Saturday Slight

I couldn't help but think of Mark Twain's classic A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court this morning.

Of course in the novel, knowing a "solar" rather than lunar eclipse was coming helped the Yankee get back home, so to speak.

Still, as I watched that big, beautiful full moon in its clear star-lit sky slowly disappear behind the Earth's shadow, I fancied making some magical wishes which might just come true if quietly articulated during this morning's phenomenon.

Couldn't come up with anything big except hoping that my camera would capture the moment if I simply stuck it out the sliding-glass door and pointed it at the moon.

The result:  no wish come true; instead a couple of white blobs on a dark background.

So go my photos of the Eclipse.  

But the image up above, shot yesterday afternoon across Taylor's field, still features a magnificent December moon showing its face above the Cabinet Mountains at the end of a lovely December day.

The image from yesterday more than makes up for this morning's blob.

We have been so blessed with mild, wonderful weather over the past several days.

Here in North Idaho, lots of folks are downright giddy over being able to drive virtually any road without constant fear of getting stuck or sliding off.  

Those who have chores to do with their farm animals have been given a temporary exemption from the usual daily grind of fighting the elements just to get the job done.

And, the freedom to walk just about anywhere on bare ground has been a much appreciated gift from Mother Nature.

The positive beat goes on, too.  

Tom Sherry predicts ten days of pretty much the same, except for some slight possibilities of snow showers during only a couple of the next ten days.

No complaints from this lady.

The conditions have allowed me to put in some miles and, with the aid of my new pedometer, I know exactly how many.  

Yesterday was a slow day cuz I took Mother for a drive out to a very, very quiet Garfield Bay.  Big change from the hubbub of activity we saw in that beautiful hamlet during Labor Day weekend.

Even stopped at two places to buy a cup of coffee.  One was closed; the other had no coffee brewing.  

Anyway, driving does nothing for pedometers, so my day ended with 5.2 miles or 13,129 steps taken. 

Thursday was the big day, of course, because of the hike with the dogs.  I jotted down 7.2 miles but forgot to write down the 17,000-plus steps.

So, in four days, I've officially traveled 23.9 miles by foot.

Don't know if I could keep that pace up on a regular basis, especially when the snow returns, but the pedometer offers a great way for a person to keep score in the perennial effort to stay in shape.

Now, I must say that gorging on the Blue Heron's chicken parmeson last night may have negated any efforts made yesterday. 

"My oh My," as Dave Niehaus would say, that is the best meal.  Every single bite leads to one more culinary delight.  

Chef Steve Holmes puts out a big serving, and I must report that both Debbie and I did everything but lick our plates clean.

If not in a public setting we probably would have done just that.

So, today I'd better take extra steps to rid my body of those extra calories.

And, we have another one of those exquisitely beautiful December days to enjoy every step taken.

Of course, the day will be capped off by an exciting match-up between the Michigan State Spartans and the ZAGS.

Go ZAGS.  Happy Saturday to all.