I Double Dog Dare You
I could double dog dare you to go outside and take a long drink from your garden hose. But likely someone, somewhere, would contract a bacterial infection that a savvy lawyer would trace back to the hose. On further sleuthing, they'd discover the idea came from yours truly. Everyone would want in on the millions you make being an indie author. I'd be broke, and they'd be laughing all the way to the bank
Fast-forward to reality: I’m already broke from this venture, and everybody is safely drinking filtered water. Stand down, sharks.
A Gentle Prod
I'm simply here to offer a gentle prod, a slight nudge, and a mere suggestion.
Summer is leaving soon!
Panic - Mayhem - Pandemonium
Get out while you still can!
Okay. Wait, wait. False alarm.
Now that I’ve got your attention, you can take your hand off the panic button.
Summer isn’t gone tomorrow, but it is leaving soon. We have one solid month remaining in the Northern Hemisphere of predictably hot and sunny weather, enabling us to explore the outdoors without hindrance, with no bulky jackets or clunky boots to worry about or slow us down. Now seems to be the right time to share with you how you don’t need to go extravagant or far to experience all the sunny season has to offer.
Build a fire
Who among us can resist the dance of the flame on a hot night under a starry sky? Pull up a chair - close, but not too close - cook a hotdog, roast some s’mores, and prepare to be mesmerized.
Take a walk at home
Who says the only interesting fauna is in the woods or under the sea? Keep a watchful eye on flowers, shrubs, and tree branches in your backyard and see who lives there.
Listen Close
You never know what’s being said if you don’t lend an ear. In this video, my chicken learns the lament of the rooster. (She is undeniably a chicken. I have the daily freshly laid egg to prove it.) Since perfecting the crow, she calls to her unreachable lover each morning and waits for his lusty serenade.
Explore
The beach is so much more than water and sand. Plan your arrival around low tide and witness turf wars you’ve never seen before.
The hills are alive
I watched this bear while vacationing in New Hampshire. I thought, “That’s a good-sized bear,” until Momma lumbered onscreen. Now that’s a bear! My next thought? “Capable.” This is a species with the brains and brawn to earn its place on the top of the food chain. Watching the baby explore, and the mom eating clovers like popcorn was an unexpectedly pleasant way to spend the evening safely tucked behind the walls of the rental cabin.
Top of the world
I’ll likely never write about the outdoors without mentioning hiking. It’s hard work, and you might spend much of your time asking, “Why the heck am I doing this?” But when the view takes your breath away, questions cease, and knowing invades.
I hope you enjoyed my little slide show. Now get on out there and seize the rest of summer before the chill of autumn morphs into the rush of the holiday season.