It hasn't topped 14 degrees yet today (1:00 p.m.) By Tuesday it will slip over the frost line and I will drive the Toyota to the car wash, get in line and wait my turn for the five dollar wash. The ice cube on wheels is covered with crusty ice, slush and salt.

Yesterday some places in North Dakota hit a high of minus 23 degrees F. Fourteen ain't bad.

This morning was our Art Guild's first "Second Saturday." I started this open forum meeting at the gallery so people could do more inferface and talk about their work, ask questions, drink coffee and schmooze.

Three of us showed up.

I did an unveiling of my Red Barn in Winter painting and it got rave reviews from two of us. I was biased, so I didn't rave.

Next time, on the second Saturday in February, I will take a fresh baked pie and see how many show up. The weather may have been part of the problem.

I made a cherry pie with custard on the bottom last night. It was delicious. Not many people would have eaten it because I made the crust fifty percent Crisco and 50 percent lard. Lard makes a much better crust. Anyone who says different just hasn't had a good pie crust yet.

It was delicious. The custard is basic Jello Vanilla pudding with a little extra vanilla extract and a teaspoon of Grand Marnier added. Magic stuff.

I took Nena's advice and just had a hot cup of coffee with the pie. Perfect!

I'm organizing a photo contest at the Art Guild. Actually, I birthed the concept, fleshed out some details, and then our resident photographer took over the reins. That's good because he knows how to organize events like this.

But I made a really nice contemporary logo for it:



I got a new design project overnight from southern California clients. It will be a vehicle graphics project and they want three ideas by C.O.B. Tuesday. Close of business their time is 8 p.m. here, so I have Sunday, Monday and a long day Tuesday to do about six days worth of work. It will be interesting because my Monday is chock full already.

I have an 11 a.m. appointment at the Humane Society, a project at the Art Guild Gallery and laundry to do.

But I'm not complaining.