Slippery Sidewalks

Very cold ground combined with a damp mist, puddles of melt water, and a temp just above freezing make creepers a rather good idea when out walking, which all of us did several times today.

An interesting batch of chili made up, using available ingredients, now bubbling softly and smelling pretty good, though untasted as of yet. That, combined with some corn bread will be our football fare as we watch some of the Vikings game. What the heck...its a dim, damp, chilly Sunday evening in January.

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Cheesecake...

...is tasty...and Sue bought a fine, big piece of semi-homemade perfection from our favorite breakfast place  in Milton. But, when we popped in a bit later for a few quick items at a nearby grocery, Pax took pity on us and removed the temptation. I normally never think about leaving food items in the car with Pax. Cheesecake, however, is cheesecake. No lunch for Pax today by way of reprimand (not that he wanted any).

Still windy, but now from the south. Even though the meter got up to 30, it was hard to ignore a lingering cold. Almost nothing of significance accomplished.

Check out this parenting advice from Ellie: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/greenland-elementary-offers-ounces-of-advice-for-new-mothers

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Clear, Cold and Quiet

Quiet nights of quiet stars, quiet chords from my guitar
floating on the silence that surrounds us
Quiet thoughts and quiet dreams, quiet walks by quiet streams
And the window looking on the mountains and the sea, how lovely.

Um cantinho, um violao, Este amor, uma cançao, Pra fazer feliz a quem se ama  
Muita calma pra pensar, E ter tempo pra sonhar  
Da janela, ve-se o Corcovado, O Redentor, que lindo.

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Desultory...

...to some degree.  Sue in Oconomowoc for a few days helping out with the twins, leaving me with what would seem plenty of time to get some things done. Alas, no—simply not enough time. I may have to eliminate one dog walk, or the nap.

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One incomplete project has been shifted from lacustrine concerns to those of a more aerial variety—in other words, birdhouses. I've been assigned a story about birdhouses.

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Here is a rather sad example—poorly designed and poorly built. (You might think college students could do better?) But what I wonder about is all the excavation around the opening. Pooh Bear stuck and trying to claw his way in? Certainly not a woodpecker? Squirrel? Porcupine? College student?

Unzip The Coat...

... pull off the gloves.  Actually pleasant to be outside.

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     On one of our walks today we ambled along Whitewater Creek for a while—until Pax sensed quarry on the far side. He then switched into pursuit mode and  took off at Pax-speed across the erratically frozen water. Luckily for him, when he's moving that fast his feet don't really touch anything, so he made it across just fine. 
     A sharp whistle brought him out of his trance, and a reprimand made him feel contrite, but a problem remained—that of dog getting back across stream. Pax considered this complex situation for a good bit of time while I visualized where, when, and how I'd have to go wading in order to pull him out when he fell in.
   Oh, me of little faith. Pax eventually found the perfect spot and scampered across without moistening a tone-nail.

Also of interest.........When I went out to run an errand this afternoon I found quite a flat flat on the right front tire of the truck. Running the compressor for 15 minutes got me enough inflation to make it to the Chevy dealer,  and repair. Apparently someone ran over something, sometime.....and I don't think it was me.