The kids and I have been enjoying after-school walks in one of the meadows alongside their school. I bring sippy cups of fresh, raw milk, sweetened with just a little chocolate powder, which they enjoy as we meander through the winding paths.
Much like our daycare dinners this past spring, this soft transition space between school and home is a time I treasure.
We chat lightly about our days, pausing to marvel at the sights and sounds the meadow offers.
On one of our walks last week, we spotted something very exciting on a milkweed leaf…
frass (a.k.a. caterpillar poop)!! We followed the frass up the plant…
…to its source, a Monarch caterpillar.
We invited this little friend to come home with us, and he (or she?) is now in a chrysalis in our terrarium.
Our own meadow that we attempted to grow from seed this past spring, did not materialize. (It was a pretty tough year for growing anything.) We’ll try again next year and in the meantime we will savor and appreciate these magical meadow walks at Miss Anne’s.
Tags: the magic of miss anne's
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Awesome place to walk.. and that caterpillar… sooo cool!
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beautiful pictures…it is so awesome that you take the time to visit a place like this for a transition.
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Lovely!
Jamie
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You take such beautiful pictures and seem like such a thoughtful, intentional (as Jamie would say!) mother.
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I love this as much as your dinner transitions. So wise of you mama.
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Nature walks just feed the soul…lovely! Your photos are so beautiful; what kind of camera do you use/recommend?
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Transitions are so huge– and taking the time and space to ease into them is a huge gift. We’re working on that here– and although our morning walks serve as a transition into school, I think it’s the same idea– to take a breath, to share a conversation– what joy comes from those moments when we’ve slowed down enough to notice the marvels of the little stuff (like monarch-to-be poop!)
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What an exciting find that caterpillar is, I am looking forward to following it’s journey into butterfly brilliance. I am hoping you plan on sharing the whole cycle with us.
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I’m a big believer in the beauty of taking time outdoors between activities. We have a picnic each Tuesday in the park by the river between the end of the school day and Abby’s cello lesson – it’s something we so look forward to and is such a peaceful and “connecting” way to fill in the gap! What a beautiful spot to walk!
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when you say ‘chocolate powder’ do you mean cocoa or something different?
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What a wonderful way to reunite after a busy day. And how exciting to find a monarch caterpillar! I would be so excited to find something like that myself! As always, your photos are lovely.
And what do you mean by “chocolate powder?” Cocoa powder, or is it ground chocolate? Just wondering. My boy would be so excited if I gave him chocolate milk.
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yes…it’s cocoa. the kids call it chocolate powder and so i started calling it that too. it’s nothing fancy…i just buy it at the grocery store.
(we do have a really yummy homemade hot cocoa mix that my sister makes for us. i’ll have to see if i can get the recipe from her and share it here!!! ;-)
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hi there. i just linked here from infinite learners, but i have seen your user name sprinkled across several blogs i love. your blog is beautiful and i am a tad envious of that meadow! :) simply lovely!
nicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com -
liz….i use a cannon rebel d, which john bought me last year for mother’s day. i really love it.
here’s the little blurb i wrote on my “about” page about my camera…
I currently use a Cannon Rebel D-SLR, which we selected because 1) I already had several lenses from my film photography days and 2) we were able to find a refurbished one at a price we could afford.
(there’s a link on the about page to the online store where we bought it.)
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This is beautiful. Something so simple and calming for you and the kids. I’m so used to the rat race that even when I don’t have to I rush rush all over the place getting more and more aggravated with myself and my work. I end up cranky and snappy. I need to pull back. I’m trying to trust the yoga I do to teach me that. To learn to anticipate needs and to stop and enjoy the little things. It’s good to read someones words who is more adept at doing that. The meadow is gorgeous. Seeing that caterpillar reminds me that I might have seen a lunar moth caterpillar on one of our blighted tomato plants the other day. I wonder if it would still be there.
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Definitely magical. Your pictures are beautiful and what a stunning caterpillar!
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These are just lovely photographs. What an amazing place to have to visit.
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such beautiful photos Erin!
how lovely to have this peaceful place to walk to and explore!
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