Early this morning the boys and I decided to play hooky from homeschool for a while and go on an expedition in search of Hickory and Buckeye nuts up on the hill behind the house. It was a beautiful morning, cool with a touch of dew to make our pants nice and soaked through by the time we returned to the house.
We didn’t find many nuts. Either the squirrels got them all, which in my opinion signals a bad winter, or there weren’t many because of the late frost. We had a nice long walk without too many incidents. #3 did fall and had a stick go up his nose but after a few tears and a few moments of wiping away blood and….well, let’s just say he felt well enough to continue on.
Here are some pictures from the top of the hill and the hike. (Click on the picture for a larger view)
This is our home as seen from the top of the hill. Looking at this makes me dream of sledding or tubing down this hill at about Mach 3.
Here is our house (R) and grandma and grandpa’s house (L) from the top of the hill.
This is looking the opposite direction – West – from the hill.
Into the woods with my band off hobbits. 
James M. Hahn, Author 