Thursday, April 15, 2010

Learning to wander

Before kids, when we would go on a hike, we had a goal in mind: climbing to the top, doing that loop, walking up to that shelter... Now that we have kids, we need to unlearn that attitude when hiking with them...

Avant d'avoir des enfants, quand nous allions en randonnée, nous avions un but en tête : se rendre au sommet, compléter une boucle, se rendre à un refuge... Maintenant que nous avons des enfants, il nous faut changer nos habitudes quand nous faisons de la randonnée avec eux...



We need to learn to wander, watch for the woodpecker that we hear, stop to watch the new sprouts and the first butterflies, make little boats out of leaves in the stream, stop for food breaks and throw rocks (a lot!). It's not always easy. We feel antsy to go on, to just go up to that lake, to do that 5 km loop (because children are suppose to be able to hike 1 km/year of age, you know...) instead of taking their lead, of allowing them to explore and to discover the pure joy of being in nature, of what they will learn to call « hiking ». If we want it to be fun, we need to slow down and take their hand...

Nous devons apprendre à nous balader, à essayer de trouver le pic-bois en haut d'un arbre, à nous arrêter pour regarder les nouvelles pousses et les premiers papillons, à faire de petits bateaux de feuilles dans un ruisseau, à faire de nombreux arrêts pour manger et lancer des cailloux (souvent!). Ce n'est pas toujours facile. On a des fourmis dans les jambes, on veux aller plus vite, se rendre jusqu'à un tel lac, faire la boucle de 5 km (parce que les enfants sont sensés être en mesure de faire 1 km/année d'âge, vous savez...) au lieu de suivre leur rythme, des les laisser explorer et découvrir le vrai bonheur d'être dans la nature, de découvrir ce qui portera pour eux le nom de « randonnée ». Si on veut que ça soit une expérience agréable, on doit apprendre à ralentir et les laisser nous guider...
















And another raw dip that we brought for our picnic today (the girls loved it, well 2 on 3):

Et une autre trempette crue que nous avons apportée dans notre pique-nique aujourd'hui (les filles ont beaucoup aimé, enfin 2 sur 3) :

Herb dip

1 cup raw cashews (soaked 1 hour and drained)
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1 celery stick, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 a lemon, juiced
1/2 tsp dried dill (or 2 tbsp fresh)
a pinch of oregano
2 tbsp olive oil
sea salt
water to thin (and mix to a creamy consistency)

Put in a food processor fitted with a s blade.


Trempette aux fines herbes

1 tasse de noix de cajou crues (trempées une heure et égouttées)
1/2 tasse de persil frais
1 branche de céleri haché
1 gousse d'ail émincé
Jus d'1/2 citron
1/2 c. à thé d'aneth séché (ou 2 c. à table d'aneth frais)
une pincée d'origan
2 c. à table d'huile d'olive
sel de mer
Eau pour diluer (et pour obtenir une consistance crémeuse)

Passer au robot culinaire avec la lame en s.

5 comments:

indigomumma said...

such beautiful words Catherine - so true. 'learning to wander' - I like the way you term it! The hike, or the wandering, looks like it was beautiful. I am loving all the raw food recipes Thank you so much. Hope the raw food stint is going well for you :)

Sarah Cornett said...

Gorgeous pictures, Catherine. Looks like a fun day!

Jen said...

Lovely post again! You're really peaking my interest with the yummy recipes you are posting, as well!

I wanted to ask you if you have any recommendations for teaching French? Have you come across anything we might try as non speakers (I took French in highschool so I think I can get us going fairy well - just want to make it really fun!) Anything your children really like? Thanks for the tips in advance :D

Catherine said...

It sure was a great day! We are enjoying our raw food journey!

Jen, if you can leave my your e-mail address, I could send you lots of French ressources that I use with the girls. I don't know of any second langage ressources but sure know a lot of French first langage ones!

Tell me what you are after and I will send you some things (stories, songs, verses, etc.).

Your blog is such an inspiration to me as I am starting to prepare for first grade with the twins! Thank you so much to take the time to write everything, it is so helpful!

heather said...

hiking with kids is so in the air!!! we went both days this weekend and it was amazing. and very different from hiking without them. we had pistachios and chocolate. your dip is making my mouth water, though. and so many rocks were thrown over here in colorado too!