Good morning GH. It is just past 1:00 AM in "The City" and we are experiencing an ice covered morning. Our current temperature is 33 degrees as we head for a high of 34. That's just warm enough for the precipitation to fall as rain and then stick as ice. The driveway on the palatial estate looks like a hockey rink. When Sugar the Weather Dog's walker came over Friday morning, she had to hold on for dear life as she came down the driveway. Our neighbor's mother was visiting, and she had to do the same. It was reported that even the usually unflappable Weather Dog had to slow down to make her way on her morning walk. When that happens, you know it is slippery.

I had an appointment at the physical therapist on Friday, as I mentioned, but I had to call and cancel. They were not surprised, because they had received many calls before mine. I guess that people going to a physical therapist are not likely to brave ice covered walkways in order to get there. The current forecast is for these conditions to ebb a bit this morning, and then resume again later in the afternoon, continuing through Sunday and on into Monday. I guess it could be worse. Northern Michigan is experiencing heavy snowfall. Actually, that is easier to walk in versus ice covered.

Today, Mary and I plan to stay in. I have no desire to go out, and Mary wouldn't let me if I wanted to. In this case, I would once again have to admit that she was right. Now if I can just accept the idea of being housebound.

I hear a train a comin', it's rollin round our bend.  Twin locomotives and the usual assortment of cars. 1:20 in the AM. I suppose that they are getting a head start for the upcoming holiday week when they will likely not be rolling. Once again, I like speculating on what the trains are doing.

We had Mary's now famous sauerkraut sandwiches for lunch on Friday. They followed my breakfast of Cheerios and cut apples. I like the apples that Mary picked up at the store. They are of the Granny Smith variety, crisp and tart. Whenever you buy them, you have to go for the bag of organic ones. The loose ones are wax covered and the size of a softball. They taste fine, but I have to share with Sugar as I can't eat a whole one. Sugar doesn't mind, she loves sweet things for breakfast, but it is wasteful. Dinner was a Mary recipe for veggie chorizo sausage tacos. They were great. I am easy when it comes to meals, but even salsa can't make something that isn't tasty, taste good. In this case, this is a keeper.

We are in the doldrums of winter, and it is only December 21st. What January will bring is anyone's guess. Oh well, when I decided to have my shoulder repaired, I didn't expect winter to start so early, or is it late in the year. Such are the vagaries of the weather. Mary has a theory that winter will end sooner this season. I hope she is right.

Sunrise will be at 8:13 AM and sunset at 5:13 PM on this shortest day of the year. From here on out, the days get longer. Tea time will be soon and after that breakfast. I can then be found in my chair reading while Mary works upstairs. No college football until later in the coming week. The Lions play Sunday afternoon, while the Bears play Sunday night. The Bears will probably win the division as the Lions are crumbling and the Packers are hopeless, or is that helpless, without their star quarterback. Ciao.