This was nobody’s normal Christmas Day. Part of that was due of course to COVID. Part was that one of my sons was still on fire duty in southern California where there had not been enough rain to dampen the threat of fire. We had a quiet Christmas Day here and I took Ginny Across the Road. Rusty doesn’t go with us any more because he is gets too sore.

I don’t have to worry about getting lost between my house the the dirt road along the canal.

The ditches are full of irrigation water during the summer and into fall, but usually have rain water this time of year. We read in a report that in a “normal” year we would have had 8” of rain by now and there has been only 2”.

Bare Trees. Anytime I think that I want to break into a Fleetwood Mac song.

The mistletoe isn’t a good thing but it does add some greenery to the landscape.

Was there a party here?

I purposely did not bring a ball with us. Sometimes I’d rather just walk and not have to deal with the ball. Ginny found one though, probably one of the many that we’ve lost in the canal. It’s not what you’d think from the photo. Look down into the water. I had to use a long stick to get it close enough to reach. I didn’t want her getting in that yucky stagnant water.

This is the “ball” that is next to her above the water. That’s an osage orange fruit.

There is her new old ball.

There was just enough rain about a month ago to get seeds sprouted. The 1/2” last week revived those tiny seedlings and got them growing. Now we just need more to keep things growing.

Ginny somehow thought that maybe she had a chance at catching a great blue heron. To her credit she ran with the ball and didn’t lose it.

She didn’t try for the buzzard, but only because she didn’t scare it up off the ground.

This one was across the canal so Ginny didn’t see it.

Back home at our driveway. At least the colored lights add some cheer to the gray day.

Two days later Matt was back home and we met there for our Christmas celebration. We took a walk before dinner and pies.

My great family! Just missing the Texas contingent and my brother’s family who were also distancing themselves from others.