This is our first full winter in the Inland Northwest. I love cold weather but I forgot how dark it gets at northern latitudes in the winter. It took me awhile to realize this lack of sun may have been playing into my melancholy mood. I’m no expert but in my experience the best treatment for the winter blues is to get outside. Following the winter solstice last week the days have begun to get longer. However, we still have alot of winter left and all those cold cloudy days can sometimes make me feel like a slug woman. While there is nothing wrong with slowing down this time of year I also want to feel happy. We are so fortunate to have our pick of trails close to home. The Newport Geophysical Sno-Park is one such place. Its only a 15 minute drive from town and when there is enough snow the trails are groomed for cross-country skiing. Its also relatively flat so its the perfect place to pull the pulk sled and let the girls run around. A brisk walk in the woods does just the trick to bring my spirits up, as does an impromptu sledding session which required some heavy maneuvering to avoid saplings. Winter can be a dark time of year so its such a gift to find things that bring you light.