SAMEFOLKETS DAG

 Recently I succumbed to the lure of Ancestry.com and gave them up fifty bucks or so to find out what they knew about my origins.

I expected it would be heavily English or Scottish.

I was surprised to find it was 75% Norwegian!

Now I knew my mother's family was pure Norwegian, having come over from the old country only a few generations back but to learn that I was three-quarters Norsk took me back.

So today I wish you fellow Scandinavians a Happy Saami People's Day.

The Saami or Sami People are the indigenous folk who originate in the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.

And February 6th is celebrated as the official day although it is not recognized as a national holiday.

But reindeer races take place and attention is paid to the cultural heritage of hunting and fishing, and recognition of the crafts.

The Sami Flag is flown proudly alongside the Norwegian Flag on this day.

So here's the closest I get to the Sami Flag.

And adjacent to it flies the Norwegian flag.

Now I don't know about reindeer meat but I do know I love my Norwegian lefse, when I can get my hands on some.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Judy and I got our first Covid vaccine shots yesterday.

She had a headache last night but we don't know if that was a reaction or not.

I had no reaction.

So it's a Friday for celebrating.

Well, not quite.

Our second shots are four weeks away.

I asked one of the ladies if, when I've received the second one, I could then go out and play in the traffic again.

She looked concerned and said, "Just be careful."

I think perhaps she needs a dose of my weekly humor injection.

How about you folks?

And with that, I just want, once again, to thank all of the contributors to these Friday potpourris of prescriptive provocation.

You know who you are.

Now without dancing in the streets, partying in groups, or otherwise pandering to your pent-up impulses, have yourselves a "Super" weekend and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

CAREFUL, FELLA!

 

THEREIN LIES A TAIL

 

WINTER WILL CONTINUE

 

It's Groundhog Day

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 It's been a week of wild and wooly weather here in the United States of America.

But it's 38 degrees this morning and, though we may get some rain or even snow today, it's time to put TGIF smiles on our faces.

So let's get started.

And on that note, let me speed away, ending this silly season of sappy superciliousness, but successful in a spectacular, self-satisfied, splendorous, spirited way of looking toward Saturday.

And offering this advice: have a great weekend, stay safe and sane and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(oh, dear)

WOOLY BULLY

 Not to be outdone, I got back in the harness this morning and baked a Crusty Wheat Boule, from a recipe in Eating Well Magazine.

Small, rustic, tasty.

A QUICKY

 Judy took over the reins of the self-quarantine bakery yesterday inspired by a Dorie Greenspan recipe for a fig and goat cheese quick bread.

She made some alterations, based on what we had in the refrigerator.

She subbed feta for the goat cheese, green onions and celery leaves for the fresh rosemary and thyme.

It came out great!

It might have been a little crumblier with the goat cheese but it was still delicious.

You can find the recipe on-line by Googling "Goat Cheese and Fig Quick Bread".

SNOWFLAKES

 

Today the sky is clear and Mother Sun has returned.

The snow we've accumulated will begin to melt.

These images on my window formed a couple of days ago as snow struck it, froze, melted and froze again.

It was a constantly changing panorama as the flakes slid down the window, colliding and coalescing with others.

Most of the area was shut down yesterday except for plows and emergency vehicles.

I was surprised in mid-afternoon to find my driveway thoroughly shoveled and learned that it was my Young Marine angel from across the street that had done it.

Even in a nasty storm there are some who feel a call of duty.

Thank you, C.

IT'S STILL SNOWING

 It looks like it snowed most of the night and it's continuing this morning.

MO' SNOW - PART TWO

 The BRD, who lives in Prescott at a somewhat higher elevation than where we live, sent me a couple of pictures from her home this morning.

MO' SNOW

 Remember that snow we had yesterday?

It all melted away by evening.

But then it snowed again in the night and it's been snowing more heavily all morning.

And now, much to the chagrin of the Blue Cat, it's piling up.

Winter has come to Arizona.

IS THIS REALLY ARIZONA?

 The traditional view of Arizona is desert, cacti, rattlesnakes, sand, and the like.

Not this.

But Arizona is a land of many contrasts, from vast cities hovering at 900 feet above sea level where the temperature climbs into the 100's for summer days on end, to the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the United States and mountains topping out at nearly 13,000 feet.

And yes here in the higher parts of the state we do get snow.

Where my neighbor's car sits encrusted with snow there's a nice contrast to his still-hanging Christmas lights.

And across the street is that little pine tree another neighbor planted many years ago, now all grown up.

(And up and up and up.)

The boughs seem to be sagging a bit under the weight of what a disc jockey I once knew used to call "celestial dandruff".

Here's a close-up to show you how wet and thus heavy that snow came to us.

We here in the Central Highlands are predicted to get more snow in the next day or two and then the temperatures will rise and it will begin melting off, gone away once again.