By Susan from
CalloohCallay
Like much of the United States, we here in the middle have had an eerily warm winter--no frozen ponds like when I was a kid, and my crocuses are up already, probably just in time to be zapped by another cold snap. But the upside to climate change, if you can call it that, is last weekend I got out for a hike along the river bluffs--just me, my canteen, and 300 other hikers, bikers, and dogs taking advantage of the weather.
I didn't see much wildlife--a few hawks circling the river, a few gray squirrels. But on a less crowded day I might have run into some deer, or even an otter or raccoon along the river bank. It was too early for the wildflowers, but in the coming months they'll be making their appearance in great numbers.
We're heading into just about the best time to enjoy the outdoors (though autumn has a lot going for it too). So, in anticipation of many hikes to come, here are a few of my favorite vintage items to take along.