So this happened. We walked five miles in looping trails through a state park yesterday — just what the doctor ordered. We saw tons of fungus, early-stage swamps, and a handful of mountain bikers. Not much wildlife. At some point I said to myself (as I do now and then), If I see a deer, I’ll know my mother is watching over me.

It didn’t seem particularly likely or unlikely, but after an hour-plus, I said outloud, The deer are probably sleeping at this hour.

K turned to agree and spotted — not twenty feet from my right shoulder — a huge, solitary deer.

Can you believe it?

Hi, Mom.

This morning, it was too cold to finish the puzzles outside — even bundled up with blankets and down!