We, the children and myself, have spent the past couple of days cavorting around a lot of rocks. This is the second vacation this summer where rocks have taken on the lead role. I had momentarily forgotten about this until #2 started comparing everything that we have seen on this trip to Natural Bridge in Virginia. This Stone Age theme was completely unplanned by me yet there it is. It makes me remember past musings about thematic elements in novels and whether an author fully intended for them to play out through the book or if they just wormed their way in there. Seems like rocks have wormed their way into the depths of my brain!

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore destination has been a long time dream of mine…ok, probably six years of dreaming. I can justifiably say that it measures up to my expectations. It’s rocky, colorful and breathtaking. The added bonus is that the kids found it just as spectacular and seriously enjoyed Mother Nature’s creation.

When I am out and about in nature, I often forget to pause and acknowledge the beauty and awareness of the natural setting that I am immersing myself in at that moment. Yesterday as we drifted along the rocky coastline of Pictured Rocks, I had to remind myself ever so often to stop gazing at the rocks and take some pictures. That is the type of predicament I prefer to be in - the nature appreciation zone! I hope to continue to fall down that hole as the summer marches forward and takes us on further adventures to admire all that I happen to find myself surrounded by.

And so, as the days rock on by I find myself relishing rocky shorelines, mineral seepage on rock faces, peregrine falcons perched high on cliff walls, lone white pine trees perched on top of rocks, idyllic summer voices reverberating in stony coves (i.e. #2 yelling as loud as she can so she can hear her echo…my ears can only take so much), playing kayak limbo through rocky arches, collecting Superior worry stones, arguments about which gray rock belongs to whom (I’m grateful they have the ability to distinguish between varying shades of gray and can exercise their opinions freely, not the actual arguing per se), Rocky Road ice cream (or in this trip’s case…Michigan Pot Hole ice cream), and dusty gravel roads that lead to magnificent beaches!