Weather Report: It's all white outside.

Toby has stayed out of the tree so far. I wonder if he knows how lucky he was. These short winter days he eats hugely and has a nice layer of fat to help keep him toasty when he leaves his porch hidey-hole to accompany the dogs during Wendy's morning outdoor barn and goat pasture chores. Nothing like a layer of fat to keep you warm in the winter and help you float in the pool in the summer.

2013 is history now, but I have pictures that show we had a Christmas here.

Aidan and I made a batch of cookies.

The tree we decorated twice.

Cousin Eliana came for Christmas week and practiced with the boys.

Just jamming...

Christmas morning and Aidan passed out the packages.

Back to music…working out some fingering.

Some minor adjustments needed.

Back to jammin'.

We had many concerts.

Sunset Christmas night.

Christmas night I learned that my sister Jeanenne was going to come see us for a short visit, too. She drove to our place from about 30 miles West of St. Louis and arrived at mid-day on Friday. It really brought home the reality that she and sister Susie are only about a day and a half away instead of the two and a half days of travel that it took those five decades I lived in Tucson. That is making me smile.  We weren't too well prepared, but it didn't matter a bit. We got to the ballet in Philly, French Creek State Park, and Skippack. My, it was great to have a visit with Jeanenne! I think the kids really liked the card games with her.

Jeanenne and Wendy at French Creek State Park.

French Creek: Wendy, Aidan, JM, Keoni, Eliana and Jeanenne.

At French Creek we had lunch in a great bakery where Wendy and Aidan had come many times during the summer month they lived in a Motel 6 waiting on completion of the house deal so they could move in. Yes, the three dogs, three cats and Harvey the turtle were all in that Pottstown motel room which is in sight of the nuclear reactors generating electricity. The boys refer to Pottstown as Mordor. Aidan wished he'd brought along rocks to throw at the Motel 6 when we went by it.

Next was Sklppack a little town not too far from us. It has lots of arts and crafts and interesting shops and eateries. It was fun to wander around with no particular agenda. Some days that's the best thing to do.

My Subaru is still in the garage. A slight chance it will be ready tomorrow, and a slight chance the roads will be cleared to go get it. The Jeep doesn't compare though I'm grateful to have a rental. I am now a little spooked about driving along our road. I learned from some locals that our road is notorious for deer accidents.

Time to exchange Toby's frozen water dish for another one that isn't.

Frozen water from the snow melt.

On yesterday's walk.