quick looks in the morning

I woke shortly before dawn, and before turning on any lights went to the back porch with my 8x56 binoculars for a look around.  Orion was past meridian but standing upright; I could see M42's haziness and the winding trails of stars between Alnilam and Mintaka.  Rigel sharp and clear.  Canis Major was leaping on its feet; I could not quite make out any clusters.  Aldebaran, with many more stars revealed by the binoculars.  Finally the just passed full moon, battered and covered with scars, wrapped in a gauze of cloud.