Thursday, April 16, 2015

Morning Nature Walk


















Morning nature walks are a ritual that started when Reece was a baby. In the beginning he would be in a soft carrier, close to me as we walked along admiring Mother Nature. Later, he would sit in the stroller pointing out interesting things, getting out to walk a little bit, and then jumping back in when his little legs got tired. And finally, once he was old enough, he walked beside me, holding my hand, or running ahead, free and wild. We love these walks, usually just the two of us, but some days, the three of us when the little one who homeschools with us is here.

We are fortunate to have wonderful neighbours who have carved trails throughout their forested property, and give us free access to them. We take a short walk up the road from our home, to our access point, and away we go, walking in the woods.

We were on a mission earlier this week to find the first flowers of spring, and while we searched high and low, we didn't find any. Little hands did find some wonderful seed heads and shared them, with a giggle, as they floated through the air. Those same hands carefully brushed away some leaves to find the first trillium shoots peeking out from the ground, and with much excitement started counting them. He had a wonderful time, just wandering and enjoying his time in the woods.

I followed along, snapping pictures here and there, enjoying the stillness of the woods, the sunshine, and the hope and promise that comes, not only with this time of year, but with our morning nature walk.

How about you, do you have a morning nature walk ritual?

42 comments:

  1. No morning nature walk for us, although the kids are fortunate and get to walk to school. That does sound lovely though. We go out as much as we can, but, it is never enough.

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    1. Hey, walking to school is awesome, not many kids do that today.

      I have to admit to having a soft spot for our morning nature walk, it is lovely, and really helps to set us up for the day.

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  2. Look at that... your part of the world is waking up too Kim...we are right there with you. Nice to see Reece in a t-shirt and no coat :)

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    1. It is Camilla, and we are enjoying it so much! Ha, he has no plans to put a coat or long sleeve on again until next winter, at least so he tells me. What he doesn't know is that we are expecting a little chillier temperatures next week :)

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  3. What a blessing to have access to those walking trails so nearby :)

    We do not currently have a nature walk routine, but I am thinking I should implement one next year when we start homeschooling. Love the idea...

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    1. We feel very lucky to have the trails and such lovely neighbours.

      Oh yes, for sure, it is a wonderful way to start your homeschool day. Right now we do circle and story time and then go for our walk, but next year our walk will happen first thing, right after breakfast, and then onto lessons.

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  4. I wish I did! During the week I don't have the time since it's off to school for the girls and work for me. I do enjoy long walks/runs with friends on the weekends though.

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  5. we walk daily and I am constantly checking out the woods for some changes. Just yesterday I looked up and wonder of wonders the maples are sprouting!! Seems that one day nothing is happening and then today everything is happening :)

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    1. That is awesome, we have no buds bursting forth yet, but they look like they will do so soon.

      I agree, I often find that all of sudden everything is green!

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  6. What beautiful pictures. We are also fortunate to have regional parks and trails, but they do all require some driving. We haven't gotten into the morning walk yet. Still a bit chilly for us, but the afternoon and after dinner walks are in full swing! Anyway, morning walks mean 3 of us... evening walks mean time with dad and that is always much better.

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    1. Thanks Yanic. Yes, all our conservations areas require us to drive to them, that is why we feel so blessed to have these trails right across the road.

      We do our morning nature walk throughout the year, spring, summer, fall and winter, rain or shine. Even on those -40 degree days this winter, we got out there. We didn't stay out for long though :)

      It is funny, I find our morning nature walk and our after family dinner walk feel totally different. Our morning walk is a little more nature orientated, searching for things, following tracks, etc, and our after dinner family walks are a little more, hmmm, leisurely, I guess. We chat, we make plans, we dream. So many family ideas spring forth when the three of us go for those walks, one of the reasons I love them so.

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  7. What lovely neighbours :). A morning nature walk sounds like a lovely idea, we tend to do it in the afternoon but not everyday :)

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    1. Indeed, we are very lucky :) It is lovely, and a perfect way to start our day.

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  8. it is such a joy to visit your beautiful area Kim... here the river is what shows us spring in all its glory :)

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    1. Thank you Mari. Oh I can just imagine, I love water, and I bet your river is just stunning this time of year.

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  9. I'm sorry you didn't find the first flower, but now you have something to search for next time. I walk everyday, unless is has poured for days and the roads are just too muddy. I am blessed to live in the middle of 'no where' so nature is right out my door, the only draw back? It's a pain to drive to town and no one delivers out here. :)

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    1. Yes, very true Tracey :)

      Ha, we have the same problem...the disadvantages of living in the country :)

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  10. Your weather looks wonderful still, so I'm sure those flowers will appear soon. We're lucky enough to have woods right next to us too, and love walking there, but not in a daily routine, just as and when the mood takes us, which is pretty often!

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    1. Oh Sally it is! Sunshine, blue skies and very warm temperatures for days on end, it has been wonderful! The flowers will be here very soon.

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  11. I wish I could! This week: yes I did with lili, what a pleasure, even under the rain!

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    1. Oh yes, walks in the rain are just wonderful. I am glad you had this time with Lili this week, I am sure you both enjoyed it. xo

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  12. This weather this week has been truly stellar! So glad that you and Reece have been soaking it all in too! Gorgeous pictures as always, dear friend! xo

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    1. Thanks Shel, and yes, amazing weather, we have been enjoying it the best way we know how..outside all day long :)

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  13. Look at that lovely sunshine. It must be warm now for Reece to be wearing a t-shirt. :) It's unseasonably warm here. Even though winter is just around the corner I can still get about in t-shirts and shorts or a skirt.

    Looking forward to the weekend though! I think it's going to be sunny again so I feel inspired by your post to go and have a photo walk through the nature reserve!

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    1. It has been very warm this week Leisa, and it feels wonderful! We are suppose to return to normal next week, but that is okay, more days like this will soon follow.


      Enjoy your walk my friend. xo

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  14. Looks like a nice morning for a walk. We don't have a morning nature walk, but I enjoy sitting on the patio with my coffee and the kids will sometimes join me.

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    1. It is a lovely walk. That sounds like a lovely morning ritual. Enjoy!

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  15. As always, thank you for the vicarious trip through your natural surroundings.

    I somehow missed how long Reece's hair is getting!

    Now that the boys are at school they do their walking there, but Opal and I still get out everyday. Today fat wet snowflakes were coming down so I put her in the backpack and walked down to the lake. We saw the first cormorants of the season and two sandpiper like water birds that I am still trying to hunt down the name of--can't quite remember where I last put our bird book! It's always a treat for us, when the migratory birds come back.

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    1. You are most welcome my friend. I can't wait to take you on a walk through these woods one day :)

      Yes, he is growing it. All his decision. It has moved from that crazy stage to something resembling a surfer now, and he seems to like it. See my post tomorrow for a full look at it.

      Okay, snowflakes, keep those okay? We are so done with snow! Your walk does sound lovely though. And to see the first cormorants, awesome!!! I love seeing all the birds return, as well as the ones that stopover for a few days and then move further north. Big treat for us too!

      Happy weekend my friend. xo

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  16. We used to. But now with the busy-ness of the barn, morning feedings, etc we have gotten away from that. We do a weekly hike though to make sure we re-connect. In fact, last Friday we did a really unique and fun hike. I took a ton of pics and was thinking of doing a post with them. You just inspired me!

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    1. Yay for inspiration!! I can wait to see photos of your hike.

      I can totally understand with all the morning chores at the barn that getting out in the morning is hard, but all those chores are part of nature connection too, right? We get out two to three times a week for hikes at our local conservation areas, to change things up a bit and spend time with friends. One those days that becomes our morning nature walk.

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  17. Just beautiful. I use to do this when my boys were younger. Now Mr 17 goes on runs and walks usually by himself and sometimes with his Dad. He goes too far for me. Mr 14 plays golf everyday, sometimes I walk with him. I still like to go for nature walks and other times I just enjoy being in the garden. Lovely to see some green Kim and so nice of your neighbours. Have fun. xo

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    1. Thank you Julie. My how times change, eh? It is bittersweet to watch them grow up, but I am sure also so very wonderful. Enjoy this shift in the journey my friend.

      And yes, so very nice of our neighbours. They have actually told us we can cut a few more trails to give us an access point closer to our home. We just need to find the time to do it :)

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  18. i love your woods...Reece is so lucky to be growning up knowing it. I have a feeling that he will be raising his children the same way, Happy Sunday Kim...xoxo

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    1. Thank you, we love them too! Oh Erica, I hope so. I hope this life will be one he carries with him into adulthood and into his family in the future.

      Hope you had a wonderful Sunday. xo

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  19. Loving your nature walk ritual. Although I'm wishing we had more "nature" within walking distance, your story is very similar to our daily ritual. I walked the neighborhood with E in the carrier, pointing out poppies planted in someone's garden or picking up rocks on the side of the road to share with her. Now we walk for blocks, sometimes Ellie on her bike, sometimes in the wagon, or just strolling along, telling stories and listening for neighborhood birds. I love hearing about the daily rituals... they are so important to our lives.

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    1. Thank you. Your ritual sounds just lovely Summer, making the best of what you have :) I love the mix of what Ellie does each day, on her bike, in the wagon or walking, we do that too. Reece has been riding his bike or scooter up the road lately, and then we stash it behind some trees while we walk in the woods :)

      I agree with you on the importance of daily rituals in our lives, I think we as a society need to pay more attention to creating them for our families.

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  20. When we lived at our other house closer to the mountain we walked daily. I really enjoyed that. Now it's not as fun to walk because we are in a neighborhood with lots of dogs who bark.

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    1. Oh that is too bad, barking dogs aren't fun. We don't have that problem in the country, just gobbling turkeys and the drumming of the ruffed grouse :)

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  21. Love going for walks with my girls every day! It is even better when daddy can come along. We enjoy going by the river. It is nice now that the bridge is up and we can walk around it. :) Love nature!

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    1. I know you do, so good for them and us :)

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