What we don’t know, we won’t protect
By Hege Jakobsen Lepri 
Probably the best moment I had this summer happened right in front of my house, rather an unexpected place for a rush of endorphins. My 17-year-old, who was so exhausted from last school year that she spent 3 days in her pyjamas, doing nothing but sleeping and watching bad television,finally got sick of my nagging and went out for a walk. When I went out to the front yard an hour later, I found her on the front steps, looking intently at a snail that was working its way across a leaf. She turned around with eyes that finally had got their sparkle back, saying isn't it wonderful, isn't it beautiful to see how it moves with its house on its back!? The reverence and awe in her reassured me that everything isn't lost, that her connection to nature is still stronger that her addiction to 'Say Yes to the Dress". My "mommy super-ego" was placated: Fortunately a little screen time won't completely undo the values exchanged in 17 years of growing and developing together.
Wedding cake with nature’s ingredients
My sister and her man went away to St. Petersburg, Russia to get married a few weeks ago and then had their wedding reception for friends and family by the sea in Norway. Both her bachelorette party and her wedding reception reminded me that our family must be very into to being outside. My sister’s bachelorette party was seaside at her friend’s cottage with al fresco dining and swimming in the ocean. And her wedding party had a similar theme.
Science Backyard Playgroup
Jessica, in the Minnesota outdoor playgroup, shows us how to do science in your backyard. It looks so fun and I'm so greatful that she is sharing. I know I can't wait to get back to Toronto and try it out in our outdoor playgroup. Read how you can make Volcanos, sun prints and melting ice in your backyard.
Picking wild blueberries
There is nothing wrong with cultivated blueberries, but nothing beats the taste and color of blueberries picked wild in the bush. Living in colder climates has some benefits; we get to pick wild blueberries.
I still remember the days my parents took me blueberry picking as a child. Now I have come full circle and bring my children to Norway to the same low bush blueberries that I picked as a child. Just the other day on our vacation I was inspecting my 11-month-old daughter’s shirts as I half cringed, half celebrated the blueberry stains she made as she sat in the bush and picked berries and greedily stuffed them in her mouth.
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