hikes,  outdoors,  travel

A Picnic and a Hike

March 30, 2022 /

I am sharing some pretty pictures from last week today but I wanted to share how the back story is not as idyllic as the pictures. I really try to be out and about several times a week to enjoy the outdoors but sometimes the pictures are more beautiful than the reality or its aftermath.

A Picnic

I decided to take my youngest to the “duck pond” for a picnic thinking it would be fun and it was. We enjoyed lunch by the water, walked around the pond, too some pictures and looked at the ducks, geese and turtles.

What I didn’t think of was the pollen associated with those beautiful trees and blooms! After our picnic and almost back at the car, my son started coughing and sneezing. I had forgotten how he is sensitve to those trees. He continued to have this hacking cough for a few days following this exposure to inhaling all that pollen. Thankfully he didn’t have a pollen vomit episode he had last year. That was the strangest thing!

We did enjoy our time and I am hoping we won’t have to many of those flowering trees on our spring break. Last year, my 8 year old had issues with itchy eyes the whole time we hiked and eye wash and benadryl didn’t do much to help.

I’ve been creative with my salds using different leftovers: here I added a chopped up veggie burger. I bought that PackIt lunch bag several years ago for our trip to France and it is still a favorite when I only need to back for 1 or 2 on a picnic.

A Hike

On Sunday, I knew my husband would enjoy a nap but I hadn’t gone walking in a few days as I worked a little bit in the yard on Saturday and wanted to go on a hike. So I invited my friend (which is my neighbor in the cul de sac) for a hike.

I suggested this particular hike (the Homestead Trail) at Red Top Mountain despite remembering not enjoying it when hiking it with the boys: it felt like it was never ending. I really thought that it felt that way because I hiked it alone with them. It is 4.5 miles long.

Well, my memory was not faulty! It does feel like it will never end! It has lots of short hills up and down and while the view of the like after the first mile in the loop are really pretty, that would be the perfect place to turn around and still get a nice walk.

I thought that we would never get back, I needed to use the restroom, I was tired… but I am glad we did it. We could use the exercise, the fresh air and the lake sure was beautiful. I am sharing the back story of the pictures to remind you that when we share things on social media we often share the best of our world not as much the struggles, the stresses and the pain. So no, I was not skipping around on this trail, feeling 1oo%. I was tired, I was ready to get back to the car.

We will try to make the most of our spring break next week and enjoy the river, the hikes and the fire pit. But I know it won’t be all rosy. The boys will complain, I won’t get to sleep in, there will be spats and disappointments but there will also be some bonding, some laughter and some good times. I am looking forward to some time away and some time to enjoy a leasure cup of coffee without worrying about schedules.

A bientôt!

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22 Comments

  • Joanne

    March 30, 2022 at 11:38 am

    Oh so true! Our hikes are not always idyllic either. My left eye has been watering so bady for weeks now that it looks like I am perpetually crying (out of one eye only!) despite taking my allergy medicine every day nothing is changing– and we don’t even have buds or greens yet!

    • mimifce

      March 30, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      Oh no! All 4 boys now have some types of a reaction but nothing too bad but you can be sure we are bringing our antihistamines with us on our spring break!

  • Jodie Filogomo

    March 30, 2022 at 7:40 pm

    OMG, I was having issues with the pollen this spring too, and actually bought some local honey just to help out. And I think it really helped because it’s so annoying.
    Your photos/story goes to show that pictures don’t tell the whole story, haha.
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    • mimifce

      March 31, 2022 at 9:38 am

      My friend has bee hives so we have been getting honey from her and putting it on bread or having a spoonful.

  • Leslie Clingan

    March 30, 2022 at 10:54 pm

    I can relate to having to go to the bathroom while on a hike – or for me, anywhere I go. I always need to go to the bathroom. I am doing StepBet and have to get so many steps a day. My sister and I took a nice walk one evening while visiting my mom. We got started talking and then realized we didn’t know where we were!! Ha! And I had to…yup…go to the bathroom. We had to use MAPS to get home, and I wound up sprinting once the house was in sight. Terrible feeling.

    At least you were rewarded with beautiful scenery and pleasant company on your walk. Thank you for sharing the lovely photos.

    • mimifce

      March 31, 2022 at 9:37 am

      I love hiking with this friend of mine. We were joking half the time about the need for a portapotty even if it would make the hike less pretty!

  • Marsha+Banks

    March 30, 2022 at 11:13 pm

    Your poor sons! Allergies are no fun! I’m starting to get that icky feeling as the trees begin to bud here…I love looking at them, but I feel miserable later!

    It is necessary to remember that all is not perfect no matter what the social media looks like, right? Thanks for that, Mireille!

    http://marshainthemiddle.com/

    • mimifce

      April 1, 2022 at 10:11 am

      Water is my favorite! We shall see how spring break goes with the allergies. Hopefully not too bad since we are planning to be outdoors a lot.

  • Mica Away From The Blue

    April 1, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    These are beautiful photos but I agree, you never seen the full story behind photos, although they can tell you a lot there’s a lot unsaid in a photo too! I’m glad you got outside even if it wasn’t perfect!

    Hope you’re having a good weekend 🙂