Tree Bark

Out gathering kindling for the week's fires, I often notice the different textures of barks of trees, both dead and alive. There are curious fungi on various trees in our woods. This one has a cluster of beige fungi growing on its trunk, My brother-in-law said maybe we could grow mushrooms on our property to sell commercially as our property is moist and soil rich. We will explore this.

I snow shoed up our back hill this morning. The going was tough as I was breaking new snow--over a foot---which had fallen this week during our biggest storm of the winter. I had to pause every 100 feet or so to take a breath. When I reach the top I surprised a snow shoe rabbit and he hopped off out of harm's way.
Later I returned with my camera with Lindley walking behind me. I looked over to the cluster of trees where the rabbit had run from before...not really expecting to see him again, but there he was huddled in the middle of the cluster of trees. He did not move this time and I was able to take a few pictures of him.
Lindley arrived a few minutes later and he was still frozen to the same spot....probably terrified of these tall strangers gawking at him.

The Valentine's Storm

Big storm today...first big one of the season....snow has been falling since the wee hours and now the winds are blowing again. A Nor'-easter. Skiers, ski resorts, winter sports fans are all happy...the forest was quiet when I went out before dark to gather kindling from a felled pine. It's branches snapped in my mittens like brittle bones. I got a bag full. The pine burns hot yellow and fast in the woodstove.

I am grateful for the energy the dead tree has given to us.

Climate Change

The wind sings
like a bird in the
swaying forest behind our house
As I glance towards the surrounding perpetrator of sound,
my face catches the winter wind.
Winds will raise their voices more often now,
whistling wildly over
tree tops, raising snow,
limbs, scarves
and all.