Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Summer Nature Adventures






Photos from Bowmanville Valley









Photos from Lynde Shore Conservation Area

We spend a lot of time in nature year round, but summer, oh summer you whisper to us as the sun rises each morning to get out there, to walk in the woods, to wander and observe, to touch the earth. And so we do.

Last week Reece and I headed out for a hike at Bowmanville Valleys. It was a lovely morning, although the mosquitoes were ravenous. We hiked along the creek, stopped at the fish ladder, and then moved on to the frog pond. We heard the bull frogs, but weren't able to see any. We listened to them for a while before starting the hike back. We made plans, as we walked, to head back this week to check on the frogs, and to harvest some wild mint, we were lucky enough to find a large patch by the pond.

The next day we celebrated Canada Day hiking with friends at one of our favourite trails, Lynde Shore Conservation Area. While Justin, Reece and I have made the long hike down to the lake, our friends hadn't, and so we meandered our way along the trail, stopping to feed chipmunks, and a rabbit, ending at Lake Ontario. While the adults enjoyed a picnic, the kids frolicked in the water, enjoying the cool, clear water after a long hike. After soaking up the peace and calm the water offers, we packed up and headed home, happy and tired.

I love hiking in all seasons, but summer, it has a certain pull that calls to us, asking us to head into the woods a little more often, and to linger a little longer. To picnic, to climb trees, to just be and soak up the beauty of Mother Nature, connecting more deeply to her and the world around us.

What kind of summer nature adventures are calling you?

*****

Head on over to visit Cory, her new CD "Make Your Magic" is coming out next week, and you can enter for your chance to win a copy. Trust me, you want to win this CD, so good!

32 comments:

  1. What beautiful photos. We are yet to see a rabbit or hare this year. They have been keeping well hidden. I do love summer hikes, but for me, the pull is bigger in Spring and Fall. Although I love the warmth and color of summer, I find the coolness better suited to long hikes. Summer, we tend to stay closer to home. Our adventures take us more towards water. Oh, the great lakes... They are so majestic!

    Speaking of wild mint. I tried something this year and the gamble paid off : Wild mint is a bit rare around here. I don't know why. It grows so well on the North shore wooded areas of the river but not our side. Well I found a small (very small) patch by the river as we were walking one day and snipped off a few sprigs. When I got home, I put them in water and behold, they grew roots. Those little sprigs turned into a small little patch in my garden after only a few weeks. :-) Just thought I would share.

    Hope you are having a wonderful week. xo

    PS : The mosquitoes have been insane here too. I've already gone through half a jar of plantain oil and we are only the first week of July. Thank goodness the coll weather has kept the plantain nice and fresh in our yard. I'll have to make another jar to last the season!

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    1. Thanks Yanic. That little rabbit was something else, we have never had one so calm and willing to eat from our hands. It was incredible, and definitely on of the highlights of the day.

      Ha, I bet if you asked me during any season what my favourite hiking season is I would say the one I am in :) I think for summer, hikes afford us a little more flexibility...we can picnic, we can swim, we can hang out for hours and just let the day fade away. And yes, the great lakes are something else, so much peace and calm when I am sitting on the shores of one of them.

      That is cool. We went back today to properly identify it, and it was wild peppermint, which is even cooler. It is now hanging to dry. Maybe I will go back and grab a bit to root, but I do already have a ton in the garden. We shall see.

      Overall the mosquitoes haven't been too bad. When we were out last week it was just after some rain, so they were ready and waiting for us. Hit the same spot today, and they weren't nearly as bad, and I remembered the bug spray this time :)

      Thanks, hope you are having a wonderful week too! xo

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  2. We love getting out in nature but I am a chicken with the little one's and myself alone. I can never quite relax out in the woods just me and them. So we don't go as often as I would like. I AM trying to get us to our local beach more often during the day. Places with (small) crowds make me feel a little more at ease! And that bunny!! It is amazing! We have a family of bunnies in our next door cemetery. We try being quiet to see if they come out but the happy squeals of the little one frightens them!

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    1. It can be a little scary. I remember when Reece was a baby and I started taking him into the woods on my own, I stuck to places I knew well, and always had my cell phone with me. Once he got a bit older I became much more comfortable exploring new places with him. And now, as long as my backpack is well stocked, and I have my first aid kit and a knife, I feel pretty good going anywhere with him :)

      That rabbit was totally amazing, so friendly. We couldn't believe it. Definitely the highlight of the day.

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  3. I love to hike too, but here I enjoy it more in the fall/winter season. Today the air is so thick I can see it! ;)

    PS- Hot rock painted last night and we loved it, thank you so much.

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    1. Ah, yes Tracey, I can understand that. Reece and I love our hikes down there during the winter.

      Yay, that makes me so happy. Glad you enjoyed it :)

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  4. Sounds like you are having an awesome summer! We love it too. ☺

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    1. Oh we are Tiffany, glad you guys are too!

      xo

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  5. Those pictures are beautiful, I really love the last one. I'm so amazed that he is feeding that bunny! So sweet.

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    1. Thanks Carlin. I think that last one really shows the vastness of Lake Ontario, it is huge. We were all amazed at that, we thought for sure the rabbit would hop away as Reece got closer, but no, it came right up to him. So cool!

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  6. So good, Kim!
    Summer is special. I think for us it is the abundance. There is a lot to see in every season, but summer is just bursting with life!

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    1. Thanks Dawn. Oh yes, the abundance, you are so right!

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  7. Oh Kim, what gorgeous pictures and lovely adventures! And to get to feed chipmunks and rabbits right from your hands- I cannot even begin to imagine how fabulous that was! My girls would be over the moon to get to feed birds, chipmunks or rabbits (or all three) from hand! You and Reece clearly have the magic touch!

    One day we must come to Canada and go on some adventures with you! xo

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    1. Thanks Shel, we are having a blast!

      It was definitely a highlight to feed that rabbit. Something a certain little man won't soon forget :)

      Yes, you must. Can't wait to have you guys join us on a few adventures. xo

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  8. I am amazed at how close the animals got to Reece! He must be a whisperer. I think our garden has been our most successful nature experiment this summer. But we are looking forward to camping at the end of the month, and I'm hoping to soak up plenty summer in those few days outdoors!

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    1. Hehe, sometimes I think he is. But honestly, he is pretty patient with them, and just waits to gain their trust, and then they come to him. It is pretty special.

      So happy to hear your garden is doing well. And camping, I hope you guys have the most wonderful time.

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  9. An inspirational post! Makes me want to get out more. I love your photos, especially of the daisies. I hold a special place in my heart for daisies.

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    1. Aw, thank you. Those look like daisies, don't they, but they are in fact fleabane, often referred to as daisy fleabane :)

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  10. I feel the morning pull as well! Although, the kids seem to love to say in bed an linger during these days off from school. I love being up in the morning, but always have a hard time getting out of bed, except in summer :) I love this quiet time when no one else is awake and I can work through the morning chores slowly and with ease. I often finish by taking my coffee out to the barn and visiting with the goats, taking in the garden and our little piece of the natural world. These days the kids all come over and climb onto my lap, or pile rather! It is a really wonderful way to start the day.

    Oh how I wish we had so much water as you to enjoy!

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    1. Ha, my little man, and my hubby enjoy lingering in bed too. I should have said that summer whispers to me as the sun rises...I am the one who rises with the sun around here :)

      I love my early mornings, watching the sun rise, getting in my yoga or a run, and then tending to the chickens and walking around the garden. I usually enjoy about two hours of quiet, reflective me time before my two boys awake. It is one of the best parts of my day.

      I am glad you are enjoying early mornings too my friend, soak them up.

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  11. Oh wow what a treat to find bunnies and chipmunks that you can feed! What a wonderful experience that must be :)

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    1. A treat indeed, and one we never take for granted :)

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  12. Such a season of adventures... I like it so much too. This light, this heat, this fast growing plants in the garden :)

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    1. It is all so wonderful, isn't it? Enjoy it Sandra. xo

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  13. that rabbit! amazing! I am loving my walks near by and when the fall arrives I plan a hike at a waterfall attraction that I haven't been to since my son was in a carrier.....(quite a LONG time!). I like packing a picnic and just being somewhere else.

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    1. It was pretty amazing for us too :) It is so nice to picnic on hikes, we do it often, and love just sitting and enjoying wherever we stop.

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  14. I like seeing this place that is so special to you in all the different seasons. I recognize it now as if I'd been there myself! :)

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    1. Aw, that is so sweet. I hadn't thought of that, but yes, I do share this place a lot, and you must get to know it pretty well. That makes me happy. Just think what it will be like when I take you there in person...that will happen one day :)

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  15. Similiar adventures are calling us too. Hiking, getting out as much as possible, of course-lots of horseback riding! Love your photos!

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    1. Sounds like you are enjoying summer...soak it up! Thank you!

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  16. In the Summer it's always the water that calls us, of course! And so far this year, the sea much more than the river - we just haven't quite had enough hot weather to get the rivers past feeling 'freezing' yet, so the sea is winning. Love your shots of the lake, what a perfect spot to reach after a long, hot hike.

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    1. So happy to hear you guys are enjoying the sea, it always looks so lovely in your photos.

      Thanks, reaching that lake at the end of the hike is awesome. I soaked my feet, and goodness it felt so good.

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