A Passion for Treasure Hunting

So often it seems to me that modern mother-daughter relationships are doomed to simply surviving each other. Books, movies, even friends' relationships seem to be full of aggravated tolerance. I find myself looking at my own sweet daughter and praying that I don't annoy her some day. Praying that we don't spend her teen years only tolerating each other. Praying that I can be as patient and understanding as my own mother was. Praying for a relationship like today's guest shares with her daughter.

Taylor is a freshman in college. Leslye is alone for the first time in 18 years. Spread Your Wings is their blog, and how they share a piece of each day together, across the miles. Lucky us, they share it with the world. I've long admired Leslye's mothering style and dreamed of an adult relationship with Sloane like she shares with Taylor. Today she shares her secret. Thank God. ~ Relyn

a little nest we found, March 2009

When Relyn asked me to be a guest blogger, I was very touched to think that she thought enough of our blog to ask me to write on hers. When I read further and saw she wanted me to write on my passion. This scared me a little bit. I enjoy a lot of different things and feel that I am passionate about them. But, I have never really thought I felt "strongly" passionate about any one thing. Plus, I certainly don't express myself as eloquently as you all do. I kept thinking, "What am I passionate about?" or "What makes me the most happy at the moment"? And that's when I knew the answer clearly: precious time with my daughter.

My daughter is a freshman in college, which made me an empty-nester this year. Many of you may not be able to fully comprehend what that means. I know I didn't understand what it would mean to me many years ago. I am a single mother and have been since Taylor was 2, so it's just been the two of us for a very long time. When she went off to college I knew it would be very lonely at home. I can actually say that I feel like I've adapted very well. I cherish the time spent with her even more. So, I would say my passion right now would be making the most of the time we have together.

I can't title this post "A Passion for My Daughter". Every parent is passionate about their children. Since we have a mother/daughter blog, I will share with you a passion that Taylor and I share together. We are passionate about our "photo adventures" or what started out, in her younger years, as the search for treasures...

Taylor, 1996 - Taylor, 2009

Taylor always loved the outdoors and collecting treasures from nature. When she was just 4 years old I started taking her camping. We would go camping many times during the summer and into the autumn. It was our time to go on nature walks and find special treasures together. We would set up the items like a still life and draw them together. We always did a lot of crafts while camping. She loved spending the day in the sun, hiking to a waterfall, or just hanging out at the campsite playing in the dirt with the little matchbox cars I played with as a child. Taylor loved wading at the waters edge - always finding something of interest that she would want to take home with her. I had a special box that she kept these treasures in - treasures from nature. Beauty that sometimes only a child holds so dear - a feather, a rock, an acorn, a seashell, a stick that struck her fancy.

Taylor finds a geocache box, 2002

When she was around 12, we discovered a new way of getting out in nature. We started the great adventure of geocaching. What a wonderful activity this was for us. If you have never done this I highly recommend it. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers outdoors, called geocaches, and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

We really became addicted to it. It is such a thrilling challenge - breaking the code for the clue and then using the GPS to find your way to the treasure. We found caches everywhere from "Atlantis" in the Caribbeans, all the way to a state park in Canada and many, many places in between. Some of them would take us hours to find while others would be very easy. When and if you find the box, you log in with your code name, date and time of find, and a little bit about the experience. If you take something from the box, you leave something behind. Taylor's code name was Painted Pony and she named me CurlyQ because of my hair.


I wish I had time and room to tell you of all of our adventures, or at least paint a better picture of it. But, believe me, we have so many incredible memories. Geocaching took us to so many places that we would have never ventured otherwise. We had a big box at home filled with "treasures" that were usually dollar store items which meant nothing to us except "I found it". That sense of satisfaction and accomplishment is so important to a young child.

abandoned shack, Daufuskie Island, SC by Taylor

As Taylor grew older, friends became more important. I feared that time with mom would become non-existent or certainly not something she would look forward to. We found another activity that took us out on adventures together: searching out the perfect photo - a treasure in itself. These adventures were no longer simple nature walks looking for pretty flowers or a hidden box. Taylor now founds beauty in the decay, in unexpected places. These things got her excited. What might she find hidden beneath all the rubble? Maybe not my favorite subject matter, but if it made her happy and she saw something of beauty in it all... then, I was going to look for it too. Now instead of looking for a treasure in a hidden box, we look for hidden treasure in old abandoned homes and buildings. There is nothing we enjoy more than heading out with the GPS in the car now, instead of hand-held. Taking the back roads, finding something of interest, pulling over and exploring it.

AME Church near Burkittsville, Maryland, built in 1870 by freed slaves

I have remind her to be cautious, but there is some sort of thrill about it all. Carefully peaking into a abandoned building, and seeing an old piano and church benches. Finding out that it was an 1870 AME church built by freed slaves. Creeping down the rotting staircase and seeing " He is In Us ALL" written on the wall. Then realizing we are in a church that was part of the Blair Witch Project. So creepy to me, but she is so intrigued. We stay.

Taylor has taken some awesome photos in these abandoned locations. We go home with "treasures" in the camera. If we still used film cameras we would have a box filled to the brim with prints (treasures) that make her happy and satisfied - indicative of a day worthwhile, filled with adventure and excitement for more.

AME church interior, 2007

For a time our passion was camping. Then it was very much for geocaching. Now it is for our photo adventures. Our passions change from year to year. Those treasures we gathered are memories we will always share together and carry in our hearts. Treasured forever. The one thing that will never change is my passion for my daughter. As sappy as it sounds, I can't think of anything else that I am so strongly passionate about. ~ Leslye


All words and photos by Leslye and Taylor of Spread Your Wings.