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It is amazing how much energy kids have. If adults had that much energy, we would get done all the things we intend to do instead of putting off half of the projects until next weekend. When our grandson, Zane came over Saturday afternoon, he was ready to go. He knows Nanna and Grandpa like to do things outside, and he is an outdoors kid. At this stage in his life he likes only two things; outdoor activities and eating. A person can always tell when a kid is going into one of those growing stages.

Since he had lunch before he came, he was only moderately hungry when he got to our place. His Nanna fixed him lunch again while he explained where he wanted to go for a Gator ride and look for shed deer antlers. My wife enjoys riding through the timber, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of nature so she agreed while Zane finished lunch and she packed food for the trip. I was unable to join them, but wished them well as Zane walked out of the door eating an orange. They were gone quite some time as they walked the ditches, the timber near the fences, and drove over several hundred acres. I was beginning to become concerned when I saw the dogs break out of the timber across the pond with the Gator right behind it. When they got back to the house, I got a play by play recount of the entire trip, where they saw deer, an eagle, some turkeys and where they found antlers. The trip had been a great success, but Zane was starving. His Nanna, having walked several miles up and down the hills through the timber and pastures, was getting a bit worn down.[[In-content Ad]]

He ate a jar of applesauce while I fixed him a sandwich. He was then ready to go fishing. I could think of no good reason why not to go fishing, so I agreed. In February, the lake is usually still frozen. There are enough springs coming up, the ice is dangerous, even when it should be solid. My wife and I get each other fishing lures for Christmas but never plan to use them until May. She got the group of lures out and Zane and I each selected two brand new lures designed to catch the first fish of the season. There are great bragging rights that go with catching the first fish from our lake each year.

The sun was shining, but the wind was still cold as we tried our luck, casting off the dock. The fish were not getting into the spirit of things nearly as well as were Zane and I. We were getting chilled to the bone when we decided to move to the other side of the lake, out of the wind. It was much warmer and more pleasant casting out into the calm waters, but the fish were still having no part of it. After an hour or so, long after I had lost patience, Zane finally caught a fish. I was afraid that would give him the encouragement he needed to stay until dark. He had the first fish of the season and that was good enough. He was getting hungry. We motored up the hill, making a leisurely ride home as we enjoyed the day. He was satisfied with having been able to spend most of the day outdoors, doing as he pleased, and he still had time for a couple meals and a snack or two before his dad came to take him home for dinner.

My wife and I both had a great time enjoying the outdoors with our grandson, and we both gain from the experience. He keeps us going and in shape while we keep him from starving to death for a few hours.

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