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JC Raulston Arboretum
After uploading all these pictures, I don’t have much to say other than, “Go.” Go visit the JC Raulston Arboretum and soak up the beautiful textures and colors. This afternoon we went as a family and took a friend. While the kids played and explored, I took pictures. This never gets old! Joe and I were both taking mental notes of plants we’d love to eventually add to our yard. Forget new furniture, just give us new foliage.
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Hawk in the ‘Hood
Last night on the way back from an emergency stop for toilet parts and Chinese food, we spotted a hawk on the baseball field fence. I had Joe drive me home so I could run in to get my camera and then drop me back off at the field. We often see hawks circling the sky in the neighborhood, but this was the closest I’ve ever come to one, and it was kind enough to sit still so I could…
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Raven Rock State Park
This past weekend, Joe and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. At the pool this evening, a friend asked me if we had done anything, and before I could answer, the kids chimed in, “Yes, we did! We had fireworks with friends and went hiking …” We gave each other knowing looks. In kids’ minds, “we” is all of us. On Saturday, we went hiking at Raven Rock State Park. It was Joe’s idea, and we had just bought ourselves…
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Big Wheels Peace Accord
This morning I’m sitting on the couch, drinking coffee, and listening to the boys upstairs playing with some new action figures. The tension between the two of them has been through the roof the past couple weeks, so hearing them playing together does my heart good. Sometimes the struggle of parenthood is managing to equip children with conflict resolution tools while the bullets are flying… at each other and at you as the parent. Sometimes I succumb to the chaos…
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Hanging Rock Nature Photos
This past weekend we drove up to Hanging Rock for a quickie camping trip. The very best part of the trip was watching the boys explore the woods and climb rocks and fallen trees. I found myself really wishing other families were with us to play with. Some of my best childhood memories are from camping with family friends at Fall Creek Falls. On Saturday, the weather was perfect, and we somehow managed to make it to two waterfalls and up to…
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A family hike at Umstead and discussion of shoes and health
After visiting Umstead on Friday morning, I was determined that we would go as a family the next morning. As I was browsing Umstead’s Facebook page, “Photos of my friends at William B. Umstead State Park” was at the head of the wall feed, and I saw a lovely spot. I posted a comment asking for the location, and a sister of another friend told me the trail and how far the hike would be. It’s so very odd the…
