Madison, WI

Started walk at 6:15 a.m.

Freezing rain and darkness greeted us as we stepped out the front door. This was a sharp contrast to the comfort of last week's clear skies and bright moon.

I've taken to smoking cigars on my walks and lit up a stogie as I braced myself for the wind's onslaught. The sidewalks were sheened with ice and it was prudent to take short, cautious steps. However, once I departed from the civilized concrete, the foot paths were easy to navigate.

The Island was difficult to photograph in the dark because the camera couldn't find an object to focus on. After three attempts I was able to obtain a passable image. Good coffee -- Costa Rican. Good muffin -- cranberry. On the return trip, Chance collected a tree branch about 5 feet long and 3 inches in diameter. I thanked him for the good work as this branch, like his previous collections, will be used as fuel for our fireplace.