This mammoth tree called out to me yesterday.

For a change of pace I hopped in the car with Gidget and we headed to Plymouth, WI, a neighboring city about six miles from where we live. We walked past a cemetery that was the backyard of some of the large homes we strolled past.

When I came upon to this tree I wanted to hug it. Not that my arms could have gotten around it – it was huge!  But I stood in awe of it wondering how long it has been firmly rooted to its spot.

How many people must have walked past this tree all the while it stands there through wind, snow, sun and rain. The stories that tree could tell.

I thought about our upcoming jaunt we are taking, heading to Door County for a few days. A time to ground myself, like the tree, during this little get-away and take in the colors and smells of fall which is now upon us.

I also chuckled to myself thinking about how “being grounded” meant something entirely different when I was young. I didn’t like when that happened- grounded for doing something wrong and not being able to hang out with my friends or go away – stuck at home.

Now I love being grounded at home. It’s what, err, grounds me!  But our little trip north will be another type of grounding to wonder endlessly wherever it is we wish to go.

It will be Miss G’s first time on a road trip with us, too! Kylie will be in the great care of my Dad as she is not a world class traveler- feeling more grounded when her paws are firmly planted upon her own space in our home.

And I chuckled yet again to myself this morning, realizing that indeed I’m truly a dog mom, because Gidget’s bag is already packed and ready to go.

My blog will be quiet for a couple of days, but I hope to take lots of pictures and share them with you when I return early next week.