Rings in the Wood

I scrambled up onto the wide, flat top of a giant cedar stump beside the park path! The sliced wood was etched with dozens of tight rings rippling outward like frozen ripples in a pond. Grabbing a stiff pine needle between both of my soft pink paws, I planted its tip right into the center circle and began tracing the rings one by one! Scritch-scritch—the needle slid smoothly along the groove as I shuffled sideways on round feet, winding outward in an enormous spiral until my toes bumped against the rough, mossy bark rim. Figuring out how trees count their birthdays is the best afternoon puzzle ever!