I wonder who this was?

On Easter morning, I went out to fill the bird feeder next to the house. I looked down and found these HUGE tracks on the new snow! They came out of the little critter trail out back, went along the side of the house and right next to the deck. We have considered all kinds of critters when trying to figure out who left these at our house. Because the tracks are about 4 inches long, and the stride between them is huge, we really aren't sure. I was really hoping it was a giant cat track, as that would mean we had been visited by the ever elusive, legendary mountain lion!

But after comparing tracks shown in my books and on-line, we've narrowed it down to some kind of canine track. That means that this was an enormous dog!Now, there aren't any dogs like this in the area, at least that we are aware of. We have coyote near here, but they usually aren't so big. There are no wolves here in Massachusetts. Perhaps it was a pet dog that got loose the night before, but I really doubt it. So this remains a mystery. And since I like a mystery, I that I would share it with you.

Earth Day Every Day!

Happy Birthday, Gaia!
Well, at least on the day your modern residents have chosen to celebrate your existence. Some of us celebrate your birthday on the Spring Equinox, but if adding a "special" day to the calendar has more folks paying attention to the issues that plague you, then I can't help but think it's a good thing. You need celebration, and a good polishing! We have let you get tarnished, in the name of our progress. However, there are some folks here who think that enough is enough. There are groups of us all over your great expanse working to make things right, and to try to let you breathe a little easier. Hopefully, alot of people will start to see that a little celebration, every day, is long overdue!
We do love you, Mom, really we do!
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Here are some links to find out more information on what you can do to lessen your impact on the planet, what others are doing, and what is coming in the future.
Find at least one thing that you can do, every day, to help our Mother.
Reduce/Re-Use/Recycle

Treehugger.com
Visible Earth: Nasa images of our home planet
Sundance Channel's The Green
What is Earth Day?
National Wildlife Federation
The Nature conservancy: Carbon Impact Calculator
World Wildlife Fund: What are you doing for Earth Day?
Plants for a Future:Links
Kyoto Protocol
An Inconvenient Truth
Dean's Beans Coffee: 100% Organic & Fair Trade