I didn't make it to the trails this week so nature came to me. This is the busiest month of the year for me at work which means no time or for that matter, energy, to visit the trails. That is why the appearance of my favorite creatures in the backyard puts a smile on my face.

The deer have come each day to raid the feeder. The robins sang from the treetops. The chickadees flitted in and out of the branches in search of the remaining seeds from last fall. 

Yesterday, the pileated woodpecker made an appearance. I saw it in a tree in the woods. By the time I got my camera, the woodpecker was on the deck and was helping itself to the shelled sunflower seed left out for the chickadees.

The animated antics of this beauty amused me as I sat and enjoyed a few quiet moments at the end of a hectic day.

The snow is almost gone and most of the water has been absorbed into the soil. As I drive by the trailhead of the closest trail to home, I long for some quiet time in the woods. I want to hear the forest sounds and smell the forest air.

That will be at the top of the to-do list next week. Until then, I'll enjoy the backyard visits of my furry and feathered friends. 

Happy trails!