January 12 2012

-6 this AM and just a light wind.
A home day for me.... I don't have to drive anywhere!  The last 4 days in a row I had to head out and it is nice to have a day now that I don't have to do that.
The sky was so dark this morning though it was hard to get going.  I felt a lot more like heading back to bed instead.  But as I set out with the dogs after chores, the sun broke through the clouds and that was an encouraging thing.  No snow on the ground, only small hummocks of ice in places so we can walk easily anywhere we want.  Walked north to the "Broccoli Tree", a big tree standing on its own out on the flat, I think it is a Balm of Gilead tree.  We took a coyote by surprise, he was only a few feet away from us, had his head down probably hunting for mice in the juniper.  Ace was hot on his heels and Bee backed him up but of course there was no contest, the wild ones can easily beat these two.  He does have a little more at stake though.
H helped me move the sheet of plywood roof that blew off my Orange Fortress in the wind the other day.  I think I will just leave it down for now, no point putting it back just to blow away again.  I will have to devise a more windproof way to attach it.
Our dozen roosters looks so good this year, they are in better condition now than this time last year.  It makes all the difference when they can get out every day.  They have found a sheltered spot near the wall of the shop where the sun reflects off the metal siding and they sit there and bask in the sun.  I took my camera out there after chores and took some photos of them.  They are a nice color contrast with their pure white, black and white ripples and deep mahogany feathers.
I have so much I could and should be doing today but it is hard to choose what to start on. I think the trick is to find the balance between inertia and stressful action.  When I have very little I have to do I tend to get very little done!
I bought some cutting mats and a rotary cutter as I plan to cut some material ready for quilting.  Soon the CWL will be meeting again to make baby quilts during Lent and I haven't done any quiliting between last year and now.  I have made lots of aprons though.
I am going to go assemble a lasagna for supper tonight, not E's favorite but that is too bad, everyone else likes it so 6/7 aint bad!