Happy Earth Day! Sure we celebrate this in Buby Land. Not in the cutesy tree ornament sense (as with other holidays), but we take the time to appreciate the earth today and every day. As a fam who spends lots of hours in open air (hiking, fishing, biking, strolling, eating, gardening, swimming, park hopping, camping, perusing farmers' markets, and following the festival circuit), I'd like to start some of our own Earth Day traditions so that our Buby has an even broader understanding and respect for nature's bounty as he grows.
I believe you're either a Land Person or a Water Person. I'm a Land Person. Not that I haven't blissfully swam in the ocean, braved the river wild on a raft, and fly fished in a rolling stream. Wave pools have their moments, too. But trees really are my thing. And luckily, Tom is with me on this. We'd sooner retire to the Rocky Mountains than to Florida. (Oh, I just made myself cringe.)
7 Ways To Love Trees
in Buby Land:
We stop to take in their heady aroma. This is a tree-lined street in our village, one we walk down several times a week. There are dozens of these blossoming beauties to admire. When the flowers fall, it is sad. And romantic. Buby and I stand in awe of the delicate pink ground cover. Our photo: spring '06.
We get married in a garden with hundreds of wise trees looking on. It was cold and rainy that late May day, and everyone said we were crazy for not moving it inside. My dress and satin shoes were torn and covered in mud. It was perfect!! Our photo: spring '00.
We fish often and in the most serene places. Here, Tom fished while Buby & I lunched on a blanket and collected rocks (a passion we share) on the shore. The hike in was about 45 minutes, and it was beyond sweltering. But worth it. Look at these trees! I still remember the drive home in our Jeep Wrangler. The top was off. The breezy air put Buby to sleep instantly... and gave him a mohawk. Our photo: summer '06.
We see real potential in a scrawny fake tree and invite it into our lives. This is Buby's potted tree to redecorate every month to whatever holiday beckons. I said I'd NEVER buy fake, but this is an exceptional exception. It is lit with white twinkle lights and inevitably covered in snowmen, lucky charms, Easter eggs, flags, birthday wishes, pumpkins, or turkeys. Our photo: spring '07.
We buy antique paintings of trees. This is one of two works leaning on our fireplace mantel right now. Both from a local antique shop. Oil-on-canvas framed in vintage gray-stained pine. It really inspires me, reminds me a little of laying in the hammock on my father-in-law's farm upstate. And the fact that I know nothing about its history--or where and with whom it last lived-- just adds to its appeal. Our photo: spring '06.
We happily climb trees even in unpleasant times. To say this trip was an experience would not do it justice. Camping on a private island on Saranac Lake, just Tom and me and droves of hungry, noisy night animals. An hour canoe ride to civilization, and barely any supplies. No bathrooms. Stomach troubles. Nasty rain storm. Freezing nights. Tent (with us in it) nearly blowing off the edge of a cliff. You get the picture. We had the best time. Seriously, and the trees around the whole lake were magnificent. But need I say, Tom hasn't planned a vacation since. Our photo: summer '04.
We sing "Under a Shady Tree" by Laurie Berkner in the car, super loud, over and over again. It's Buby's favorite song on Berkner's CD by the same name (probably in our top five CDs). Thanks to our friend Allison, Grace's mama, for introducing us to this hippie songstress and letting us copy her CD. Under a shady tree, just you and me... Buby.
Earth Day photo: google images
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