We're Going on a Bear Hunt

It dawned on me that I never did post about our, or rather I should say, my bear experience.  Yep, I had a bear experience just a few weeks ago. You read that correctly. A BEAR experience!!  (Mark that one off my bucket list. As if it was ever ON my bucket list!)  On our property mind you. NOT at the zoo. 

It all began....

...On your average, North Carolina, summer day -- and by this I mean a day of unbearable (no pun intended) heat.  I was spending a lazy afternoon on the front porch with the dog when Charlie started barking.  Paying little attention to his barking, I continued on with my texting.  When the barking became a bit more frantic I decided to glance up and see what the fuss was all about.  At first glimpse my eyes registered a black, furry mass standing on the driveway not 30 yards away.  Seeing as how it's not uncommon for dogs to roam our property, I assumed "it" was just that - a dog.  A few seconds later something told me to look again, this time with my mind actually linking what my eyes were seeing...a black, bear cub.  Immediately panic set in and I began screaming thus causing panic to ignite in the cub, who proceeded to run like hell back to the woods.

I truly have NO idea what this cub was doing, or where he was going, though I imagine the extreme heat was driving him to find water, but I can say that we have yet to see the bear again.  Thank God!

And that brings us full circle to the title of this post, one of Emma's favorite books, the new joke at the house, and the theme for one of our weekend adventures - hiking.  Despite the rough terrain, a few falls and scraps, and a lack of (thank God) actual bears, Emma seemed to enjoy the hike and playing in the lake.

"We're going on a bear hunt. We're going to find some big ones.  We're not afraid...."