After a day as a homebody, watching streams of my nephew wrestling in a high school meet in Nebraska across the late morning and afternoon, and poring over my financial activities from last year (with an aim for a tighter budget), when 4:30 PM came around I was guilted into some daily exercise. Guilt is a strong word, but my mind reminded me I had promised to work harder at activity and self-care, and movement was necessary. Cold, brisk winds be darned- I had to do my daily short path up the path towards the mountains and back.

As I headed out, I noted the little nest in the bare branches of a neighbor’s front yard tree.

Here’s hoping for happy returns in March or April.