a large tree with intricate branches set against a dark sky, and a dog sitting on a rocky surface in the foreground

two dogs standing in a leafy wooded area with bare trees and scattered green vegetation | Two large dogs walking together on a paved path next to a mossy stone wall and green grass on a cloudy day

09 January ~2012

I had a good Christmas holiday, with Amy and Alyssa at my home Christmas Eve. I got them some nice gifts, but didn't overdo it this year, since all of us have way too much stuff. (especially me). They got me a bird house mounted on an iron pole, which will be perfect in my new garden this spring.

Amy and I went to see a movie after Alyssa left, then down to see the City and County Building lights, which seemed to be especially pretty this year. There was plenty of snow left from the storm the previous week, which of course meant I had to start a snowball fight, and then run to avoid Amy's payback throws.

colorful red and green lights illuminating a building at night with snow on the ground and a person holding a snowball

City and County Building illuminated at night with bright red, blue, and green lights, columns lit in red, and decorative stars in windows, with the words '2011 PEACE ON EARTH' displayed at the top

Me and Amy went to another movie on Christmas Day and then had a pretty bad dinner at a hotel restaurant. We were trying something different than the usual dinner at a chinese restaurant we have on Christmas day.

Table setting with a fork, knife, a basket of sliced bread with a white napkin, a plate with ravioli in sauce, a dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a glass of water

I made it up to her the next week when I helped work on her house, and we went out to eat a couple of times.

 

 

I started out 2012 with a backpack trip on Sunday night, January 8th. The moon was full and rose a half hour before dark. I travelled over the snow without a headlamp, with the dogs out exploring in front. I was able to take a photo with just the light of the moon:

Full moon glowing brightly in a dark night sky over a snowy landscape with silhouettes of tall pine trees

It was clear and cold, down to 15 degrees overnight. The kind of night that campfires were made for.

Person standing by a campfire at night in a snowy forest under a bright full moon

A good way to get confidence in your gear is to try it out on nights like that. My winter sleeping bag kept me cozy warm, and the fleece vests I put on the dogs kept them comfortable. The night went by quickly. I was woken in the morning by some crows calling in the Ponderosa above camp - checking us out. First order of business was to get that campfire going again, before the cold sunk in.

Small campfire burning on snow-covered ground surrounded by tall pine trees under a clear sky

Sunlight illuminating the tops of snow-covered pine trees with a rocky mountain face in the background

Tent pitched on snowy ground near a large rock with a dog standing on the rock surrounded by snow-dusted pine trees in a forest

Snow-covered pine trees in a forest with rocky, snow-dusted mountain peaks in the background under a clear blue sky

Sunlit snow-covered forest hillside with evergreen trees casting shadows on the ground

Two dogs wearing plaid jackets standing on a snowy rock with pine trees and snow-covered mountains in the background

Two dogs wearing coats standing on snow-covered ground near a large rock and trees in a winter landscape

Black and white dog standing alert in snow next to a large, fully packed backpack on the ground with trees and snow in the background

Sunlight shining through tall snow-covered pine trees in a quiet winter forest with snow blanketing the ground

 

There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you.... In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself. 

~Ruth Stout

Every mile is two in winter. 

~George Herbert

In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

~ Albert Camus