so good

We had a lovely weekend away. Calvin was more than fine on his own, and only mildly happy to see us (which I'm taking as a sign of success). There were s'mores, first swims of the season, kayak adventures, plenty of time spent in the hammock, lots of lounging and reading (being deeply moved by this book), and delicious camp food. We didn't get carried away by black flies, though at times I wondered. It was days full of that hard, outside camp play where the kids (and adults) literally fall into their beds at the end of the night dirty and sweaty and smelly, and don't move until the loons call in the morning. I'm so grateful to my parents for the foresight to find a treasure of a spot like that so long ago, and I'm grateful to them for sharing it so kindly with us now. The kids are counting down the days until we go back (um, 34).

Nearly as lovely as the rejuvinating time spent in the woods, is the clarity that I always seem to come home with. In all that silence of the woods, there's plenty of time for the important things - play, sitting, thinking, dreaming. Good stuff. I feel clearer about my/our priorities, big decisions and little decisions alike, and full of ideas, too. But mostly, I feel calm, centered, and connected. The woods will do that to you.

Jeffrey Yamaguchi just did a little interview with Heather Menucicci, Author of Let's Get Primitive: The Urban Girls Guide to Camping. The book looks really fun - I quickly ordered a copy for a certain urban sister of mine who I'm hoping to drag home and back into the woods with us in a month. Perhaps if I bring the sushi...hmnn...or no, maybe this will work:

It's calling you. Katie (and anyone else who needs a visit to the woods) - can you hear it?

Comments

[Beth]

Oh, I love your pictures.

I just spent the weekend in the woods with 20 little girls at our year-end Girl Guide camp.

As a country turned city girl it does my soul good anytime I get to return to the trees but what is even better is watching little girls from the city discovering the big starlit sky and tall trees, wading in a lake and watching ducks paddle by.

Staying up late with a campfire and the stars and then watching the sun rise (really rise, without any city lights) is the best way I know to find calm and peace and it restores my belief that the universe is awesome and moves with purpose.

[jean]

beautiful beautiful photos, a. That light is stunning. Welcome home.

[Stefani]

Welcome back, Amanda. You were missed! That golden spot in the woods, that dock, that shoeless boy... all so full of summer joy! :-)

[sarah]

It all looks so lovely! I kept checking your blog even though I knew you would not be posting until today. Blog-trigger finger!

We are camping at Assateague island for 4 days , I'm hoping I return calm centered and collected too. Getting away is so nessesary isn't it?

[Crimson]

There's some blogging to make me homesick for Maine...

*sigh*

[kristin]

your photos are breathtaking. what an amazing place to be. i so hear ya about finding peace in nature and the quiet of the woods, and yes i do think i hear the woods calling to me. thanks so much for sharing the beauty of your getaway. glad your back and the flies didn't get you.

[Sarah]

Each year I keep a little list of THE books that I loved and must own. This year, Suite Francaise is #1 on the list! I look forward to school being out and having an entire day to read!

[Melissa]

I know exactly what you mean by coming home refreshed, calm, and clearier mind after a visit to a beautiful wooded lake. I just spent 4 days there myself but the 3 little ones sure kept me busy as it was just myself watching them.

[Josie]

Yes I can hear it. What a beautiful post.

[Grace]

This is beautiful. Thank you so very much for sharing it with all of us. I love what you said about returning home with clarity, and about all the "good stuff" that goes on at camp: play, sitting, thinking, dreaming. All very important!

[Beth H]

I just love the dock picture. I remember seeing that before on the blog. It's so neat that you can use that as a sort of growth chart for your kids. A peaceful place to show how your children are blossoming.
...oh....I want to camp...and swing in that hammock!

[sara]

Oh the hammock! The perfect accessory for a weekend outdoors. Your pictures bring back a lot of fond memories for me. Thanks!

[Andrea Q]

I can definitely hear it. And smell it.

[julia]

what beautiful photos! it's funny how being out there "in nature" always makes us feel so centered and re-connected (both with ourselves and the world around us). kinda makes you think that's how it's supposed to be all the time- hmmm...

thanks, as always, for sharing.

[Frank]

I hear it! I hear it!

(Can you share your photo-taking secrets? Your compositions, lighting, everything is always so beautiful! I'd love any hints you would like to share.)

[Madeline R]

I just got away alone for a week without the family and came back so rejuvenated and clear. It was filled with mountains, like Maine (I was in Montana) but didn't even compare to the incredible multi-faceted sensual experience that is your state. I love it there. Your pictures so make me want to get my family to ME for a visit in the next few years. Thanks for the pictures.

[molly]

it all looks and sounds perfect.
and that second picture is just about as good as it gets!

[Veronica TM]

me! i would love to visit such a wonderful place. we live in the desert so that landscape seems so different and embracing.
every time i go to kripalu {mass.} to do a yoga training i love to go in the woods and hear the silence.
thank you for sharing the beautiful photos.

[Lins]

That last photo looks like heaven!!! Overlooking the lake, soft breeze, fresh air. Ahh

[heather]

beauty abounds. clarity, light and peace. life's bounty.

[esmerelda]

Welcome back, Amanda! So glad you enjoyed your weekend and are rested and grounded again.

[Ashley]

Our family just returned from a rejuvinating weekend of camping, too. I am sitting here nodding and agreeing with every word of your beautiful post. Welcome back!!

[nicole]

When our triplets were aged 2 and a half, there big sister was 7 and big brother 5 we visited a friend in Portland (Western Promenade)and we went camping somewhere bye an indien lake...no electricity no currant water ....alltogether we had 9 kids under 8 years old!
Memories for all our lives!
We loved it.Your pictures bring back all those lovelie memories!

[Allison]

Thank you for sharing this post and the wonderful pictures. It reminded me that it's about time to clear the work schedule, use some vacation days and head up to my grandparent's cabin on Bear Island :)

[Alicia A.]

Your family is all very lucky to have this little piece of the earth to visit. Foresight, indeed!

[sara]

I feel more relaxed just from looking at your photos! I am happy you had a chance to reconnect with the Divine and that you and your family were able to take a break and be nourished with nature.

[Katie]

yeah yeah...i will be there in 34 days too! unlike the boys i will be counting down the days until i am back in the city eating my delicious rainbow roll. ;-)

Posted by: Katie | May 30, 2007 at 01:23 PM

[Recovergirl]

May I be so bold to ask if you rent it out. I live in southern Maine. I've got 2 boys -- 6 and 4.

[Brandy]

I'm looking forward to the same kind of weekend coming up--only two days.

[sarah]

oh how the woods have the ability to bring groundedness!
thank you thank you for sharing lovely photos of your family's slice of paradise.

[Diane]

welcome back!!!!! Great photos you've shared. THANK YOU!

[mav]

pretty pretty. love the woods so very much.

[shari]

beautiful photos amanda. have i told you lately how much i adore your blog...cause i do. xo

[charlotte]

Yes, how touching- that image of your son on the dock. We had that wild woods and field growing up and made sure our children rambled through too. So good for them to rough it out and see what they and the world are made of. Our daughter was just in your Portland for the weekend. She's counting the days too, ready to go back asap. Such a fine place she said.

[Les in NE]

What lovely pictures! I absolutely love hearing loons on a lake. One of my favorite vacations was a week at Ludlows on Lake Vermillion in Minnesota. Pure bliss. Nothing like slowing down the pace and really enjoying one's children while spending time in the woods. How lucky you are to have a family spot to visit.

I read Suite Francais a few months ago. While I was moved by the back-story, I didn't connect with the novel as much as I had hoped. Perhaps because it wasn't a finished work?

I just bought a kayak and took it out this past Sunday. Pure bliss. You can view some pics on my blog, if you're interested:

http://lesleysbooknook.blogspot.com

Welcome home!

[Melissa]

Stunning and beautiful - reminds me much of the BWCA. I wish I could live there!

[robin]

I can hear it!! And a big AMEN to the peace and serenity of God's creation helping things fall into place where they belong. Beautiful pictures, sounds so, so fun, welcome home. <3

[Julie]

I can almost feel the calmness and connectedness through your photos. It looks so beautiful... I would defnitely love resting on that hammock!

[Kelly]

Lovely!

[TS]

Ahh! I'm going to pack right now! Your pictures say it all! VACATION! The state of Maine should pay you for promoting!

[Felicia]

What a delightful place to spend the next 34 days.

[lisa]

I spent every summer in the mountains, and I truly believe there is no better gift you can give your children. Those summers made me who I am.

[Gaile]

I love your photos. The light is amazing, especially on the water shot, and that last photo calls out and makes me wish I was there. You are right about time spent in the woods. (I feel that way about the mountains and the ocean too). There is a calmness that makes us rethink our priorities.