MazeMasters

This weekend Sophie and I took off to find our way through the local Corn Maze.

This was my view for almost the entire time.

Every once in a while I'd belt out...."And baby, it's amazing I'm in this maze with you!" and Sophie would giggle.

The field was HUGE and it wasn't easy but......

....we did it.....in an hour flat....and we were so proud!

A beautiful Fall day with my beautiful girl! What could be better than that?

Hoping we can make this an annual tradition!

Land As A Community

I've been reading a lot lately and that's one reason I haven't been blogging much.  So many good books.....so little time!!!  I'm currently reading Terra Nova by Eric Sanderson.  To say that I'm enjoying this book would be an understatement. I'm actually learning a lot and it's got me thinking about so many different things. One of the chapters begins with this quote:

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us.  When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

~ Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 1949

I really love this quote and I wish more people took it to heart.  I do my personal best to see our small piece of land as a community.  I think a lot about all the species and plants that live on our lot and how I can best protect and care for them.  I mean....they care for me, don't they?  I don't allow fertilizers, won't use harmful sprays in my garden, absolutely forbid Round-Up.....try to maximize green space....grow plants that are good for the animals, birds, bugs that live here with us.  As I finish this book, our land community is on my mind a lot.  What more can I do?  How can I be better?  How do I teach my girls?

After school today, Clara and I decided to spend some time outside in the crisp cool Fall weather.  When we stepped out into the yard, a large hawk took off from one of our trees and flew right over our heads.  Clara gasped. I looked up into the sunshine and I could see all the gorgeous spots and markings on her plumage as she passed over my head.  At the same time, I was overcome with this sudden gratitude for her presence.

Clara and I checked on the onions and leeks that I planted recently.  

Check.

We monitored the buckwheat crop that I planted.

One half of the bed is growing perfectly and the other half....NOTHING!?!?!?  

As I passed by our parsley plant something caught my eye.......  

......yep, looks pretty normal.  But upon closer inspection....

WOW!  Yeah, there's a community alright.  A community of caterpillars living in my parsley plant.  I counted between 10 and 12 of them.  What a gift.  I have no idea what type of butterflies these will become.  I'm just happy they decided to stop by and stay for a while.  

I love our little land community!

PS ~ I wanted to share a photo of Clara too.  She's quite a little firecracker lately.

No matter how many times I ask, she refuses to wear shoes when we play outside.  Even when it's 50-60 degrees like today.  And she won't let me put her hair up.  She started the day with a ponytail but took it out almost immediately upon arriving at school.  In every single picture I take, her face is covered by hair. YET when I uploaded these photos, I loved how she looked.  She looks like a nature baby to me.  Perfectly at ease barefoot out in the garden....with the sun shining on her curly locks. Collecting leaves and digging in the dirt. Still looking for fresh strawberries even though it's been almost two months since the last one.  Yes, I LOVE my nature baby just the way she is!!

PPS ~ Last night I found this note lying on my phone and bag.

From my big nature baby.  I told her it was one of the nicest notes and presents I'd ever gotten. And I meant it!!!

Hilton Head Wildlife

Wow, time is flying.  It's already been several weeks since our beach trip!  So I've already shared the Bald Eagle and baby gators with you......now it's time to share a few other wildlife photos I took during our long weekend in Hilton Head. I had grand plans to research the animals, etc but, I'm telling you, there is NO TIME.  So without further ado....

Walking back from the beach one day, I almost stepped on this guy!

EEEKKKK!  What a find.  I was so excited.  We were ALL so excited!

I found this gorgeous little soul while I was walking to the pool one morning.....

Trust me, the pictures don't do this snail justice.  In real life, that shell was translucent and glittery.  I giggle to myself when I think of how many people must have passed by and wondered why I was taking a picture of the asphalt!!!

Oh, look who's coming....

Can you just imagine how much I love, love, love this next photo? 

Be still my beating heart!  I just love that goofy bird.

Okay, okay, I know, enough with the butterflies already!  Moving on....

 

These aren't great pictures but I was rather surprised at how close this heron and alligator were hanging out.....Sophie and I stuck around for a few minutes to see what happened.  And do you know what happened?

A whole lotta' nothin'!!!  

Which is so fine by me.  I could sit and watch a whole lotta' nothin' for days and be insanely happy!  Couldn't you?

Old City Cemetery ~ October

Over the weekend I took a quick solo trip to Lynchburg to visit my sweet Kenzie. Sunday morning was rainy but I talked Mom into joining me for a visit to one of my favorite places.  The Old City Cemetery.  I've only visited the Cemetery a few times in my life but I'd been wanting to return to take pictures.  A dreary, grey, rainy morning does not offer up the best conditions for nice photographs but I enjoyed myself tremendously and can't wait to go back.  Here are my favorite photos from the huge bunch....

There is so much I would like to say about this place but I just don't have enough time.  I'm hoping to visit again in the Spring with Alain and the girls.  Maybe I'll provide little more history of this gem then.  In the meantime you can always check out The Old City Cemetery website if you're interested.

Thanks for indulging me, Mom!