PART 4 – ‘HOW I WENT FROM HIGH HEELS & PEARLS…to camo!”

“Enjoying All the Outdoor Beauty & Calmness That God Created”

So, here's what I learned this past weekend, I learned what it's like to be out in the woods and look up and see branches intertwined with like a canopy of gorgeous leaves in every color green imaginable. I learned what it's like to just be outside, be still, no phone, no radio, just the sound of your footprints on branches and the ground and the sound of birds. I swang on an old rope swing in a tree even!

Oh, I'll admit freely I get totally spooked if something moves, whether it's a bird flopping out of some bramblebush, whether it's Doug sneezing and I wasn't expecting it, or just the weird sounds that trees make when the wind blows, and they rub against each other. 

I get very excited when way off in the distance of the 115-acre Forest land that I hear an airplane! Ahhh....I'm not stranded! I then say to Doug, “Oh man, it's civilization, I hear that." He smiles, being polite, then turns and does these faces thinking I can't see him.”

It's a whole different way of being, for me at least. I like noise, I like to talk, I like to be busy busy busy. To me, sometimes silence is almost deafening, this is totally different. I think a lot has to do with being out there watching Doug in his element and learning what makes him love the outdoors as much as he does. There's something about spending time with your partner away from distractions, learning from them, gaining an appreciation of their knowledge.

I could never figure out what the big thrill was for him. Big deal, you go out, you climb a tree, you sit in the tree like a monkey, yadda yadda yadda.  Heck, you see one tree, you seen them all.  So an animal runs by, we've all seen a deer when you drive down the road.

Well, this past weekend I walked to rear sliders and there was a deer... It was right there... It was nibbling apples off the ground that dropped from one of his apple trees in the backyard. Its legs were so tall and thin, I was stunned by how delicate and graceful it was. I can't believe their legs don't get broken more... they are like toothpicks.

I also learned what he means when he says be quiet, deer are spooked easily. I was in the house, and I whispered his name. He didn't hear me (was ignoring me), so I start making low clicking noise, he didn't hear me. I turned around and said his name louder and by the time he came into room to look, that deer in the backyard heard me in the house... looked up and started to run. I said, "it's a small doe!" He said, "It's the buck we saw on the cameras! Good job spotting it though!"

So many people have said "oh my gosh Deb, I cannot believe you're into hunting..."  Oh, let there be no mistake, I am not into hunting. I'm not a hunter, but what I do enjoy is learning about this craft, learning what it's like to pull back a bow, learning what it's like to enjoy Sunshine streaming through the trees warming my face - rather than what I've always enjoyed the sun for - just sitting on a beach slapping baby oil on.

Now with this all being said, you get what you came here for ... The Debbie faux pas and joking way I typically write:  When I know we are getting near one of the many game cameras in woods, I typically pose and wave as if the paparazzi is taking photos of me. Then I squeal with glee and we both crack up as that photo appears on the laptop.  Trying to time it perfect and flash a moon

Also, when we went to L.L. Cotes and I got to see Jamie & his crew ...very cool dudes...for my new 'outfit" (Gorilla women's harness) ... we walk down the aisle and I whispered over thinking I had to give him my size, up top, if you know what I mean, and he just laughed.  I didn't know what he's laughing at, until we get to the display and the guy says, " okay this is 50 to 120. Okay this is 110-215..."

 I'm thinking, "Wow, that's quite a range in prices!”. 

Come to find out, it's your weight. I had to give my weight! Typically, I shave off between 5 and 10 lb. when I'm telling someone my weight, but I actually had to be honest here because the harness is there to hold your weight. 

So yes, I still love my Gucci, my Chanel, electricity, impervious surfaces of big cities, the Cadillac, all things Vogue... But I really love this Nature stuff too... As long as he's standing right there with me with either a knife or a gun to get anything that's going to come attack me.

Not a hunter, but not a "hunting widow"!  Life