Michigan Forest Life - March 26, 2026

Good morning friends,

The forest is still. A quiet that happens when the wind is resting, when the birds have not yet arrive, when the world has still not awakened from its winter sleep.

The sun peaks over the horizon (Photo 1). What life will it bring to the day? 

I arrived at Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary yesterday for one night of forest solitude - trying to fit a brief dose of nature's simplicity into a complicated schedule of civilized world responsibilities. Seeking another Treehouse sunrise. It is enough.

The forest told me a story of last week's ice and powerful winds. Large white pine branches

littered the ground, obstructed the trail. Fresh pine needles everywhere. A blanket of green. The Treehouse deck was covered too (Photo 2 and 3). And the ground surrounding it layered with mid-size branches that had bounced off its roof. A powerful weather. It took one hour to clear the trail from the gate to the Treehouse.

Mother Nature shows us her strength. Her determination. Her independence. She demonstrates her character. Proves her place in the order of things. In the morning, she brings us a new sunrise.

I wish you a conversation with Mother Nature, and a sunrise that is at the same time an end and a beginning.

On Tuesday, my upcoming novel, FOREST LEGEND: THE TALE OF OL' SPLIT TOE will be published. It has been a long wait. Some of you already received copies this week fulfilling Amazon orders. Let me now thank you for buying the book and wish you a happy read. When you finish the story, if it resonates with you, and if you have the bandwidth, please leave a rating or a review on Amazon and send me an email about your thoughts on the story. Thank you!

Today - to get you ready - permit me to bring you the final two teasers: preview snippets 26 and 27 (Photo 4 and 5). Enjoy the adventure!

Until next time,

Dan

Preview Snippet 26 of 27

Excerpt from Chapter 31

AD 2020 - Split Toe watched as the boy walked past the gravel pit to the edge of the river where he could sit under the arms of the grandfather tree. The boy often talked to this tree and felt that he received soft answers. Today, Split Toe listened as the tree asked the boy a question.

“My friend, what is the real problem? The issue that Mother Nature will address to set things right? Is it the temperature of the planet? What is the reaction you expect she will use if she believes it needs correcting?

Preview Snippet 27 of 27

Excerpt from Chapter 31

Context: The natural spirits are speaking to Split Toe about his remarkable education.

AD 2020 - “You learn well, Split Toe. Your lessons become more difficult. But you have been prepared for every lesson. You think well. You miss little. You have survived … so far. Learning never ends, but there are still a few more new experiences you must face. The most important lesson will come soon. After that, it will be up to you to do something important with that lesson. You will know what to do.”

Copyright @ 2026 by Daniel S. Ellens