I live in the northern hemisphere where spring is just around the corner. It’s been a difficult winter with lots of the white fluffy stuff falling from the sky. I love looking out the windows of my home at the snow-covered ground, but I don’t like shovelling it or walking or driving on the slushy slippery roads it creates.

This morning when I came downstairs for the first time around 7 a.m. I was greeted by the image of a solitary deer, framed by our picture window, meandering along the shoreline of the lake, just beyond the front of our home. I wasn’t fast enough to get a picture before it became partially hidden by the wooded area to the left of our path to the lake. It’s not as if I don’t see deer on almost a daily basis somewhere in my travels, but I never tire of watching them.

We used to have a group of three deer who would wander down to the lake through our neighbour’s property and then cut through the bush in front of our home before moving on to the property of our other neighbours. I have a love-hate relationship with these three. They are so interesting to watch, but they love to eat my Hostas in the summer, thereby ruining the appearance of the gardens I work hard to create.

I stand silently at the window, watching for the other two to appear. There is no sign of them. It saddens my heart to think that something has happened, something has separated these three. It makes me wonder whether it was one of our three frequent visitors that was taken down on the ice last week, providing food for the local wolf pack. It’s the way of nature, one might say the cycle of life, but it’s still hard to accept.

On a cheerier note, today, it is plus 6 degrees Celsius and sunny. There are chirping birds, getting ready to nest and chipmunks and squirrels chasing each other around the snow-covered lawn. I have hope that spring is almost here, making it easier to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature.

I hope that wherever you are in the world today, you have a chance to get out amongst the wildlife and trees, to experience the calming effects of nature. It’s a therapeutic way to contend with the unsettling international events. Be safe, dear reader!

The Next Novel: Finding Theresa

I’m working steadily on the next novel. The working title is Finding Theresa. It is about a 15-year-old girl who learns she is adopted. This sends her into a tailspin and causes her to search for who she really is. If you have any insights into the issue of adoption, I’m always happy to collect different viewpoints and experiences. Respond to this email and let me know what you think.

I’m also contemplating posting a continuation of Annie’s story from the Promise of the Bluebell Woods. Would you like to read the story in installments on my blog? Let me know so I can decide whether to publish it this way, or not.

Happy spring … or for those down under…autumn! Enjoy this sunset picture!

Marie.