These cold and gray back-to-back January days are so depressing but there is an upside to it.  No snow to shovel or ice to slip and fall on.  Area roads are bare and dry and not coated with tons of corrosive road salt.  Power outages are less likely due to heavy snow and storms.  The ground is walkable and the bird feeders don’t empty as quickly.  Pheebs and I did manage a short Jeep ride this morning and a short afternoon walk near the Park’s pond…….both under cold cloudy skies of course.    

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR AN ICY COLD WIND WE COULD HAVE EASILY WALKED OUR COUNTRY ROAD THIS MORNING

I finished my true life Don’t Blow Yourself Up book by Homar Hickam last week.  This book is an excellent sequel to Hickam’s first book, Rocket Boys.  Homer lived a life chocked full of accomplishments and adventure.  In fact, a movie was made based on his first book, Rocket Boys.  We picked up a DVD copy of that book entitled October Sky Saturday and watched it.  We both liked the movie but I did notice a lot of things in the book didn’t make it into the movie.  That’s understandable because how do you condense a 12-hour read into a 160-minute movie.  Here is a YouTube of author Homar Hickam being interviewed…..Hickam Interview.  I am currently reading The Boys by Ron Howard (Opie from Andy Griffith) and his younger brother Clint. (Gentle Ben)  This book is a great insight into the Howard family and their acting careers and an enjoyable peek into the backstage antics of Hollywood.  Ron Howard also played Ritchie in Happy Days and went on in his acting career to become a well-respected successful director. 

A FEW VERY LONG DISTANCE SHOTS OF A COUPLE SNUZZLY HORSES

Many times over my blogging years I have stated in my posts that I do not accept Facebook ‘Friend Requests’.  The reason for that is because of my being hacked twice.  However, I do have some ongoing Friend Requests here that may be legitimate.  If those people could send me an email with some kind of verification that it is really them, I would appreciate that.  There is an email address in my blog’s right-hand column.  

AFTERNOON WALK

Ellen’s Groove:)) Here’s a short 25-second video of Ellen playing a guitar style known as  Slap Bass.  And here is bass singer Geoff Castellucci singing an old Bill Withers song, Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone.  You will notice in Geoff’s very well-done videos that he sings all his own harmonies as well.  

I HAVE NOT SEEN A SQUIRREL ON OUR BIRDSATION FOR AT LEAST A MONTH NOW

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The National Game warden put out a warning to all hikers in his area warning that they should wear small bells on their boots so as not to startle the bears. To distinguish the grizzly bear the notice read– small bears droppings are small with nuts and berries in it. Grizzly bear droppings are much larger with nuts and berries and little tiny bells in it

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Golf balls are like eggs…  They are both white, sold by the dozen, and a week later you have to go out and buy more.

What do you get when you cross a Buddhist and a Druid? Someone who worships the tree that is not there.

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College student: “Hey, Dad! I’ve got some great news for you!”
Father: “What, son?”
College student: “Remember that $500 you promised me if I made the Dean’s list?”
Father: “I certainly do!”
College student: “Well, you get to keep it.”

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