New Year’s Day 2020

Greetings in 2020 - New Year, New Decade.  Let's hope we do better for our mother Earth.

My birthday on the last day of the year is a perfect opportunity to reflect on the old year and herald in the new one.  For the last several years, Jack and I have marked the day with a walk in the woods at Morton Arboretum.

It was a chilly day and snow remained on the ground, especially in areas shielded from sun.  And though we didn't see many creatures, their footprints let us know they had been very busy finding a New Year's feast.  Tracks of mice, small birds, squirrels, rabbits, and fox or coyote were all around us.

It occurred to me that seeing animal tracks wasn't common to my experience growing up and camping/hiking in California.  Arid conditions in the desert and Eastern Sierras didn't offer evidence of creatures passing through.  Here in the Midwest with winter snows and heavy rain in spring and summer we get a much clearer snapshot of who lives where we are exploring!

Not so alone in the woods!

My hope is for 2020 to bring opportunities to explore within and without.  These footprints remind me that we are never alone!  Go out and make your footprints in the new year!