Last night, I heard a beautiful bird in the tree, but could not find it. Stood there for 5 minutes trying to locate it. Got me to thinking...
I know I was born with the love of outdoors and animals. But thinking back to my childhood, there were many things to help make it a lifelong joy:
1. my grandmom taught us the different bird songs from her backyard (where she had beautiful gardens)
2. my granddad would never kill any animal (he carried spiders outside instead of killing them inside the house)
3. my parents took me camping from the time I was 6 months old
4. we often had family friends who were involved in wildlife preservation
5. the city recreation center would bring in wildlife experts for city kids to see snakes and other critters
Just good memories. What are yours?
Livin Lite Quicksilver 8.0 (Folding Tent Camper) only 900 lbs!
Every trip away from home involved camping: boyscouts, girl scouts, church camp, family tent camping trips,sleep overs were done in a tent in the back yard. When you are raised to respect nature and enjoy camping, it's hard to stop!
We enjoy introducing our cityslicker friends/co-workers to camping, float trips and cooking on a campfire. Actually just took 2 28 yr olds and it is really hard to imagine that they have rarely been out of St. Louis city, never camped, never cooked on fire, never foated on a river, and were scared to not have cellphone reception. Before the trip, she kept asking "what are we going to do all day?" She had never had quiet.....
Soo, we made some great memories for them and taught the ever important activities of a camping trip: Cook,drink, eat, start planning and cooking your next meal, drink, cook, eat,repeat!
2006 Chevy 1500 Z71 crewcab
2004 Jayco Jay Feather 23D
I think I was just born with a love for animals and the outdoors, as my mom was not an animal lover and I really never grew up having a dog or cat, just a parakeet. We never camped when I was young, but yet I love it...it is just a part of me which I can't explain. I wake up as soon as I hear the birds chirping outside, its still dark, make my morning coffee and go outside to watch the forest come alive. It is the best part of camping for me.
JJ & Sandie
Li'l Jack and Pickles, chihuahuas...Chewy, poodle 6/15/95-7/4/08 We will always love you Chooch.
2003 Chevy 2500HD,LT,CC,SB,4x4,Duramax/Allison
2007 Starcraft Homestead 262RKS
I was born into a family of animal lovers. We always had dogs but never a cat...I surely made up for that as an adult.
I grew up on a lake called Lake George in an area called Duhnams bay, you go under a bridge and it was Duhnams Bay Creek where there was an abundance of turtles, snakes, frogs, birds, it was just a wonder and so educational.
But it was here and with the influence of our family enviroment that I had a great appreciation and love for all animals, mammals....but not spiders, their lives are in great peril if they enter my space.
I do a lot of what you described Dee. I love to watch birds and have a Birds of Oklahoma guide so I can look up the variety of species we see in our area. Matter of fact we recently enjoyed watching the nest of barn swallows grow up that were on our patio light. They were fascinating!
As a child we weren't allowed to have dogs (my father didn't like them) but we had cats. I had a gerbil for a few years but other than that we had cats. As soon as I moved away from my parent's home I adopted a dog and so it goes.
I doctored the barn cats at my aunt & uncle's ranch, I rode horses and tended cattle & pigs there as well. They had a few dogs and I loved running around their many acres with those dogs.
While the adults in my life growing up had very different viewpoints on pets, birds, and other critters I aquired a lifelong love of them all.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
I think mine came from being on a farm. We had dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, cows, chickens, geese - and who knows what else. They were all working animals, but as kids we played with them all.
Julie
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A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~ Lao Tzu
Hiker3 wrote: Last night, I heard a beautiful bird in the tree, but could not find it. Stood there for 5 minutes trying to locate it. Got me to thinking...
I know I was born with the love of outdoors and animals. But thinking back to my childhood, there were many things to help make it a lifelong joy:
1. my grandmom taught us the different bird songs from her backyard (where she had beautiful gardens)
2. my granddad would never kill any animal (he carried spiders outside instead of killing them inside the house)
3. my parents took me camping from the time I was 6 months old
4. we often had family friends who were involved in wildlife preservation
5. the city recreation center would bring in wildlife experts for city kids to see snakes and other critters
Just good memories. What are yours?
IMHO I think this IS what is 'missing' in the lives of todays children.
My parents allowed me to have any sick or injured animal I found in my bedroom to recoperate, frogs, snakes, wild rabbits, birds. I beleive this is how 'I' got tuned into nature as a youngster.
I am fasinated with the raptors, driving my MH I always manage to catch out of the corner of my eye a raptor riding the thermals and it never fails to amaze me of their majestic beauty. I feel sorry for people who don't ever take in 'all' that is around us that brings peaceful pleasure just observing it.
I do wonder how many people just live their lives without really enjoying all what nature provides us? The phrase "take time to smell the roses" has more meaning than just one.
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 BlueOx Aventa LX We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Personally, the more time I spend outdoors, the more relaxed and happy I am. It is an interesting topic -- and it seems that being outdoors with nature must be one the "best medicines" ever created. It is hard to stay upset over "problems" when you have raptors and other wildlife to observe.
They say that is why humans like cats and dogs as pets -- it brings a little bit of Nature into our families and homes where we may enjoy it 24/7.
Childhood memories: I'd take my dad a handful of little fluffy creature of some sort. He'd say, "No, absolutely, you cannot keep it!" followed a few minutes later with, "Well, he is a cute little feller, isn't he?" Next thing I knew, he'd be building a cage.....
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
co-pilots, Rosie & Poquita
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