Discover the Wild in the Wilderness

The days prior to Memorial Weekend typically are marked by excitement and anticipation. The holiday brings warmth, family, friends, and activities to our home in the woods. Since we will be sleeping in our cabin, we park our RV under a pine for anyone needing a bed. Prior to the arrival of the RV's, we spend the days planning who will contribute what food, where everyone will sleep or if we need to pitch a tent, while knowing all the plans may quickly change depending upon whether conditions, children’s behaviors, or a simple shift in our mood.

Since it is the first three-day weekend of the summer, friends drain the antifreeze from their camp trailers, charge the batteries and top off the propane bottles. Like a bear coming out after a long winter’s nap, people emerge to explore and congregate on our patch of land among the pine trees.

Knowing the visitors would soon arrive and transform our quiet sanctuary into a booming playground, Dagney and I enjoyed a walk around the lake. Late in the afternoon, we walked alone. Seemingly, minimal activity occurred in our paradise until I started observing and realized we were not by ourselves.

At first, I noticed the bugs flirting around my head, but I stopped noticing their annoying performances when I became captivated by the other activities that assaulted my senses. I expected quiet with an occasional ATV riding past. Instead the birds serenated my stroll. Each bird - sparrow, warbler, wren, ducks, blackbird - sang a different part of the song. Each harmonized and enriched the melody. Pausing often to snap a photo or simply watch their movements, I eventually noticed their purposeful engagement until Dagney interrupted the conversations by chasing a cluster of sparrows.

I watched a hawk circle overhead and shortened the leash in case he was hunting for food. Dagney would be a perfect afternoon snack. One mile into our walk, Dagney found water and instead of taking a drink like a lady, she jumped into the stream like a child. I giggled as the shallow water covered her legs and wetted her belly; it’s depth no more than 5 inches. Her splashing scattered the water bugs in multiple directions while several red-winged blackbirds flew away in fright from the sudden, unexpected movements.

Two cranes stood off at a distance in a marshy field. I had to stop and stare a moment at their silhouettes to distinguish them from the reeds and tree snags around them. If they hadn’t moved and captured Dagney’s attention causing her to bark, I may not have noticed them at all. Their presence did not go unnoticed by the fox that lay in the brush. Knowing such large bird would probably not fall prey to his appetite, we watched for awhile before moving on.

I found an ant hill mesmerizing enough to make us stop and attentively watch for several moments, careful to not allow Dagney too close. Each small black, insect seemed to have a critical part of the activity. Though their objective remained a mystery to me, the job descriptions seemed clearly defined to them. They climbed over each other, walked side by side, and worked in unison. I thought about how disorganized they looked but how systematically they performed.

When I walked beside the lake, Dagney again jumped into the water when she spotted the ducks. One took off in flight while another glided across the water like a motorboat at top speed. Dags barked twice but lost interest upon discovering the stick that begged to be caught, chewed and abandoned when another drifted past.

On our final stretch of the road, a deer stood under some trees in the corner of our yard, then sprinted across the road when we approached. I guessed she was returning from the lake as that was common in the evening. I waited until her white tail disappeared knowing Dagney would chase her if given the opportunity; then I bent down to unhook her leash so she could run up the driveway. She paused at the woodpile where the chipmunks hide but continued to the deck when none emerged.

Anticipating the comfort of a padded chair to relax, I approached the deck as a hummingbird flew to the feeder.

It circled my head before darting off. A chipmunk scurried across the desk and paused momentarily to pose. I snapped a picture before Dagney could discover the creature invading her turf and then watched as the game of hide-and-seek began.

Whether we are wondering new environments in our RV or living at our wooded sanctuary, nature provides surprises to be enjoyed when we take time to appreciate them. Dagney and I have learned during long walks and quiet moments on the deck we are never alone.

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