A couple of weeks ago, my husband phoned from the department store, asking if he should buy a tent. The kids and I answered "NO". He bought it anyhow, along with a second air mattress. Then next thing we knew, we were setting it up in the back yard, and the 2 kids & I all slept in it that night. It's a huge tent, with an optional divider in the middle which makes it two rooms, each with its own door and two windows, and with plenty of room for a double air mattress on each side.
I know when we keep our windows open at night, I sometimes need to close them by 4:30 or 5am, since the birds are so noisy it is hard to continue sleeping. But I was surprised that in the tent, the commotion starts much earlier. At 3am, I already heard swallows flying. Then at 4am, a small bird started singing in earnest. By 5am, the crows were on the move, and calling loudly to each other. We were all quite ready to get up by 7am.This weekend, our nephew stayed with us, so we set up the tent again on Friday night, and the 2 boys slept on the one side, while we girls slept on the other side. Same story. By 3am, sounds of birds stirring. (If anything else had wandered by earlier, I must have been sleeping and didn't hear it.) The weather had also changed from a clear sky (and view of the full moon!) at midnight, to totally dark and overcast by 3am. Good thing it didn't rain, so allowed us to take down the tent while still dry the next morning.
We have been waiting for the weather to improve for long enough to do the same in our back yard. My 5yr old has been begging my husband to 'go camping', by which she means in the backyard. Summer is coming, right?
ReplyDeleteCute story. :) I set up a couple of tents in our backyard for my daughter's slumber party (several years ago.) Forgot about the in-ground sprinkler system which came on at 3 a.m. and drenched everyone! Imma Bad Mom.
ReplyDeleteHello from tent-land!
ReplyDeleteI was awoken by a strange noise only this morning. A strange tapping that seemed to be moving around the outside of the house. I thought perhaps it was a technician adjusting the gas meter. Turns out it was a woodpecker testing out the back and side of the house as well as the arbor.
Christine in Alaska
It's been a long time since I slept in a tent. I doubt I ever will again. :)
ReplyDeleteWe moved back to the country three years ago when I noticed birds singing in the middle of the night. Nature is remarkable.
Thanks for your visit. :)
Laura - Summer has sure been off & on lately, but I'm hopeful it will stay now.
ReplyDeleteKate - Oh my gosh, I'm glad we don't have a sprinkler system!
Christine - That's too funny!
Carletta - I thought I wouldn't be tenting anymore either, but since the kids enjoy it so much, I'm glad to join them. Maybe we'll even venture out for the "real thing" some day. My husband & I loved tenting before the kids came along.
Sleeping in a tent in the yard reminds me of being a kid. We would sometimes even just sleep on the deck chairs not in a tent at all. Now I think I'd be thinking about the wildlife that might be in our yard during the night and probably wouldn't sleep very well. That late night singer does sound confused.
ReplyDeletePS I wanted to thank you for helping me id that dragonfly/skimmer. I think you are right!
ReplyDeleteNice tent! I would like to set ours up in the backyard . . . yes, we'd definitely hear the birds! I do love hearing the barred owl around 3:00 a.m. "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" ;-)
ReplyDeleteI also love the sound of rustling tree leaves at night. Restful . . . Have a great summer!!