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Beautiful Books and Birthday Wishes

2/29/2016

I love children's books. I really LOVE them! Especially those that are beautifully illustrated. I would have an entire library devoted exclusively to children's literature if I could. But since I can't keep them all for myself and since Ellison has long since moved on from picture books, I like to give them as gifts. When Ellison and I go to the bookstore, she heads for Harry Potter and I often spend some time looking through the younger kids' section to see what's new. There is always something interesting and the illustrations just keep getting better.

This weekend was my nephew, Archer's, second birthday (is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen?). This is the age that Ellison really started to get into her books and had a group of favorites that she asked me to read on repeat, so I knew that I wanted to get Archer books for his birthday. I was on the hunt for story books about nature for young children- the 5 and under crowd. And not just stories with silly, cartoonish characters (not that those aren't wonderful, too); but ones with a truly interesting and informative message accompanied by pictures or illustrations that can really captivate a young child. Books specifically about understanding the natural world. I was so excited to find a number of really great new titles and came away wanting to spend a ton of money and buy books for the whole world's children (and their parents).

While we only ended up getting the first three on this list, Ellison and I loved so many of them that we decided to share them here (at Ellison's suggestion - she got really into picking out gifts for Archer). Hopefully these will serve as inspiration if you're in the market for a special book for the young readers in your life ... or if you're like me and just want them for yourself.

Happy Birthday, Archer! We love you and hope you enjoy these books for years to come!

More - I.C. Springman, Illustrated by Brian Lies

'Less is more' is the moral of this story about a magpie and it's quest to gain more and more 'stuff' for its nest. The overall message resonates on every page, despite (or maybe because of) the author's use of such few words. Ellison and I loved the facial expressions on the magpie and the mice and I think the illustrations do the story such justice. It is a timeless message of appreciation, gratitude and contentment.

Step Gently Out - Helen Frost, Photographs by Rick Lieder

The photography in Step Gently Out is what makes this book so great for kids. The images are amazing and I just want to keep looking at it over and over because the macro shots of insects are so cool. The writing is average, but Ellison and I have to be honest and say we picked this one for Archer because of the pictures.

Outside Your Window - Nicola Davis, Illustrated by Mark Hearld

Poetry for young children is fantastic for so many reasons and this book of poems about the outside world makes the top of my list for young toddlers. Not all of the poems rhyme and I'm sure when read aloud the cadence feels a little off, but the book makes up for it with such delightful illustrations that it hardly matters.

The Night Gardener - Terry Fan, Eric Fan

The Night Gardener is just so, so good. It was recently released this past month and I absolutely loved it and so did Ellison. It starts with a tree that has been turned into a topiary owl and then, as more topiary trees appear, William tries to figure out who is doing this night gardening. The story and its illustrations are magical in the best way possible. It captures the wonder of childhood and the lasting joy created by sharing our special gifts and talents with others.

The Night Sky - Michael Driscoll, Illustrated by Meredith Hamilton

This book is for older readers than Archer, but it is the perfect way to familiarize kids with basic astronomical concepts. I imagine reading this with your kids and then going on a backyard camp out (even if it's just for a few hours) and trying to spot constellations on a clear night. Maybe some s'mores, sleeping bags and everyone just laying in the grass looking up at the stars. If nothing else, it's quality family time.

Nature's Day - Kay Maguire, Illustrated by Danielle Kroll

Nature's Day takes children to a variety of different natural locations (farm, town, pond) and through each of the four seasons. It offers facts about the natural world in a way that will definitely inspire even the youngest child to want to get outside. The illustrations are beautiful and the book is so nicely bound that it is one you'll want to keep for generations.

Outside - Maria Ana Piexe Dias, Ines Teixeira do Rosario, Bernardo P. Carvalho

So this one is brand new (so much so that it says it comes out on March 3 on Amazon), but it was already available in my local bookstore. The best part about this book is the fact that it not only gives insight into the basic happenings of the natural world, but also gives tips on how families can get outside and start exploring the nature around them. It's part reference, part activity and overall an interesting book for all ages.

Nature Anatomy - Julia Rothman

This one is a little more specific than the others and is marketed for the older child who can read (maybe 3rd-5th grade), but that shouldn't stop you from introducing your child to the concepts in this beautiful book at an earlier age. The presentation is so lovely and it offered just enough information.

The author, Julia Rothman, has also written 'Farm Anatomy' in a similiar style. It wasn't available in my bookstore so I can't attest to whether it's as great as 'Nature Anatomy', but I think it's probably safe to say that it is. I think I am going to have to order both for myself. Seriously though. I loved them that much.

See you back here soon!

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Room to Grow - Our Courtyard Garden

2/23/2016

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Now that we are getting (barely) settled in to our new house, Ellison and I want to plant a garden. And not just a flower garden, either. We want a garden complete with fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. But, we've never had anything more than a few flowerpots on the porch and this type of garden (one that actually grows and produces food) is kind of a stretch. However, as you know, Ellison and I are not ones to be thrown off by little things like an almost complete lack of knowledge or experience, so we are moving right ahead with our plans. Luckily, Trevor knows what he's doing.

The ability to have a garden and grow some of our own food was definitely one of the main reasons we moved and while our house doesn't have a big expanse of grass, it does have a courtyard that is just right for planting fruit trees and growing vegetables. Below is a picture of what we have to work with. As you can see, the actual growing room is small and we are going to have to get creative with spacing, but I think when it's finished it will serve (hopefully) as a good example of what you can do with a limited area.

Once it was determined what it was possible to grow in our zone (8b) , we then had to figure out what it was possible to grow in our space and from there find a nursery that carried the specific varieties we wanted. Luckily, this wasn't too much of a problem. (If you live in the South and are looking for growers that carry native plants, then Chestnut Hill Tree Farm is a great option. They were super helpful and went out of their way to make sure we had just what we wanted. They have a helpful list already prepared of the types of trees that work well in Florida.)

Here is a list of what is being planted. While the berries will produce this summer, it will take a few years for the trees to start bearing fruit. It will also take about that long for them to start looking like anything other than sticks in the ground. But, this is designed to be a productive space and, despite our best efforts to maintain its attractiveness, some aesthetic value had to be sacrificed.

Fruit Trees:

Dorset Golden apples
Tropic Snow peach
Brogdon avocado
Key Lime

Fruit bushes:

Arapaho thornless blackberries
Ebony King blackberries
Ouachita blackberries
Jewel blueberries
Emerald blueberries

Here it is with everything in the ground. Let's just say that looks can be deceiving - this seemingly tiny space took days of hard work to get it into shape. We're going to have to create a raised bed for the vegetables and herbs (next weekend's project), but the trees are in and the blackberry and blueberry bushes have been planted. The nice thing about the courtyard is that it is walled in so rabbits and squirrels aren't going to continuously tear up the garden. Or at least Ellison and I hope they don't.

I know, it's hard to see the trees or bushes in this picture. They're tiny little twigs poking out of the ground. It's so sad, like a row of barely-there Charlie Brown Christmas trees. But, gardening by its very nature is an exercise in optimism, so we are going to have to have faith that with the proper attention and nutrients these plants will grow quickly. If not, we'll try to find varieties that will. Or maybe just plant some flowers instead. If nothing else, this will reinforce (for the whole family) the need for patience as well as the idea that you reap what you sow.

See you back here soon!

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52 Hike Challenge: Hike #3 - San Felasco Hammock Preserve

2/17/2016

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It's been awhile since the last update, but we're still doing our 52 Hike Challenge! This weekend Ellison and I went to one of our favorite local spots - San Felasco Hammock Preserve - and spent an afternoon hiking and collecting materials so Ellison could make a beautiful little bird's nest for our courtyard trees.

We go to San Felasco on a fairly regular basis, but for most of our hikes we take the Spring Grove or the Old Hammock trails. These are both across the street (north) from the parking area and offer longer hikes than the side with the parking (south). However, Sunday we decided to stick to a shorter option and take the Moonshine and Creek Sink trails. There were far fewer people and we didn't have to worry about Waylon jumping up on or sniffing people as they passed by nearly as much. If it weren't for the little bit of gray on his muzzle, he'd be mistaken for a puppy every time with his crazy energy.

Ellison was interested in collecting various sticks, leaves and vines for a bird's nest project she was working on so, needless to say, there were frequent stops along the way. Her attention to detail was quite impressive - each branch or leaf had to be just right. I loved witnessing this selection process; it offered such insight into her personality. That child's love for organization and classification runs deep, it truly does.

Along the Creek Sink trail things got a little swampy and there were a few times where we had to walk right through the deep mud, which makes sense because this is where the creek is absorbed by the underground aquifer. We were hoping to see some wildlife, maybe snakes or a baby alligator, but no such luck. We did see wild hog tracks and Waylon was desperate to follow the scent. The rooting was fresh and Ellison and Waylon were both certain that a hog sighting was imminent, though not one ever did make an appearance.

The Creek Sink trail takes you through beautiful lowland areas and the bare winter trees allow for a much broader view than you would have in the summer. This is definitely a trail to take in the colder months - the mosquitoes would be terrible in this marshy swamp in the heat. When taken along with the Moonshine trail the route ends up being around 3 miles, but Ellison and I decided to extend it a little further.

As you are nearing the end of the Moonshine trail, there is a service road that leads to a pretty little cattle ranch. While it clearly says that hikers are not permitted, I have taken this trail many times with no problems (though I am in no way encouraging you to break park rules, of course). For the first 1/4-mile it isn't particularly interesting, but as you keep walking the road curves and on the right side it opens to wide views of open meadows punctuated by old oaks covered in Spanish moss. This is one of my favorite spots, mainly because I like the way the trees are situated along the hillside. Ellison loved it, too, and tried hard to convince me to jump the fence and run all wild and free with her through the grass. While it was tempting, I figured we had broken enough rules for one day so we just enjoyed the view from the trail. However, fields like these are just begging to be raced through by children and dogs.

We stayed and collected twigs and leaves for Ellison's project until the sun started to set and then made our way back to the parking lot. It had been at least two weeks since we had been hiking, and about that long since we had done anything together, just the two of us. It felt good to get outside and reconnect. It reminded me of a quote from 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' by Annie Dillard, a book I have read and reread countless times and which, in part, inspired my love of the natural world.

'I center down - I retreat, not inside myself, but outside myself. ... Self-forgetfulness is tremendously invigorating. I wonder if we don't waste most of our energy just by spending every waking minute saying hello to ourselves.'

In all honesty, this quote has stuck with me since I first was required to read 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' my junior year of high school. I remember writing it on the inside of my folder as we read the book in class. Something about it really resonated with my self-absorbed teenage mind and when I feel as though I am getting too caught up my own life, I remind myself to 'center down' and practice self-forgetfulness. As Ellison can tell anyone who asks, I repeat these wise words of Annie Dillard's to her often. Probably too often. But taking a walk in the woods goes a long way in reminding us both to breathe deep and appreciate our small, but significant, place in a much wider world.

See you back here soon!

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February is Florida Hiking Trails Month!

2/3/2016

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As a way to kick off Florida Hiking Trails Month, Ellison and I decided to compile a photographic list of the trails we most wished we were hiking in the next few weeks. While spring temperatures have been keeping us unseasonably warm the past few days, winter isn't over and more cold weather is on its way. So, our thoughts are headed to south Florida with its tropical beaches and balmy breezes. Chances are that we won't even make it to one of these this month. But no worries, we'll still be out on our local trails keeping up with our 52 Hike Challenge!

The Silver Palm Trail at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys is top on the list. And after our hike we could also do some fantastic snorkeling. * Photo by Raphael Pablos

Crandon Park Beach at Key Biscayne is one of my favorite spots in Florida. I wish Ellison and I were just chilling out at these tables right now. Bear Cut Nature Preserve has hiking trails that offers a glimpse of natural Florida right in the heart of the Miami Beach. * Photo found on Johnnyjet.com

Another Key Biscayne favorite is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. There is a beautiful nature trail and a historic lighthouse that is considered the oldest structure in South Florida. *Photo by lugeralfes

The west coast is the best coast! Well, depending on who you ask. But the Ft. Meyers/Naples area, and Lovers Key in particular, is beautiful year-round. Lovers Key State Park offers over 7 miles of trails and most run along the marsh hammock. I just all-around love Naples. *Photo found on naplesarea.com

All beaches, all warm and all with some of the best that natural Florida has to offer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that even if Ellison and I don't make it down south during Hiking Trails Month, we'll be able to pull off a trip for Spring Break. So whether your trails are covered in snow or are already looking like Spring has sprung, get out there and enjoy the outdoors!

See you back here soon!

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Girls in the (Theme) Park- Why we Still Love SeaWorld

2/1/2016

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We celebrated Ellison's 9th birthday at SeaWorld a few weekends ago. She loves animals and considers it one of her favorite places so it seemed a natural fit. I know, you can't even mention the name 'SeaWorld' without getting looks of scorn and shame. Yet, I am proud to say I enjoy it and so does Ellison. However, when she went back to school after her fantastic birthday weekend, a close friend of hers got upset and told her that she should never go to SeaWorld because "they made animals into slaves". So, naturally, Ellison was horrified and came home crying - for both the animals and herself. She wanted to know if it was true that Sea World was treating its animals cruelly. Would this mean she really couldn't visit the park again? Well, this led to a long discussion about animals kept in zoos and aquariums, conservation and environmental protection and a curiously in-depth analysis of the risk-reward principle of economics. It was a lot to take in, but she's 9 now and as one advances in age so must they advance philosophically. Or something like that. Long story short, I explained to her my reasons for supporting SeaWorld (but of course told her she was free to form her own opinion- cause we're open-minded like that around here).

In case somehow you missed it, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Sea World, particularly since the release of Blackfish in 2013. And, I have to admit, after watching the film I can see why. While the movie has some basis in fact, it comes across more as a propaganda film than as an objective documentary. It was definitely designed to strike an emotional chord and paints SeaWorld and its employees with a very broad, very negative brush. And though there are obvious (and very serious) ethical issues surrounding the capture and containment of large mammals like whales and dolphins, I have a hard time buying into the increasingly popular belief that the SeaWorld organization as a whole is nothing short of cruel and exploitative. Just as I have a hard time buying into the idea that SeaWorld theme parks should be permanently shut down in the name of "animal welfare". The vast majority of these animals were born in captivity and are not equipped to live in the wild - setting them free at this point would be far more cruel.

Having grown up in Orlando and having visited SeaWorld more times that I can count, I can't easily dismiss and discount the knowledge I have personally gained from the park about marine life, a great deal of which came from being able to see such unique animals close-up - the polar bear, the penguins, the sharks, the sea lions, the orcas, the stingrays- the list is goes on and on. SeaWorld has played a role in helping to foster in Ellison a deep respect for the amazing animals she sees in the park, as well an understanding of the interconnectedness of human and animal life. Each visit brings new insights, new interests and new perspectives on the natural world. I don't see what these animals are doing as degrading circus tricks. I see it as a display of their natural intelligence coupled with the hard work put in by their trainers and handlers, who clearly have a very warm, affectionate relationship with their creature cast mates. It takes money to conduct the extensive research, rescue and conservation efforts put forth by the SeaWorld organization. This money is generated by their theme parks, and the beautifully choreographed shows put on at those parks. Each visit provides funding for the thousands of hands-on rescues and rehabilitation work done by the SeaWorld staff each year - for a variety of animals, not just the most popular whales and dolphins.

So it is because of SeaWorld's emphasis on research, education, conservation and rescue that I will continue to visit their parks and encourage others I know to do so, as well. The efforts made by the organization in these four areas should not be undermined by a handful of admittedly tragic and unfortunate events. They instead should be encouraged and celebrated, while simultaneously exploring ways to make the care and treatment of the animals in their charge the best it can possibly be. As in all areas of life, when you know better, you should do better. And SeaWorld has acknowledged that there are areas in which they need to make adjustments and improvements. Hopefully, they will continue on this path. I have read, and discussed with Ellison, the criticism facing SeaWorld and agree that some of the concerns raised are legitimate. I encourage you to research the issue for yourself and make the decision that is right for you and your family. As for me and my family, we will continue to support SeaWorld and, like it or not, I will continue to allow my daughter to dream of one day being a scientist and dolphin trainer.

These pictures are of Ellison during her first visit to the SeaWorld Orlando park. Since the moment pictured here she has been enthralled with marine mammals of all kinds - particularly dolphins and whales. I credit her desire to watch documentaries on the ocean and its inhabitants, research facts about sea life and the absolute life-changing joy she felt when we encountered a pod of wild spinner dolphins while snorkeling in Hawaii in large part to the curiosity piqued during her visits to SeaWorld.

See you back here soon!

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Welcome!

My family and I love to get outside and explore every chance we get. My daughter and I started this blog as a way to chronicle not only the places we have visited, but also as a way to preserve our time together. We hope you enjoy it and will make a little time for a hike with friends!
More about GIP

Beautiful Books and Birthday Wishes

Room to Grow - Our Courtyard Garden

52 Hike Challenge: Hike #3 - San Felasco Hammock Preserve

February is Florida Hiking Trails Month!

Girls in the (Theme) Park- Why we Still Love SeaWorld

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