Not So Perfect, Perfect Day || Big Talbot Island State Park ||

Open skies and the outdoors are constantly calling for me.  I love spending the weekends with the sun on my face.  So, this weekend when my husband suggested we get some much needed house upkeep done, I was less than excited.  We have been needing to replace a fan for months in the children's room and I guess today was going to be the day to do it.  The two of us together might almost make one sort of "handy" person when combined, so I knew this was going to take most of our day.  Almost three hours after we started the installation, it was time to throw the power switch on to see our handy work at work.  Power on, NOTHING.  Are you kidding me, three hours.  More tinkering and still nothing.  Needless to say, I was fuming.  We decided to walk away from the project and BREATHE.

After a miserable failure of a morning and most of the afternoon, we decided for every one's sake to get out of the house for a bit.  I am so glad we did.  We took A1A to the St. John's River Ferry to one of my most loved spots: Big Talbot Island State Park.  This place has always seemed so out of place here in coastal Florida.  It feels more like a dessert with the skeletons of trees waisting away on the shores.  We took the short hike on the Shore Line Trail to the Bluff access.  The water here has eroded the shore creating mini cliffs and pulling trees into the waves.  There is so much to explore and discover here and so many fallen trees to swing on and climb.

As we road the ferry back towards our home, the day felt perfect despite all the frustration that had ensued.  It took us a couple more tries and then some help from a friend to get that fan installed, but we did it.  I know that there are things that must get done.  The mundane is Constancy requiring our attention.   But sometimes we just need to get out and be surrounded by peace, to really enjoy the beauty that has been poured out all over this earth.

Big Talbot Island State Park is truly a treasure.  There is a small $3 fee for entry into the park.  There are picnic tables that overlook the water if you pack a snack or lunch.  This is a great place for children with lots of things to explore and climb on, but not so great for a stroller.

A No School Day with Friends || Tree Hill Nature Center ||

 Now that Judah and Eisley are in school most days, a holiday is a special day to explore together.  I really love making these days together really special, so instead of dragging them around to do errands with me (sorry little Nico), we ventured to Tree Hill Nature Center.  

I have to admit, I just found out about this place about a year ago, but I have fallen in love with it.  There is the perfect amount of hands on learning and out door experience.  The staff has always been very sweet and encouraging to our children.  Today we shared the Tree Hill experience with some of our friends.  We pet a baby opossum, touched a turtle, and even held freshly laid egg from a hen.  After all that excitement, we went on some of their well kept trails for a nature walk and then enjoyed some lunch at the picnic table near the exit.

This was a perfect day to share with friends.  Tree Hill Nature Center is very affordable with the fees being $4 for adults and $2 for children 3-17 (under 3 are of course FREE).  You can even become a member for $40.  The center opens early at 8:00am and closes at 4:30pm.  

Come prepared with some water and lunch for a picnic and have an amazing time! 

A Snack for the Adventure || Coconut & Chocolate Energy Bites RECIPE

To tell you the truth, I haven't always eaten healthy.  I grew up on McDonalds, Captain D's, and Little Caesar's.  I even spent the bulk of my college days literally eating nothing except Ramen Noodles.  There's something about getting a little older and being responsible for the health and well being of three little people that has brought me to a place where I seek out the best for them and for myself.  I am still learning...a lot.  Like I mentioned, I didn't grow up eating exceptionally healthy and my dad used to joke that I would even mess up toast.  All this being said, I would love to share the journey of creating food that is wholesome and fun.

Coconut & Chocolate Energy Bites 

                               Ingredients:

                               1.5 cups of pecans
                               1.5 cups of dates
                               2 tablespoons cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
                               1 teaspoon of vanilla
                               2 tablespoons of finely shredded coconut (unsweetened)
                              .5 cup of shredded coconut for coating bites

Using a food processor, pulse the pecans until they are coarsely chopped.  Add softened dates (I usually place the dates in warm water for about 1 minute to soften), cacao powder, vanilla, and coconut flakes to the mix.  Process this mix until the desired texture is achieved (this usually happens when the mix clumps together).  Take about a tablespoon amount of mix and roll into a ball.  Cover with coconut and repeat.  Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

This recipe makes about 24 bites.

All Bundled Up ||Linville Falls, NC||

As previously mentioned, I love waterfalls.  So, on our last family vacation to Boone, North Carolina, we packed some snacks and headed onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We stopped at a place that I've been to many times, but never get tired of...Linville Falls.  I admit, this place is a little nostalgic for me.  This is the first place I went on a hike and the first place I saw a waterfall and swam as the misty falling water swirled around my face.  All this aside, this park is wonderful.

The day we went, the road into the park was open but the ranger shop and restrooms were boarded up for the winter.  The park is open year round, but the road to Linville Falls can occasionally be closed due to bad weather conditions.  

Since Judah and Eisley have short little legs and can tire quickly, we did a few of the short overlook hikes.  Our favorite was Erwins View Trail that leads to Erwins View Overlook.  This trail took us high over the falls to a place where the wind swirled and blew powerfully.  It's always to rewarding to make it to the top, especially with children.  The look of wonder and amazement on their faces is aways worth any amount of whining and complaining that proceeded.

Linville Falls is a breath taking adventure any time of the year (though I prefer Summer).  To get there exit Blue Ridge Parkway spur at Milepost 316.3.  Bring plenty of water and a snack or lunch and enjoy overlooking the falls or relaxing at the base.

Falls In Florida ||Rainbow Springs State Park||

Waterfalls do exist in Florida.

I was out of high school the first time I ever saw a waterfall in person, but ever since them I have been in love.  I remember my first hike down to the base of Linville Falls in North Carolina and how I never wanted to leave the mist that covered my face.  A waterfall is this wonderful prize at the end of hike begging for us to sit and listen as the force of the water changes the earth beneath.

I heard there were falls in Florida, so we made a pit stop after a wedding on summer vacation.  We found Rainbow Spring State Park in Dunnellon, FL (http://www.floridastateparks.org/rainbowsprings/).  The park is filled with charming little waterfalls all over the paved trails.  Although these waterfalls are not naturally occurring, they are still very beautiful.  The park was once an amusement park in the 1930's, this is when the spring fed waterfalls were first built.  Now the park is preserved by the state park service.

This place is a dream in the hot Florida summers.  You can kayak, tube, or just swim in the clear water of the springs.

We decided to launch the our tandem kayak with five people and paddle down the Rainbow River.  I really thought it was going to be an amazing and peaceful paddle down the crystal green waters.  Well, it wasn't.  Judah and Eisley saw "beware of the alligator" signs and then got a little nervous of alligators.  Nico, then 11 months, just hated the entire experience.  We paddled down the river, while Nico cried and Judah and Eisley looked a little troubled.  It got a little better toward the end...a little.

You can also camp at Rainbow River State Park, but it was the middle of Summer when we went so we didn't.  We stayed in a fun little cabin just a few minutes away (http://www.rainbowrivers.com/)

Jogging In Jeans ||Tide Views Preserve||

Today I jogged at least one and a half miles in skinny jeans and flats.   That wasn't my intent, sometimes things just happen, and they are perfect.  Today had been busy, too busy.  When Judah woke up from a nap it felt like a perfect time to do something "slow."  The kind of slow that makes you talk, listen, and just be.  I am so guilty of being so busy that I let these moment escape me. 

Judah didn't know how to ride a bike a few hours ago, so when I told him to grab his bike, he hesitated (this is a nice way of saying he whined and refused).  He offered to ride anything except his bike.  I pushed back, and we finally made it out the door.  We live a short jog away from Tide Views Preserve, a beautiful preserve along the intracoastal waterway that includes a long pier named Sun Set Pier because of the amazing views it offers as the sun retreats.  I encouraged Judah to get on his bike, hold the handles straight, and peddle fast.  We had tried this a few weeks ago, and it went, well...bad.  Today, it was different.  He took off.  After just a couple of falls, we had made it too the Preserve.  It was such a special time with Judah to see him tackle a giant.   We walked to the end of the Pier to watch the sun set and got there just in time to see two young guys fishing pull up a Red Snapper.  We walked out of the preserve and Judah rode all the way back to the house as I jogged next to him in my jeans and flats.  My feet hurt and I was sweating, really sweating, but tonight was something we will both remember.  

Tide Views Preserve is located at the end of West 1st Street in Atlantic Beach, FL.    The best part of the preserve is the long pier that extends out into the marsh that invites you to fish, kayak (there is a floating dock at the end for launching kayaks or SUPs), have a picnic, or just relax and watch the sunset.  The park does close and the gates get locked just after the sun goes down, so be careful not to hang out too long.

After School Program ||Castaway Preserve Park||

Fall in North East Florida may possibly be my favorite time of the year.  Most of the year we revel in hot sun scorched days and then complain for a few months when the mercury dips below 60 degree F. However, there is this amazing time of the year when it seldom rains and the cool wind blows the salty air.  

This time is my favorite time to explore the trails.  So instead of coming home after school today, we packed some snacks and found a preserve that we had never been to before.

We parked feet from the entrance of Castaway Preserve Park.  We have driven past this little preserve many times and decided to visit today.  The trail is beautifully maintained and switched between raised wooden deck over hardwood swamp forests to hard packed earth.  

The preserve was perfect for Judah (5) and Eisley (4) with tons of seeds, nuts, leaves, and sticks for them to examine and collect for their nature journals (to be completely honest our nature journal consists of a bag full of todays finds, but we will get there).  Nico (14 months) rode happily in the Ergo but did get a couple of mosquito bites on his little face.

It's days like today that make me want to do this everyday.  The weather was perfect, the wind made the trees sing, and everyone loved exploring.  The sun was setting as we made it to the canoe launch and the colors in the sky were spectacular.  These are the day I live for.