A Warm Day in January

The temperature on the deck this morning when I was doing my morning exercise was 39, but it quickly warmed into the low 40s.  So I got outside as quickly as possible and began puttering in the yard - gathering kindling for the barrels I keep filled on the hearth, carrying fire-wood from under the tree-house to the back porch, and yes, taking down the last of the Christmas decorations, a single strand remaining around the front door.  When I had finished all of this I checked again and it was an unbelievable 50.5 degrees:

Even the cat seemed to be filled with joy this morning, running up the rhododendron branches like a squirrel and darting around in the woods behind the Folly.  She has been outside only briefly during the past few weeks, and has remained near the door, hoping to quickly slip inside and dart upstairs to her warm afghan in the upstairs bedroom.  But today there is no desire to be inside.  Like me, she wants to enjoy this as long as possible.  Tomorrow it will be back in the thirties again, and then down to 12 tomorrow night and not above freezing for three days.

January was just teasing us after all.  Did I really expect that Spring was jut around the corner?

Runners?  Let's enjoy this while we have it, and go as long as we can this afternoon!