Trail Blazing

Hello friends! This week brought record breaking warm temps to my Michigan woods. Which means it was time to get back out exploring! It is VERY unusual to hike down the ravine in February. Usually my trail is full of ice and snow so I have to keep my adventures closer to home. But this week I was able to wander down the hill to see how the January snow storms changed the woodsy landscape.

It’s always a surprise to see how Mother Nature changes the forest after a long winter. Sometimes the creek gets pushed to carve deeper into the hillside. Sometimes the snow and ice move old logs around and create new rapids. Or in the case of a big snow melt, I can expect to find springs that pop up to deliver freshwater to the creek.

As I trotted down my familiar trail, daydreaming about what adventures lie in store – I was shocked to discover my usual path was MISSING! Mother Nature can be a trickster but certainly she did not steal away my favorite trail…did she?

Massive trees covered my usual route. As I squeezed my way around an old cypress tree, the mud began to squish between my paws. The detour had me a bit nervous since the ground felt soft and unstable. Just as I got back on course, I discovered yet another obstacle. This time, a giant hemlock, next a downed pine tree. Turn after turn I discovered more things blocking my path, and I had to keep rerouting – veering off my normal trail. 

At first, the new way of doing things was exciting. But eventually it became tiring, reconfiguring new unfamiliar directions. As I wiggled and worked my way through downed trees, I realized my old path was gone. Hiking in the ravine will never be the same and I am going to have to get used to finding a new way. 

Sometimes adventures are like that – obstacles get put in our way and we have to overcome the barriers. We get forced in new directions and it is up to us to figure out our way through. Eventually I made it up the hill and back to the house. My hooman was there with a towel to dry off my muddy paws. It was nice to be back home warm and dry. 

So friends, as we head into another week…keep pushing on. Mother Nature will put up roadblocks. When she does – keep trail blazing! Obstacles are inevitable. We may not always feel like we are on solid ground. Our paws may get muddy, and we may find ourselves wishing for simpler times. But know that as you work to forge a new path, your effort will pay off and eventually you will find your way back home. 

Bark at you next week!

Your friend,