AND SO IT GOES EACH NEW YEAR'S MORNING

'Wowsers,' a pinky sunrise kicked off a blue sunshiny morning.  Now, how's that for starting the first day of the first week of a New Year off eh:)))))

JUST GOTTA LOVE THESE BLUE SUNSHINY DAYS

 YOU CAN MY EYES WERE DRAWN TO THE BIG BLUE SKY THIS MORNING

With temps sitting at 27F I knew the muddy road at our country road walking spot would be still frozen so Pheebs and I headed out there straight away to get a walk in.  Due to an icy north wind and slippery conditions underfoot we had to limit our walk to a quarter mile.  I knew the slightest slip could cause me a mountain of pain in my right hip even if I didn't fall.

 A FEW PHOTOS ON MY WAY OUT OF THE PARK EARLIER TODAY

 OFF WE GO UP THE ROAD HEADFIRST INTO AN ICY NORTH WIND

 FROZEN WATER PUDDLES ALONG THE WAY

LONG GRASS WITH A DUSTING OF CRISPY FROZEN SNOW

 THE FROZEN MUD IN THE FOREGROUND MADE FOR TRICKY WALKING

Continuing on, we jeeped ourselves around half a dozen country roads soaking up the rural scenery as we went.  A great way to start the new year off unlike a week ago on Christmas day when it was a miserably rainy cold day.  In all our travels this morning we only encountered two other cars. I like when that happens:))  

 WE DROVE ALONG SLOWLY FOLLOWING THE BIG BLUE SKY

 A LONG BUNDLE OF HAY BALES WRAPPED IN PROTECTIVE PLASTIC

It wasn't long after we got home that we lost the Sun to a thin cloud cover.  But, that was alright because we were able to be out earlier and get a few steps in while being a part of the morning's sunshine.  

 I WASN'T ABLE TO GET A CLEAR SHOT OF THIS LITTLE FELLOW'S HOOVES AGAIN

At midnight last night, lots of Seniors were driving wildly around our Park blaring their horns, flashing their lights, and yelling out the windows.  Some of them even had hats and horns and appeared to be quite tipsy.  Okay, okay, so that didn't really happen, but it could have.  You know what we Seniors can be like sometimes eh:)) 

 I THINK THAT LITTLE CLASS C RV LEANING AGAINST THE DRIVING SHED IS HOPING THAT SOME KIND SOUL WILL DRIVE HIM DOWN SOUTH FOR THE WINTER

WITH THOSE LARGE EXHAUST FAN TUBES I AM GUESSING THIS IS A PIG BARN

 WE'RE STILL CRUISING ALONG UNDER THE BIG BLUE SKY

It was nice to wake up this morning and see 2023 in the rearview mirror.  Looking ahead to 2024 and although it's a foggy outlook I'm mildly excited to get the year underway and deal with the challenges ahead whatever they may be.  And, next year I will probably wake up on this very same first day of the year and see 2024 In the same rearview mirror thinking to myself, well I'm sure glad that year is over!!  And so it goes each New Year's morning.

 THE SWEEPING SHORELINE OF LAKE HURON IS LESS THAT THREE MILES STRAIGHT AHEAD

 CANADA GEESE HANGING OUT ON A FARM POND

I finished my latest book called, Stories From The Messengers: Accounts of Owls, UFOs and a Deeper Reality by author Mike Clelland.  He is the author of the previous book I liked so well called, Unseen.  There is always a lot to think about in Mike Clellend's books and his non-fiction book 'Stories From The Messengers' was no exception.  I certainly will be more attentive to any Owls I encounter from now on.  Kelly and I did try to save several young Great Horned Owls right here in our own Park a number of years ago over near the Park's pond.  The first one was on June 14th, 2010.  Our Monday Morning Mission of Mercy and the second one was on June 12th, 2012.  An Unsuccessful Ending to a Rescue Attempt.  From around the house, I have today gathered together a collection of four little gray unassuming stone Owls and have them now sitting together ahead of me on our sunroom's computer desk.  It is those four little Owls that you see at the top of today's post.  With one of my Picasa photo-editing tools, I have given them a deservedly mysterious Neon look........... For my next book I have chosen Two Years Before The Mast by author, Richard Henry Dana Jr.  It is a thirteen-and-half hour read and that I should think will keep me quite entertained while I wile away these cold and gray Winter days..................

Al's Music Box:)) Up Up And Away  I thought we'd start the New Year off on an upbeat note:))  "Up, Up and Away" is a 1967 song written by Jimmy Webb and recorded (as "Up–Up and Away") by US soul-pop act the 5th Dimension with backing from members of The Wrecking Crew.^] A canonical example of sunshine pop themed around images of hot air ballooning, it cleaned up at the 10th annual Grammy Awards in 1968, winning for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, Best Performance by a Vocal Group, Best Performance by a Chorus and Best Contemporary Song.  

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A doctor of psychology was doing his normal morning rounds, and he entered a patient's room to find his patient sitting on the floor, sawing at a piece of wood with the side of his hand. Meanwhile, another patient was in the room, hanging from the ceiling by his feet.The doctor asked his patient what he was doing, sitting on the floor.  The patient replied in an irritated fashion, "Can't you see I'm sawing this piece of wood in half?"  The doctor inquired, "And what is the fellow hanging from the ceiling doing?"  "Oh. He's my friend, but he's a little crazy. He thinks he's a light bulb."  The doctor asks, "If he's your friend, don't you think you should get him down from there before he hurts himself?"  "What? And work in the dark?"

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Son: “Dad, did you get the results of the DNA test back?”
Dad: “Ya, call me George.”

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"Mr. Clark, I'm afraid I have bad news," the doctor told his anxious patient. "You only have six months to live."  The man sat in stunned silence for the next several minutes. Regaining his composure, he apologetically told his physician that he had no medical insurance. "I can't possibly pay you in that time."  "Okay," the doctor said, "let's make it nine months."
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