It's the winter solstice today and starting tomorrow, a few seconds at a time, the days will start getting longer. (Fellow Laura Ingalls Wilder fans may recall Pa Ingalls' saying -- when the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen. In this time of insane weather, predictions of a 75-degree Christmas day, and a year-round fire season, I can only say fingers crossed.)

Meanwhile, here's a shot of the clouds that surrounded us for a few hours yesterday, whispering of rain but leaving behind not a single drop.