Wordless Wednesday (Mushrooms)

   I get outside all the time.  I try to walk, hike, jog or cycle on a daily basis.  I may walk on the sidewalks or trails but, I'm always watching everything.  I enjoy nature and I love to spot mushrooms.  I don't go out to look for mushrooms but  so excited when I see them.

  I don't know one type of mushroom from another.  I guess I could try to look them up in a book but it doesn't really matter to me. I like to just find them and snap a picture. So today I'm sharing my view of mushrooms!

Some look like flowers with rough edges.

Some look like a round ball.

I don't know who came along and took a bite of this one.

I only saw one area with these. These were huge too.  They were the size of dessert plates.

This one looked like chocolate and peanutbutter.

Red ones were few and far between.

Mushrooms taking up a home whereever they felt.

Clusters of mushrooms.

These make me smile because they have the perfect little tip on top.

Yellow ones too!

I love mushrooms!  Do you go on hikes or walks around the neighborhood? 

What's one thing you look forward to seeing when you go on a walk? What makes you enjoy being outside?

10 miles of Norfolk VA

  For the last couple weeks we have ventured to Norfolk the city next door and took advantage of their summer kids program.  While there since I paid for the ferry and parking (optional) I like to get my money's worth so we toured the city as well.  On foot of course because that's FREE!

We racked almost ten miles that day but I packed our lunch, some snacks and plenty of water to keep us going.

  This city has so many neat spots I knew of and some we just stumbled on coincidentally.

We checked out some street art and they decided to strike a pose.

 It's hard work realizing that the walk has only just begun...

 We saw a mermaid or two.  We are going to go back and look for some more.  Although after some research apparently there are 130 and I doubt we will get to all of them.
They sure are neat to see because they vary so much.

In a quiet little neighborhood we found this running train in the front yard.  My kids stood there for awhile.  I don't know how often the train runs but I'm glad my kids were in the right place at the right time.

We even visited The Pagoda for some impromptu pictures.

We plan on making another visit or two to Norfolk and I can't wait to share with you what we see!  

Do you re-visit neighboring towns? Play tourist in your own city?  What is one place you keep going back to that's close?

1st Day Hike

  Sunday I took advantage of the 1st day hike at my local state park here in VA.  I already hold a pass for free entry which was another lure for people but I wanted to start the year off on foot and fresh air!

  In addition to the free entry fee a variety of parks offered guided tours or encouraged unaccompanied tours.  I was running late so I hiked alone.

  I choose a local park versus one I really wanted to go to that was several hours away.  Chippokes State Park is one of my favorites.  I have been here a few times and nothing gets better then finding a new trail and exploring more!

  Chippokes Park is locates in Surry, VA and offers a unique experience in addition to the pool and cabins.  This park has working farm as well as an antebellum mansion.

  I have toured the house and the kitchen located in a separate quarters but I love the walk to the mansion and the view!

  I had a great day.  A solo day had so many rewards and gave me a lot of time to think and reflect on myself, the new year and explore my surroundings.

  I always use Map My Run as I'm the only one without a Fitbit to keep track of my miles but the phone battery died so on the way back it stopped calculating.

  Not too bad if you take into account stopping to take a ton of pictures!

  I can't wait to take my family back to show them the new path I found!  Keep following as we have a fee more state parks to explore before we have seen all of them in the state! 

For more information about this park check it out here.

Nature Walk

  We got out yesterday and visited a local park.  To say I was amazed is an understatement about the park.  I had been here previously to rent a boat, went fishing here and even visited the visitor center.  I have taken note of the playground but never of the actual history of the park nor the plentiful abundance of trails.

We set out to explore this park and to walk the trail.  My kids first started walking trails last year and thoroughly understand what is involved in a hike. The good bad and ugly.  Good being new sights and catching a glimpse of wildlife and some interesting sounds.  The bad being catching a glimpse of wildlife.  The ugly being slipping on mud.

 

I love the initial enthusiasm on their faces before we get started.  They know I have their water and maybe a snack in my bag.  They trust me in every way possible.  They look at me for fun, adventure and as their tour guide.  I prep them. Encourage them even when we are driving to a location.  I know you will do good and I know you can make the whole walk.  They always agree and are eager to get moving.

Time frames and miles mean nothing to them but they still lead the way or walk beside me happy to be together and ready to explore!  I laugh at the maps we pick up as it seems when I walk I seem to add on miles along the way my sense of direction is not always 100 percent but then again I think the map may be a little off.

  Regardless as long as I keep my kids engaged with what's around us they have truly become my favorite partners in crime.  They point out things I may have missed and get the imagination going as they tell me what they think happened to the crooked tree of why theres mysterious mud on our path.

Take your kids out and explore with them.  Getting them acquainted and comfortable with nature.  Explore a short .5 mile trail or a longer 2.5 mile one.  Tell them about the birds you see, a specific tree or talk about the current season.  I do have my phone out taking pictures but this is one time I do spend with them devoted to their attention.

There is an app on my phone that keeps track of my steps an I aim to keep it busy this year as well as regain control of my fitness.  I have started giving myself a weekly mileage goal and plan to increase it every week.  It will be nice to see new places, get in better shape and make new memories with my family.  

Date 24

  I don't know about you but if I gave my kids a choice to go somewhere this date option would at least make the top 5.  Some of their choices may be out of state to grandma's or Disney  but if they had to choose locally; the zoo would definitely be a top pick.

  I know you just went to the museum yesterday but the zoo is always a winner.  We even printed a scavenger hunt for the zoo a couple times.  I like asking my child what she sees, what an animal says, what she knows about the animals.  There is a lot to talk about at the zoo.

  I know it seems like the dating this week has been nonstop but aren't kids nonstop.  They always like to keep moving, talking, exploring, repeat.  The week of dating your child is almost over.  The month of dates is almost over.  Let's just hang in there and have fun with it.

  Post some pictures of your animals.  I love zoos.  If I could visit a zoo in every state I would.  All zoos are not created equal.  We have red pandas, are about to lose our elephants and have a walk-thru exhibit in the wallaby/kangaroo/emu exhibit.  DC has panda bears.  It would be so near to see all the different creatures.

State Park Challenge Park #5

  If you have been keeping up you know my family and I have been on a mission sponsored by virginia state-parks to visit 5 parks.  We started out late but we were able to visit 5 within a couple weeks before the deadline of June 30th.  It was a great journey and as I received a confirmation email yesterday I just decided to write my last summary of our 5th park!  Along with the state park pass I will be receiving I also get pins for the 1st and 5th visits.  Of course with my newly earned pass I will not give up. I will keep exploring other parks just not at the speed I was to visit these first 5. Virginia has 36 parks! 5 down and having been to one before and not included in this mission leaves 30 more to go!! How exciting!

  I am pleased to tell you about our 5th state park visit.  It was to Chippokes Plantation State Park in Surry, VA.  A few short miles from the virginia ferry-jamestown.  So you can make it an adventure. This park doesn't surprise me as it is its own unique park like all the others.  Pool, camping and trails

 were there.  These trails were nice as for the most part they were hard, flat  and covered by blacktop.  Great for strollers or wheelchairs.  In addition to great water views

a working farm and animals.

  The trail takes you past these views and a forestry exhibit on the way to the mansion.  I was met by a lovely lady on the driveway who guided my family (my two little ones) to the drinking fountain and a nice seat on the covered porch as it was high 90's that day.  After a replenish and rest period we were given a great tour by a very educated curator she provided me with a lot of information on the contents and history of the mansion.

How many rugs does one house need, you will see?  What are those step stools for in the bedrooms?  How do you clean your boots before you enter the home?  The house was so beautifully put together.  The last owner the Mrs's of the Stewart family took great pride in decorating the home.  Tours are offered on specific days and times so call ahead.  Near the house is also a gift shop that houses a variety of handcrafted items made by the friends of the Chippokes that donate proceeds back to the park programs. 

  One concept I found here was that in addition to renting GPS units for geocaches.  They also have MP3 rentals and park packs.  The MP3 rental allows you a personal tour while the park packs are also free and include binoculars, field guides and more for several themes to include: wildlife, history and fossils to name a few.  I thought this was a great concept to help incorporate a little more learning of your surroundings.  Adults and children both could benefit from these packs. 

As I finish my last park it just wouldn't be right if I didn't share with you the critter of the trip. Look closely!  I took a picture from the path with my children ahead of me and told to stay there a second.  Ironically the first thing we saw when we entered the trail was a black one.  Lucky us that we saw two. This fella here for some reason was so dead still I was surveying the grounds at all times and there was a car in front of us so I was looking at walking around them. I am glad we walked right by them without going all the way around!! Must have been my sixth sense kicking in!!

Check out your local parks! You never know what you will see. It's a great way to spend time with your family.  Explore and learn together.

Thank you Virginia State Parks for this great challenge and getting this family off their bums, out the house getting fresh air and exercise!  Keep up the great work.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/find-a-park.shtml

If you missed the last 4 parks here they are:

state-park-challenge.1

state-park-challenge-park-2

state-park-challenge-park-3

state-park-challenge-park-4