For me, clarity does not come in the morning.  For me, most mornings are more like this.

Morning fog is dissipating

A few minutes earlier nothing was visible beyond the first line of trees.  Even they were not clear, being obscured by the fog.  Cold earth with a snow coverlet and warm air provide the conditions to form such down-to-earth clouds.

It’s on mornings like this when I don’t have to rise early and commute through heavy traffic to reach a job, that I most enjoy my life.  Our past sacrifices are paying off with interest.

There are two painting that hang in a short hallway opposite the office door in our home.  Sylvia painted them many years ago on birch bark.  (No living trees were damaged in obtaining the “canvas.”  I walk past them multiple times each day, but don’t often take time to enjoy them.  Nevertheless they are two of my favorites.

Looks like this rascal is up to mischief

This picture feels so “Michigan” to me.  I think this next one is my favorite.

Momma. Momma. I’m hungry

Seems to me that our lives are surrounded by the beauty of life.  It is up to us to see and appreciate it–if we can.

Yes, that’s what this week is doing–slipping into history.  It went by so fast, probably because I was so busy with a couple of projects.

This morning we said goodbye to Shark.  Her plans had slipped and she found it convenient to spend another overnight with us.  She said that she would be, “latish.”

We were setting the table for supper when she arrived.  (She had called ahead.)  After the meal and clean-up we sat in the family room and talked well into the night.

This captures the feel of night

Since our friend left for her home, I’ve spent most of my day reading The Fellowship of the Ring.  I love the books much better than the movies.  That is especially true for the volume, The Hobbit.  In print that volume is fairly thin.  The tale is fairly simple, but it sets the stage for the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

I may turn on the TV before going to bed this evening.  Or I may not.  It’s very easy to get caught up in the story.

I’d like to do this:

On Second thought, make that “I’d like to be able to do this.”  Oh, and not to break any of my pieces or parts.

On frigid winter days, like today, I like to watch this kind of activity.  Doesn’t it look like fun?  Wouldn’t you like to try it? :dontknow:

At my age, winter is not as much fun as it was when I was a young ‘un.  I’m just not up for sledding, ice skating . . . not even making snow persons.

These days (daze?), I just want to stay in where it’s warm.  That’s okay, but when that happens, all I do is sit at the computer, sit in front of the TV, sit in the recliner with a book or sit at the table.  Nothing wrong with sitting at the table, but what happens when that’s not the only place I eat?  I find it easy to snack at the computer, in front of the TV and while reading a book.

Aye, there’s the rub.  Snack, nibble, snack, eat.  Soon one is carried away.   And I look like this:

Yikes!

Now I’m ready to hibernate.  How about you?

Every time I look out the window, I see their handiwork on display.  In seeing those objects, I am transported to other places.  For instance:

This sculpture takes me to Egypt

Then it’s on to Europe

Next stop is France

Then I come back to this continent and country (USA)

This reminds me of George Washington

Now I have to wait another 49 weeks for the next sledding party.  It’s going to be fun.