1/31: in the dark

By the time Chris and I got back to the house, the sun had set, but we decided to walk along the ridge anyway, flashlights in hand.

1/30: five

Thought-provoking theoretical readings for one of my courses today.

Some time snatched to do more painting.

And to go on a walk while the sun was overhead.

Work on the PowerPoint for an upcoming presentation was more fun than expected.

And the water, as always, was wonderful.

1/29: paint

I painted some paper today, in preparation for future art experiments.  Who knows how the experiments will go, but just the act of painting itself--covering paper with color--was very satisfying.

1/28: one, two, three

A single bluebird zipped by my car, and at nearly the same time I saw two pelicans on the lake.  They were there when I went to town in the early afternoon and were still around when I came home later.  They were joined still later by a third pelican which I didn't see but happily Chris did on his way back from work.  (Chris has missed some of the past years' pelican sightings, so I'm glad he got in on this one.)

1/27: reading & re-reading

This afternoon I started reading Mark Haddon's Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (it's the next novel on the list for one of my courses), and I'm really enjoying it--so much so that I'm already nearly half done.

This evening I re-read my Midas paper since my talk (cancelled in December's snowstorm) has been rescheduled for next week.  I was relieved to find that I still like what I wrote!

1/26: company on the water

Chris came kayaking this afternoon--and we were also joined by herons and lots of wind.

1/25: first crocuses

Earlier this week it was very cold (single-digit degrees), but today is sunny and warm.  As we walked by a little patch of ground this afternoon, I remarked that I was surprised the crocuses weren't peeking up.  And then I looked closer, and there were a few of them, quite small still, poking out of the ground!

1/24: simple, solid pleasures

Remembering yesterday's waxwings, their yellow tail-tips so bright.

Some good reading today, both fiction and non-fiction.

Crisp air and warm sun during an afternoon walk.

Making cupcakes with Chris.

And cats in my lap, Emma in the afternoon and Tilde in the evening.