FIELD NOTES: Thankful
“ In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks,”— John Muir
~ by Jim Eagleman
The holidays are approaching and it’ s a time when we give thanks and gifts. Soon the hectic days of Thanksgiving and Christmas time will take over, full of planning and preparing for parties and gatherings with families and friends.
Giving thanks is typically offered when the grand feast of Thanksgiving is graciously prepared and enjoyed. This one-day event centers around food from pantry, garden, or freezer and is a tradition photo courtesy Jim Eagleman
to celebrate, among other things, a bounty of goodness. I eagerly look forward to my favorite foods and enjoy them even days afterward. A cold turkey sandwich and luscious leftovers can’ t be beat! I hope to pause at some point during the event and offer heartfelt gratitude to my friends, our sons with families, and our grandchildren— and certainly to my wife, my partner, and wonderful cook!
We can also be grateful for where one lives, a healthy life, a variety of activities for a quality life, and natural places to visit. I hear this a lot. People are thankful they live here. Many consider it a gift.
Brown County’ s parks, trails, and forests make this a special place. Residents and visitors are thankful for many natural areas that have been set aside and preserved here, into perpetuity, for our enjoyment. Friends often tell me they recently enjoyed a hike through a Sycamore Land Trust site, kayaked a public lake, or joined in a nighttime vista watch at Brown County State Park. There are many places to enjoy.
Jane Ellis, executive director of the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau agrees,“ It’ s why people continue to come here. Along with the art and things to do, it’ s the exploring of nature they enjoy. We can support and promote it, and it’ s always here, year’ round, in all seasons.” You can hike a new trail, canoe or fish at a quiet lake, enjoy a horseback ride, or ride some of the park’ s internationallyknown mountain bike trails.“ With a destination like Brown County, and with tourism its main industry, the more places to experience, both commercial or natural, the better our guests enjoy themselves,’’ says Jane.
The Brown County Hills section of the Highland Rim Natural Region includes steep, V-shaped ravines and valleys. It can claim ownership to one of the largest forested landscapes in the Midwest, with vista views of greater than 10 miles to distant horizons. It is
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22 Our Brown County • Nov./ Dec. 2019