Winter is retreating. After a week of summer weather, then snow, now cool sunshine, it’s exciting to see small buds on trees and a few flowers poking up between the dried leaves. I’ve gone for a few walks on the trail by the brook this past week. All winter it was either too icy or too soggy for hiking. Now there are only a few sloppy places. Every time I walk through the woods, it still feels like a new place, never looks the same.