Christmas Day 2019...

We had a very relaxing Christmas day. We spent the morning at home, opening presents, before having an early lunch of leftovers from our Christmas Eve dinner. And since the weather was perfect and it was a balmy 16 deg Celcius (61 deg F), we decided to spend the afternoon at one of our favourite state parks, Spring Mill State Park.

The kiddos played at one of the play areas and we then took a lovely hike along a quiet and peaceful trail. We also went up to the old gristmill and marvelled at its advanced technological intricacies for the 1800s. We even walked up to the source of the stream that provides the water for the mill - Hamer Cave. The water flows out of this underground cave system and makes its way down the valley. The flume (that carries the water to the mill) begins a short distance below the cave.

Spending our Christmas outdoors was a much-needed time of fresh air and quiet for the soul. It may very well become a recurring part of our Christmas traditions. :)

 We continued our tradition of putting a shoe outside our door the night before Christmas. :)

 Christmas morning present time.

 Jungle gym at Spring Mill State Park.

 Riaan had a blast!

 Eliza was pensive as always. :)

 Hiking through the forest.

 The bare trees make fantastic patterns above us.

 Riaan was very excited to find a lamp-post. It was as if we were in Narnia! (Which he has been listening to lately.)

 Red-bellied woodpecker.

 The flume that carries the water to the mill.

 The historic mill.

 Water flowing down through the Pioneer Village.

 Hamer Cave (to the left), source of the mill's water.

 The pump house at the upper dam.

 The lower dam wall - to the left - where the flume begins its journey to the water mill.

Walking back after a lovely Christmas day!