Dinata Misovec

Jennifer and the boys had made a list of summer activities.  Owen was keen on a treasure hunt so Jennifer went online (the mother’s resource) and found some ready-made clues.  All she had to do was write the clues on file cards and hide the treasure.

The boys were beside themselves with excitement when Jennifer announced the treasure hunt.  She had invited Max to come over and join in and told the boys to get dressed in some adventure clothes while waiting for Agnes and Max to arrive. Listening to them decide what to wear for a treasure hunt was entertaining.  Four-year-old Cam asked Mama, “Do I need to take my binoculars?”.  She thought they would be unnecessary in this case. Max arrived in his adventure clothes too.

Andy tried to get in on the excitement and exclaimed, “I’m going to find that treasure!”  Cam looked at him in shock and dismay.  “You would ruin our treasure hunt?” Stunned and broken-hearted, Andy dropped out of the treasure hunt then and there.

Jennifer gave Owen the first clue.

I am a friend to parents who like things neat.  They really like it when you WIPE YOUR FEET.”

Owen found the next clue under the front door mat.  After that, I lost track of the order and my pictures hardly give me a clue what they are looking for so I’ll just fake it from here on out.

Another clue said,

Some people think I’m nasty and yuck.  But without me for your trash, you’d be out of luck!

They found another clue at the garbage can by the driveway.

Max spotted a clue!

This clue,

I make music for you when you’re out in the yard.  I make the most music when the wind blows hard.

led them to the wind chime Jennifer had made with an old coffee pot and spoons. Not well seen behind the bird feeder.

The clue,

I make lots of smoke when I get hot. I make yummy food that you like a lot.  When it’s chilly outside, I can’t be beat.  Light me up to make a toasty treat!

She had drawn a small picture of a fire at the bottom of the clue.  The boys went tearing off to the fire pit at the edge of the woods. Baba Yaga was having a tough time keeping up.

The next clue was on a chair near the fire pit.

Everyone loves me! I’m pretty and smell sweet.  Look down to find me.  I’m near your feet.

They were stumped.  They stood by the fire ring looking down at their feet.  Then they looked around a bit before looking at their feet again.  Jennifer offered a suggestion: “What smells good that grows close to the ground?”  Then, ” Where are some flowers?”  That was enough.  They took off for the front walk which is lined with flowers in pots.  The next clue was tucked under the edge of a pot.

I sit very still when I don’t have a rider. Sit down and learn why I’m called a glider.

Owen was stumped and I got one of my favorite pictures. We enjoyed Owen’s puzzled hand-on-chin expression and then Jennifer gave him another hint. We realized that he did not know the word “glider”.

They found the next clue on the glider on the back deck.

Owen was the leader as he is the only one who could read the clues.

I’m a comfy spot without a doubt.  Though it can be tricky to get in and out.

No problem with that clue.

I’m sort of like sneakers, but for a car. I help it run really fast and far.

They figured out that they should go to the driveway

Jennifer and Agnes were standing in the yard chatting and watching the boys zip around, with me straggling after trying to capture it all.

When I caught up to the boys, they had searched around all the vehicles but had not found the clue.  I suggested that they look again.  They found it resting atop a tire.

I did not know where the clues were and thought this one was too hard.

Climbing me can be quite a lark.  I’m not a dog, but I do have a bark.

Yes, it’s a tree, but they must have a hundred trees on this property. How are they going to find the right one?  No problem; it is their favorite tree that I did not know about.  Not far into the woods is a large fallen tree on top of another fallen tree.  I learned that it is the boys’ favorite place to play in the woods.  When I caught up to them, Cam and Max were working their way up the trunk. Owen was nowhere in sight. He is in this picture.  I can see his hat and a leg just to the right of the skinny tree to the left in the foreground.

I zoomed in to get a picture of him with the treasure. That is the top of Jennifer’s hat, lower right.  She took the treasure bags so Owen could climb back down.

Meanwhile, Cam and Max were stuck and wailing for help.  I lifted Max down and then Cam. (But not before I took this picture of him.)

They dug into their treasure bags on the back deck.  I was thrilled with the bubble-wands, but the boys were much more interested in the candies.

Max’s chipmunk cheeks were stuffed with chocolate-covered coconut almonds.

It was a great treasure hunt.  Owen told his Mama, “It was just the right amount of hard”.