Keeping Calm and Carrying on

 

Testing, 1-2-3!  I took this photo with night vision at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026.  That's the same tree I sometimes have in the foreground of sunrise shots, so it's looking a little bit south of east.  I'm posting here to see how well it transfers, but Orion is somewhat hidden between the branches of that tree.  This is a nostalgia shot to prove to myself that my childhood memories of watching Orion rising and marching across the sky as dad drove us home from grandma's house at the end of a long holiday visit are not faulty.  It's not easy to see against a light webpage background, but it is visible.

As of Saturday morning (the 10th), we are still a little above the average January temperature.  We have dropped back into abnormally dry conditions, overall, but not fully into a drought yet.  It's still below the freezing mark, so I'm still reluctant to go out dog-walking because of my Reynaud's, so car rides it is!  I am so glad that Ember eventually outgrew her car sickness, because this is a way to exercise her dog-brain, too.

Speaking of the 10th of January, this year marks 98 years since the birth of my father.  Dad's been gone now for a little over 26 years, but dates are something that stick in the brain, or at least in mine.  The other birthday memory of dad was the year that my brother Kevin (a.k.a. MOBYCARP from Spark days) ran a race on Dad's birthday.

I think it was a half marathon, named appropriately "Winter Warrior" or some such, but the photo he posted showed ice in his beard.  I think the FB post was in 2013. 

Somehow in my mind I tie them (dad and brother) together because of that.  My brother even mentioned at the time that he dedicated the race in honor of dad.

I am once again trickling out "new toys" that arrived this month.  One of her new favorites is a beaver head ball that bounces in unexpected ways because of the ears and the teeth on its surface.  Sunday morning was chilly (19℉) so I tossed it outside from the deck, and off she raced to retrieve it.  Five of those cycles and I have a dog that's tired enough to put herself down for a puppy nap.  

Another "new" favorite is a "lump of coal" in a dodecahedron shape.  Not sure just what the material is, but it squeaks and bounces, and she likes to chew on it.

I have a few more in reserve for when she needs an extra stimulus.  

A big beef bone came in the Chewy box that arrived on Sunday afternoon.  She happily chewed on it for two full hours.  This is during the time of day when she gets most restless, so the peace was wonderful.

The fur-coated automated jiggly toy died earlier on Sunday.  But I have another on "autoship" order for next month.  She really likes these.  If I limit her time with certain toys, they last longer (more sessions).

Monday I awakened to a restless pup, and we worked out some of that with a car ride, and some with giving her "rubbish" to tear up.  An empty oatmeal box with crumpled paper and an empty soda bottle was her makeshift puzzle of the morning.  It's how I keep the toy budget within reason!

The crud that's going around hit my son's household on Friday and over the weekend.  First it hit FGC, and they kept him home from school with a fever.  Saturday my son came down with it, and he kept himself quiet both Saturday and Sunday, preserving his recovery so that he was OK to go to work on Monday.  DIL got lucky, knock wood, and so far, has not succumbed.  Her mom had been with a larger social group for a birthday party on Saturday and came home with a rising temperature.  She recovered quickly and is also OK on Monday.  Her dad has been lucky, too, again, knock wood, and I'm not exhibiting symptoms, but kept myself to myself and to Ember, Friday through Monday, to protect upcoming peopling this week.

I have the trainer on Tuesday, the dentist on Wednesday, and the eye doctor for the glaucoma check on Thursday as well as a breakfast with the investment dudes.  Ember gets three full day care days.  That will make her happy, and hopefully less of that restless pup I saw on Monday morning.

Monday afternoon it was absolutely gorgeous out and nearly 60℉, so we actually got out for a sniff-a-palooza of a walk in the neighborhood.  My restless pup is now a very happy one!

Life is good.  Keep Sparking!