RAIN ! We were all hungry for a hike so we went anyway. A difficult day for photos, but really pretty out there in the woods. Raindrops hanging on branches reminded us all that we ought to go home and decorate our Christmas trees. Tony usually raises a Thursday Hiker Flag when we reach the “summit” of Mt. Warner (a fire tower was once there) but instead he found a suitable hunk of wood that served as a torch and we all hummed the Olympic theme song and posed for a celebratory group photo. Once back on the trail, Joe put his umbrella back up! Nancy had noticed white owl droppings under a tree and, looking way up, there was a barred owl! We watched it stretch up really tall and then take off through the trees. It was a marvelous encounter. And then!!! we spotted a white ermine!!! A first for all of us. It had its winter white coat too soon this year and was easy to spot as it raced away from us on the brown forest floor and then skittered up a tree. Exciting! It – we – I – all hope that the snow will come soon! We focused on lichens, using our new jewelers lenses and seeing some amazing formations under the magnification. Three hours of hiking, then off to the North Hadley Sugar House for drying out and pancakes … but we were too late for pancakes, so we had good sandwiches and (lukewarm) tea. Stay warm and dry, Love, Penny 
Leave a Reply