First Day

1 January 2016

Every new year starts the same for me. I get up grumbling, wondering what all the fuss is about. It's just changing the numbering of the year, gotta change the calendar. New Year's, bah humbug.

I know what the problem is, December, my favorite month, is over. The Christmas season, my favorite holiday, is nearly over. In some people's minds, it's already over. Not for me, not until Epiphany has come and gone.

Of course, the first of January also means that my company's Christmas break is nearly at an end. While I don't mind my job, after all it is interesting and pays pretty well, it is still, after all, a job. Something I must do, something where I have to march to someone else's drum. Even after 24 years in the military that's something I find hard to do. My Christmas vacation is coming to a close. Monday it's back to the grindstone.

I watched this mourning dove for quite a while today. He was not enjoying the wind.

Then three of his buddies joined him. Things are always better if shared with others. Even trying times can be tolerated, as long as you're not alone.

This chicken was outside with her buddies for a while. The others decided to head back into the coop. This one, like me, is stubborn.

The sky was gloomy today, no matter where you looked. Kind of matched my mood.

To the northwest...

Over the shed...

To the northeast...

Mrs. Olde Vermonter gave us this ornament for Christmas, intended for the garden, not indoors. So in a way, it will always be Christmas in our backyard.

The waterfall is shut down for the winter, only the "bubbler" is active. (Keeps the water oxygenated for the fish, who will sleep until spring.)

It looks rather barren on this winter's day. My heart yearns for snow. (My back does not!)

The red leaves of this Japanese dwarf maple are long gone. Spring is a long way off.

I wonder what this new year of 2016 will bring? More trouble in the world no doubt. Babies will be born, people will die, life on this world will go on. Another Christmas will come, one day will follow another, soon I'll be complaining that it's too hot.

But that will be a while.

Until then, we shall wait and see. And take each day as it comes.