Under the Full Moon

Posted byAbPosted inADHD, adoption, adventure, camping, FASD, love, Parenting, summer, travelTags:, , , , ,

Camping at our happy place, Killbear, was made all the more special thanks to magical moonlight.

After a three summer hiatus, we returned to camp at our favourite provincial park – the site of many adventures and T’s first camping trip at age 1.

What a difference 10 years makes.

We recreated the photo above, one of my favourite photos with T during his first visit to Killbear.

He’s taller and I’m grayer, but the landscape remains captivating.

Killbear is worth the three-hour drive.

We love standing on the sunset rocks, hearing the soothing sound of the waves, feeling the breeze on our skin, and taking in the fresh air.

End of summer camping was an annual tradition.

We took a break the past few summers, because we were busy and tired. But we vowed to return this year.

Simple camping food is so satisfying.

And a campfire makes the best hotdog!

On Friday after dinner and campfire smores, we went for a late night hike on the rocks.

The full moon cast a beautiful glow over Georgian Bay.

T explored the rocks and I was grateful that we could just let him run off now without worry.

The hubby and I lied down on the rocks and looked up at the starry sky.

T then came and sat next to us and went on and on about how much he loved camping and Killbear.

It made me so happy that his spirit is nourished and at one with nature.

We then took photos and to our happy surprise, T took charge and directed the shots – using his headlight to light us in the dark.

The photos turned out beautifully.

We may have a budding photographer.

I’ve asked the hubby to print the first photo above as I’d like to hang it up in our family room.

Taking inspiration from T’s creative use of his headlight, I took the photo at the top of this post of my two favourite guys enjoying the moonlight. 💕

We stayed out till close to midnight – taking it all in.

T lying down and looking up at the stars.

The following day, we enjoyed a full day of swimming in the refreshing bay. It was very windy, so we had a fun nature’s wave pool!

Then after a post lunch nap, we packed up to head home. We cut our visit an evening short, because the forecast called for overnight rain.

T felt sad but we stayed until it started to get dark so he could have the full day experience.

He went for a last bike ride on the rocks, taking the sight, sound and feeling all in.

Earlier on our trip, T told me that he noticed the treelike looked fuller.

Thank goodness for nature’s resiliency.

How awe-inspiring to think these rocks have been around for millions of years.

Even more incredible that the hubby, T and I all existed together at this moment in time to enjoy its breathtaking beauty.

54 thoughts on “Under the Full Moon”

  1. Reading about your return to Killbear after a three summer hiatus really warmed my heart. It’s amazing how the same spot can feel so different after a decade, especially with the glow of the full moon you described. I can almost hear the crackle of the campfire and feel the gentle sway of the trees. It’s a reminder that nature’s rhythm can be a quiet teacher, just like the slow, deliberate movements we find in gentle practice. May the moonlight keep inspiring calm and connection for you and your fellow campers.

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    1. Thanks Gary. Camping is a lot of fun and I’m thankful we have these experience relatively accessible to us. 😊🙏

      Hope you and Hawklad are having a good start to your fall season!

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    1. We are very lucky indeed. However, with climate change, we’re experiencing large scale wildfires during the summers which are so devastating to the communities impacted.

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    1. We’re very fortunate that we have lots of open green spaces and also a small population compared to the our geographic size – so things like air pollution and haze are less common problems. 🙏🙏🙏

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  6. I love these photos of your incredible time. The moonlight is just gorgeous. I can see why you want to print out that family photo.

    Do I remember right that the leaning tree is at Killbear?

    Love the simple camping food! You do so many incredible meals – but going simple and eating outside is a treat too. You all really know how to do summer!! I love it!

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    1. Thanks Wynne. It was really a wonderful weekend and return to camping after 3 years. 😊

      I love that you remember the Killbear Tree and yes, we most certainly took another photo of T with it. I hope the tree will live long enough to see T’s children one day. 🙏

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  8. It’s just so lovely to see the difference from the 1-year-old photo and the ten-year-old. Both are beautiful and so nice to see the joy. Love the family photo and the moonlight was fascinating! A joyous camping for sure!

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  9. Yay! Glad to hear your camping trip to Killbear still happened, even though you left a day earlier to avoid the rain (we would have done the same thing). It’s a lot of work to set everything up for a night, but it sounds like it was worth it. I have so many fond memories of camping when I was younger. It’s wonderful to hear that T enjoys camping and you have so many wonderful memories of it over the years. Enjoy the last week of summer. Hard to believe school starts in a week!

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    1. Thanks Linda. Even though we lost one night, it worked out for the best. We still had a fairly full experience and the bonus Saturday evening and Sunday at home to decompress before the work week. 😊 It sure is a ton of work to prep and to tidy up – but the memories are so worth it! 🙏

      Enjoy your final week of summer before the madness begins as well. The trains are gonna be fuller again!

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    1. Thanks Belle. It was a wonderful time and way to end T’s summer break. He heads to middle school next week! Hope you’re having a great start to your new academic year! 😊

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      1. Middle school! Wow! 🙂 Yes, our students were back Aug 12th. I have 6 of 7 very full dual credit classes! Already super busy, but it’s going well so far. I hope you all have a good Labor day weekend and a smooth start to the new school year!

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  11. I love everything about this. Taking photo with T at the exact same spot like you did 10 years ago, a family photo under the bright moon, making camping food… moments like these are blessings. It’s also a great idea of printing one of those photos and hang it up in your family room. It’s a sweet memento as well as a reminder for everyone that your family is such a loving one.

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    1. Thanks Bama. It was a nice weekend getaway and the photos were an unexpected delightful souvenir from the weekend. 😊 Such blessings indeed and look forward to this weekend to post our favourite photo up on the wall.

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  12. What a trip! Fantastic photos. So smart about using the headlamp! Way to go, T, on that idea. I could almost sense all the things you described so well. Love the then and now photos. You’re also dressed very similarly in both shots. I’m glad you had this magical, and it does seem that way, time together.

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    1. Thanks Betsy. I just love the photos and so much more so, because they reflected T’s vision and direction. I can’t wait to hang the blown up photo on our family room wall – later this weekend. 😊 It was a magical time away together and already counting down to next summer!

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  13. Your posts have a “warm wave” effect on me, Ab. Goodness rolling in with a grin. I should put a camera on myself when I’m reading, embracing your words and images. Maybe audio, too. You make me tear up and sniffle…in the best possible way. Aren’t we all blessed to exist at this moment together? My, my.
    Big hugs to all! 💝💝💝

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    1. Thanks Vicki. 🥰 We are all so fortunate to be connected with each other in this wonderful WP community. Your posts provide me with the same inspiration and smiles. 😊

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  14. Recreating that first-visit photo ten years on is such a good idea, and “he’s taller and I’m grayer” says the whole decade in six words. We’ve had those hiatus summers too, where you’re just too worn out to pack the car, and then you go back and can’t remember why you stopped. Hope the sunset rocks were exactly as you’d left them.

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    1. Thank you. Time provides such crystal clarity and perspective. 😊 And so do creakier joints. 🤣 the sunset rocks were great – and it’s so humbling to think we’re just a small fraction of its existence. 🙏

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  15. To quote my grandmother, “Oye Vey!” I am sitting her with my grandson who had a sleepover while my DIL, a teacher, goes back to work.

    And I know I don’t have to personally apologize, but I can’t help myself – LAKE ONTARIO will always be LAKE ONTARIO!!!!! WTF!

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    1. Enjoy the time with the grandson. 💕

      And we appreciate the solidarity. 😊 If you want a laugh, search “How old is the orange buffoon” on Google and lemme know what you find.

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  16. Oh! The wonderful experiences you three share – I love reading about them and the photos! T does have an eye for photography! Enjoy the last moments of summer before school! Thanks for the trek on Georgian Bay! V

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    1. Thanks Vickie! Georgian Bay is an area you and Mitch should visit one day. It’s relatively nearby to Buffalo! 😊 We’re soaking up one last week of summer before school starts next Tuesday. T will be at home all week – no more daycare camp. 🙏

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  18. How great to enjoy your family time together, recreate your earlier photos, and just enjoy each other’s company. Kids here have been back in school fot two weeks. I remember that T has a new educational situation this year. I sure hope that is going well, Ab. It’s an adjustment for you all.

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    1. Thanks Pete. It’s one of our happy places and a joy to visit again. 😊 T starts middle school next Tuesday – school here starts after Labour Day. He’s at home this week – no camp – to just relax one final week before the new school. We appreciate the well wishes. We’re gonna need it! 🙏

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  20. Wow Ab, how lovely! I cam see in your photos that T enjoyed it. A beautiful family bonding. I miss the sea, it has been years since I visited one. Thanks gor this lovely post.🥰

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  22. what a beautiful trip, you and your family are so lucky to have found each other. i love the silver glow of the moon, and am impressed by t’s eye for photography. the contrast between your visit there when he was 1, and now, is fun to see. look how you’ve all learned so much each other and how to be a family –

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    1. Thanks Beth. It was such a lovely trip and reinforces why it’s such a simple yet special activity to enjoy together. 😊 We loved his photos and definitely something to keep an eye on as he enters middle school next week!

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  23. My feed rarely shows up your pists! Glad I got as soon as it was published! Me and my husband have been thinking about camping! Maybe an good omen! Something for 2027! Love all that you did and extra love to the now and then picture! 💕

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    1. Thanks Ganga – and yes it’s a sign to go camping! 😊 Your son seems to love and thrive in the outdoors. While camping will undoubtedly present some unique challenges for you to navigate, it will also undoubtedly create great memories and stories. I hope it works out for your family!

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