Peace on earth

The kids are gone, the last Christmas tune has played until next year, and the only sound in the living room is the fireplace trying to compete with our central heating as outside temperatures are hovering just above 30°.  And the kid? Just who can begrudge him a little holiday downtime?   Almost hate to disturb him, but he's got to go outside.

Yule pose

Merry Christmas !

All that glitters

Not exactly a Currier and Ives scene but a seasonal expection on the interurban nonetheless. Each year someone or some people drape this lonely little fir with the trappings of Christmas - OK, a minimalist effort, on the same bend in the trail, but now a holiday tradition.   

 

   

Break in the action

Between record-breaking downpours Bellinghamsters are teased with breaks in the action that motivate most to bundle up and get outside.  Today was just just one of those occasions, so Casey and I went out for a aerobic, quick-paced stroll by the bay.  I think we actually worked up a sweat.

  

Can you tell that the kid actually welcomed this breather on the way back to Fairhaven? 

Long day's birthday night

When we do a birthday up, well, OK, hardly anyone takes notice, but we at least made sure Case's day was special.  What really helped was the rain let up some, and we at least had time to take the kid for a stroll and run in Fairhaven, his favorite part of town.  A liberal treat policy all day long and a visit from one of his favorite guys, our oldest son Joe, and his girl friend Pavlina in the afternoon pretty much finished him off. He's practically apoplectic around him.  It won't be long and the farm boy will head back to his kennel, with or without his night owl guardians.

Slacking off as a proofreader

After a round of indoor ball, Casey has obviously given up on his proofreading responsibilities too.  At least he's not trying to nudge my hands away from the keyboard today. He can push multitasking to new limits, but that's the Border Collie in him.

At least he's leaving the Frisbee alone.

Quilt project

Casey with Vic's new quilt project

On the verge of a thaw

Things look a lot worse than they are, even as hoary and frigid as yesterday OK, maybe so, but there's a thaw in the air. 

In the meantime, mornings verily glisten.

An outing with Jack Frost

After a week of high temperatures pushing 30 degrees, with lows near 20, Casey and I set off for a hike in the woods at the first signs of a thaw - a fleeting hour or two of mid-thirties before dusk, but at least frostbite wasn't going to be an issue.




The big visual payoff today for everyone with the same idea was the floral backdrop of glistening ice that accentuated most trails near Whatcom Falls Park. And if I'd had more than 1%'s worth of battery left on my phone I'd have had more images to display, but you get the idea.