January was an outstanding month for weather. I think we must have set some sort of record for total number of pleasant days in January for Omaha.

We did some afternoon grocery shopping, and while carrying the groceries in we noticed daffodils poking up out of the snow free ground.

The ground seemed awful dry around these tiny green shoots, so I got the hose out of the garage and watered just a tiny bit. I believe that is the very earliest I have ever done that here in Nebraska.

Guess what we did last weekend? We walked a bit at a park! First walk of the year, pedometer free, so it was unmeasured, and to tell the truth, it was a very short walk.

Still the weather was nice and it was great, though we spent only 15-20 minutes walking at Bowling Green Park. Been there? Then you know this park is built more for team sports than for family activities.

A portion of the afternoon was spent in an unwanted outdoor activity called snow shoveling. Light fluffy stuff, so shoveling wasn't terrible, though it felt colder than I imagined it would.

Vicky came out and helped till all the main areas were cleaned, then headed inside for a bit of warmth. I stayed outside a while longer, brushing the car off just a bit more, filling the bird feeder, and put away the yard waste containers till spring.

Almost ready to leave the great outdoors for a cup of coffee indoors when I noticed a junco in the yard under the bird feeder. They are one of my favorite winter birds, and they spend winters in this area for a bit of warmth. Springtime these birds will head for cooler pastures in Canada, I think.

After the junco flew off I headed up the back steps to the deck, when I heard a flock of geese. Expecting to be unable to see them, I was pleased to locate them in the western sky. They were headed south, though I guess south southwest would describe it better. Wonder where they will end up?

Not knowing my Nebraska birds as well as I would like to, I will have to content myself with the thought that perhaps these were snow geese.