I have always loved the outdoors.  The freedom of being in the fresh air, in the wide open spaces where no walls 'pen' you is a feeling like no other.  To stand under a night sky watching for falling stars or the aurora dancing across the sky is my kind of reality entertainment.  I could be outside 24/7 in any kind of weather.  I have the clothing for every season or weather condition. 

Growing up on the farm I remember being in the bush a lot.  I recall playing 'stump jump' in the spring when the slough was full of water.  Once in awhile I would miss the stump that I has jumping to and fill my rubber boots, if I had them on.  Most times I was barefoot.  I recall building rafts that I hoped would float down the creek that was flowing with spring run off.  Then there was the time that I wanted to sleep under the stars.  I just wanted to lay there and look up to the heavens and wonder if anyone else was out there.  Mom kept reminding me of the skunk that wandered around the bush where I wanted to bed down.  I could be one of those people that lives in a cabin, off the grid, in the middle of no-where.  Maybe I'll put that on my bucket list.  I better get one started since this is the second thing that I have thought of in a couple of days.

During Christmas break, I had sleepover visitors.  My grand-daughters were with me for a few days.  They live in an urban area but when they come to Gramma's house, they are nature lovers just like me.

There is a bird feeder on my deck.  They can name all the birds that come to the feeder.  The deer make appearances in my backyard.  "Gramma, the deers are coming in the trees."  When they see this, they scoot to the window seat in my room to watch.  We were outside and the black capped chickadees were flying from the willow tree to the tray feeder.  I called out 'chick a dee dee dee' and the elder of the two girls answered 'cheesburger'.

During summer sleepover visits we go to the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  There is a spruce bog there with benches to sit on under the towering trees.  The girls watch the squirrels run up and down the trunks.  They listen to bird calls and try to recognize them.  They take their magnifying glasses and view the different mosses covering the ground alongside the boardwalk. On the last visit in October, we took paper and crayons and were doing leaf and bark rubbings.

Last week when the girls were here, we spent 3-4 hours outside each day.  The Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area is only 4km from my house with lots of opportunity for outdoor play.  We packed up the ice skates, x-country skis and the sleds.  The ice rink is well maintained with very few users.  The trails are groomed and track set.  The little hill that we found was the perfect for sledding.  There was lots of giggling, laughing and some very rosy cheeks.  Needless to say, they slept really well as did I.

There is a cook house beside the rink with a wood stove inside.  We brought wood and lit a fire so we could warm up and have snacks.  Both the girls can talk me through step by step on what should be done to light a campfire.

The weather was perfect for us to be outside.  Each morning they asked if we were going skating.  They both have an appreciation for nature.  I wonder if one or both of them will be packing their pillow and blanket under their arm to find a spot in their backyard to watch the stars.