Welcome to my website! I’m Linda, and I live in the San Francisco Tri-Valley with my awesome husband and son.
I own a thriving piano studio, I’m a homeschooling mom, and I’m an avid hiker and amateur photographer. I’ve been running a hiking group for women as well as organizing hikes and nature-based outings for homeschooled kids for more than ten years now. Life is busy, but in nature I find beauty and peace.
Here I share photos of the beauty I find around me and write about the places we go, the things we do, the benefits of outdoor play, and tips and tricks that make outside time fun. I also share educational activities for a nature-based lifestyle.
You’ll also find me on:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hike.Wander.Wonder
- Instagram: @hike.wander.wonder
- For information about my piano studio, visit PlayfulPianoStudio.com
Contact Me:
If you would like to get in contact with me, simply complete and submit the form below. I also enjoy receiving comments on my posts, so please feel free to “leave a reply” at any time. I try to respond to all comments. I look forward to hearing from you!
Don’t miss a post!
To ensure you don’t miss any of my posts, please follow via e-mail. You’ll find the sign-up button on the top right section of this page. Enjoy!
hike.wander.wonder 
Haven’t “heard” from you lately – hope you are okay – I miss you.
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Hi Lynn – Thank you so much for writing! Yes, all is totally OK. My blog has been neglected lately due to more pressing life events… good ones!
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Hi Linda! I really don’t know if you are acceptting blogger awards, but anyway I just nominated you for the Very Inspiring blogger Award, as you can see here http://mylittleriojournal.wordpress.com/2013/11/20/very-inspiring-blogger-award/. Anyway, I just wanna let you know that your blog and your beautiful photos inspires me to keep blogging and improving my photography! Congratulations!
Cristina
http://www.mylittleriojournal.wordpress.com
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Thank you, Cristina! Yes, I don’t list the awards on the blog anymore, but I always appreciate the intention behind them. 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words! I’ll head over to your blog to check out the award.
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Hi Linda,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking some of my stuff. You have a beautiful boy and its so nice you are able to spend so much time with him. I think its great what you’re doing to encourage all the kids to spend time outside and enjoying it.
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Thanks, Jill!
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Great blog! I wish I had discovered it last year, when we did a family road trip to California. Thanks for visiting my blog!
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Thanks! I hope you enjoyed your time in California. 🙂
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hello , I have nominated you for the super sweet award check it 🙂
http://desi99ner.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/super-sweet-blogging-award/
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Thank you! I’ll head over to check it out. 🙂
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Hi Linda! I’ve nominated you for an award. You can find the details here: http://lifeofaministermom.com/2013/05/20/you-are-appreciated-blog-awards/. There’s absolutely no pressure to accept. I simply want you to know how wonderful I think you are!!
Patricia
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Thank you so much, Patricia! I’ll head over to check it out.
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Hi Linda, I’ve nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award. If you choose to accept the award, visit my site, Postcards from Italy (Blog Awards page) to see the rules. Here’s the link: http://www.nataliasarkissian.wordpress.com
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Thank you so much! I’ll head over now to check it out.
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I just found your blog on another blog and decided to check you out. I am a Bay Area native temporarily living in Reno, and your pictures and blog satisfy my constant need for Bay Area beauty!
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Reno isn’t so bad! Glad you found my blog. 🙂
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Thank you for visiting my blog! I am now following you to read more of what you do.
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My pleasure. I enjoyed the visit!
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This blog looks full of inspiration for moms! I have grandchildren and I will have to steer my daughters toward your blog. Thank you much for stopping by Mrs. City Boy and liking my post!
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Thanks, Becky! I enjoyed visiting your blog. 🙂
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Well deserved 🙂
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Congratulations, Linda!
I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award.
The rules of this award are at
http://dearkitty1.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/versatile-blogger-award-thank-you-bellnight/
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Thank you!
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I like your blog. Hence I have nominated you for Super Sweet Blogging Award. You can collect it here http://www.selfveda.com/super-sweet-blogging-award/
Happy Blogging!
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Thanks, Asha!
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Hi Linda!
I just nominated you for ‘The Very Inspiring Blogger Award’ Congratulations!!!
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Thanks, Sofie! But I don’t think I’m actually on your list. 🙂
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Oops! I am sorry. I fixed it. I am nominating you for ‘The Very Inspiring Blogger Award’
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🙂
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Thank you for sharing! What an amazing blog, I look forward to my next visit to find more inspirations for my twins and me. Best wishes from Italy, Katharina
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Thank you, Katharina! I’m now following your blog, and I hope you’ll stop by again soon.
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Dear Nature Mother Linda,
Thank you for the follow, I just returned the favour so I could enjoy your inspiring posts, all the best!
Cheers from Katharina – a dancing mother 🙂
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Hi I just nominated you for the Reality Blog Award, which can be collected here – http://lplk.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/reality-blog-award/
Thanks for keeping it real and providing some interesting posts, keep it up.
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Thank you! I’ll check out your post. 🙂
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Congratulations! I love your blog and have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award.
However, there are rules and I won’t be offended if you don’t want to follow them. I just wanted to share your blog with others.
Ana (Jubilee Journey)
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Thanks! I’ll check out your post!
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What’s your parenting style? You could be featured on a new cable series.
Are you an attachment parent? Tiger Mom? A green parent? Free range? Authoritative? Permissive? Or do you have a style that’s all your own?
We’re looking for moms and dads with unique perspectives on parenting for a new series on a top-rated national cable network. Please send your name, phone number, e-mail address, a description of your family/parenting style, and a photo to casting@punchedinthehead.com.
More info available at http://punchedinthehead.com/casting.
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I’ve nominated your blog for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!, because I really love it and I think it is very nice. Feel free to accept the award. If you want to accept, here’s the link with all the information: http://praguebykaty.wordpress.com/2013/01/04/praguebykaty-blog/
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Thank you so much, Katy! Love your blog… your work deserves all the awards you received!
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Admire your life.
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It may not be as interesting as it appears… 🙂
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Haha. :-)) Sweet thing to say but…Iiiiii think it looks *very* interesting. :-))
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🙂
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🙂
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Thanks for following me, Linda! Nice to meet you!
~Christy
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Nice to meet you, too. I enjoy your photography!
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Thank you! Likewise!
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Linda, I’ve nominated you for the “Family of Bloggers” Award. To see the nomination, visit http://anotherlovelyday.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/overdue-thank-yous-awards-and-a-little-winnie-the-pooh.
Thanks so much for your friendship and followship.
~ Sandy
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Thanks, Sandy! I’ll head over to read about it.
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Very beautiful initiative Linda.Too many of our children are stuck indoors and miss out on the fun/beauty of nature. Thanks so much for stopping by Island Vignettes!
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Thank you! I enjoyed reading through your blog. It’s beautiful. 🙂
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Miranda Paige at http://echosonomatopoeia.wordpress.com/ has nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. In turn I would like to nominate you for the same award.
For all the details follow this link: http://wp.me/p2ddEF-Vh
Congratulations!!!
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Thank you! I’ll head over to check it out.
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Hi!
I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. For the details, you can see it on my blog here: http://klling.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/my-first-one-lovely-blog-award-nomination/
Have a great day,
Kim
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Thank you, Kim!
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you have got the awesome blog my frnd 🙂
Thank you for subscribing to my blog! Welcome
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Thanks! And my pleasure. 🙂
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🙂
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Hi! Thank you for checking out my blog. I like your site, and images. I wish you all the best! Diana
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Hi Diana – I enjoyed checking out your site. Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi Linda, good news; I have nominated you for the Reality Blog Award!
The rules are at
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Oops.. how did I miss this one? A much-belated “thank you”!
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Good job!!!
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Thank you, Simona!
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Hi there,
I just nominated you for One Lovely Blog Award. I would be honored if you accepted.
Thank you for an awesome blog.
http://pictureperfectmemoriesforlife.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/my-first-blog-award-nomination/
Coreen
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Thank you so much, Coreen! I’ll head over to check it out.
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Only a pleasure. 🙂
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Hi Linda,
Thank you for stopping by and liking my blog post! I was a nanny in the past and feel you blog could also be a great resource for nannies.
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Thanks, Elise! I hope it’s helpful for all kinds of caregivers.
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Hi Linda (I am Linda as well!), congratulations on the success of your playgroup and your blogging awards! I wish we had a playgroup like that here but it gets entirely too hot in Arizona to spend that much time outdoors (not to mention all the cacti – ouch). My sister lives in the Bay Area so I will be sure to check out your blog for fun activities for the kids when we visit. Thanks again for liking my post!
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Cacti and heat aren’t great for kids! Hope to see you some day in the Bay Area!
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Hello, I have just nominated your blog for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:
I would be honoured if you accepted the nomination!
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Thank you! And congrats to you!
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Linda, I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blog Award, too! See the nomination at anotherlovelyday.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/very-inspiring-blogger-award. Thanks for being an inspiration to us!
~ Sandy
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Thank you, Sandy!
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What a fulfilling way to serve your community. It’s wonderful to see so many children getting the benefits of nature play.
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Watching children playing in nature is a beautiful thing! Hopefully their play today will result in a life-long love of nature and the outdoors. Not to mention the emotional and physical health benefits they receive today from being active outside…
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Congratulations! I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award.
The rules are at
Though you were nominated before for that award, you really deserve another time 🙂
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Thank you! I’ll head over and check it out.
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I’ve nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Check out the details here: http://lifeofministermom.wordpress.com/blog-awards/
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Congratulations! And thank you for passing the award along to me!
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Congratulations, you have been nominated for a blogger award, you can see the details here —> http://wp.me/p2dVf5-k6
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Thank you for passing along the One Lovely Blog award!
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Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and enjoying it enough to follow me. I really hope you like my future post. I have looked over your blog post and I in return LOVE your blog too! So informative with some great advice. Your son is so adorable too! Have a blessed day! 🙂
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Thank you! Glad you stopped by, too. I enjoyed reading through your blog yesterday, and I look forward to reading more in the future!
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Dido here. 🙂
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Greetings dear Linda the nature mom! I had been intrigued seeing your name in conversations and thought I should visit. Wonderful work – or play! – you are doing there. You seem to live in an extraordinary part of the world also. I will come and explore more but the problem with WP is that you meet os many wonderful people but yet don’t get an extra 5 hours to your day … All best wishes and blessings, f
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I’m glad to have found your blog. Beautiful! And I totally understand… I, too, wish I had an extra 5 hours a day to read all the wonderful things people are writing (and photographing) out there. Glad to have “met” you!
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Hello my dear friend 🙂 You are One Lovely Blog and please accept my gift to you here:
http://allaboutlemon.com/2012/06/10/all-about-lemon-is-one-lovely-blog-plus-you-are-loved/
Just because You Are Loved!
Dolly xoxo
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Wow! Thank you! And congratulations on receiving your awards. 🙂
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Dear Linda! What a beautifully wholesome blog – love it! Looking forward to getting to know you and catching up with all that you’re doing. Warmest greetings from sunny Finland, Sharon
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I’m so glad I found your blog! Thank you, and I look forward to your work. Plus, I could use a some “rest and a little nourishment for” my soul….
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You have a terrific site and a great initiative, Linda! Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ll be happy to visit here again. 🙂
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Thanks! Your site caught my eye, as I lived and worked in Europe for a couple years. I enjoy reading the journeys of others!
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Thank you for following my blog -blueberryhillsfarm.wordpress.com
I enjoyed reading your posts about all the outdoor activities that you are doing with children. Our two sons were home schooled and your posts reminded me of all the fun that we had exploring and discovering the natural world together. It is so important to teach young people to enjoy and nurture the environment and doing it in a fun, ‘hands on’ way is the best way to do it.
I feel very lucky that my sons, now aged 18 and 19, still love to work alongside me in the garden and greenhouse and we are still learning about the wonders of nature together.
Keep up the great ideas and have fun!
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That’s awesome that your boys still enjoy working alongside you! I found and am following your blog, not only because it’s absolutely beautiful, but because I’m sure I can learn from what you’re doing. Thanks!
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Thanks for the like!
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I love your site!
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Thank you! I love yours too! It reminds me of when I worked at a Nature Center. So many fun activities! 😀
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Wow sounds like a great play group idea 🙂 Keep up the good work… it’s nice to see parents outside with their kids 🙂
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Thanks! It’s a great way to meet like-minded families, and to help those who may feel uncomfortable exploring nature on their own to get out there. The group now has more than 500 families!
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Hi,
Thanks for “liking” my post called “Nature AND Nurture”. I love the concept of your blog, and I’m right there with you as far as advocating for lots of time outdoors and in nature. In fact, my art program is very much about connecting art experiences to experiences in nature, and to children’s books that focus on nature. I wanted to direct you to my previous post, called “The Art of Springtime” http://artinhand.org/2012/04/09/the-art-of-springtime/ which is in article I have written all about this topic. Throughout the year, I will post articles featuring ways to tie creative experiences to what is going on in the natural world during each of the other 3 seasons…all focussed on early childhood, process oriented art and exploration. Hope you will find it interesting! 😉
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P.S. Yes, the cherry blossoms here in DC and the surrounding areas are AMAZING. Every year, I am dazzled….
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Thanks, Julie! I just read your Washington Parent article, and it’s wonderful. I especially like your beliefs about art. “Process over product” is very important to me. I avoid “product” art with my son (he doesn’t enjoy it, anyways), in favor of “playing” with art, though I may direct what art medium, tool, or technique we’ll be exploring any given day. I love your suggestions! I will follow your blog in the future, and I always enjoy comments on mine. Thanks again!
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Ditto! And thanks for checking out the article. Look forward to “chatting” more about our common interests and seeing what you post.
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Love your blog, and your message about the importance of being outdoors (for so many reasons). Blogs are funny, and I wouldn’t have found yours if you hadn’t clicked “like” on our post about a baby turtle. We started our own blog about human powered adventures in the outdoors partly because we were reading other blogs about people doing really cool stuff.
Keep up the good work in getting kids outdoors! Look forward to more posts (and we don’t even have kids besides Daisy trail dog).
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Thanks! I’ve actually enjoyed reading your blog before your recent turtle post. As a hiker, backpacker, traveler, etc, who isn’t able to get out as much as I used to (a temporary constraint of having a young child), I enjoy momentarily escaping parenthood by reading about the adventures of others. Plus, though it’s not my thing, my husband is a cyclocross racer / mountain bike guy. I’m looking forward to reading your posts in the future!
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Hi there!
I popped over after reading your comment on my blog (www.kidsingardens.com) Thank you for that! Looks like we have a lot in common, including letterboxing! Your son is so fortunate to have a Mom that sees the world in the way that you do!
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Thanks! I’m glad to have found your blog, and I look forward to reading more. When my son enters kindergarten next year, we’ll begin work with the program’s garden. Should be fun!
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Thank you for sharing how we can enjoy God’s awesome wonders with our families. You inspire an appreciation for God’ s creation.
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Thank you. Life is an exquisite journey!
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I have enjoyed reading your blog, and have posted a link along with the Liebster award. http://ourboler.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/liebster-award/ Look forward to more great posts.
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Thank you! I’ve been enjoying your blog, too! I’ll pass along the love as soon as I figure out how to do so…
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