A Naturalist's Cabin: Constructing a Dream

by Cathy Johnson

During a dusty Midwestern drought, Cathy Johnson stumbled upon a cool, limpid pond in northwestern Missouri and fell in love. Scraping together their savings, she and her late husband bought the pond and the surrounding 18 acres of land—a “naturalist’s playground,” as she describes it. In this richly detailed account, Johnson introduces us to the timid white-tailed deer, iridescent blue dragonflies, velvety meadows, deep, quiet old-growth woods, and steep limestone and loess hills carved by prehistoric rivers or piled high by receding glaciers. Gradually overcome with a long-held desire to build her own cabin in the woods, Johnson decided to raise a small structure that fits the landscape hand-in-glove, where she could retreat to observe the astounding beauty of the wilderness. Filled with fascinating geology and natural history, this intriguing narrative will inspire you to see beauty and adventure in the great outdoors wherever you are–and to put the foundations under your own dream.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.

sometimes known as Kate, has worked as a naturalist, writer, and freelance artist for the past 30 years, and was staff naturalist and contributing editor for Country Living magazine for 11 years. She is a contributing editor to the Artist’s Magazine and Watercolor Magic and has had a regular column in Personal Journaling magazine, where she wrote on a subject she feels passionately about -- realizing the importance of creativity in our lives. She has written and illustrated -- her own work and that of others -- for a number of national magazines, including Science Digest, Harrowsmith Country Life, Sports Afield, Country Journal, Muzzlelader, Women's History, Early American Life, Sketchbook, Woodworker, Woman’s Day, Threads, Mother Earth News, National Wildlife Magazine, Sierra and additional magazines listed on the writer page. Her writing and artwork has been included in a number of nature anthologies and art books.

(from http://cathyjohnson.info/biography.html)

Reviews

[James B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I haven't really enjoyed the 'naturalists' part of the book.
Well then again, yeah I appreciate it. It teaches me to slow down. To observe. To learn. To enjoy.
But what I have really enjoyed is the expression of how a dream is built.
Not they didn't build a cabin- they built a dream.
And its a dream I share.
I long to handle each board too. To learn. To suffer and thrive.


I skipped two chapters in the book and really got to the section I wanted to read!