A Walk in the Park, A Favorite Book & 1,000 Hours Outside

Sometimes when the stars align parenting can actually feel like a walk in the park.  Like the one I took {last month now} with my boys!

 

We have a new favorite book at our house; A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch. It was another one of those book "serendipity" moments at the library again. I found this one and it felt like it had been written for our family! It incorporates our drawing on walls habit, and my Andy Goldsworthy like obsession with making art in nature.

So one morning this past month as the vegetation all around us was waning on the cusp of summer, we decided to take a hike outdoors and spend our own day with no crayons.  Everything around us was still bright with summer greens and yellows, and the occasional blue and purple late blooming wildflower.  Just like Liza, the main character in the book - and Miles' new favorite person - we began to notice the colors we saw.  We took time to acknowledge each one and then gather a sample into our basket.  We found lime colored milkweed pods, weathered sticks, evergreen needles, grasses heavy with seed, and the ornamental tops of flowers whose petals had already fallen. 

As soon as we reached the lookout, and unloaded the basket, the boys got to work making it into a picture, "Just like Liza would!"

While I watched and let them work I found myself examining each element up close. Here is the milkweed seed pod contents - not quite mature - but so beautiful in its simple design.

 

It is always so amazing to watch the boys explore at their own pace. I found I wanted to stoop down and walk slowly - trying to imagine the world from their level where grasses still towered overhead; and then the sighting of a cricket sent us off and running in another direction! 

We know that it is such a blessing to live where we do, and have such easy access to an amazing expanse of the outdoors - literally at our doorstep.  Another component to the serendipity of this entry is that when I posted a picture of the boys playing on our woodpile as part of my {this moment} ritual, I received a comment from 1,000 Hours Outside. I was enamored with the fact that this amazing group stumbled upon my moment... and therefore my blog.

Many of you that know me realize that teaching children about the outdoors is my passion. On so many levels it is what I long to devote my every waking hour to - and I know that one day I will.  It has been a very long year - or two - with health issues, job changes, and the loss of dearly loved ones.  Slowly I am beginning to feel like myself again.  And just as slowly the realization has come to me, that I have the rest of my life to be a teacher to the children of others. Right now my greatest job is to care for my own little brood. I look forward to updating about all of the exciting things that will someday be; as I build this business plan and this seasonal curriculum in my heart. Each day it is growing inside me, with me constantly, and one day will be ready to be born into its own light.
But, I digress.

As I leaned more about this amazing 1000 hours outside group, and their effort to promote getting kids outside, I realized that I can find faith in the fact that there are other mamas out there, teaching their children the cycles and seasons of the outdoors too. I felt comfort knowing that because of their efforts there will in fact be other kids that can identify the sound of a Barred Owl, as opposed to the jingle for a cereal commercial, that my boys will be able to play with one day.  I felt so relieved when I found their site because I was reminded that there are still people that believe that nature can be a primary component of our daily lives.  And what's more - they don't just talk about getting outside - they go out and do it!  So - if you are so inclined look to their efforts and be inspired as I was. I think that rather than keep a tally of our hours, I will instead just continue to follow the lead of my own two little teachers. They do an amazing job of getting me outside, and helping me see the world from a fresh perspective as I watch them experience it!

{this moment} on two continents! 4 October 2013

Each week my South African friend Vanessa and I post {this moment} on two continents! as a ritual to celebrate our friendship and the bond we share as we raise our boys "together" on opposite sides of the globe.

Fall has arrived at the apple orchard - United States

Celebrating Spring with a swing - South Africa

Inspired by Soulemama - {this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo few photos - no words - some words :-) capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Bradley Reunion - August 2013

Another Year - Another Bradley Reunion - Another baby on the way {not mine!}

(Note: I am finally posting pictures - our actual reunion was in August!)

My how fast they grow!!  Each year I am amazed when we gather again and pose our babies in front of the world map quilt that Yia Yia made for Miles.  I love that I met the mothers of these beautiful babies when we were furiously planning to become first time parents. At that point all the planning was surrounding the thought of pregnancy and childbirth - we had no idea that the work really started once they got out of the womb! 

 

 February 17, 2010

 August 10, 2013

Over the past four years together we have weathered all things related to birthing, nursing, diapering, teething, sleep problems, surgeries, broken bones, and "firsts" of just about everything. We have shared stories that have made us laugh until we thought our sides might split, and we have comforted each other as we have cried through some hard times too.  All this while realizing the more we learn the less we know about parenting. Each child is unique and each new experience is another opportunity to learn what to do - or what not to do next time.  Thankfully - we all decided to take the same birthing class four years ago - so we have been able to share this journey together as a team! 

The Bradley Team has grown astronomically this year - as only kids can do!  If you want you can compare the kids last year this time by looking at the previous reunion post.

Chloe

 Abram

 

Miles 

Ruben 

(It was next to impossible to get a picture of this kid without food in his mouth from this party - especially once the cupcakes came out!!)

Sofia

 Emma

 Josie

 

Carson

And of course we had to line the kids up with the world map again! We learned last year the only way to get eight kids to stand still for more than a minute is to pass out popsicles - so we tried the same trick this year!!

 

Bradley Eight - July 2012 

 August 2013

And then after they eat popsicles - why not let them eat cake too - I mean it is a party right!?!

I call this picture - "The Cupcake Fairy Godmother!"

Ruben especially could not believe his luck - popsicles and cupcakes in one night - life is good!

The super exciting news is that one brave family took the leap and is ready to welcome the third baby!!  By the end of 2013 we will be welcoming another member to our Bradley Team! 

I have also heard news that our sweet friends from the class that moved away are also expecting again! So the tally now is one birthing class, five couples, ten children, and two on the way! Wow - we have been busy!! :-)  You can see all five of the couples on my first Bradley Reunion Post from 2010.

Thanks again to Cassie & Paul for hosting our wonderful/action packed dinner!

{this moment} on two continents! 27 September 2013

Each week my South African friend Vanessa and I post {this moment} on two continents! as a ritual to celebrate our friendship and the bond we share as we raise our boys "together" on opposite sides of the globe.

Preparing for the cold season by stacking firewood in the new rack we built this week - United States

 "Driving home" after a yoga session.

 Panoramic view with our strawberry & salad patch - South Africa

Inspired by Soulemama - {this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo few photos - no words - some words :-) capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Also - Here is Vanessa's wonderful answer to my "season question" from the last post -

So we have a 'green season' - (winter) and a summer season. Spring and autumn (can't be called "fall" as the naturally occurring (endemic) plants here in the Cape are not deciduous) are generally alternating periods of warm and dry, versus cold and rainy & windy days. 

 

Its sunny and dry today and was warm out with a cool breeze from the north.

 

In summer we will have hot dry days with a cool Antarctic wind from the SE many days. This cools places off that have a south facing beach, but the air does warm up as the wind moves over the land so that 100kms north of us is really hot and dry at midday.

Spring started before we moved - our garden was already blooming with daisies in June or earlier. The wild jasmine is just starting to bloom now. The proteas and pincushions in our garden have been flowering all winter - feeding the sunbirds and sugarbirds which bred in mid winter!

Winter produce is butternut, all sorts of potatoes and citrus as well as mangoes which we have really enjoyed, but are over now. Now its avocado season - yum!!!

 

{this moment} on two continents! 20 September 2013

Each week my South African friend Vanessa and I post {this moment} on two continents! as a ritual to celebrate our friendship and the bond we share as we raise our boys "together" on opposite sides of the globe.

This week the seasons are shifting, but my traveling companions remain constant. I love seeing the world through the eyes of my boys.  Perspective, patience, and finding peace in small things are among the lessons learned this week.

My teachers.

 Sudden appearances of rainbows, and celebrating the full Harvest Moon 

while savoring a local Honeycrip apple - United States

And my question to our dear friends as the seasons change. We are sending the warmth back to you so you can enjoy your season in the sun. The boys and I are wondering, what do you call the full moons in the Southern Hemisphere? Our are named by the seasons, and because our seasons are swapped - we wondered if yours are named something different? Please do share!! :-)

Shopping at our local produce shop. We bought three strawberry plants, some veg, bread etc.

I enjoy the array of things that one can buy... All locally produced and sort of organic.

 "My pumpkin pie with pumpkins"  - and also some pumpkins with protea - South Africa

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Found some great answers to our moon questions at earthsky.org
This is a great list of full moons as they are named in each hemisphere. It is amazing to compare them! One of my favorite things about our friendship is the fact that we live in entirely different hemispheres, and seasons. I am enamored by the fact that when I feel the weather begin to shift, I am almost pacified with my passing of the sunshine when summer leaves because I know it will be in good keeping with our friends on the other side of the world! Happy Equinox! Cheers to the changing of the seasons and the fact that we have been sharing {this moment} for SIX MONTHS now! Quite a feat for two moms on opposite sides of the globe with very small boys! {Sending my love with the sunshine to you and yours!}

Northern Hemisphere full moon names by month:
January: Old Moon, Moon After Yule
February: Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, Wolf Moon
March: Sap Moon, Crow Moon, Lenten Moon
April: Grass Moon, Egg Moon
May: Planting Moon, Milk Moon
June: Rose Moon, Flower Moon, Strawberry Moon
July: Thunder Moon, Hay Moon
August: Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon
September: Fruit Moon, Harvest Moon
October: Harvest Moon, Hunter’s Moon
November: Hunter’s Moon, Frosty Moon, or Beaver Moon
December: Moon Before Yule, or Long Night Moon

Southern Hemisphere full moon names by month:
January: Hay Moon, Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Mead Moon
February (mid-summer): Grain Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Wyrt Moon, Corn Moon, Dog Moon, Barley Moon
March: Harvest Moon, Corn Moon
April: Harvest Moon, Hunter’s Moon, Blood Moon
May: Hunter’s Moon, Beaver Moon, Frost Moon
June: Oak Moon, Cold Moon, Long Night’s Moon
July: Wolf Moon, Old Moon, Ice Moon
August: Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Hunger Moon, Wolf Moon
September: Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon, Sap Moon
October: Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Seed Moon, Pink Moon, Waking Moon
November: Corn Moon, Milk Moon, Flower Moon, Hare Moon
December: Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon

And now Vanessa - you must explain your growing seasons?!?!? How is it we both have winter squash in season at the same time.... and all the while you are planting strawberries?  I am confused!  Really? Have you been growing squash all {summer} winter? I must learn more about your high and low temperature if you are able to grow squash all winter long!

<And this is officially our longest {this moment} "wordless" expression of our week.  :-) >

Inspired by Soulemama - {this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo few photos - no words - some words :-) capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment} on two continents! 13 September 2013

Each week my South African friend Vanessa and I post {this moment} on two continents! as a ritual to celebrate our friendship and the bond we share as we raise our boys "together" on opposite sides of the globe.

This week we enjoyed a lot of free play!

 R.P. loved driving the infamous yellow convertible VW bug at our local children's museum.

 Miles was beside himself when he found the new exhibit with the rock climbing wall!  - United States

 Aidan created the most precious picnic for gnomes. 

 Then dined on some Indian food.

 Before traveling back home to South Africa! What a little world traveler!!

Inspired by Soulemama - {this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo few photos - no words - some words :-) capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

{this moment} on two continents! 6 September 2013

Each week my South African friend Vanessa and I post {this moment} on two continents! as a ritual to celebrate our friendship and the bond we share as we raise our boys "together" on opposite sides of the globe.

This week our boys were enjoying imaginative play! Such an amazing thing to watch their minds wander and wonder as they begin to "play act" the world they see around them. 

We wandered through the park and made art with objects we found in nature - United States

Aidan squaring away the Landrover! Looks like he is mechanic too...
Using the skills he learned in Namibia last Christmas :-) - South Africa - visiting the U.K.

Inspired by Soulemama - {this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo few photos - no words - some words :-) capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.