Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin.”

—CLARISSA PINKOLA ESTÉS, Women Who Run with the Wolves

Well, apparently, Fudgy believes I am lower than him/her in the pecking order. I went out into the misty slippery morning chill to fill her dish with food and after I did she pecked my thigh. Hard! Left a bit of a welt, even. I corrected her with sharp words and mean eyes. Fudgy better get the message quick! This was the second breakfast served. No, the third, counting Charlie & Britt and Wave, of course, who wanted his usual. I coughed last night and didn’t sleep so well. So, it took me a bit to get going and I felt like walking rather than swimming, and that’s what I did. Very wet in the woods. A melt. Low clouds, silvery sky making the water black and the ice pale. I worked a little on my poem for Monday. I am taking this poem very slowly. It’s working on me. In the afternoon my son led us, a lovely group of friends in forest bathing experience in the winter tent by the hot stove. First experience for most. We filled the tent. Even Wave was there for a bit, working on being quiet and listening. Charlie too. There was fog on the river. The snow was slippery wet. The tent was warm and the sharing was rich. That’s why forest bathing in a group can be especially rich––the sharing, the listening to how others are experiencing the prompts. We went out twice on two different invitations. The first time we went out I stood by the river on some ice at the edge and the ice brook and my leg went in, so I got a refreshing experience of cold water. Easily warmed up by the fire. I spend so much time in the woods, walking. But deliberately and intentionally meditating on the experience of being in nature is a very relaxing and spiritual experience for me, especially with others. Paying attention to our senses. It was dusk by the time we ended. Frank and I took Wave for the evening over to my daughter’s lovely new home. He was an angel and we all relaxed. She’s a short ride away and I love seeing her and Will so happily settled in their nest.