A Slight Break In the Big Freeze...

Only -1!   It's almost warm!

Today, the temps actually rose above zero!   The sun fought to break the blanket of clouds, but mostly,  it stayed overcast.   You might think that that would actually keep things cold, but I believe the clouds act as an bit of an insulator on really cold days like we  have been having.

Cheryl runs!  Three plowed loops for 10 miles.

With all that being said, it was still cold.   Starting off at -1 and working its way up to positive 6 around noon,   the day was almost noticeably warmer than the last several.   Our small apartment's heating struggled to keep the temps above 63 degrees, even though Cheryl had the thermostat set to 75!  Any temps with very little wind chill that are warmer than that seem like a summer heat wave.

The Pheasants think so as well.

I don't think it was all in my imagination.   For the first time in a week,  we actually saw WILDLIFE come out from the warm shelters where they must have been hiding to stay warm.   We started off with a field full of Pheasants. 

Along the way,  A Deer checks for traffic

 I was not able to capture this little sight myself.   But this picture gives you a hint of what was out there.   I would be willing to bet about 20-30 birds picking over the left over corn in the fields.    Pretty cool coming from Michigan, where almost all of the Pheasants were hunted to extinction and now can only be hunted on DNR "Put and Take" sections.

Almost looks like a statue!

Three deer stare from across the road.  

While Cheryl was running ( Oh!  And she actually ran about 10  miles today... Another sign that the temps were "acceptable".  We stumbled upon a group of deer trying to cross the road near the University.

Um,  Time to head back.

 I'm still not sure that the lead one was not a buck.  He may have lost his antlers already...  (it has certainly been cold enough!)  but given that there were two other deer behind him/her,   It may have been a doe after all.     But check out the neck on this thing and compare it to the two behind it.   Bucks' necks swell up when they are in full rut mode.   Now the the rut is over,   the antlers may be gone, but the thick neck may still remain.   Who knows?   At least it allowed us to get nice and close and stood still long enough for me to get these pics.

Is that creepy guy gone yet?

Cheryl celebrates a successful run. 

Cheryl was enjoying a successful day running.   Something that has been in short supply as of late.   We finished up and headed home after a few errands.

An Eagle by the road. 

Turkeys think it is a nice day as well.

On the way home,   Besides numerous Geese by the river...  We saw an Eagle hanging out by the road.   And immediately after that...  Turkeys!    Seems like everyone wanted to come out of hiding while the weather permitted.

Cheryl concentrates.

Cheryl changes positions.

Cheryl Switches Fingers...

So now we are back at home and relaxing with some Tea.  Cheryl is doing an "optional" scoring training that will happen in February.  I guess they want to get people qualified well before the actual testing.  I'm sure she will qualify easily.  She makes very strange faces while she is concentrating.

So that is it.  Hope everyone is also having a break from the extreme cold.  I hear there is a chance for freezing rain this weekend.   I hope the weather man is wrong on that one.  Slippery roads and trails are no fun to drive or run or bike on.    Fingers crossed.