As 2016 draws nears its end, I bid adieu to the drought conditions welcoming any gloomy rainy winter days ahead.  The 2017 Farmers Almanac predicts a snow storm for us mid-February.  Whatever precipitation we get will be welcomed.  The winter birds are slowly returning to our forest.  Across the gravel road in Clay's woods, the great male Pileated woodpecker pounds trees (never getting a migraine) in search of insects.  The downy woodpeckers prefer balancing on suet.  I also spotted the long-absent red-bellied and two hairy woodpeckers on oak tree trunks.  Yesterday the male and female rose-breasted grosbeaks showed up at the heated birdbath.   Cardinal sightings have been scarce all through the drought period.  Maybe now that the creek behind our house has a small stream of mountain water again, the cardinals will return to the feeders.   The first snowflakes floated quietly down melting as they hit the pavement this afternoon.  It's winter.  Time to slow the pace, do a little hibernating wrapped in a cozy quilt with a good book and a cup of hot tea.  There is an upside to being unproductive and doing nothing for a chunk of time.  In yoga, we do multiple child poses that restore us for the challenging poses ahead.  In our hectic lives, taking time for "doing nothing" prepares us for life's challenges ahead.  Slowing down allows us to face uncomfortable emotions rather than pushing them away, finding greater compassion for what others are experiencing, and by giving your thoughts a chance to wander, develop innovative and creative ideas or problem solving strategies.  And on that note, my tea kettle is whistling....................

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!