There is a fresh blanket of snow covering the ground and deck at the back of my house. This in itself is not surprising in winter. What’s different this morning is that there is neither bird nor squirrel in sight. Usually I wake up to squirrels chasing each other all over the place and birds flocking to the feeder. But there is not a single sign of these creatures. The snow is eerily undisturbed and the air is remarkably still. I slowly realize that I am missing what I have always taken for granted. I wonder where they are. Happy Saturday.