return home

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a
claim upon men's hearts,
as for that subtle something, that quality of air,
that emanation from old trees,
that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."

Robert Louis Stevenson 

But, first, our forest babies:

 

 

 
 

I was a forest baby.  Cyn could doubtless dig up dozens of similar photos from my own "little" days.  Same grubby hands and vibrant imaginations...with a few differences of time and comfort.  Our toy hauler was a tent.  Our quad was an Uncle Greg motorcycle ride.  Our Arctic Cat, a horse named Sailor.   Nostalgia swells...in fact, it did for me all weekend.  A huge part of my childhood is wrapped up in this very forest, in these very memories. 

I come from people who love nature.  Hiking, fishing, roughing it.  But I also come with coward lungs and comfort love.  So, many of my outdoor memories end in asthma attacks and hospital visits.  "Hiking in" to the perfect fishing spot meant lying down by the lake in recover mode as everyone else danced about enjoying.  As I got older, I often opted to just stay home instead.  Now, as my own littles have hatched into my world, I long for them to meet the outdoors more fully.  But, while asthma attacks have waned, comfort love has waxed and waxed and waxed.

Thus, the camping has been infrequent.  Until now (I hope).  Last August - with double vision - we bought a toy hauler.  Jim saw sand.  I saw trees.  So we wintered with love for once a month dune trips.  And now spring has arrived and I'm hoping for love of higher altitudes, greener vistas, dirtier hands...all in the comfort of a place where I can plug in a breathing machine when necessary...oh, and a VitaMix, of course.

On Sunday I returned home to my own bed...changed, renewed, semi-clean... and grateful for the Friday homecoming of another sort.

Comments

[Megan]

That is MY forest, and I can't wait to drive through it in another month!
Glad to hear you all had a good time, looks like so much fun!!

[Barb]

I love camping with my family. No distractions, beautiful nature. You're giving me the camping itch!

[Amberly]

Ah, to escape the desert and breathe in the fresh, forest air... sounds rejuvinating! Your littles look wonderfully comfortable in your forest!

[Shanon]

I am jealous!! Please can I invite myself next time you guys go! I love the mountains!!! Looks like you had tons of fun!

[crystalyn]

amy you make me want to pack up and go camping tonight! love pic#2! so sweet. glad it was a good weekend for you.

[Jordan]

Here's to defying the "coward lungs" for the sake of the forest babies, your own. A poetic weekend, at least how you've shown it to me!

[Mandi]

Thanks for the fun weekend! It was great and we want to do it again -- with anyone and everyone who wants to come - the more the merrier, right? Besides, we need more WOMEN because the MEN just didn't like playing Shang-hi! That was hell, playing it with Jim and Nate complaining the WHOLE game! I will say, however, that I enjoyed Jim's game, whatever it was called. Fun times.

[Kelly]

I still worry about your coward lungs. I'm glad they are giving you somewhat of a respite, and I'm also glad there is a breathing machine nearby. We can't have you bucking ponies off your body while camping. :)

Oh, the tales I could tell of your lungs.

The forest looks quite serene and like a welcome break from the every day. I really loved your quote at the beginning. Love love loved it!

[Sheri]

Looks like fun. Where did you guys go? We will have to plan a weekend to go together. We love camping too.