things we learned on our summer vacation.

3. that some things you don't expect just come naturally.

my mom grew up on horseback. the girls adore her stories of riding her horse to school and eating lunch there with it. (i on the other hand am terribly allergic to horses. and while i grew up with easy access to them - even being given one at my birth - this has kept me off them. much to my disappointment.)

the girls have had many city "riding" experiences - ponies at birthday parties and in the park, but had never been on a horse. this is Anna. 10 years old and 16 1/2 hands tall. the girls spent three glorious days with her at Trincomali Farms. (i will tell more about this great working farm later.)



i was amazed how quickly and naturally they learned to mount and dismount, and E even took her trotting around the ring. they loved the ritual grooming before and after their rides, learned the language and can now describe to me a Roman nose and the difference between Western and English saddles as well as where you find a frog on a horse.




they loved the opportunity for quiet conversations and secrets shared with such a beautiful animal.



we made a commitment that time on the farm would be part of their island summers for years to come.

things we learned on our summer vacation.

2. that the walk is often as good as the destination. (sometimes even better.)

things we learned on our summer vacation.

we learn so much up on the island. there is an independence allowed there, a freedom, that we all experience. here is one new skill built this summer. more in the days to come...

1. how to ride a bicycle.

there is such joy in teaching the girls something new.  but when they teach themselves, my heart swells. 

K has wanted to learn to ride her bicycle like her big sister ever since E took off  on two wheels.  we put a handle on the back, and spend some time practicing, and she was close, but not quite there.  she quickly taught herself to ride her two-wheeler while we were up north.  the secret was given to us by D's (amazing!) cousin Rose - who visited us on the island while on a SF - Vancouver cycling adventure.  (she actually works teaching kids to ride, and ride safely.)  the handle wasn't helping her learn to balance - the key to riding.  "take off the pedals" she told us.  that simple. 




after two days scooting around pedal-free i put them back on, and presto.   (its the premise of the whole "balance bike" - without the added cost.  the bike they end up on can also be the bike they learn on.)



we passed on the tip when we got home and today K's best friend learned the same - and off they went with the rest of the neighbourhood kids.

they were beaming.  (and so was i.)




cross-posted at twogreenchickens

re-entry

we are home. my laptop has died and i am too lazy to attempt downloading all the photos of our time to our old desktop. these are from a few shots uploaded while we were still at the cottage.

the heat isn't helping.

more soon...