Friday, April 27, 2012

The Beauty Of Trees

Gimmick:  A unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries.  However, the special feature is typically thought to be OF LITTLE VALUE OR USE.

Join us aloft for a tranquil night in the canopy as you lay in your "tree-boat," viewing stars glimmering like diamonds in the sky. A treetop bivouac camp will be established in our secluded climbing tree for an overnight experience. Participants should bring dinner, breakfast and a sleeping bag. Register in advance. $125 plus $5 parking.

Richard and I went on a hike on the Rockdale River Trail this week.  (I did a post about it before on Feb. 24th.)
There is a magnificent old oak tree that we saw there that had a ring of Port-a-Potties all around it.  We thought this was odd, but now we know, it is the tree that they use for the "Zzz's in the Trees" program. (See the description above from the Panola Park website.)  http://gastateparks.org/info/panolamt/
 You are expected to sleep in a hammock and "wake up with the birds and see the sun rise majestically through the leaves".  I'm sorry, isn't that a lot like camping?

We had a woman come up to us and inform us about this tree and when I told her that I had seen it on TV and thought that the idea of sleeping in a hammock in a tree was a bit "gimmicky", the woman was very put out.  When I took the trouble to look up the definition of "gimmick", I see that I said exactly what I meant.  Perhaps, "gimmicky" isn't a word, but it should be.





With beauty like this, do we really need a gimmick?


I must tell you about a wonderful GIVEAWAY! Meike's Mum has written a guest post and she will have some of her lovely handmade knitted socks as a giveaway!  Go to that link above (it will take you straight to her blog, it is the post for April 27th.) and see if you don't agree that Meike's Mum needs to sell her socks on Etsy, they need to be enjoyed by the world! They are so beautiful!
UPDATE: I won these socks!!! Also, if you go to Meike's blog, there should be a link to the Etsy shop where her Mum now offers her handknitted socks for sale.  I can tell you that they are beautiful and oh so comfortable!!

24 comments:

  1. Beautiful beautiful, Kay. I'm embarassed to admit at first I thought you were saying you and Richard did this and I was dying to heat about it :-)

    I'd be afraid to toss and turn :-)

    But now I want leaves and birds all around my pillow
    Love love
    kj

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    1. If you could see it...the tree with the little toilets all around it, the rope leading up to the tree...it is as if aliens have landed here and we are trying to explain a tree to them.
      Perhaps this is a way to get people to "get into" nature by making them spend money on it. Many people think that unless you throw dollars at something, it isn't worth anything. Maybe they think if they get those folks in the park, they will fall in love with it, and respect the great outdoors. Yes, that must be it! You know, you really do bring out my analytical side!

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    2. the little toilets would do me in. i'd be running along with you in the other direction. i'd say the person who came up with this idea doesn't have a relationship with trees.

      as for bringing out the analytical side of you, hahahaha kay. i'm happy to trigger anything: analytical, emotional, spiritual, logical, but most of all passion! which you already have.

      xo
      kj

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  2. No, gimmicky gimmicks needed in an area as beautiful as that.

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    1. Dear Tracey,
      We think it is lovely and to me, the treehouse seems very much like Snoopy's doghouse from "A Charlie Brown Christmas", if you know that story!

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  3. Well, if it is someone's desire to do this, why not? I would probably be worrying about all sorts of insects come visiting me during the night, because, after all, I'd be intruding in their habitat. But not everybody is such a sissy as I am - I still sleep best in a proper bed and like to have a nice hot shower in the morning :-)

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    1. Dear Meike,
      Oh yes, I know, I bear no ill will to someone who WANTS to do this, to each his own, is what I like to say, or to quote from one of my favorite movies, "Cheerio, my good man, cheerio". (It's A Wonderful Life).
      Another quote from the book "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss,
      "I speak for the trees". Is this really good for the tree? The tree itself must be over one hundred years old and is a true beauty.
      Still, read my comments above to Stacey & kj, and you can see that I thought about it overnight and realize that there must be something that people have to spend money on to make it of value to them. I should be grateful they haven't installed the ziplines above the trees and have people flying over my head...oops, better not even say that, that will be the next thing!

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  4. I agree with you entirely, Kay. And not even a cheap gimmick! I'd rather be on my own away from other folk and wake up to the birds and dawn without the other folk around in their pods. Oh yes, like you said, it's called camping! Except that camping nowadays seems to involve an incredible amount of equipment and being on a site with thousands of other tents and all the facilities in the shower block, shop, etc...

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    1. Dear John,
      Thank you! No one EVER agrees with me entirely! :-) I wonder if most people would agree with me, that this is more of a gimmick. (And not cheap either, as you pointed out!)
      Read my replies to the comments above. Maybe it does have value if it makes those with deep pockets, dig into those deep pockets and give their money to the Path Foundation for more trails! That is the only value that I can see from it.

      I don't know the names of hardly any of these trees, but I know I love them and want to protect them.

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  5. Dear Nan,
    Thanks for your comment! Hope your Spring is coming along nicely now, and you are enjoying your trees!
    Love,
    Kay

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  6. No gimmicks need here, indeed! Ever so happy to make your acquaintance! Beeeeutiful photos. I am so amazed at your profile, that you married your pen pal! Now THAT's a story. And, yes, it is a burrowing owl out here in the desert. They are quite small too. Good catch! **kisses** Deborah

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    1. Hey Deb!
      So happy to find you & your blog and to see your adorable burrowing owl. (Love your photo of you & your hubby kissing.) My trip to London Zoo was the only time I was ever there, but I remember every single creature that I saw.
      Yes, I married my pen pal. My joke is I am better on paper than I am in person! HAHA, I got a million jokes like that, I will drive you crazy!
      Thanks so much for your comment!
      xx KAY

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  7. Sleeping in a tree i can get -- we used to nap in the tree house in the back yard as kids, and it was quite nice -- but potties? Last time i checked, if you are camping you are supposed to dig your own trench.

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    1. Dear Mimi,
      I will need to take a photo of the tree so you can see it. It is a beautiful tree and to see all the portapotties around it! Even when I camp, I think it is nice to have a real building with real toilets, but's that just me. ;-)

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  8. Lovely photos, Kay! Sleeping in a hammock would certainly be different. Thanks for the comments on my posts!

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    1. Hey Paul!
      Thank you! Different and with other people around me in their "pods" sounds like a science fiction film to me! And you are more than welcome, you do such interesting things!

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  9. Hmmm, I've been thinking about this for a few minutes ~ I like the idea of the hammock but think the Port-a-Potties might be a deal breaker. I don't know about you but, when I camp, I go all out and go in the bushes. It's not necessarily my favorite thing but I prefer that over the nature being ruined by Port-a-Potties. Gross. Still, that night would be overpriced at $130. Please. Bring all your meals and your bedsheets and we'll charge you $130 for a hammock? No thanks.

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  10. Beautiful pictures, as usual, Kay. We live next to a wood ourselves in the UK and it is a delight to walk in, especially with the bluebells out at the moment. Never been camping, though.

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    1. Dear Biddy,
      Thank you! Did you see my bluebell photos from my earlier posts? You know, we took so many photos at the bluebell walk that we went on in May of 2010, that I might have to do a bluebell walk all by itself! Look out for it!
      Richard is not a big camper either, as much as he loves the outdoors!

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    2. Biddy,
      I meant to say...your lovely Hans Christian Andersen book that you have had since you were a little girl, I hope that book has one of my favorite stories of his, "The Emperor's New Clothes". I am always thinking of that story these days. Everyone wants to go along with everything just because it is trendy or gimmicky. I have no problem with saying, "I don't see it!".

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    3. Biddy,
      3rd reply, I know, I drive people crazy!
      Thank you for becoming a new follower!
      I could have sworn I was one of yours, but instead I had typed in BLUEBIRD instead of BLUEBELL. So, you now have me as a follower of your blog. Your joy in life is complete!

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  11. I love to be among trees. That's why we've planted so many in our yard. Sleeping in a hammock in a tree makes me think of fairies sleeping on the leaves, being so very close to nature, feeling more a part of it all. Gimmick or not, I find it an enchanting thing to do particularly after seeing the TV spot about it.

    Did I mention that I'm not too comfortable with heights?

    :)

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  12. Hey!
    Thanks for your comment. Enchanting and fairy-like? The TV made it look so, but that's TV for you.
    HA! I wonder how comfortable it would be for someone afraid of heights? :-)
    Please visit me again!

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