Happy New Year!

Here at the 40th parallel north, something like 2,700 miles from the equator, it’s balmy out (13C/56F) despite the ponds still being frozen over from the winter storm two weeks ago.

I guess it sounds like I’m talking about climate change. I’m actually talking about today’s lovely nature hike. It’s a blessing to live within walking distance of a park–you only have to travel two busy roads to get there!–and my local park has trails.

The entryway to the forest is used as a midden heap. It’s always a surprise what you’ll find there.

The trail circles a charming water feature.

Genuinely, unironically, I’m grateful that people come out here with spray paint. They look at this landscape and decide it could be improved with a bit of art, and they’re right.

Another exposed pipe, this one at toe-height:

What’s in the water, anyway?

I wonder how old this tree was?

The graffiti changes every year.

Nobody needs me to tell them about all the benefits that walking around in nature provides: exercise, stress relief, increased well-being, etc. My mood was really improved after today’s walk.

But if you want to be on the pretty side of the fence, the country club charges about $10,000/month.

The secret is that the fence is new. So are the broken pipes. So is the midden heap. Things don’t have to be the way we’ve made them.

Happy New Year!