Chopping ice

January 9

The water table is frozen solid! Instead of the usual sheet of ice that can be broken through with a butter knife, this morning the ice is one big block. The tin pail we left in the water is immobilized at the the bottom. My girls chip and scrape amazed that the water had finally frozen completely. 

Icicles

January 8

We find icicles this morning. Solid columns under the water table. "Can we break them?" my girls ask. With butter knives in hand they chop and the ice gives way.  They hold the broken pieces like trophies and run into the house to show their dad. 

Strolling with Friends

January 7

It's is bright and brisk. Our neighbor invites us to take our animals for a stroll. The girls rush down the sidewalk pushing their stuffed friends. Noses turn pink as we stop to look at the icy puddles. 

Full Moon Rising

January 5

"The moon is pink! Go look!" encourages my husband from his drive home. We rush outside and look for the moon. Too many trees to see it at first. Then it peaks up, only a glow at first. We stand transfixed as the glow moves up in the night sky and becomes a silvery ball. 

Light in the Dark

January 4

We hunker inside today putting away the holiday bounty. We are beckoned to the deck after dark by the sparkling lights. This time of short dark rainy days is also filled with such concentrated brightness. 

Maybe we work harder to bring light into our lives when the sun is in such short supply. We turn and see our elaborately decorated tree through the window. "I think we should keep it until March" announces my almost big girl. 

Found Treasures

January 3

A rainy grey day at home. So much intertia to overcome getting outside. But with the first breath of clean fresh air my senses perk up. A mile from home my fist born finds a tiny plastic dolphin in the road. It is treasure to her. "Mom, what if we found a different animal every time we walked this way? We could have a whole collection! Day one dolphin, day two giraffe . . . " 

Winter Waves

January 2

We walk along the winter beach. The cold salty air fills our lungs. This is heaven and I am grateful to be here, in the place, with these people. 

Happy New Year!

January 1

A foamy foot reminds me of the simple joy my not so little one finds all around her. We walk along the winter beach and she flirts with the waves. Scooping the sea foam onto her shoes her face glows. 

Four legged friends

December 22

It is wet and we are alternately stir crazy and sleepy. I know this feeling. Time for fresh air. Our four legged family members jump at the sigt of the leashes. Yes, these dogs should have been the reason for our daily outings since the beginning but I will admit I often let them play in the back yard rather than going for a real walk. 

As the year comes to an end I am contemplative. A year of getting outside most days has brought great joy to our family. I feel calmer and find moments of peace in nature that sustain me throughout the days. And I have discovered the peril of having an electronic companion always on hand to capture the perfect moment. Instead of being in the moment I found myself documenting the moment. And so I have become an intermittent photographer and a sometime blogger. 

For the new year I hope and plan to continue our daily outdoor time. And I hope to go on more walks with our dogs because I know they need to stretch their legs as much as we do. 

Hello Sky

October 14

This is the view from my new hammock. I have wanted a hammock for longer than I can remember. But I hesitated imagining my little ones falling out of the tippy fabric. Then I discovered the hammock mountaineers use to sleep in suspended high above the ground. A deep pouch of sturdy nylon! It mounts with straps and can be moved at a moments notice. This is the hammock of my dreams! 

It is evening and we just finished dinner. I sneak out to the deck and climb in. I gently rock while watching the sky. The crickets are out and I hear geese honking as they head south. I'm sure I will need to head inside for baths and bedtime routines in a bit. But right now I am on a mini vacation saying hello to the sky. 

While off the grid

October 10 

While on vacation from my technology we have had many outdoor adventures and moments of wonder. I had to set down my smart phone for a while and just be outside with my family.  I missed looking closely at nature and capturing the details of our beautiful surroundings in photos but I also loved being unteathered and free from the digital world. 

My commitment  to being oustide everyday continues. But I am now giving myself permission to unplug. I will document as I can and continue to take photos when inspired. 

Off Line

September 3

I've been off line for a while. Taking a digital break. We have been outside every single day and loving it. I realized I want to be outside without a camera, phone or access to the Internet. 

I just want to enjoy the air, sky, and trees. My children much prefer my attention without a phone attached to my hands. And I find that if I park my technology and head outside I find more peace. 

And so I have not been taking photos or writing. But we have been living and enjoying our time outside every day. 

MUD!

August 8

Squishy, gooey, MUD!

Drip drip drip

August 7

Cupped like a bowl, these beauties drink in the rain. We explore the dripping garden in our rubber boots. 

Flash rider 360

August 6

This is the craziest trike I have ever seen. We may never come inside again. Peddling backwards, turning circles, twisting and looping my daughter heads outside as soon as she gets up just to get a few moments on this contraption. 

Waiting for dusk

August 5

In the heat of an August day this night blooming beauty is shut tight. 

Scooter stroll

August 4

Big sister helps Little sister keep her balance on our scooter stroll. 

Stop theif!

August 3

Is this who is supposed to be eating our birdseed?

Hot pink!

August 2

There are crape myrtle trees covered in blossoms everywhere. 

Yellow!

August 1

The summer flowers have arrived!