The alarm was set for five o'clock.

I woke at six o'clock.

Ooops.

But by 0622, we were on the road. The masked heeler, and I, that is. Her little maskless sister took my rousing as an opportunity to steal my warm spot in the bed, and refused to depart from it.

So, having left late, this...

was my view of sunrise. In the mirror.

No grouse on the first lek. Not too surprising, as its number have been declining, and there is now an active gas well about a quarter-mile northwest.

Much better at the second lek, 33 cocks and 18 hens, despite it having new gas wells to the northwest, northeast and east. And the pad plowed and bladed ready for another well close to the southeast. A pad a few of the grouse had checked out this morning, judging by their tracks in the fresh snow.

What I don't quite understand is all the grouse gathered on the road to one of the well pads.

They were still leaving the lek and flying to the road as I sat and watched this morning. Not sure if they were after some fresh dirt or grit, or just liked the feel of sun-warming dirt on their toes.

Did I mention it was all of 14 degrees out?

A fact totally lost on the masked heeler on her few breaks outside the truck. Breaks that were totally unsatisfying since her sister wasn't there to dragrace (and me being too slow to be a challenge of any sort).

Still managed a little fun biting at the snow.

In other news, the wife took the day off so she and youngest son could take care of business at the bank, the car dealership, and with the insurance folks.

He came home in this.

It was after dinner before he had a chance to take off and show off to friends (I had to have my test drive first, you know). Soon after he left, he came back in. Only mildly upset.

The headlights didn't work.

A surprise, as we checked those things Saturday on the lot. But here, at home, the brights worked, and the fog lights worked, but not the regular beams. Even after I checked the wiring behind the broken mount for the right headlight, by flashlight in heavy winter coat.

Youngest son was so desperate to drive to his friends that he got in and tried jiggling the light switch.

It went "click".

Headlights came on.

Perhaps, maybe, we should read the owner's manual to see how all the switches and gadgets are supposed to work before we start checking the wiring, huh?