Michigan Forest Life - December 21, 2025

Greeting Friends,

A strong wind rushes through the forest. Not just a gust. It has been blowing all night. It

shakes the Treehouse. It is a wind that I hear and feel.

Snow covers the ground. It is not deep, but it is pure winter. 13° F. Inside, a fire in the woodstove warms the Treehouse. The interior is still dark. I am waiting for the sky to lighten it naturally; the oil lamps remain idle this morning.

It has been one month since I spent a night in the Treehouse.  I feel the need to be here. I have been busy. It’s my longest time away. I long for this peace. This manual, wood and water carrying, version of peace. Forest peace. A few days of it before the year-end holidays. 

A group of forest friends greeted me as I approached the gate yesterday afternoon. They were in our hayfield, foraging for the best afternoon winter meal they could find (Photo 1). Deer seemed to be all around yesterday. I saw plenty.

I followed the trail along the river to the Bunkee (Photo 2). All was well (Photo 3, 4). Then, I continued on to the Treehouse (Photo 5, 6). All was well at the Treehouse, too. The new supports added in October are doing their job.

What a pleasure to spend a few more days in the wilds... absorbing the natural environment... The civilized world seems miles away. 

I step onto the porch and gaze over the snow covered meadow. I feel a strong wind pushing against me. I hear it whipping through the trees. I feel the crisp winter cold kiss my cheeks. I feel alive.

Let me leave you with another teaser from FOREST LEGEND: THE TALE OF OL' SPLIT TOE today - preview snippet 13 of 27 (Photo 7). Read, enjoy, imagine.

I wish you a day of peace before the holidays, and eyes to see the work of Mother Nature in

the world that surrounds you. 

Until next time, 

Dan

Excerpt from Chapter 17

AD 1911 - 

County roads made it easy for humans to get from one parcel to another and for everyone in the community to reach settlements in any direction. These humans, though they lived in open farming spaces, seemed quite fond of gathering. They did it frequently. Children gathered at school. Everyone gathered at church. From time to time, the community gathered for a meeting to talk about how to make their community more efficient or more safe or more organized.

Split Toe remembered eavesdropping on one human gathering. Many people from the community came together at the homestead of Grace and Angus. Some came in horse-drawn buggies. Others walked. Split Toe thought their clothes showed a little more contrast than what he saw them wear in the fields. Simple but clean. Black and white.

A man from the community stood in front of the crowd, addressing them in a loud, clear voice.

Copyright @ 2025 by Daniel S. Ellens

Pre-order now on Amazon

Publication Date: March 31, 2026

Praise for FOREST LEGEND: 

“Dan Ellens has written a novel of impressive quality, gleaned from 2,500 solitary nights spent in a remote forest sanctuary of his own design. Within the midst, the author’s spirit blends with that of Ol’ Split Toe, a timeless forest presence since the last glacial recession and a giant force, purveyor and critic of mankind’s clever ways, with an imposing survivalist storyline fortified by a strong didactic undercurrent. Forest Legend bridges an immense readership gap, from the adventurous needs of young adult readers to the varied callings of serious minded adults.”

– J. August Lithen, Author of The Road to Marion Town: The Settlement of Osceola County, State of Michigan.