Finally Friday

and it has been a hard week, really cold.  Plus, my boss did not go away this week as he planned.  I have actually had to work several hours this week.  I have walked each  night except for Tuesday when I made spaghetti and bread for the kids.  I now  have 19 miles for February.  I will need 25 a week to get to 100 this month.  The weather next week is supposed to be better, at least 40 or above each day and no nights in the teens.

Wednesday was our coldest night, down to 13 according to my truck.  Yesterday, I checked the house next door and it was fine.  It was 34 outside, but 54 inside the living room.  Nice and warm in the water rooms.

We had a dusting of snow yesterday morning.  Kids got a snow day.  They got to wear the snow boots for the first time.  I got them in October and I don't think they have worn them at all.

Helen's dog is sticking around.  George feeds him on her porch sometimes.  Yesterday when I walked, I counted 7 BIG dogs in the hollow in front of the Stone house.  I don't think they are missing the 8th dog.

Tomorrow it is supposed to be close to 70 degrees.  We are taking our kids, Emmy and Sam down on Hwy 16 for some hikes and a picnic.  I am planing on making a day of it, going to Natural Bridge, Kings River falls and maybe the Glory Hole.  We will back pack a picnic to one of the falls, probably Kings River falls.  The kids are excited about going.  Hannah is excited that the big girls are going along.

The black dog follows me where ever I go on my walks, but the Huskey often wonders off and returns home before I do.  Wednesday, he went all the way to Peden's and back.

George feeds him here, sometimes.

A little snow, over past the Stone house.

White.

Turkeys in Randy's field over across from the Hampton barn.

A hill.

The Stone pond.

Stones by the Stone house.

February weather

but at least nothing is falling on our heads.  It was 19 here this am, but when I got up on the Douglas flats the truck said it as 17.  Tonight coming home it was 29.  Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer, but tonight colder.  I checked the neighbors house and all is well, both room with pipes were warm.  I turned on all the faucets just to be sure, and all was fine.  The thermometer in the living room said 44, but it was around 70 in the bathroom and over 60 in the kitchen.  It is supposed to get cold at night all week, so I am just leaving everything as is for now, but there is no need to leave the water running at night unless it gets down around 10 or so.

Last night as I walked, Helen's dog went with me.  Out just beyond Dan's the Jeep from the Stone place came along and he followed them home.  I did not see him again last night so not sure if he came back or not, but tonight he was at my house.  Tonight, I walked 4 miles and he went along to Dan's and turned back.  When I came by Helen's, he followed me home again.  I think  he likes us better than the Stone people.

I am going to have a good week.  My big boss is not there this week.  It was an unexpected surprise to find I was on my own all week.

She's Gone

We took Helen to the airport and kicked her out.  Well, the kids went in to tell her good bye, but then we just left her there.  I guess  she is in Arizona and warm this morning.  It is 15 degrees here.

On the way home from Springfield, we went over to Protem and cross Bull Shoals on the ferry.  The kids loved riding the ferry and we got some spectacular views with fog rolling in the valleys.

When we got home, I walked my first 5 miles in February.  I logged 105 miles in January.  I hope to do 100 this month.  It was cold and the wind was really blowing, but I bundled up and stayed warm.

Day tripping, hwy 16

Yesterday, just George and I drove down to Ponca, then took Hwy 16 through Deer and on to where it intersects hwy 23 up to Huntsville and home.  It was a grey, cold day, but he enjoys driving,  There was really not much to see.

We say the elk near Boxley, but did not get any good pics, and I have seen them before...

Lots of twists and turns.

Grey mountains and valleys...

Lots of old  fallingdown building that make interesting pics, but the driver never slows down.

The only reason we were stopped at the above, is I said what did that sign say, "White River?"

And here is White River, not sure what town we were in, but somewhere on Hwy  16 in south east Madison Co.

It looks a lot like Dry Creek here.  Wondering, I google for a map and  finally found this...

Enlarge and you can see the start of White River, Kings River, War Eagle Creek, Little Mulberry Creek, right here in the lower right corner of Madison County.  I did not know any of that.  On a better weather day, I am going back and explore, but not today.  Today, we go to Springfield to the airport and kick Helen's but out.

Now, on this sightseeing trip, 5 minutes from home near JR Snow's we did see this posing in a tree about 10 feet from my window seat.