Beef Stew and Sunbathing at the Museum

Yes, that's right. Beef Stew. I know I have not partaken of animal flesh in many years ("no food with a face", "nothing that had a momma"), but a cold, snowy day somehow seems like the perfect day for a crock pot full of beef stew. Warms the heart, and makes the kitchen smell heavenly. Or it used to, anyway. Today it's tomato soup and string cheese.

I'm off from work today with Mellie - she has not had a good morning, and my boss isn't at work today, we're not open to the public today, and there's nothing pressing to do (or at least nothing any more pressing than usual) and I just can't leave my Mellie. I've taken off so many days the past few weeks for Mellie that Dad said "your hind end would have been out the door if you worked anywhere else." He's probably right, and that is why I stay where I am. My boss understands, her boss understands, and Pat and Elizabeth, who have to pick up the slack when I'm not there, both understand. I'm very lucky and I truly appreciate it.

Speaking of work, I took these photos a few weeks ago and am just now getting around to posting them. I work in a glass museum, and this is the view from the Bottle Room into the courtyard of the museum.

Hey, what's that in the courtyard?

Yes, it's a squirrel sunbathing on one of the glass sculptures in the courtyard.
Mind you, there is no access to the courtyard except through the museum, so the squirrel has to work pretty hard climbing trees, scampering across our roof, and back down some trees in the courtyard just for the pleasure of sunbathing on the glass sculpture. I guess he has earned the rest.