The Inner Sanctum trail at Ausable Chasm is well named as we were surrounded by cliffs and rushing water …. blissfully alone with the grandeur. A veritable rock sanctuary.
But all good things must end and this staircase was the beginning.
.
.
One last look around before we climbed up.
.
.
.
And I won’t lie, it was hard to leave this fabulous trail.
.
.
Spending the day here made us feel small, in a good.. we’re just tiny specks in the universe… way.
As I’m sitting here after dinner craving dessert, I’m going with the Good Humor truck.
No sound was more iconic to the summers of my childhood. We kept a bowl of change on the kitchen counter in anticipation of those glorious chimes. Doors would slam all over the neighborhood as every kid within hearing distance would run to the corner before it drove away.
I have a friend who does a different type of Christmas tree every year. Some years it’s weird and funky, some years it’s traditional. This year I made a suggestion I wish she would have followed…
.
.
She was not amused, but damn. That’s epic.
Every couple of years the lazy Susan cabinet in our kitchen goes off track…. and every few years my husband asks why we need so many cans.
.
.
Someday I’ll have an answer.
.
.
I need this in my life.
.
.
Who needs pie when you have martinis?
.
.
Isn’t it sweet my cat loves rocks as much as his human mother?
And finally, a Christmas tree for Mark who has an affinity for awkward pink birds….
Since 2014, I haven’t done much holiday decorating. My mother adored our house when it was decked out in red, green and gold, but the year she died my heart just wasn’t in it. The following year we started traveling for Christmas… a different destination each time… and there didn’t seem to be any reason to decorate an empty house.
It doesn’t look like we’ll be hitting the road in 2022 and after hearing how much the neighbors missed our displays, I caved and decided to put out a few things to get into the spirit. Wreaths on the windows and doors, white candles and snowflake lights, a lighted deer and tree on the front lawn.
Outdoor finished, I only planned on dressing up the tables. Dining room with Charlie Brown Christmas tree….
.
.
And kitchen with mini tree and snowmen salt and pepper shakers.
.
.
I thought I was done, but I bought a poinsettia.
.
.
And then I thought why not put that garland with the pinecone lights on the kitchen shelf? And while you’re at it add a few reindeer.
.
.
And if I dragged that garland out, I might as well decorate the mantle too.
.
.
And if I did the mantle, I should probably do the hearth.
.
.
So much for just a little decorating.
.
.
A snowman Christmas card box, a few randomly scattered reindeer, tea towels in the guest bathroom, a red jingle bell heart wreath on the kitchen door and I was finished. Yes. Definitely.
Well, except for my line of rampaging, pitchfork wielding snowmen.
.
.
But that was it, really… I was done. Until the husband walked in, looked around and said now we need a tree.
.
.
Lord Dudley Mountcatten was ready.
.
.
But once the tree was in the house … I began to worry.
.
.
Please note the little devil is literally licking his lips. That can’t be good.
.
.
Shiny colored balls? Please mom, hang them now!
.
.
Alternating white, red and green lights. Alternating garlands of gold leaves and weeds. Red, green and gold ornaments, a star on the top and it was done.
.
.
I can’t swear to it … but I think Lord Dudley was waiting for us to go to bed.
Day tree –
.
.
Night tree-
.
.
Decorating the tree this way takes a lot of time and effort. But I’m always pleased with the results…
.
.
The problem is…
.
.
So is Lord Dudley.
.
.
And now I’m wondering if I can stay awake every night until the New Year when it’s time to take it down.
Continuing on the marked path, we came to a fork. We could take the easier, stairless Rim Walk on the left…
.
.
Or the harder, your bad knee will be screaming and make you pay, Inner Sanctum trail to the right.
.
.
You knew there was only one right answer.
.
.
Stairs? Oh yeah. Hundreds of them.
.
.
But the views were totally worth it.
.
.
The farther down you go, the louder the roar of the water.
.
.
And once again I was glad the adventure trail was closed. I love to climb on rocks… but generally need a little more than string when it comes to a bridge.
.
.
Me. Loving the rocks.
.
.
The Inner Sanctum is the only way to see this chasm up close and personal.
River's world..... 