January 24

1/24/08: Thursday, 7:30 AM. -21, barometer predicts sun. Wind from WSW, but mostly calm. Skies clear except for some fiery clouds on the east horizon as the sun comes up. This is pretty serious cold, and I won't take the dog for a walk until it warm up a bit. Went out to fill the bird feeders and didn't tarry. Fingers are cold immediately without gloves on. The ferries are done running. Yesterday I saw a large propane tanker truck getting on the ferry, the last delivery for a long time.
Still reading Thoreau, and a favorite quote which it would do us well to repeat every morning is "Surely joy is the condition of life," stated after he describes the natural enthusiasm of all living things for life itself. Sounds old-testament biblical. So, I take joy in the clear cold air, the blue sky and the fireball of the sun rising in the east.
It is so cold the sunshine itself, reflecting on the snow- white channel, seems frozen.
10:00 AM. Back from walking Lucky. Still -4, some wind, but bright sunshine.