I was listening to talk radio this morning.  The interviewee was asked what the reason was for his longevity.  His response was that he lives in the moment; as do I. 

Each day is a treasure.  Life could take a turn in a direction that you do not want to go.  It could happen in the next minute, the next hour, the next day, month or year.  This is why I embrace each day that the sun rises and sets and why I take notice and marvel at the minutest of things; the crystals sparkling on the branches after a foggy night or the silhouettes of the deer in a moonlit field.

I ventured to Elk Island National Park today for my first hike since the snow fell.  The drive  was beautiful.  The fog last night left crystals that encased the willow branches.  They glistened in the morning light.  The pond along the roadside was covered in a blanket of untouched snow.  

The Amisk Wuche trail was my destination today.  My vehicle was the only one in the parking lot.  The sun was shining.  The air was crisp.  The birds were singing.

I listened to the sounds of the forest as I hiked toward the first boardwalk.  The last time that I was there, the ducks and geese were still swimming in the pond.  Today, a thin layer of ice covered the water.  Large icy crystals decorated the pond surface.  The sun's rays reflected off each one.  The scene was captivating and I admired the natural beauty.  

My favorite area on the trail has massive spruce trees on either side of it.  When I got there I stood beneath the boughs and took a few deep breaths.  My lungs filled with the crisp, frosty air.  I could smell the forest.  There was silence all around until a squirrel chattered in a tree top and a blue jay called from the distance.  Sunlight streamed through the thick branches creating shadows across the trail. 

As I continued around the loop, the snow crunched beneath my boots.  Animal tracks decorated the open snowy spaces.  I spent one glorious hour in Mother Nature's house and loved every minute.