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Sub Category : LifeStyle

I’ll never forget the first time we were introduced to Winnie the bear who lives on our mountain. We were sleeping in a tent on our farm one gorgeous starry night when I heard a pack of coyotes howling in the distance. Concerned for the safety of Moosey (who was sleeping outside our very crowded tent), I had my husband put her into our vehicle. My husband, exhausted himself climbed in with her and they fell asleep together. At about two or three in the morning Nikolai (who was originally sleeping soundly next to me against the side of the tent) flailed his arms to push something away from his face. “MOOSEY! STOP BREATHING IN MY EAR!” He shouted and that’s all it took for me to go from dead asleep to wide awake. I heard heavy breathing (called huffing) and large foot fall from right outside our tent. I hushed Niki and pulled him in close, wrapping my arms around his so I could roll us to the center of the tent as quickly and quietly as possible. Niki yelled “MOMMY! I’m trying to sleep!” So I covered his mouth with my fingers. My heart wildly skipping out of my chest, caught in my throat. Just as fast as Winnie came, he disappeared into the night. I on the other hand was wide awake and jumping out of my skin over Every. Tiny. Sound. I was so exhausted the only way I could fall back asleep was to tell myself that I must have dreamed it. The following morning while cooking breakfast over the campfire, I couldn’t remember if it had actually happened or not. My husband decided to grab some extra food to cook over the campfire while I was stoking hot coals and trying to make a decision on discussing it with him. I suddenly heard a loud shout, and my husband’s panicked voice as he ran down the hill screaming “BEAR! BEAR! GET IN THE VEHICLE NOW!” 
From pooping on our walkway, late night visits to rearrange the furniture on our porch, to apple and blackberry theft... sharing our farm with Winnie is always eventful. This time of year however, Winnie is hibernating. So our trash cans & chickens are safe... for now anyway. Sleep tight crazy bear! See you in the spring. ⠀