Good Bye, January. We'll Miss You

 

For the first time ever, I'll miss January. 

It's been a good month for staying active without killing our bodies shoveling snow or plowing passageways. 

I've worn my Skecher slip-on street shoes for the past couple of weeks while going on morning walks in the woods and the fields. 

We've had mobile freedom like we've never had in January---just get in the car and go. 

Even this morning, the snow waited to give the dogs and me one more morning of easy walking to punctuate my claim that January has been good to us. 

Toweling off dogs after their trips outside hasn't happened for some time. This morning they needed to have fluffy snow swept off their coats so there was a little towel action, which Bridie loves. 

Now comes February and the snow. We may get as much as 8 inches of white stuff over the weekend.

The second trip with Bridie down the lane and through the fields required a bit more walking grit because almost two inches of snow had fallen since our first time outside. 

We've been spoiled, but the shovels are ready, as is the tractor which has been allowed to sit lazy in the shop for most of the winter.  

I noticed that my boots with Yak Trax are waiting by the door for some more action this winter. Hope we can avoid ice, but then again, it's winter. 

In spite of knowing we have more winter to come, I started my garden yesterday. 

Bill looked over while I prepared a tray for seeding on the kitchen island.  He thought I was baking a cake. 

I told him that a couple of my Facebook friends, upon seeing photos of last year's garden start, thought the trays were filled with brownies. 

Yesterday I planted some tomatoes and some lettuce. Still have to find Sungold tomato seeds for this year, but they'll probably be next, along with some posies. 

Having the garden-start table next to the sliding glass door has slightly hampered Bridie's ability to keep a watch for invaders outside, but she figured it out this morning. I just hope she doesn't get up too fast and knock the table over. 

Speaking of klutzy-type stuff happening, I learned that CB has a new look this morning.  The goofy boy often gets his head where it doesn't belong.  Plus, he also uses it as a battering ram.  

He wouldn't hurt a soul, but that head is much more active that it needs to be. 

So, this mess will have to heal and eventually be added to the battle scars he has inflicted upon himself, mostly on that head. 

I liked the painting below, and, yes, it does remind me of my mother's clothesline which extended from our house to a cedar tree next to the barnyard. 

The clothesline was always in used back in the good ol' ringer washer days. 

Once I stuck my hand in and the ringer rollers grabbed it, pulling my arm in clear to the elbow. My brother released the ringer, allowing me to remove my hand and arm before Mother returned to the house.

As a photographer, I'm thinking 70 years later, that scene would have made a good picture. 

We had our clothesline problems too.  Once I was on a horse that didn't realize the clothesline was there, but fortunately no horse or human sustained injuries in that incident.   

The voters of Idaho passed the Initiative that allowed for Medicaid expansion in our state. 

It's important to remind (loudly and clearly) our legislators that the "people" passed this Initiative.  

That move should be honored, especially because so many Idahoans who were in the Medicaid Gap now have health insurance. 

I would hate to think of the alternative and how it would affect us all. 

Also, regardless of your politics, I encourage you to please read the following, think about it, think about people you know who are Medicaid recipients and let your legislators know how important it is to maintain Medicaid expansion.  

Thank you.  

 Good bye, January.  Happy Friday.