I am certain that Grandmas gift for story-telling and inspiring nature adventures has helped me become the naturalist that I am today. She shared stories about caring for wild animals such as grass snakes, turtles, and cottontail rabbits while growing up. She had a turtle named Tetut that once laid its eggs under her family gramophone. She also deeply enjoyed feeding crows in the mornings. They would wake her up around 6:30am for their morning treat (if she was not up already). She explained that it was part of her recipe for long life, knowing that someone is depending on you. She shared stories about camping and fishing adventures with her dad at Newton Lake in Quebec where she learned how to walk safely on a marsh and how to find her way in the wilderness when she felt lost. She would climb the biggest tree to find out where she was on the lake. Just recently, she described that losing her memory felt like being lost in the wilderness again. She amazed me with stories about her dad teaching her to find edible mushrooms by feeling for bumps in the ground with her bare feet. I have recently started climbing trees myself and loved hearing Grandmas tree climbing stories. She had a favourite tree near Belmont Avenue with a branch that grew out over the river. She would lie with her belly on this branch, letting her arms and legs dangle over the river and feel the branch sway with the wind. I remember my uncle David sharing a story about my Grandma in 2016, climbing a tree at the shopping centre while waiting for him to shop. She would have been 88 at that time. She was deeply connected to the natural world and an incredible inspiration to follow that course, of which I am so grateful. Ann and I would like to share a story about grandma... [Ann is a close friend of Tamaras.] A few years ago, Ann and I came to Ottawa in winter. We heard that some Great Grey Owls had been spotted near the parkway. It was winter time and I thought that this would be a great way to spend some nature time with Grandma. She had shared so many inspiring nature stories with me and I wanted to be in one! She was in her late eighties at the time and ever ready for an adventure. Upon arriving at the location, we spotted some people with cameras trudging through a thin trail in deep snow. We very carefully ambled along the trail to a line of evergreen trees and suddenly we spotted it! There was a magnificent Great Grey Owl perched above us - the largest owl species in Ontario. We marveled at the owl and enjoyed the cool winter air and time together. As we walked back to the car, I was mindful of the snowy trail conditions, keeping close to Grandma to help her if needed. Suddenly, it happened! Grandma lost her balance. I watched in horror as she slowly collapsed into the snow bank. My immediate thought was, Oh no! She has probably broken her hip! Within a flash, Grandma popped up and said, Im okay! and cheerily walked onward to the car with the vitality of a child adult. I continued to check in on her, worried about bruising or swelling - to which she responded best (later at her home) by demonstrating a series of perfect jumping jacks to show me that she was more than fine. I love her so much and will miss her dearly.