs1.htm

We had a great time paddling down the canal.  There were a lot of children out with their families.  We saw turtles and snakes in the water.  It was a lot of fun to be out exercising in the fresh air!