(This was one of the first photographs I ever took of Red, his eyes and intensity and his ability to stand still and stay focused on the sheep transformed my photography, and my very idea of animal photography.)

The bedroom is a narrow place to be for me, I keep finding reasons to get up and go downstairs – making tea, making phone calls. I am alone with myself too much, it makes me uncomfortable, I think I’m not the easiest person in the world to be alone with. And I see I’m not alone. Red is by my side, Lenore is thrilled to hang around with us, and Flo and Minnie both demanded to be let in early out of the snow and cold. Maria relented (I would have, she saw them first).

I called Deb Foster, she is going to make up some postcards and organize some publicity for the photo show George Forss and I are having at the Round House Cafe in February (reception February 20 at the cafe, 7-8:30 p.m.) I worked on a chapter of the Simon book. I’m a few pages away from finishing “Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt. I check to see the latest reviews on “Second Chance Dog,” which I haven’t seen in awhile. (I look for about a month, then stop.) I read Maria’s blog, wonderful postings about her new sketches and her upcoming root canal (her first dental work.).

I can feel this rest is good for me (Maria had a fit when I went outside in my  bathrobe to take a photo), I can feel my body settling. I do feel useless, but I’m getting over it.