It's time to get off the couch, leave the computer behind, turn off the cell phone, and go for a walk. At this time of year the hills are alive with the sounds of life. Not just the hills, but also the trees, the fields, and the streams.
I was out walking the other evening and was amazed at all the sounds I heard as the day was winding down and darkness was setting in. The sights you'll encounter on those walks are also great. You can't capture a sunset or the clouds and just watch it on a nature program on TV. You need to experience it, live and in full color, with all the sounds of nature surrounding you.
The recent rains have nurtured the grass, trees, flowers, and yes, even the weeds, and made them come alive in volume and in color. The wildflowers are also growing in fields and ditches along the back roads. If you're not able to walk, at least jump in the car and take a drive along those back roads and enjoy the scenery. While you're at it, roll the windows down and listen to the sounds around you. When I'm out driving, I see most cars with their windows rolled up tight. I imagine the radio blasting and their air conditioner is in use. That is, when and if, it ever warms up enough to use it. Temperatures as I write this, are still very cool for the second week in June, and a jacket is often needed. Gardens have even been nipped by frost in the evenings, but that's another story.
I have another suggestion too. If you have children or grandchildren, take them with you. Make sure they leave their cell phones behind. You don't want them texting or making and receiving calls when they should be concentrating on, and learning to enjoy nature. I think it's the responsibility of every parent and grandparent to instill a love of the natural world around them in the children.
It will be Father's Day the weekend after this is published. I know children are supposed to give their father a gift on this day, but lets turn the tables on who's doing the giving. As a father, one of the best things you could give them, is to instill an appreciation for nature and everything associated with it... those sights, sounds, and smells. Take some time to go on a walk with them, examine some wild flowers, listen to the birds singing, watch how the wind blows through the tall grass, listen to the sound it makes, hear how the wind gently rustles the leaves of the trees, and watch butterflies darting among the wild flowers.
If you have a creek nearby, take a walk along it. If you like to fish, take a fishing pole along and find a nice spot to sit. Attach a red and white bobber to your line, a Night Crawler to your hook, and toss it in the water. Now sit back, relax, and listen to the water as it flows over the rocks. It's a gentle, soothing sound. If a fish comes along and takes the bobber under, set the hook and have some fun. Even if you don't catch anything, you're going to have a wonderful outing. If you take you child or grandchild along, it's an experience they'll remember for a long time. What a wonderful gift.
If it's late in the day, stop and observe how the sounds and colors change. See how the shades og green all merge together and become one mass instead of individual trees as the light fades. As darkness takes over, the wind dies down and leaves become quiet. The tall grass no longer sways in the breeze like waves on an ocean. The busy day, full of sounds, is winding down and the sounds of the night take over. You might hear Killdeer still calling to each other before settling down for the night. If there are still cows where you live, you might hear them mooing softly to their calf in the distance. The crickets come alive with the evening. I could sit and listen to their symphony of music for a long time.
If there are fireflies around you, join the kids as they try to capture them in a jar. No kid, young or old, should go through life without chasing fireflies at least once. That goes for butterflies too.
This is June. Whatever happened to June Bugs? We used to have thousands of those big bugs swarming around our yard light on early summer nights. I haven't seen one for years, but they were a part of my life every summer when I was young.
Those are the type of experiences you remember; the simple pleasures of enjoying the natural world around you. You can't experience those things by sitting on the couch watching TV or playing on your computer. It's time to get up, grab the kids, and go outside for a while. This Father's Day, make it a priority. While you're at it, you might even build a bonfire in a firepit. After all, it's also Midsummer's Eve, when the Norse tradition is to celebrate the longest day of the year with a big bonfire. Enjoy it.
Yes, the hills are alive with the sounds of life, and all the sights and smells that accompany it. Don't miss it!
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