Fire danger is low.  The creek is also low.  The bit of rain this week did not cause any rise in the creek, in fact, it appears to be lower now than it was before the rain started. A lot of soil is not muddy, but really in workable condition by garden standards; moist and easily compacted, but not wet.  It has been unseasonably warm - we have used one whole stack less of firewood that would usually be expected on this date.  Just getting started on the "january" pile - and January is gone.  I never did get the warming light set up on the hummingbird feeder, just brought it inside on a few nights.  There have been years when the light was necessary to prevent freezing during the day.  Bugs are still available to the birds outside.  I'm hoping the freeze got deep enough to kill quite a few slug eggs.  The lawn shows just a little frost damage, mostly quite green.  Buds are swelling on trees and catkins are just beginning to elongate.  The outside cats are still finding a rodent a day to kill.  The chickens are given a couple hours to free range in the afternoon, and look like they have full crops afterward.  There may be some worries about the water supply for the city of Portland this coming year, as the snowpack up on Mt. Hood is way below normal, and I suppose the skiing season has been disappointing.  We are forecast a warm spell this coming week, and while I have usually found it best here to delay pea planting until March,  I am tempted to plant some of my warmer areas right away.  Can always plant again if they don't sprout.