I just looked out the window.  The sky is clear and there are millions of stars twinkling in the night sky.  It is calm and warm.  What a beautiful ending to Christmas day.

The last couple of days have been spent shopping, preparing food for today, wrapping gifts and making cards.  I needed some fresh air so decided to head out for some skating this morning.

While I was getting ready, I noticed that some fluffy snowflakes falling lazily to the ground.  A pileated woodpecker swooped in and landed on the old stump in the backyard.  It stayed long enough for me to capture a photo.

I think it saw me in the window.  As I was readying the camera for another shot, it took off from the stump; flying directly toward me.  Just before reaching the window, it veered off.

After packing up my gear, I headed to the nearby rink.  I was the only person there.  It doesn't get used much so the surface was smooth and perfect for me to do a few laps.  I hadn't been on skates for a couple of years but it all came back to me.

During the half hour that I spent outside, the chickadees called from the nearby evergreens.  A couple of crows called to each other.  The only other sound that I could hear was that of my skate blades moving across the ice.  What a great way to spend some time outside.

I have a few more days off.  My granddaughters will be coming to stay.  I gave them some x-country skis for Christmas and we'll be trying them out.

The weather has been great and it looks like it should remain that way for the rest of the week so I'm looking forward to some fun-filled, relaxing outdoor days ahead.

Merry Chris-Moose!