As the orange glowing sun rose up over the horizon, a hint of magic filled the air. A chattering flock of ravens surfed wildly on the winds, landing high in the trees and soaring to the ground to hold council among the frozen cornstalks in the field beside our house. I wondered what they were up to, besides calling me out to play. I ventured into the woods, delighted by the beauty of the vibrant green forest dusted with sparkling white snow, all embraced by the brilliant blue sky. Our spirited dog, Jasmine, romped through the underbrush, sticking her nose deep into animal tracks imprinted in the snow to determine just who had been by and how long ago and if there still was a chance of catching up.

When I stopped beside a creek to breath in the deep woody silence, I noticed the thread of a spider