Happy New Year!  Still the first month of the New Year so I don’t count myself as late to wish everyone a great 2023.  I am still in Wisconsin.  My life adage of the only firm plan I have is that plans will change kicked in this month.  My original plan was to have left for Kenya on Jan 20^th, but now I have extended my stay here another month.  I am enjoying winter so much, I decided to stay and take advantage of the snowy winter Wisconsin is having this year.  I love it!!

Not much to say since my end of the year post.  I took some time today to download photos off my camera which I haven’t done since October 2022. 

Amazed at what I found.   The parrots that live around my compound in Ngurunit, our village home, had visited me while I was there in October and November.  The rains that finally came in November promoted the trees to get green and beautiful and the parrots were enjoying life. 

I also remember the Grevy Zebra’s I saw during several different trips up and down the country.  Grevy Zebras are endangered and now found mainly in Ethiopia and Northern Kenya. They are the largest of the zebra species, and the most rare.   I always feel so blessed to see them.  Such beautiful animals. 

Here in Wisconsin, I am enjoying the backyard birds and wildlife.  The other night I watched a possum wandering around in the snow brightness on our snow covered deck.  In the darkness, it actually looked like a huge rat with its skinny naked tail dragging behind it.  Haha.  During the day I love to see the deer around in the yard.

  They love to come eat the sunflower seed husks from under the bird feeder.  The snow is so deep, that the bigger doe can actually reach up and lick birdseed right off of the platform.  A treat for her.  

For Christmas, my Dad got a new birdfeeder from his grandkids.  We hung it by the window and it is proving to be great for the squirrels, haha.  They love it.  The little birds do too when the bully squirrels aren’t around. 

A few days ago I spent a long time watching a beautifully striking red cardinal in the snow covered bushes on the edge of our property here.  So amazing.  I love watching the birds in the snow.  So delicate.  So quick.  So vibrant.  So full of energy. 

Winter is such an amazing season.  I know I annoy everyone by going around being so excited about the snow, ice and cold.  I can’t help it.  The only snow I ever see in Kenya is on top of

Mount Kenya.  Mount Kenya is located exactly on the equator, but is so high, that it does get a lot of snow.  One day I may climb up and touch it.  But then again, maybe not!  I will be content to see it from a distance and take photos.  Haha.  I did climb Kilimanjaro once.  With my kids in 2015 as a Rotary fundraiser event as well as a sort of 50^th birthday extravaganza. 

That was amazing.  There was a lot of snow.  I made it over 18,000 feet above sea level, not in an airplane.  Yikes.  Fun.  Hard.  A memorable occasion.  Here’s a flashback photo of my son and I at Gilman Point of Kilimanjaro. 

Wishing everyone a blessed 2023.  Enjoy the moment each moment of life.  Breathe. Be.  Love.