It is Still Cold

I went to pull up the outdoor mat and it was frozen to the ground. I ripped it up and tried to shake it off, but it was too stiff, so I dropped it a few times on the ground and it hit like I dropped a board. It is so cold here, even the horses are wearing coats,


Dad sent cloisonne hummingbird ornaments for Christmas,


Even if they were on time for Christmas, they would not have made it onto the tree, because I took it down so early. I have some branches in a vase and they are hanging on the branches for now, trying to perk up Winter.

I went back to the Bird of Prey Museum, but it was really too cold to enjoy. I bought a membership, so I can go back when it is warmer. This is a peregrine falcon,


This falcon is almost blind, which is why he's there, and he did not mind the flash. And what are these? Starlings? They were making an incredible racket,


I finished True Grit, the book. The movie is fairly true to the book, but the movie left out some things I thought were important to Mattie's character and showed her independence. At 14 she already keeps her father's books and she ends up owning a bank, which is one reason why she never marries, and the movie leaves that out. Now I finally started the book, Reading Lolita in Tehran, that Dad bought me years ago. I was going to start Far From the Maddening Crowd, that Dave gave me even longer ago, but it sounded pessimistic and January in Idaho is not a good time for a pessimistic book.

2011 is the Chinese year of the Rabbit. It is not predicted to be a good year for me. I am a Black/Metal Tiger. This is a Metal Rabbit year. The animals have elements, too, based on your birth year. Rabbits don't like Tigers, probably because Tigers eat them, and Chinese astrology likes complimentary elements, it's all about balance, so Metal Tiger in Metal Rabbit year is too much metal. Next year has good fortune for me, it is a dragon year, good for tigers, but I have one more year of hard work, at least according to Chinese astrology. My lucky element is earth/soil, which means it is the element needed to balance out my other elements. That is why I need to have a yard and a garden and felt like I was going to die going through the whole day without my feet ever touching the ground or my hands getting dirty. At least here in Idaho I have added more earth to my life.

2011 Chinese Astrology - Year of the White Rabbit
http://www.chineseastrologyonline.com/ChineseAstrology2011.htm

I called my friend in Bellingham, Washington about working for the guy she worked for here for the month of January and I should be able to catch up with her tomorrow. Idaho is not posting any new jobs that apply to me, so this weekend I am applying on-line at St. Luke's and St. Al's (both big hospitals), since both have part time office and tech support kind-of jobs. I went by CostCo to pick up a few things and everyone working at the one here looks pretty happy. I know someone that worked at CostCo in CA and liked it, so I may apply there, maybe they will let me make cakes or work in HR. Maybe it would be better to leave government anyway.

Tonight was the Artist's Way meeting and tomorrow night is First Friday in Eagle and I will probably go again. Next Tuesday is the Idaho Watercolor Society's newcomer's dinner. This weekend I am also feeding my neighbor's cats. If the weather stays clear, next week I may take a trip up to McCall to take pictures of horses and farms in snow.