I turned because I heard a bark, but I wasn’t quick enough with my camera to capture the two foxes retreating back into the woods. I’ll bet a mother was calling her young. If she hadn’t barked I would not have seen the foxes at all.

I’ve been busy noticing the sap rising and the trees budding. If this continues, it will be the first snow-free winter of my life. My real concern is that winter really is on the way and that the branches will snap under the weight of ice or snow.

I watch the odd-shaped jet stream images on the weather maps and wonder if this is global warming or just nature taking its course in a cycle that I will not live long enough to see.

The sap is rising on this maple.

This birch is budding

The light green leaves on this mountain laurel are new growth.

Its easy to feel good gazing up at a clear blue sky watching turkey vultures and hawks ride the thermals.

Some species of birds have not migrated this year. Bald eagles are not as easy to spot, now that they have other places to fish besides the Hudson River.

At first, I missed being able to snowshoe or cross country ski; now I’m hoping that this unpredictable weather does not turn cold.

Nature has its own rules and even the richest people cannot ultimately control or dominate weather cycles. When people live sedentary lives indoors it’s easy to forget that.

I’m still adding wild greens to my salads.

This is going to be an interesting year.