winter in Austin

It's in the 30s in the morning and the mid-70s by the afternoon. It's gray one day and bright sunshiney the next. It's a season of dressing in layers so that you can shed most of them by the afternoon only to start relayering as the sun sets. This is one of the reasons that we live in Austin. Not for the endless days of summer but for these mild winters. Although I do expect a frigid cold snap in February. It always happens that way. And I rather enjoy it!
But today, I was grateful for the sun and the warmth, with just a touch of winter chill...both while I was running and while I was hiking. Grateful for completing a run longer than I've done in a year (I wasn't sure I still had it in me). Grateful for time to clean my office (I wasn't sure I'd ever see that desk again!). And most grateful for Anne's annual birthday hike. On a 'new-to-me' trail behind the Austin Nature Reserve. With kids. And other friends. And laughter and sunshine. And this cool sculpture with a brilliant blue sky as the backdrop. Just another winter day in Austin.