Big Meadows, oh how I love thee!

Such a perfect day.....I'm so glad I spent it with Sophie, Clara, Mom, Dad, Jen, Jose, Alejo & Sofia.

(The last 7 photos are courtesy of my Dad....thank you, Dad!)

Lulu & Goose in D.C.

Our family spent last week in Washington, D.C.  One of my favorites places.  I've spent a lot of time there in my life (being a Virginia girl and going to college only 45 minutes away) but this was the first time our girls visited the city.  I'm not really sure what took us so long!

Honestly, it was too hot to take pictures. It was too hot to breathe.  Plus I was sick and/or recovering the entire trip. But I managed to squeak out a few photos. Here are some of my favorites....

  

  

{My nickname for Sophie has always been 'Goose' so I'm quite fond of this picture!}

{I gave Clara a dime and told her she could put it in her pocket.  She rarely took her hand out of her pocket the remainder of the day!}

{Alain found an awesome place called The Swiss Bakery.  Pretty authentic and SO delicious!  We may or may not have gone there three times during our visit...  On this particular day, I had Clara wear her "Heidi"/Switzerland shirt that was a present from her Tio Iggy and Tia Bianca (originally Sophie's present but it's now fitting Clara perfectly)!  Tio Iggy is always with us.  Always.}

Alain agrees with me that we will only return to D.C. during the cooler months of the year.  I'm looking forward to it already and I know the girls are too!

The Beach, Nature & Creativity

Welcome to my favorite beach.  

Calibogue Beach.  In our family, we call it Land's End or South Beach.  It's never crowded (not that I've experienced).  This might be because there isn't any parking so you have to walk or bike a good distance to get there.  It could be because there are no amenities. No restrooms, no snack bar, no lifeguards, no umbrella or beach chair rentals.  It might be because there's very little actual beach, especially at high tide.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend swimming here because it's where the Calibogue Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean.  This means heavy currents and sharks (I understand that it's a hot spot for shark fishing but don't take my word on this ~ I may just be overprotective).  What may deter others are the things I love about this beach.  The nature here is CRAZY, there are tons of dolphins and it's the best spot for sunsets.

What thrills me is that Sophie loves it as much as I do.  On Friday AND Saturday, while Clara was napping, this is where she asked to come.  Not to play mini golf, ride horses at the stable, swim at the pool or visit the crowded beach, but HERE. While we hung out and I watched her play, it occurred to me that it's probably my favorite spot/activity for nurturing her creativity.  

For example, just take a look at this sandcastle.

We only brought a couple of shovels and buckets with us.  You can only fit so many things in a bike basket and backpack!  Sophie used those items to make the skeleton of the castle but then collected all kinds of natural items ~ pine cones, shells, driftwood, feathers ~ to decorate it.

My favorite part was the bridge she made out of sticks. I love her imagination.  I don't know that I ever would've thought of that!

 Throughout our visit, items would get added to this lovely castle.....

.....and this was the final view before we left the beach for the day.

Then there's all the digging.  Here Sophie told me she was digging a tunnel.

She was very busy and so quiet (and trust me, she's never very quiet).  Maybe that's another reason I love this beach so much....it captures her imagination as much as mine.

 Then it was on to writing and drawing in the sand with feathers.  Oh, this is so addictive.  Every single member of our family wrote in the sand with a feather tip.

I was happy to receive two love letters.....one being this....

 Be still my beating heart.

 In another moment, Sophie was working quietly in the sand.  I asked what she was doing and she told me she'd made a garden and she was watering it. 

A quick filling of the water bucket. 

And then a sprinkling on her row of plants.

Swoon.

At some point a couple came out with their kayak, promptly got in the water and paddled away.

(I was only slightly jealous!)

Shortly thereafter Sophie found a reed tucked into the sand. She told me she was going to use it as a paddle.  Then she hopped up onto this log and started paddling away.

(I think she was slightly jealous too!)

What could be more perfect?  I'd rather spend a few hours here than just about anywhere else I know.  

(photo taken by Sophie)

See, I told you my girls would turn me into a beach person!!!!  Maybe not the type of beach most people think of (I don't even swim or sunbathe when I'm there!) but a beach all the same!

(this photo reminds me of this one)

Sophie and I.....the beach provided a perfect outlet for our creative energy (mine in the form of these pictures and this blog post!) but, as the saying goes....

.....we took only pictures and memories and left behind only our footprints.

Big Meadows

I could write about this place all day.  But I don't have enough free time.  So I will only tell you that this is truly one of my favorite places I've EVER been.  It's so magical.  

  

Okay, just a little bit.

Oh, the fawns.  The fawns.  I'm going next summer just to see the fawns again.  You could look into the forest while you were driving on the road and see them (like the third picture from the top). I told Alain that we have to go back when I can go to the meadow at dawn and at dusk.  Mainly for better photo lighting but also because the animals might be around.  The girls and I saw plenty of deer beds (15th photo down is an example ~ I showed Sophie & Clara the first one and then they found plenty on their own) but the actual deer weren't around in the middle of the day. While we didn't see any bears, we spoke to a park ranger who said he's seen eight so far this season. Sophie wants to camp there so maybe that's a possibility when Clara gets a little older (at the moment, she still doesn't sleep when she's away from home!).  I am also now obsessed with wildflowers ~ I'm sure you didn't notice. I'm researching books (thinking about this one) and considering attending Wildflower Weekend next year. To say that I was inspired by my visit to Big Meadows would be a drastic understatement. The natural beauty was overwhelming in a very good way!

I hope you can go one day too!