Partridge in a crab apple tree.
This ruffed grouse picked its way around a crab apple tree eating last year's shriveled up fruit about 15 feet from where I sat in the sun on my deck this afternoon.
It was interesting to watch it balance delicately as the tiny branches bowed and bounced with every step, 15 feet above the ground. He managed the meal as if he has done this before.

Saturday was wonderful for basking in the sun while smoking a batch of cheese (extra aged cheddar and medium cheddar) as well as a basket of mixed nuts coated with some secret spices.
Here's what it looked like part way through the afternoon.

This picture of me on a duck hunting trip 55 years ago reminded me of my friend, Simon Rooster, here in Sioux Lookout.
Simon passed away 12 or 15 years ago. He was described as a "street person" by many, and the truth is that Simon, a local indigenous man, did hang out on the street - he wasn't tied down to any specific career - and slept some summer nights on the grass in the park.
I have cataracts and laugh at where they lead me sometimes. They certainly add a challenge as I, in my capacity as newspaper editor, try to do my proofreading. I am forever nodding my head up and down, side to side, blinking forcefully, and rubbing enthusiastically, to peek around and circumvent the little clouds between me and the printed page or computer monitor.
This afternoon while looking through a box of old photos I stumbled upon this picture - stuck to another, stained from some long ago spill of something not noticed at the time, and immediately thought of the notice I saw a couple weeks ago online, through cataract clouds, that shouted Brian Rooster.
Except for Simon, I've never known anybody named Rooster, so when I saw Brian Rooster my mind immediately zig-zagged to my buddy Simon in some wonderment.
Simon was a man of humor and grace, in his own way. I miss him. And I wondered, with some excitement, if he and Brian might be related.
I blinked and rubbed and swiveled my head up and down, side to side, to read more.
And then, there it was! In focus!
BRAIN BOOSTER. A shyster advertisement for some kind of potion guaranteed to make me smarter.
I won't be ordering the magic powder, but I'm thankful for the nudge that led me to remember a nice and unique man.

Here's what 6:30 this morning looked like in my driveway - an east view and a west view.
Temperature was -16 C (+3 F).
Looks to me like a wonderful Wednesday.

Did you ever come across a crack in the ice and wonder what's down below?
Squat down, shade your eyes, look deep, concentrate intently, breathe out slowly, appreciate the moment, and listen carefully...
This is what I discovered.