with a renewed air of confidence, we face another morning at 25° on the trail, and as usual the new day does not disappoint. there is an acknowledgement that although the sun's angle remains oblique, and it's shadows cast elongated, on these days with no clouds, blue sky coldness, the sun now remains longer, glaringly above the horizon line of old growth Firs, leaving the weaving path halfway to Persephone's Spring and at the same time still halfway in Hades grasp. as always, there was a first. today it was "cat walking". a young woman quietly walking her two ginger cats, no leashes, no commands, just cats walking their walk. also, someone has placed painted rocks on top of one of the sewer grates, of course they are painted with paw prints. i left them for someone's children to enthusiastically find, taking only the photo. The fact that the sewer grate is even in this position to the local natural stream is the subject for another discussion, in bewilderment that the city sewer system runs adjacent to the local conservation effort. on my return walk, the part of one pond off the main stream was still in the shadowed leeward side of the south hill, where the decomposing water grasses were sporting some beautiful crystal garments.


