At the top, 14 foot off the ground, I have my little “apartment” with a comfortable chair, sliding windows, and a shelf for my stuff. There are certain things that belong there—a good book, a tablet and pen, binoculars, and a good digital camera. Oh, and a treat or two just in case hunger strikes. I don’t drink anything because the one thing I don’t have is bathroom facilities!

My stand is not for hunting. It’s for viewing nature, taking pictures and giving myself a break. Even if I wanted to hunt, I couldn’t pull a trigger. So, after a long, hotter-than-average summer, full of yard work and outdoor activities, I am ready to sit back and take it easy. Time to recharge my battery.

We’ve planned all year for this time, putting money aside for what we enjoy the most. Wheat, clover, native grasses, sorghum, milo, millet, and sunflowers cover the ground below me. And, if that isn’t enough, my battery-operated feeder dispenses corn every few hours. Deer, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, and all manner of birds come to dine.

At sunset, I hear hoot owls asking “Who are you?” and a crow calling to his mate. A flock of 17 turkeys announce, “It’s time to roost,” while ten deer graze and snort at each other as they take their place at the feeder. A fox squirrel, carrying an acorn in his mouth, stops long enough to check his surroundings, chatters something only other squirrels understand, and scampers up a tree.

I laugh and tell people, “It’s our vacation and we take it right here at home!” Beginning in early October, we start spending most afternoons in our stands. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. And the best part—we get to sleep in our own bed every night!

Essay written by Linda C. Defew, butyoudontlooksick.com 2007