A Day in the Wilderness

     This weekend I went hiking with a few people in my Sunday school group at Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve. Check off #24 on my 30 Before 30 List!!! Actually, that thought did not even enter my mind until I got back yesterday. The real reason I wanted to go was to hang out with some new people and to have something fun and different to do. This hike was harder than I thought it would be, mainly because I got a really bad headache about an hour into it. But make no mistake about it, I'm a really tough girl and I powered through it to the end!!! There were quite a few inclines and lots of rough terrain to cover. We saw some absolutely beautiful scenes and very unique berries and flowers! We saw a couple of caterpillars and even a turtle. Thank goodness we did not encounter any snakes! My favorite part was probably the Blue Hole where the water was a really pretty transparent bluish color.  I enjoyed the challenge and am only slightly sore today! {We hiked approximately 6.6 miles.}

The waterfall was just a trickle this day...

As close to the edge as I could get!

So pretty!

I was a little braver here :)

Nice little cave area

Beautiful vibrant purple berries of some sort

The most unique flower/berry I have ever seen. Wish I knew what it was!

Close up

Pretty flowers

Cane Creek

I took this picture beside a section they roped off to protect a rare species of butterflies. {The swamp metalmark}
We all know just how much I love butterflies!

Beaver dam

Blue Hole. So so so pretty!

Reflection on the water

30 Before 30!

     Well, I have a little over 5 months to complete 30 things before I turn 30! I think it will be fun. :) Here is my list:

1. Learn to make fried chicken. {Done and done. 2/2/14}
2. Get a unique flavored drink from Sonic. {Peach Vanilla DC, yum, yum! 2/8/14} 
3. Get a massage.
4. Style my hair differently each day for a week.
5. Teach Effie a new trick. {Check. She can "say" I love you. 1/6/14}
6. Go 1 day without caffeine. {Who am I kidding? I went one morning without it and I decided I didn't want a headache.}
7. Buy a red dress. {Completed 12/16/13; technically, it was wine-colored, but I say it counts! :) }
8. Interview my parents about their childhood/memories.
9. Print pictures on camera and organize into albums. {2013 pics printed and in an album! 2/19/14 HUGE accomplishment}
10. Share something special. {Done several times}
11. Read Gone With the Wind. {I attempted! Got about 200 pages read.}
12. Enjoy an afternoon at the park. {Check. 2/16/14}
13. Brush up on ASL.
14. Learn how to download music onto a device. {I didn't actually do it, but I did figure out how.}
15. A couple of my friends think I should taste sushi. Not so sure about this one! {OK, so sushi is a little much for a picky eater like me. BUT, I did taste Southwestern Egg Rolls, and I liked them! Small steps. lol. Completed 12/12/13}
16. Go to sleep early one night. {Check. 2/1/14} 
17. Dye my hair red. {Completed 12/11/13}
18. Throw a speech-language themed party for my kids at school. {Party!!! 2/19/14 & 2/20/14}
19. Make career goals for the next decade. {Ideas in mind. 2/5/4}
20. Buy fresh flowers for my apartment. {Always wanted to do this! Check! 2/8/14}
21. Make my small grandma's strawberry cake.
22. Go 24 hrs without tv or internet. {Again, who am I kidding? I did make it 12 hours though!}
23. Shoot a gun.
24. Travel somewhere I've never been before. {Completed 9/28/13}
25. Buy a car. {Completed 1/11/14}
26. Make dinner for a friend.
27. Memorize a chapter in a book of the Bible.
28. Cook a Thanksgiving turkey. {Completed 11/28/23}
29. Make a gift for someone. {Completed 12/19/13}
30. Have an amazing 30th birthday! :) {It happened!}

So, I didn't complete everything on this list, but that is ok! It was just for fun and hopefully one day I will have the opportunity to do the rest!!!