the holidays

Dearest Friends!

So another xmas has passed and the new year is upon us -- and, honestly, I can't wait. My sense is it's going to be a great 2007.

Had a wonderful xmas at home. Promptly headed back to Austin on the 26th w/ Nemo, gifts, books, and a coffee table in tow to work on the dissertation. Hope is to have a respectable version of Chapter One out so I can meet with DB and HW in Jan with some dignity. It's going to be a quiet new year's on this end, and that's just fine.

The cottage is shaping up. Garden and home alike looking very good and Nemo has made the transition back seamlessly. For those of you who don't know, I've planted a winter garden replete with arugula, spinach, 2 varieties of onions, beets, and pansies. I've also got critters galore, thanks to strategically placed bird feeders. The arugula and spinach are already coming up and so we'll see what happens. I'm a novice at winter gardening, but having fun nonetheless. Hammock went up and then down. Must replace rope with chain.

Weather on this end is a bit chilly and cloudy, but on the whole very nice.

Anyways, hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday wherever it is you are.

As always,

B.

p.s.: Hey A & J, plants and fish doing fine, though fish looked a little lonesome.