Tag: love where you live

harbingers of autumn

MarthaKimball2 Comments

DSC_0013 DSC_0010 DSC_0014DSC_0015 DSC_0018DSC_0019DSC_0020DSC_0021DSC_0026 (2)DSC_0029 (1)DSC_0032DSC_0036DSC_0041DSC_0043DSC_0044DSC_0049DSC_0050DSC_0054DSC_0056DSC_0057DSC_0060DSC_0066DSC_0068 (1)DSC_0070DSC_0072DSC_0076DSC_0079 (1)DSC_0080DSC_0083DSC_0088DSC_0090DSC_0085

I never used to pay attention to the way the bright spring green ages, deepening into the dark green of autumn before green gives way to brown, gold, scarlet.  Last weekend, I felt that particular itch in my soul to get up and away into the mountains, and I took the kids (with my mom) to one of my favorite areas, Black Balsam.  There’s something about this place that quiets me, and somehow hiking those familiar rocky paths and setting my eyes on that wide and wild view that makes me feel like I can breathe.  There’s so much glory.  The kids were such great hikers, even Philippa hiked the whole way and refused to be carried.  So we kept the pace of a child, which is a good pace for a tired soul.  It is the pace that allows you to notice things like darkening green, brilliant goldenrod, red and orange sumac, queen anne’s lace, all the harbingers of autumn.  It is the pace that allows for wonder.  It is the pace that allows you to really see and remember that this season is passing and giving way to another, so drink it all in.

 

our first camping trip

MarthaKimballLeave a comment

DSC_0002DSC_0004DSC_0006DSC_0008DSC_0010DSC_0011DSC_0012DSC_0013DSC_0014DSC_0015DSC_0016DSC_0018DSC_0021DSC_0024DSC_0025DSC_0027DSC_0028 (1)DSC_0031 (1)DSC_0036DSC_0037DSC_0038DSC_0045DSC_0048DSC_0049DSC_0053DSC_0054DSC_0056

Two weekends ago we took the kids on their very first camping trip about an hour and a half away to Smokemont Campground.  We met up with my two best girlfriends from college and their families, which seriously made it the best trip ever.  We borrowed an 8-person family tent from some other friends of ours.  I can’t believe we haven’t invested in one sooner!  We fit a queen-size air mattress in it and our rickety old pack and play for philippa, and still had plenty of room for the other kids to sleep on the floor plus keep all of our stuff inside.  The best parts were:

seeing our children (9 now altogether, with 1 on the way!) play together,  biking around and basically running a bit wild

phoebe’s first time tubing in the river

gluten-free s’mores around our campfire at night

Travis’ endless supply of french press

walking from one campsite to another to visit each other and chat

late night time with my two besties talking about life and homeschooling and all of our ailments now that we are in our 30s

sleeping with the fly off of the tent beneath an inky bowl full of stars, listening to the river + crickets

noah asking me if we could just go home or if we could get in the van and lock the doors

waking up warm and cozy, snuggling long in bed while brandon made me coffee

bacon + eggs (best part of car camping, besides air mattresses)

children with tousled heads and jammies playing in the morning light

We had no major incidents, which will probably give us a false sense of success and victory going into our next family camping trip.  It was only one night, but it felt like a restful getaway and I’m hoping we can squeeze in another trip in the fall.  I felt very inspired by my two girlfriends who have efficient setups and systems for their family camping trips.