I really dislike year end reviews of the news (or most anything else, actually). It seems to dampen the hopefulness of the holiday season by reminding me what happened the last time I tried to be optimistic about the year ahead.

The temperature this morning is -15°F. It reminds me of the year we lived in Duluth, MN.

Finished reading: The Bookstore Sisters 📚

Between the storms.

A huge willow after the ice fog lifted. If you look at the center of the tree you can see a major branch that split.

frosted willow tree

Finished reading (actually, finished listening to): The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Elderberry branches after a couple of days of ice fog.

ice on branch

This is the extent of my holiday decorating this year. I spent more time tracking down dead light bulbs than hanging the lights. Still, I enjoy seeing them when I step out to do the evening chores.

Holiday lights on tree

On a snowy day like today, it’s nice to be able to sink into the warmth and safety of a comfortable chair by the fire.

The official Washington State fish is the steelhead trout. However, our house favorite is the coho salmon.

Although the trend is towards a warmer climate, it has been a damn cold November.

On the topic of backyard birds, I finally identified a little brown bird that has been scratching under the thistle feeder. It’s a juvenile spotted towhee. It doesn’t look anything like the adult but the behavior is characteristic.

My motivation was tested today on a difficult jigsaw puzzle.

I missed yesterday’s mbnov challenge word. I guess that shows a lack of commitment.

Largely because of this month’s challenge, participating on Mb has become a daily ritual.

Even though I am retired, I retain my professional interest in maps and the data that go into them.

I find that reading and participating in conversations on Mb have lead me to adjust my whole approach to social media. It has nothing to do with the blue bird. I closed that door a while ago.

Farm animals out for a graze.

On these unusually cold November mornings I have to break up the ice on the chickens' water bucket. (Although I see that they didn’t wait around for me.)

frozen bucket of water

Something I’ve noticed about my use of MB. I check the Timeline, read some of the conversations, participate if I have something to say. Then I look at Discovery. If there’s not much that’s new I know it is time to put down the iPad and do something else. No doomscrolling here.