I woke up at 4 this morning,  realizing it would be cold and dark for hours.  I stayed awake in my warm bed feeling despair over the darkness and hatred bubbling up in pockets of my country.  I should be doing something to encourage love and compassion and healing and peace, but I feel powerless.

I spent hours in a soft, dark melancholy until a little light hit the horizon and I got up, unsure what the day would bring.

Opening my email after breakfast brought welcome progress on a proposed youth literacy project.  Today S. and I each received responses from locals excited about bringing new opportunities and connections to young people in our community.

Meanwhile C was on the phone continuing his efforts to dig out neighbors,  widows, and the infirm from this icy snow we received.  By the time the temperature had warmed from 8F to 17, he was out the door.  Each day he roams further from home, working in challenging conditions without pay.

As I mention our tiny flickers of effort, I realize this post doesn’t have any grand answers.   Nonetheless I am encouraged.  And I hope my rambling inspires us all to bring a little light and love into the world today. 

The above photos are from April and early May in Alaska.  The below photo is our Virginia greenhouse today.   Salad greens are struggling but alive,  surviving 11 degrees last night!

Raised footprints in the snow are really cool.  I’ve  never seen them in the lower 48,  but found them several times in Alaska. https://roaming-nature.com/2023/04/16/tracks-ii-week-5-in-healy/https://roaming-nature.com/2023/03/24/tracks-day-6-in-healy/https://roaming-nature.com/2025/04/18/tracks-in-the-snow/