We've been spending a lot of time getting ready for our vacation which is coming up in a few weeks. We are headed to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, to spend a week with my parents and all my siblings - all seven of them, in the same house. I have to admit this has me a bit anxious. But I've been trying to up the anticipation levels and dampen the anxiety levels since I think most of my fears are unfounded.
In planning what we are going to bring with us, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Baby, who herself occupies the least amount of space, is going to be using most of the available storage space for all of her stuff. It's a good thing it's summer time and we're going to the beach so my clothes can fit in a shopping bag. I don't think we could fit it all otherwise.
Two necessities for me though, whenever I travel, are my journal and sketchbook. I have a whole little kit packed into a small messenger bag. Every night I record the days happenings in my travel journal. This becomes a great memento of the trip and also a nice read when I'm longing to get away and can't. There's always something I forget and reading about it brings me right back to that far away place. I also bring a sketchbook and watercolors, colored pencil watercolors, and if I can swing it, my pastels. We'll see if the pastels make it this year (they don't fit in the messenger bag) as I may have to give them up in lieu of my kite and geocaching equipment. I don't know how much time or opportunity I will have to sketch anyway. In the past it was just my husband and I, so I could sketch whenever I wanted to. This time there will be seven young children along. But I'm sure I'll be able to do some sketching, and who knows, maybe I'll be able to encourage some of the older children to take up these travel habits of mine.
Here are some excerpts from previous trips.
July 2, 2001 Chincoteague, VA
"Finally John caught an eel after many crabs kept stealing his squid. The eel went back. Thought we would try some live bait but that proved no better than the squid."
September 26, 2003 Minnesota
"All day we were in and out of the rain. We saw several rainbows along the way, the first in Minnesota. The landscapes in Minnesota were just amazing. There were lakes everywhere in this Land of Lakes. And where there weren't lakes, there were fields - of corn, wheat, and even sunflowers."
May 27, 2004 Misty Fjords National Monument, Alaska
"There is a misty rain scattered throughout the area and we go in and out of it. This is typical. We go past some moss covered, steep cliffs ~ this area is utilized by birds as a rookery where they lay their eggs on the ledges. Amazingly they don't roll off. We see several sea birds hanging out here."
And here are some of my sketches.
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Devils Tower, Wyoming September 30, 2003
Cape Lookout, North Carolina September 10, 2006
4 comments:
Love your pictures. Wish I had that talent! And I like your idea of a travel journal. It is easy to forget those moments.
Have fun and good luck!
Alyson - Thank you. It's funny because I never seem to sketch other than when we are away. And you are right, it is easy to forget the little moments. It was fun reading through my journals to pick out a few lines.
Cindy, I didn't know you were an artist too. How nice to see your work. Definitely bring the sketchbook and notebook along and carve out some personal time for yourself.
Wow, 7 siblings. That's great that you can all come back together. I'm heading on vacation next month to reunite with my extended family by the beach too. Best place for a reunion.
Traveling with baby is always a challenge. We used to break out special new little toys and extra clothing for accidents on both baby and us. Your traveling light days are over for another decade, but kids are so much fun at the beach. Enjoy!
Sarah ~ I never actually think of myself as an artist. Just someone who likes to draw.
It will actually be the first time in quite some time that all 8 of us plus our parents are all together. The last we were supposed to all get together a snowstorm in Colorado had other plans for us (or my sister rather).
So I am looking forward to the chaos.
As for the travelling with baby. I appreciate your hints. It will be quite a long drive (7 hours) and I am hoping she will be a good little trooper. I can't wait to see her reaction to the ocean!
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