Katie and I camped out last night. In the backyard. I know, I know, only a crazy woman and her crazy dog would choose to sleep in the damp and cold only yards from a comfy king sized bed. Right?
Well call us crazy.
The moon was full and beckoned us out into the dark around 11:30. We trooped through the already dewy wet grass carrying all the essentials, pillows, blankets, flashlight, phone, Katie tugging at the leash. It was her first backyard camping adventure of the season and she knew exactly where she wanted to be.
On her pillow in her tent guarding her yard.
I have a romantic notion about sleeping in the backyard; I like to listen to the frogs in the pond across the road. There are at least a couple of different kinds including the bull frogs’ deep voices and I love to hear them in the evening from the deck. Falling asleep to the frog choir always seems like such a lovely idea.
The reality, however, is that I am constantly surprised how loud the freeway is at night. It’s a mile away but across a lake from us and I guess that magnifies the sound. Because what I don’t notice much during the day is suddenly a deafening roar in the middle of the night. Still, how many loud cars and trucks and motorcycles would be roaring down the freeway at 3 in the morning?
Turns out quite a few.
So many in fact that I really couldn’t hear the frogs at all. Katie-girl and I are going to have to go on another camping adventure in a real campground very soon. Hopefully far away from a freeway. Before she settled in for her morning nap today she urged me to start planning. A girl needs her outdoor time.
Don’t you know.
July 3, 2015 at 8:05 am
quite the adventure! 😀
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July 3, 2015 at 4:20 pm
Everything is an adventure when Katie is involved!
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July 3, 2015 at 9:48 am
you want to hear frogs – come visit us – the frogs are deafening !
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July 3, 2015 at 4:20 pm
I’m thinking about when and how to do that Reilly. She’s not good in the heat so I’m thinking early fall?
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July 3, 2015 at 11:00 am
How cool to have an adventure right in your yard
Lily & Edward
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July 3, 2015 at 4:21 pm
We are lucky, you are right!
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July 3, 2015 at 11:17 am
Do you think the frogs were taking the night off?
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July 3, 2015 at 4:21 pm
I don’t think so. In brief moments of highway quiet I could hear them. The freeway seemed extra loud last night.
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July 3, 2015 at 11:41 am
I suspect the pull to be outside of confining walls is very strong for Katie’s mama too.
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July 3, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Definitely. I always sleep better outside.
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July 3, 2015 at 11:45 am
You just gave me the idea of camping at my front yard; backyard is too small for any camp. 🙂
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July 3, 2015 at 4:22 pm
For sure Eva! We can’t wait to hear all about it!
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July 3, 2015 at 11:45 am
Admire your bravery, Dawn! Dallas, I’m sure, would never settle down to sleep in the backyard, and I’d be afraid of the snakes and bats, ha!
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July 3, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Inside a tent you’re probably not at risk for snakes and bats, or anything else for that matter, but noises at night do sound a LOT louder and sometimes if you think too much it’s freaky!
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July 3, 2015 at 12:47 pm
I loved sleeping under the stars in the backyard when I was a kid. I wouldn’t do it here, now because of mosquitos and the possibility of skunk aroma. Sometimes we have to close our window at night when skunk smell comes a-wafting.
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July 3, 2015 at 4:25 pm
We leap into the tent and zip the door back up fast to avoid letting any mosquitoes in. And so far no skunk encounters, though that would be bad…I have a story about a skunk at a campground many many years ago…I’ll have to tell that story some day.
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July 3, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Where have all the froggies gone
long time passing?
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July 3, 2015 at 4:26 pm
I think they were laughing at us.
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July 3, 2015 at 4:18 pm
I love that moon shot. I can’t remember the last time I went camping. It’s been ages. Perhaps when the weather cools off it will be time to think about a camping trip. I love listening to frogs, too. Water does tend to carry sounds really well, even freeway roars.
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July 3, 2015 at 4:27 pm
If you have something comfortable to sleep on and a tent to keep the damp off you’ll be all set! You don’t even have to go far. Just further away from the freeway than I was!
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July 3, 2015 at 5:25 pm
You are seriously making the most of your retirement. In fact, you haven’t truly retired , you’ve changed lanes. Kudos to you for working hard at enjoying life.
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July 4, 2015 at 8:10 am
If retirement could all be camping and traveling it would be perfect!
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