December 20, 2017

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Good morning,
 
It’s currently 40 degrees and raining. Yesterday’s high reached 48 degrees, with an overnight low of 37. We have received 1.2” of rain up top with precipitation continuing.
 
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I woke to the steady drum of rain on the wooden shingles above. The cold steady rain, that I grew accustomed to while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, was back. I laid in bed and wiggled my toes, thankful for both. My thoughts drifted to yesterday.
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“I really need to stop baking so many sweets.” - still talking aloud to myself. I scooped another teaspoon of cookie batter into the pan. “I think the Christmas spirit has taken hold.” Maybe, the vagabond lifestyle had deprived me of a kitchen for too long. I settled on it being a combination of the two.
 
Cookies in the oven, I strolled outside to soak up the bluebird sky and to escape the warming kitchen. Gazing off my porch, I nearly jumped with excitement. It all happen in a matter of seconds. I spotted movement below and stared directly at one of my wild eyed neighbors. The cross winds had kept my scent from traveling to Mr. Coyote. He looked at me and I him. Just as quick, he spun around and shyly glided back into the woods. I waved and thanked him for the visit.
 
I checked my watch…it was time to pull out the cookies.

​I’m in the kitchen now. Fresh ground Sumatran coffee fills the room with deep earthy notes. The empty Piñon Coffee container is now over-stuffed with yesterday’s Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies. With the mountain smothered by the clouds and the rain pouring down, I’ve opted to forego my morning jaunt. Instead, I aim to delve into a couple new projects, namely books. The other, I shared above. The timelapse video of the picture above is on the Facebook Page. Here is the link: 

https://www.facebook.com/LeConteLodge/

One of my goals while living up top is to find ways to best share the beauty of the mountain with you all. I hope you enjoy!
 
Onward,
Seth

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“Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.” – Mark Twain