Thoreau once wrote, "Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with nature herself.  I have been as sincere a worshipper of Aurora as the Greeks.  I got up early and bathed in the pond; that was a religious exercise, and one of the best things I did.  They say that characters were engraved on the bathing tub of King Tching-thang to this effect:  Renew thyself completely each day; do it again, and again, and forever again."  

Well, I didn't bathe in the pond on this first day of winter, as Thoreau might have done.  Nor did I leave my winter coat hanging along the trail as I did one day earlier in the week when I realized I had overdressed for the trek over.  I suppose those days are over for a while, which I will greatly miss.  

I make it a practice to take a few pictures every day on my and Millie's walk.  Of course, many of them of Millie.  She must be one of the most photographed doggies in the whole wide world.   A few days ago, I discovered that a new feature on my latest phone attempts to identify each picture.   Underneath one I found "Look up Dutch Shepherd," so I did.  I was amazed at how much this breed of dogs looks like my Millie.  She had been a rescue puppy, so we really knew nothing about her breeding.  But, now we know, thanks to my new phone.   

The site I visited described the Dutch Shepherd as belonging to the Herding group of dogs.  "They love a great workout and are competent, obedient, and responsible.  The Dutch Shepherd likes to know his place in the family and when they do, they will make excellent companions.  This dog loves to be on the go.  They are extremely smart, and they like to use their brains.   The Dutch Shepherd needs a good amount of daily exercise, so if you're a runner, they will gladly be your jogging buddy." 

Well, this definitely describes my Millie Girl.  Yay, for her!  Images taken from the internet look so much like her, so there's no mistaking her identity.  Below is one I found there.  

Well, ready or not Christmas is right upon us.  It's all hands on deck (that's me) here in finishing the baking and other food preparations.  Somehow, it will happen.  It always has.  

The tree is up, which amounts this year to a scrawny little Charlie Brown artificial tree that looks okay, unless one gets too close, in which it looks like plastic, which it definitely is.  I wanted a little natural tree from along the trail, not unlike this one from an old Charles Bronson movie, "Chino,( which we always watch around Christmas)" but I never found a suitable one.  

 

Happy Winter, everyone.  And, Merry Christmas!