Outdoor spaces: The hollow

[doneat54]

I have found since I FIRE'ed, I enjoy even MORE, just being outside. In New England, you really appreciate the warm weather when you have it, but I hike daily, year round, as long as the snow isn't deep. Cold and ice doesn't keep me an the dogs from going out.

Our 3+ acre lot here backs up to a beaver dammed marsh, we are on a hill about 25 feet above it. As soon as the snow melted this spring, I started cutting a trail along the marsh edge down below and found a wonderful spot under some trees at the water's edge. I named it "the hollow". I bought a couple resin chairs, built another firepit and although it's walkable, I often ride my ATV down there (just because I can!). I made a table out of a 5 gallon bucket and it contains binoculars, bug spray, a flashlight, some tissues and some WD-40 to clean off the pine sap that you WILL get on you.

The marsh changes all year round. Lots of visible water in the early spring, but then it "greens in" pretty thickly once summer sets in. Tons of frogs, snakes, turtles and birds of all kinds including a couple huge blue herons that cruise the marsh up and down. Peepers in the spring, bullfrogs late summer. Fireflies... I could go on. A wonderful place to bring a cold beer late afternoon to just relax and watch an listen. A few years back saw a bald eagle eating a Canadian Goose! Saw him a couple weeks after that, but never again since. Winter, it is a frozen snow and ice field usually for months.



I never seemed to have much time to just sit and watch nature when I was w*orking. Always enjoyed it, but since FIRE, now even more.

Anyone else find special outdoor spaces and newfound connections with nature since FIRE??

 

[doneat54]

 

[doneat54]

Beaver den in the winter...

 

[MissMolly]

What a cool place! I would totally be down there with you every day! I love watching the birds and other wildlife.

 

[albireo13]

Very cool. I actually enjoy the outdoors in the winter. The quiet, the solitude, the beauty. No bugs!

 

[MRG]

Thanks for sharing. Great topic.

I've always loved the outdoors and send as much time as possible outside. This is a small local lake, I drive by daily. . It's beautiful in all seasons. The first photo was last week, the other from last winter. The last is behind our house on Sunday. There's a few million acres starting back there. We often sit on the edge of the canyon below our house and watch deer, bear, fox and other wildlife sneak below us. While I haven't seen any all the neighbors insist there's big kitty cats down there that will eat you.

 

[doneat54]

Oh, we get plenty of animals too. I have a wildlife camera that I move around our property every 3-4 weeks. Have capture some amazing stuff...

 

[walkinwood]

Cool thread!


I love being outdoors even though I live in a city. There are plenty of areas close by that are allowed to return to their "natural" condition.

 

[doneat54]

See the babies in the Turkey picture?

 

[MissMolly]

See the babies in the Turkey picture?

I had not noticed them! Thanks for pointing them out. So cute.

 

[mrWinter]

Cool spot, I love the wildlife photos.

I made a table out of a 5 gallon bucket and it contains binoculars, bug spray, a flashlight, some tissues and some WD-40 to clean off the pine sap that you WILL get on you.

I find hand sanitizer (alcohol) is also good at getting off pine sap and dries clean without leaving residue or smell like I imagine WD-40 does.

 

[pacergal]

OP--what a wonderful place to call your own! Love the pictures, so cool!!

 

[hesperus]

what a great spot you've carved out there. Thanks for sharing

 

[COcheesehead]

My wife and I put a high priority on being outdoors. We center our vacations around hiking, biking and photography. We've traveled all over the world, yet haven't explored all of what our home state offers. Our bad. That is top of the list when we FIRE. Explore, discover and breath.

 

[5j404]

We too enjoy spending our time observing the nature around us We have 3 acres on a river. I love your idea of A 5 gallon bucket table, it sounds perfect, because those are the things you sometimes need. ( I always seem spot something I want to see closer up when I didnt bring my binoculars with me. Can you tell me anything more about your wildlife camera and how you place and use it?

 

[doneat54]

Cool spot, I love the wildlife photos.



I find hand sanitizer (alcohol) is also good at getting off pine sap and dries clean without leaving residue or smell like I imagine WD-40 does.

Brilliant, good to know!!!

 

[doneat54]

We too enjoy spending our time observing the nature around us We have 3 acres on a river. I love your idea of A 5 gallon bucket table, it sounds perfect, because those are the things you sometimes need. ( I always seem spot something I want to see closer up when I didnt bring my binoculars with me. Can you tell me anything more about your wildlife camera and how you place and use it?

The bucket table is made by screwing a 12x12" piece of PVC trim board to the top of a 5 gallon bucket. It has a rubber seal underneath and does a great job of keeping stuff inside dry and bug free. Table top supports craft beers and wines very well.



The camera is a Browning wildlife camera. They make a bunch of different kinds. This one is not the best/most expensive. It motion detects day or night, and shoots 8 pictures, one second apart when triggered. You can see day/time and temperature stamps in the pics. I think it was like $70. Bought it when we started hearing coyotes REALLY close. Uses an SD card and six AA batteries which last a LONG time. They have better ones that capture video, and sound. It uses a strap that allows you to strap it to a tree really easily. Lots of fun...

 

[Scuba]

Oh, we get plenty of animals too. I have a wildlife camera that I move around our property every 3-4 weeks. Have capture some amazing stuff...

Wow - amazing photos!

 

[walkinwood]

My wife and I put a high priority on being outdoors. We center our vacations around hiking, biking and photography. We've traveled all over the world, yet haven't explored all of what our home state offers. Our bad. That is top of the list when we FIRE. Explore, discover and breath.

Seven years in, I've come to realize that it is a lifetime's effort to see all that our state offers. Also, the same places change appearance drastically with the seasons.

 

[COcheesehead]

Seven years in, I've come to realize that it is a lifetime's effort to see all that our state offers. Also, the same places change appearance drastically with the seasons.

Well said.

 

[Pellice]

Seven years in, I've come to realize that it is a lifetime's effort to see all that our state offers. Also, the same places change appearance drastically with the seasons.

And do not forget "State Game Areas" or "State Conservation Areas" - these are state preserves primarily for hunting (you don't want to be in them during deer season), but outside of hunting season, they are wonderfully quiet and solitary.

Love "the Hollow." If you are inclined (and would not see it as a chore or burden), there are many things you can do with such a place. Take out invasive plants and replace with natives. Take a tree inventory. Join the Habitat Network (https://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/urgentissues/nature-in-cities/the-habitat-network.xml). I hope to be doing this soon.

 

[MRG]

Seven years in, I've come to realize that it is a lifetime's effort to see all that our state offers. Also, the same places change appearance drastically with the seasons.

Or with the weather. I see the continental divide several times a day, its almost always doing something different up there. Today's treat looked a lot like this photo, great shot.

I've never lived anyplace where you could see alpenglow before. It's an awesome treat to me. There's a few places I want to check out around dusk and dawn.