"I played around our yard and talked to the fence posts, sung songs, and made the weeds sing..." Woody Guthrie

I'm reading the book "Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder". The babes and I have always gone outside a lot. It has been such a calming influence on all of us pretty much from the day they came home. Sometimes, though, I can be hesitant to do the "big" outings. The trips into the mountains. It takes a bit more planning/car time/missed naps, etc. Once I am in the midst of those majestic trees and clear streams, it is always worth it. Even on days like today when Sam had a complete meltdown after wanting to stick his feet in the water but realizing it was too cold to keep them in there. He didn't recover until he was back home in his bed with a bottle of warm milk and his blankie. We were off of their routine and it doesn't happen often. Sometimes they sail right through it. Other times, like today, it is a major toddler crisis. Still, it's worth the risk every now and then.

I don't think it is necessary to have amazing mountains at your fingertips in order to give children the outside time they desperately need. My outdoor experiences as a child much more resembled the memories that Woody Guthrie was speaking of. But we do have the mountains and I must take advantage of that. Lately, I have been inspired by the weather as well. The breezes of fall are making their way into our days and it is no time at all until the winter chill will make our sunny hikes say good-bye for while. Anyway, if my pictures are a bit nature heavy for a while, these are some of the reasons why:)

Love to you this breezy summer evening, Jen