Not that I’ve ever been to London, but the fog today was a real pea-souper, and below freezing temperatures have coated everything with ice. The front deck is nice and shiny. We are in our own little world, literally today instead of merely figuratively.
![fog1 You'd never guess there is a mountain behind these trees](http://mtnmacaw.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/fog1.jpg)
You'd never guess there is a mountain behind these trees
![fog2 A bit farther away the trees become more ghostly](http://mtnmacaw.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/fog2.jpg)
A bit farther away the trees become more ghostly
The last snowfall still lingers on the branches. And we had a Robin here today! His momma told him the early bird gets the worm, but she neglected to mention that he needed to wait until AFTER the snow melted. Minor detail.
![mugshot Mugshot](http://mtnmacaw.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/mugshot.jpg)
Mugshot
I love to take pictures of Mishkin. He tries his best to thwart my efforts. We both are entertained
Because the weather is so cool, foggy, and white, it is a good day to make a hearty soup. This is my own recipe that I developed on our first trip to the Alaskan bush in 1977.
Lentil and Rice Soup
Rinse 1/2 cup lentils, put in a pan.
Add one cup of uncooked brown rice, long grain or short grain
black pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon whole celery seeds
Pinch of onion powder
one bay leaf
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 Tablespoons olive oil
Add 4 or 5 cups of water.
Heat to boiling, reduce heat to low and cover the pan. Cook for an hour, stirring occasionally to make sure it isn’t sticking. Adjust salt after it is all cooked. This makes a thick hearty soup, wonderful with fresh hot bread.