It's a grim, grey day outside. Poor Patrick is ill again, with the same stomach bug that's been coming up over and over again throughout this damp, cold autumn/winter. Nika's restless but hasn't cooperated with any of my (half-hearted, I admit) attempts at taking her out for a walk in the strong wind (and sometimes rain). This was supposed to be my big day for creative endeavors, but it hasn't worked out that way so far.

Grump grump grump.

On the other hand, I'm listening to a beautifully soothing CD ("Chants from the Cistercian Vaults," a birthday present from a couple years back), and I'm about to turn on the gas fake-fire. There's no real cooking or cleaning to worry about, it's a weekend, so I don't really have to do any work, and I've got lots of lovely images left over from yesterday's hike down in the woods with Patrick and Nika. The mud was still half-frozen, sunlight glittered off the stream, and a beautiful blue-and-white heron flapped slowly past us through the air. It was a wonderful moment.

Our plan is to go downtown tomorrow for hot Gluehwein at the Bavarian Christmas market. We'll see how that works out, in terms of health, energy, etcetera... We could really use something to pull us up out of the grey slumps.