There are Ocean's in The Ocean State?! And Bamboo, too!

We've been in Rhode Island since the 15th (or something) of August. Maybe some of those of you who have been following along are beginning to think we've stalled out. I wouldn't be surprised! I've thought that a few times myself! After our debacle getting down to RI (that's Rhode Island and you can read about the debacle ----> here) we decided to assess the weight of the things we were carrying and come up with some lighter alternatives. After many orders, returns and more orders from Amazon and other such sites (plus countless visits to good old fashioned, brick and mortar shops) for things including but not limited to: rain flies, battery chargers, camping plates, sleeping bags, shoes, coats, glasses (ok, this had nothing to do with weight but me and Ezaias are looking fly in our new specs and looking fly is important too!), school supplies and so on we are getting close to being able to head out. Which is great news because I had to put my thick socks on during the last night we spent in The Lightning Bug and just yesterday we all went digging around for out long sleeve sweaters! The north east is getting cold and that's our cue to say, "sayonara!" (That's goodbye in Japanese, which Ezaias has been studying as part of his unschooling schooling.)

Though I'm loath to admit it, Rhode Island has a pretty significant place in my history. I'm not from here but I did grow up in part here and my family is all here. I spent 15 years, in all total, of my life here. I'm 37, so that's not quite half. I'm not sure what the formula is for figuring if you are from a place? 

For some time we were staying in the south of the state, which I have normally considered a world away from the north (culturally speaking) from where my family lives. Then we came up north to stay with my mother and nephew. My nephew got a full scholarship to a ritzy, all-boys high school. So it was fun to be here to chauffeur him to his first day of school, his first HIGH SCHOOL DANCE, and spend some concentrated time with my family (even though we drive them crazy) before heading out for quite some time. I had the unusual luxury of taking a drive by myself the other day. I was traveling down old familiar roads and noticed a car off to the side. The car was blocking other drivers from getting around and slowing traffic down. From where I sat, I could see the driver looking stressed but what I could also see was that most of the drivers passing by them were stopping briefly to ask if they were ok. The driver said thank you but waved each one of them onward. As I watched I thought to myself, this place isn't so bad. It's rough around the edges but everyone I know here has a heart of gold and, if I'm honest, I always do feel at home and safe here (even though I happened to read that my town is 95% less safe than other US towns, regardless of size). So, at that moment, I decided to try to see RI differently. I thought about the things I love about the area (art, food, ocean, etc.) and decided to share them with my kids and Travis. We've also been trying to take part in some RI traditions that I am not familiar with (most of them include food). 

What will follow, in a few separate posts because we took LOTS, is a photographic chronicle of our time (so far) in RI, with special guest appearances by my beautiful family!

Let's start with the ocean:

TLB, at home in the "woods".

Up early to the beach, baby! The sun won't wait for us. 

Kid: Mom, are we allowed to go into the water?
Mom: No, I would rather you didn't..... 

A cloudy sunrise at East Beach (while we are on the east coast of the country).

Sunrise on the left and the Moon on the right! How lucky were we? So beautiful!

This beautiful show happens every single day!!

We literally stood in more or less one place. These were the colours to the left (sunrise).  

These were the colours to the right (where the moon was). 

To the left.  

Baby isn't happy to be up this early. He hardly noticed the beautiful things happening around us! 

Hugs from Mama help some.  

I don't know why I expected them not to jump into the ocean at 5am??

The waves were pretty incredible though. (That's my nephew Maison on the left.)

Slowly warming up to it, right before we headed back for breakfast. 

I got wet. Now what do I do? 

Seaweed! Like for real seaweed! (I realized that my kids have like zero experience with a real ocean. Vermont has a pleasant lake (it's pretty big) but they were blown away by the waves and the salt and the seaweed and the crabs! I grew up around the ocean but I've never been really drawn back to it but I do love it. I felt a little guilty that my whim and fancy have likely kept them from experiencing this natural marvel until now. Side note: they have been to the ocean but they don't have great memories of it.) 

Wet kids: I'm wet! The sand is sticking to me! There is sand in my pants!
Dry kid: I'm having so much fun!
Mom: (does not say I told you so...)

The Fantastical Umbrella Factory! 

It's a collection of hippy shops (think nag champa and petchuli) surrounded by lovely gardens. 

With big grass. 

And big flowers. 

And chickens to remind us of home...

And bamboo!

A massive bamboo forest, in fact!!  

So, of course, this happened!

Then this happened. 

So we (the parents) said that couldn't happen.... 

So then this happened....

Hey, Pantene, we are looking for a sponsor... 

Up he goes.

Look Ma, no shoes! 

Then they all joined in. 

Let your monkey out, my children. 

No paternity test needed. 

Run for your life!! (Unschooling opportunity #1 This is a grizzly bear. They don't live in RI. Neither do black bears. We were practicing for Yellowstone.)

We climbed a tower in the forest that looks out to the ocean. See that straight line between the forest and the sky? That's the ocean. 

Micaiah found this massive plant. Can you identify it?

We played "Name that Skull!" That giant one on the right is a horse!

Kai is our resident turtle lover and expert. 

He got up each morning and rode his bike to the Naturalist's "House" to help place the turtles in their outdoor tank for the day. 

This one was called Speckles. Micaiah was great at teaching other kids how to properly hold them. 

Simeon needed a little time to warm up to the turtles. (The parents were thankful about that.)

Fishing for bros = hours of fun! 
The pine cone, seen in the littlest brothers mouth, served as their "hook". 

Back to the beach! (This time with swimsuits and towels!) 

This time we visited the southern and western most tip of Rhode Island at sunset.
To the east there was a massive storm (still hours off) rolling in. To the west the sun was going down.

Both of which made for more incredible colours.

Sea shells, sea shells, everywhere.
Do you know what our kids do when they see sea shells?
They collect them! Pockets and pockets of sea shells! 

We walked the 1.5 mile stretch of beach and watched the sunset. (Sunsets don't really lend well to our novice camera, so here is one of the last ones we got.)
Then we walked back in the dark. 

It was great fun checking out southern Rhode Island. Next time we'll tell you all about our more urban adventures in the north of the state. 

                                                                                         ~ <3 The Wanderlings