The true lyrics are “walking in a winter wonderland” but for me, I like to go a bit faster; about 35 mph to be exact. My winter wonderland consists of steep snow covered slopes with plenty of trails to choose from. Practicing tricks, riding through trees, or cruising through the half pipe, ...
Sometimes wildlife seems as curious about people as we are about them. I’ve often spotted deer watching me from the edge of the woods. When I see a fox, it’s usually got its eyes on me from a thicket of dense vegetation. Once I was fishing and, between catching fish and watching a belted kingfisher patrol up and down the stream, my eyes did not wander. When I took a break, I noticed a mink on the opposite bank watching me intently. I don’t know how long it had been there, but when our eyes met, the mink bolted downstream. Its size (almost two feet long), long tubular body, ...
The arctic north breathes out its birds in one, long slow exhale through the fall. The cold winds blow in new birds with each windy day. These birds are on an epic yearly adventure, leaving the barren tundras and pine forests of the north to venture far into new lands. Some of these birds ...
A few weeks ago I was sitting in a teacher’s lounge when I got a picture from my sister. There wasn’t anything particularly special about the picture, just a snapshot of a sidewalk and a caption. I couldn’t tell by just looking at the picture, but apparently it was snowing for the ...
When I was a boy, my father and I hiked country roads on autumn afternoons collecting hickory nuts, a favorite snack. One memorable fall day, my dad hopped into our 57 Chevy and said, “Let’s take a ride.” It was 1959. I was seven years old. As we drove, my dad explained, “I’m taking you to the woods where I collected nuts when I was your age. There were still a few chestnut trees, and I’d pull the dark brown nuts from their prickly burs.” The fungus responsible for the chestnut blight was introduced in 1904 from China and had already killed off most of the chestnuts in ...
The space where land meets water holds a special place in our hearts and minds. Humanity instinctively understands the important connection between land and water as evidenced by highly valued lakeside properties, the history of centering communities on waterways, and the many recreational ...
