CELESTIAL DANDRUFF

Once upon a time I worked for a radio and television combine in North Dakota.  One of the radio announcers, Bill Drilling, who I've long since lost track of, coined that phrase - celestial dandruff - to describe snowfall.  There were plenty of times to use that term in North Dakota. Not so many in Arizona.  But today, on this last day of 2014, we have a fairly rare winter storm beginning.

Regular readers of this blog will know there's a town and a mountain range out there but a whiteout has eclipsed them this morning.

Closer to home . . .

"I took the road less traveled."

The snow is forecast to continue through tonight and tomorrow with an expected total of 6 to 12 inches in the area.  That changes New Years Eve plans for lots of people, including the BRD and her Beau Jack.  They have decided to stay in and celebrate around a warm fire. We, too, will be home and warm though we gave up plans for going to New Years Eve parties many years ago.

But for those who may be celebrating a little too much tonight, whether home or away, here's something to begin the New Year.

Dr. Taylor is a distant relative of mine.  My father and grandfather discovered him in 1948 when they made a trip back to New England searching for ancestors and their descendants. This doctor was also an amateur genealogist and later sent us an extensive family tree, tracing the Taylors back to Yarmouth, Massachusetts in 1630.

And, apparently, he got some of the drunks off the street.

Have a safe and happy new year, folks.

THE SUN WORSHIPPER

SWMBO took a couple of photos of our big black cat, Blackwell, enjoying a partial sun bath this morning.

Even with his black fur coat, he seeks out the sun shining through the patio window every morning and soaks up the warmth.

He seems to have about the same attitude as SWMBO when a camera is pointed in his direction.  Unsure of what is to come next, a bit surly about being the attention of that dratted "thing".

Not so when I took a close-up shot of him the other day as he was in his favorite cold weather spot.  On my or SWMBO's lap.  One cannot take a seat in the recliner without Blackwell hopping up to revel in the warmth of another body and usually, go to sleep.

He looks kind of mean in these photos, especially with his cropped ear which he got from a lady veterinarian's helper who, being told he was feral, thought he would be outside and offered that as identification.  She asked me if I wanted his ear "notched" and I said yes, thinking they would just take a tiny snip out of it.  I was horrified when I saw what they had done.  

But Blackwell took it all in stride and, in spite of the "look" in these photos, he is a sweetheart. My buddy or as SWMBO says when he follows me around the house, "here comes your dog."

THE BEARD - #5

The Monday Morning Update.

Still a little patchy.

BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

GINGERBREAD VILLAGE

The BRD, her Beau Jack, SWMBO and I had our Christmas day brunch/dinner at the Prescott Resort & Conference Center.  

Afterward, the wife and I toured the Gingerbread Village, an annual display of handcrafted dwellings made from gingerbread and candy.

The entries are judged.  This next one got a blue ribbon.

My favorite (I guess I'm still a kid at heart) part of the display is the electric train winding its way through the exhibit, including a tunnel.

There was even one entry based on the famous or infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Since the Resort is owned by the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, I didn't see any Indian-fighters.  Or, in our PC age, would that be Native American-fighters?

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Here's to Christmases Past, including the one in 2014.  I hope you all had a festive and happy time.  Now let's get on to the business at hand.

On the other hand . .

And . .

It is then that I call in a true expert.

Now regular fans of Oddball's Friday Funnies know that I always conclude with the cats.  Not this week.  I thought this next one was so funny it had to be my ultimate this week.  Enjoy.

Like the lovely lady, keep laughing, folks, have a wonderful (if chilly) weekend and as always, thanks for the contributions.

THROWBACK THURSDAY & MERRY CHRISTMAS

THE HAT GANG

Some years back in Grand Junction, Colorado.  Waiting for a train back to Denver with good friends, Jeanne and Tim.

(Historical notes: my beard was reddish-brown, Tim's camera was a 35 millimeter SLR)

And, since today is December 25th, here's to one more opportunity to make you laugh.  Or irritate you.