Lula is swimming in the beautiful, warm Hawaiian Pacific.

Meg and Blue have safely arrived at Pawali at long last.

Blue seems to be considering a swim.

But decides that for his first day at the beach he’ll just roll in the sand.

Meanwhile, back on the mainland, Katherine and her dogs, true Northern Californians, bundle up on Limantour beach.

And here in Oregon, our honored senior Kobe wears his warm coat for his morning outing

before settling in for his morning nap.

Then Rosie knows the coast is clear for her to come downstairs.

It is indeed an unusually cold morning, so I am glad that Meg left behind the down coat and monkey hat.  No use for those on Maui.

I need something warm to wear as I go out to break the ice on the humming bird feeder.

Then Roxie and I are off to The Courthouse where she needs a coat too while she waits for me to work out before taking her to The MInto.

And The Minto is a foggy wonderland.

 

But this leafless big-leaf maple, covered with frost, shows off its swelling buds, ready to go as the days grow longer.

We stop by Cascade Baking Co. on the way home to pick up some flat bread and tapenade  to take to a potluck lunch at Susan’s new place

And definitely in her (new) place with a sunshiny face is Susan, where Roxanne, Karen, Lizzie and I had a happy time in her sunny new kitchen, enjoying fine company, jolly conversation, and good food, including Roxanne’s signature composed offering — this time, winter fruits, including a perfectly ripe pear.

 

 

And I got home just in time to find Kobe waking up from his afternoon nap and ready for his dinner.

And now I’m off to usher at the symphony where I’ll get to hear Andre Watts.  It was pretty much a perfect winter day.