The birds are returning, the tops of the daffodils are peeking through the soil, and yesterday we had snow flurries all day long. That's March in the Midwest. I have yet to see the bunnies that sneak under the fence to nibble on the clover and wild strawberries that grow in our yard, but I look forward to seeing them every year. When we had a dog they were always svelte and lightening-fast. Now they are roly-poly things who dismiss us as a threat. Living near the woods is pretty great, as there's a never-ending parade of wildlife to observe. Apparently our neighborhood has gained a lone turkey, which one of my neighbors has named Lisa. I have yet to see her, but her footprints are all over the creek bed. Last summer we had a pair of red-tailed hawks nesting in the neighborhood. I know that at some point we will move out of this house to give a young family the opportunity to grow here, but moving away from the revolving cast of wildlife characters will be hard. The trash-prowling raccoon we call The Honorable Chonk, the pack of coyotes that run down the sidewalk and howl at the fire engine sirens, the sleepy-eyed opossums, and the wide variety of birds all make our neighborhood feel vibrant and a part of nature.
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