This morning I woke up... and I just needed to leave.... I needed to escape the house, the laundry, my thoughts and worries... my oldest was in NYC at a Broadway show with my father - so I packed up the three little ones and just started driving...
What an adventure we had! I think its something we will do much more often. We first ended up at a local state park that we've enjoyed before. The weather was so nice here today - the snow was melting and the sun was out.
We walked. Talked. Looked. Listened. We spotted a few nests...
Took our time and enjoyed where we were. We did not rush anything today. If the girls found something interesting or were playing I waited... a long time...and just let it be with nowhere to go.
Another nest...
Pine cone heaven.... Maia wanted to carry these all through the entire visit but I convinced her to leave them under a special tree until we walked back to the car when we could retrieve them.
Tree Pose ;)~
Some of the trees had labels with descriptions... this one was a White Willow. We are planning on returning with our camera when Spring comes to see how the trees change.
Another nest...
Pine cone heaven.... Maia wanted to carry these all through the entire visit but I convinced her to leave them under a special tree until we walked back to the car when we could retrieve them.
Tree Pose ;)~
Some of the trees had labels with descriptions... this one was a White Willow. We are planning on returning with our camera when Spring comes to see how the trees change.
This bench should be titled 'Solitude'...
This is a Red Maple:
In a book excerpt from the Lifeways publication that will be coming out this Spring, Cynthia Aldinger and Mary O'Connell speak of the healing affects of nature... today it truly was the perfect therapy for me - I think I just needed to let go of all my to-do's and enjoy the world around me. If you would like to read the full excerpt, it can be found in my Little Acorn Learning March Newsletter. 
We didn't stop there. After a stop at a local diner for lunch, we kept driving.... far. We ended up exploring places known and unknown to us.... quiet beautiful places... open places...
quaint places...
We didn't stop there. After a stop at a local diner for lunch, we kept driving.... far. We ended up exploring places known and unknown to us.... quiet beautiful places... open places... 
quaint places...
Free with no timeline... no place to go...or be... nothing more important to do...
It felt good.
Discovering... storytelling... imagining...
We hit three state parks and spent the entire day exploring... just driving and finding places as we went..
We hit three state parks and spent the entire day exploring... just driving and finding places as we went..
With no destination in mind...
I challenge you to do the same... often.
xoxo
I have just discovered you and feel so blessed about it. You are further ahead than me, but just where I'd like to be 4 years from now. I have a 2 and 4 year old and am scrambling to figure out how to set up a nature childcare our of my house. Thank you thank you. Your journey will be something you will treasure as you get older. You will not be one of those people that says, I wish I hadn't ...
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome day it looks like you all had! I loved reading about your impromptu adventure :)
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen,
ReplyDeletei do love those times to have no plan...thank you for the reminder. Makes me look forward to spring!
Also, there are so many studies about the healing effects of being in nature (not just going outside...nature!) Many studies link being in nature to having a healing effect on all sorts of disgnoses.
Isn't it something that our society overlooks these simple things with relative ease...and assigns them complicated reasons?
I love your pics. It IS so cool to just enJOY the journey..no matter where it takes us :)
ReplyDeletewww.childinharmony.com
my 2.5 yr old son and I do that quite often...everytime we get on a bumpy road he calls it a "venture". Sometimes I just have to get out of my 4 wonderful home walls!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the children in my life (and there are MANY) have taught me gently that it is never the destination, but always the slow and magical journey itself.f
ReplyDeletelove this post,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Shannon - YES I agree. I'm actually thinking about doing it again this weekend :) - I may map out a few spots ahead of time though just to make sure we have some sort of a plan.
ReplyDeleteSharon - What an honor to have you post on my blog. I absolutely LOVE your work and have Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots on hand :) If its ok, I would like to email you with a question. xoxo
What an amazing day!! Thank you for the nice comments on our blog. Wish we lived closer to you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Eileen. We try to do something like this regularly. When it all gets too much, I know it's time to ditch the books and escape the house. But, as beautiful as Oz is, I don't think our little corner measures up to exquisiteness of your little piece of the world. What a stunning place to live :)
ReplyDelete