FIRST LONG WALK TO THE BACK FIELD IN A LONG TIME - MARCH 7, 2010

Accompanied by five cats and an aging Annie, I took off a few hours ago on my first really long walk of the new year. I've been out and about, but cold weather doesn't inspire me to stay out too long, so today's sun inspired me to get me out to enjoy the light, warm, beautiful day.

My first discovery produced an audible "Yippee" around The Farm when I saw this beautiful little crocus. The bed I planted 25 years ago has been tossled and turned many times over, but every year about this time when I spot the first little yellow flower, I get so giddy I jump up and down like a kid! Isn't it beautiful?

Down by the barn, one of last year's sunflowers still stands, drastically changed by the passing of the seasons yet still firmly anchored in the soil. I love the way flower head has sought support from the stalk.

Cool cat that he is, Cato found a resting place on his favorite stump and poised himself to attack an unattentive Clouseau as his partner in crime sauntered by. Good one, Cato!

And no worse for the wear...well actually, quite a bit altered by a winter outside, the happy woods Buddha still maintains his good cheer despite having lost his belly cover and suffered a pretty good wham to his noggin. A thumbs-up, high-five sort of guy, Buddha seems to be cheering on Mother Nature to bring on the spring!

BEAUTY

Best friends forever....Eliza Caroline Shook Wilder & Lexie Santini.....Photo taken by Roger Forshey for Lexie's senior pictures. Two absolutely beautiful young women.

FEELIN' TRIFLIN'

I spent all day Friday and Saturday preparing for the February event for The Evergreen Arts & Humanities Series, and this morning when a friend called to see if I wanted to go to yoga, I politely declined....It's one of those days when I might not get out of my PJ's....I might not accomplish much of anything...And besides, I'm an introvert who needs to recharge by staying at home, removing myself from the world of activity, and hanging out in the silence (or good tunes on the stereo.....)

Today's possibilities:

Maybe I'll knit....Sounds good.

Maybe I'll straighten out the jungle of a mess in my room....Probably won't.

Maybe I'll play with the cats....Yep, that seems like a good idea.

Maybe I'll feed the birds...Only if I decide that putting on my boots is something I'm in to doing.

Maybe I'll read...Sounds good.

Maybe I'll grade papers...Eergh! But if I do, then I won't have to do them tomorrow.

Maybe I'll look at seed companies on the internet....Yeah, that sounds good.

Maybe I'll take a walk...Too much energy?? To be determined later.

Maybe I'll phone a few friends...I'll have to limit conversations to 10 minutes...Don't feel like being to extroverted today.

Maybe I'll make a pot of soup. Good one...we need some healthy chow around here.

Maybe I'll do laundry...Underwear's runnin' low...

Maybe I'll ....maybe I'll....maybe I'll.

SNOWY WINTER DAYS = SOCKS BY FARM MOM

When it's cold outside and yours truly has an opportunity to knit, good things happen. This winter I've learned to knit socks. They're easy to finish in not so long a time, they're practical, and they're fun! Here's a sample:

Striped large sock made in a really nice alpaca for Samuel. The second one's in progress at the moment.

Organic cotton ankle socks...great feel on the foot. In fact they're so soft, one doesn't feel them on the foot.

The first pair I ever knitted-organic cotton like the ones above. Note the gusset on the top one--I went in the wrong direction, and it has a "unique" look.

Handspun Vermont wool slipper socks that I've almost worn out since I made them. Definitely in need of a wash. One a bit small then the other, but still a perfect fit!

When the knitting needles are in my hands and there's nice music (or the Olympics) in the background, all's well with the soul!

VALENTINE'S DAY 2010 - THOUGHTS

It's another -in weeks of many - gray, monochromatic day in the neighborhood, and I'm alone here at The Farm once again with the cats, Annie, and Claude, the beta fish on this Valentine's Day. Mostly because it's the height of winter yuk for me, I feel a bit alone today. I'd love to have Samuel and Eliza and all the other farm kids home with me to indulge in some tasty hot chocolate and an afternoon movie. Or, I'd love to be sitting on a bright, warm, sunny beach with my binoculars, watching dolphins in the distance as well as a few handsome old geezers as they stroll by in front of me....




There are moments when I think the whole Valentine's Day hype is just another opportunity for our commercialized, capitalistic society to make money on superficializing the concept of love. But then again, what better concept to promote, even if card companies and chocolate factories make millions and 98% of already overweight Americans pick up a few more "lbs?" If folks celebrate today with love in their heart, I can't complain.

I do believe in love.

In terms of a traditional relationship and marriage, at 57 years old, I still have a lot to learn. I can't say sustaining a relationship with a husband / significant other is one of my fortés although I haven't given up on the idea. I just think about it less and less as time goes by.

But I do know unconditional love in my life - my children, family and friends who accept the imperfect human being I am and who laugh at my "moments," critters who think there's no one better on the planet than I and who celebrate seeing me after I'm gone all day by wagging their tails off or jumping up on my lap. I sense total love in my home and on the land here at The Farm. The fields and woods have absorbed my laughter and my tears for 30 years now, and they inspire me to trust deeply in the cycles of life as we blossom and hibernate together.

Every ounce of love that surrounds me does not go unnoticed, whether it be tactilely exchanged or sensed from deep within. Love is the greatest blessing in my life, and gratitude for that love - the people, the critters, and all gifts from the Earth -bubbles like champagne in my heart today (and always).

Will you be my Valentine now and forever?? Namasté...

FEBRUARY 6, 2010 - THE SNOW FINALLY ARRIVED

DISMAL FEBRUARY FRIDAY

It's raining steadily, and the temperature is hovering right at freezing. The droplets clinging to the branches outside the window indicate a drop of a degree or two would solidify them into ice. Snow, a goodly amount of snow, should start falling at any moment, but the forecasters have been more wrong that accurate lately, so it's really unpredictable what's going to transpire here in the country.

The signs would point to a shift toward the worse - - a duo of squirrels have spent most of the day digging out chestnuts from under the trees and running them back to their nests, and the birds have almost emptied the feeders I filled this morning. Nonetheless, instead of a quieting winter blanket, the Earth at this point is taking a cold winter bath, and I sense She's shivering in her shoes.

Other than a brief trip to get thistle seed for the bird feeders in an effort to draw in some sparrows and finches, I've been nestled here at the farm all day. The orchids are delighted I've taken time to water them, and Loonis seems content to play "chase the feathers" every time I walk through the dining room. I think Annie's got the right idea....it's a great day for napping. She's yet to get up to do anything more than go out to relieve herself.

Eliza stopped by the farm for a minute on her way over to her dad's. It was good to catch up with her and hang for a moment. Samuel's getting ready for another DC snowstorm...20 - 28" predicted for the weekend. My poor mom's at home by herself in Boone as the snow's piling up all around.

It's winter. It's one of those days one has trouble remembering in the heat of the summer. It's one of those days when one searches the landscape for a tiny speck of color in the midst of the brown and gray. It's one of those days when curling up under a blanket and watching a movie defines one's level of energy, and it's one of those days when I'm very grateful I am alone here at The Farm with the critters and the silence.

AIR IN OUR IMMEDIATE AREA CONFIRMED TO CONTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF MANGANESE: WE'VE KNOWN IT FOR YEARS! !

COMMENTARY FROM THE FARM MOM: It came as no surprise to those of us at The Farm to see the following article posted in Thursday's USA TODAY. This past summer, I participated in a study done by Dr. Rosemary Bowler from California that was an attempt to identify what the physical effects living in such a toxic environment might be. The results are not yet in. Please read further.

(Source: USA TODAY - http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-01-21-toxic-schools_N.htm)

By Blake Morrison and Brad Heath, USA TODAY

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pledged Thursday to "use all the tools at our disposal" to reduce high levels of a toxic chemical that continues to permeate the air outside an elementary school in Marietta, Ohio.

The chemical, manganese, can affect children in much the same way as lead. Government scientists have concluded that long-term exposure can cause mental disabilities and emotional problems.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: Toxic Air and America's Schools

The EPA plans to release data today that show high levels of manganese outside a cluster of schools in and near Marietta. One air sample — taken Oct. 22, 2009, outside Warren Elementary — shows manganese levels that were 23 times above what the EPA considers safe for long-term exposure.

"That is pretty remarkable," said Stephen Lester, science director for the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, a Virginia-based advocacy group that focuses on children and schools.Two other schools, including Neale Elementary in Vienna, W.Va., just across the Ohio River from Marietta, also appear affected. One reading at Neale was five times higher than what is considered safe for long-term exposure.

Breathing high levels of manganese for extended periods can cause "irreversible damage," Lester said. He worried that the readings might represent "just the tip of the iceberg. How many other chemicals are these kids exposed to?" he asked. "It's not just manganese alone that you worry about. It's the combined effect of all these chemicals on the central nervous system.

"EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said the agency plans to investigate the source of the manganese in Marietta. According to data collected by the EPA, several companies in Marietta reported releasing manganese into the air in 2008, the most recent year for which complete records were available. One, Eramet Marietta, reported releasing 240,000 pounds of manganese into the air that year. The company could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Marietta has been the subject of air quality studies since 2000. In July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one of its studies had found elevated levels of manganese and other toxic chemicals in the air at several locations.

The EPA renewed its interest in the area last year, when it launched a $2.25 million program to monitor the air outside 63 schools in 22 states. It included among the 63 schools two in Marietta — Warren Elementary and the Ohio Valley Education Service Center.

The EPA's air monitoring program came in response to a USA TODAY investigation that identified hundreds of schools where chemicals appear to saturate the air. Gilfillan said the agency has finished testing the air outside 54 of the 63 schools and expects to issue reports on each school by this fall.

Other articles of interest:
Chemical found in air outside 15 schools (USATODAY.com in News)
EPA to review health risk from popular weed killer (USATODAY.com in News)
Farmers growing genetically engineereed corn break rules (USATODAY.com in Tech)
EPA wants to limit runoff of plane deicing chemicals (USATODAY.com in Travel)

JANUARY 2010

The holidays are now stored in our memory bank, and the New Year has brought about ice and snow and cold temperatures. The sun drops by for a visit on occasion, but most days we are covered from above by a blanket of grey skies, the kind that remind me I should be hibernating like the mother bear with her cubs-- moving into the silence, that is, rather than making an attempt to bumble awkwardly about through the days as we humans do at this time of year. The Farm supplies me with large doses solitude, necessary to keep me as centered as this time of year allows, for here I can watch the squirrels and birds, measure the growth of the amaryllises daily in anticipation of their awakening, and knit. Simple pleasures. Peaceful pleasures.

Samuel's returned to DC and seems to be in a more grounded space after his initial semester in graduate school. I'll hand it to that guy...mugged twice, ill four times, full-time employment, and graduate school full-time last semester damn near did him in. Two workshop classes (one in poetry, the other in fiction) will allow him writing time this term - time which he craves and time that provides him a chance to learn more about his art and about himself as the artist.

Eliza's completed her applications to Miami of Ohio and the University of Cincinnati. If she can gracefully balance school, winter guard, and her social life, the remaining few months of her senior year should be rewarding and memorable. As her mom, I'm ready for her to move beyond the small rural high school environment and drama that defines her life at the moment, yet I realize how important this time is for her. I wait patiently and eagerly to watch this amazing, beautiful young woman come into herself and realize just what all she can become. I anticipate the transformation to be as beautiful as watching an orchid open and blossom.

The artist in Joe screams for attention. Potter Joe has spent the last six months revamping the ceramics studio at Marietta College. Hopefully he's approaching a place where he can dedicate a sizeable portion of his time to his art. The guy possesses such skill and vision; one of these days, his creations are going to occupy a hefty portion on the shelf of distinguished potters in this country. I know that in my heart...I hope the time arrives soon.

Annie, the sole farm dog, enjoys an easy life here... The benefits of being an only dog suit her well...two treats a day, organic dog food, lots of loving, and no competition for the doggie beds. Her regimen of ibuprophen relieves her arthritis, and as I'm writing this, I can hear her outside, barking at the cows as they lumber across the upper field. Gone are the days when she attempts to herd them, but man oh man, she doesn't let them go by without reminding them she's still around.

In other Farm news:

1) Chintu accepted an offer from The Cleveland Clinic to begin a post-doc in June. That means he and Tom will once again move, this time three hours away. The Farm celebrates for him in a big way!! What an honor!!

2) Lori, recently described as "fancy" by a man on Maui, returned to the island after holiday break. She seems ready to head state-side, and we'd all love to have her closer.

3) Brett and Betsy will return from teaching for two years in Bulgaria this summer. Oscar and Felix will move back with them, and barring strays, The Farm cat count will then decrease to five....No more cats...Five's enough...I pronounce that now. Hee, hee...

4) Dana, James, and Wendy will be home again in the summer. Grandma T. is already ready for another dose of sweet Wendy!

5) Isabella has joined a children's circus group at her school. Bobbi's opened a new, flourishing, prospering yoga studio in Philadelphia.

6) I'm pondering the "what if's"....What would I do if my job situation were to take a different course? How do I want to define the next portion of my life? What can I create for myself that is gratifying, fun, and meaningful? I'm making mental lists....more to come.

It's Martin Luther King Day --a day in which I reflect upon non-violence, upon those, like Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Gonzalez, who receive power and strength from Dr. King's example. I can't escape thoughts and images of the devastation in Haiti. It seems like the world's pretty messed up, torn up, and in shambles at times. I look outside and breathe in the peace of this winter day and realize the best I can do is try to project it forward in my own way......If I could, I'd bring all humans and critters who suffer to The Farm for a dose of love and some moments of laughter....Not possible, but a soothing thought....

Namasté....Ommmmmmmm.

SNOW BUDDHAS

The Farm Buddhas have no aversion to snow or cold temps. Take for example, this lovely Lowe's Garden Department Buddha, donning a snuggie of January snow and her snow ball top knot.

The sheepish grin on the TJ Maxx Buddha indicates he's aware he wins The Farm prize for best snow head gear.

Silhouetted in the snow, Lowe's Garden Shop Buddha #2 has gone for the "off the shoulder" look for this snowstorm.

And Cincinnati thrift shop Buddha who peacefully rests on Molly's place in the Earth is modeling the single icicle look until the temps rise.

PEACE !!

THE LOVES OF MY LIFE

She's a senior in high school and headed for the University of Cincinnati next year. Radiant... beautiful... graceful... bright...creative. Planning on majoring in cosmetic science and French....Hopes to live in Paris and work in the cosmetic industry.

He's a first year grad student at American University... Driven to write...creative...cerebral...witty...Living in DC and learning about life, both the fascinating and sobering aspects of residing in urban America...

So good to have them home together, if only for a bit more than a week....Wishing they were here at the farm every day.....

CHRISTMAS DAY ICE STORM - AFTERMATH

Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Blog (http://blueridgeblog.blogs.com/)

When I saw the rhododendron leaves tightly curled up in elongated rolls, I knew they were preparing to cuddle up for warmth. They do that, you know. My dad used to tell me the rhododendrons will let you know when the cold's on the way, and this Christmas eve, the clusters of those beautiful slender leaves rolled in as tightly and closely to each other as they could announced the arrival of a thick coating of ice long before it arrived.

By Christmas morning, I awoke to what sounded like transformer explosions, only to find out that the noise was the deafening snaps of large - really large - tree branches all through the woods. The red-lit numbers on the clock radio beside the bed were non-existent, and although I could hear my mom up and about in the kitchen, I didn't sense the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting down the hall. Within minutes, the phone began to ring--calls from family members and friends to inquire if we had "lost power" as well. Yep, before daylight, it was obvious this Christmas Day would be one for the memory keepers.

Stories of everyone's situations began to circulate. Miss Hal and family were bringing in snow to melt by the fireside to use to flush the toilets...Mrs. Bessie Mae Hicks called to let us know she was OK...Worried about the spike in Uncle Frank's blood pressure, Aunt Lera called to see if they could come over to the Shook Shelter...Aunt Audrey's phone was out, so we just had to assume Bill and Sylvia had taken care of her...Aunt Mildred (only about 4'10" and less than 100 lbs.) called to say she went out in the snow and ice to clean off her car and couldn't move once her feet sunk down in the snow, which was above her knees. Fortunately, her feisty nature surfaced and she lumbered slowly back to her house...Uncle Bradley and Aunt Mabel were stuck at home and couldn't begin to get out until someone broke open the road to their house...ad infinitum...Over the course of the last two days, some 30,000 people in Watauga County have been left in the dark.

Fortunately here on Russell Drive, the power came on later in the morning long enough to fix a pot of coffee. People became a bit more verbal and less moody as a result. When the electricity went off for the second time, we waited about 5 hours until it returned. We definitely were some of the lucky ones.

During the outage, Petie and I summoned Papa's spirit to build a fire in the fireplace, and before long, the den was hotter than my Grandpa Hoyle's living room in the middle of winter. We warmed up some leftovers and a pot of frozen soup Petie had in the freezer. Actually the soup came to a boil as fast on the hearth as it would have on the stove! I took a walk to make sure there were no branches compromising the roof / gutters / cars and did the best I could at shoveling ice off the walkway.

Two days later, the area does look like a war zone. The pine trees suffered the greatest hit and brought down many power lines. Their branches become really heavy with ice, and their root systems are shallow; hence, if it were prior to decorating season, everyone in this part of the country would have had greenery to spare for his/her houses. Higher up in the mountains, there didn't appear to be such extensive damage. At least over toward Pigeon Roost, the breakage seemed less stark.

It's been about 24 hours since I've heard branches snap around our house. Hopefully the 3-day inconvenience of an 8-hour storm will be soon behind us all. Tomorrow I hope to get out and take a few photos of my own.

CHRISTMAS 2009 IN BOONE

The ASU Mountaineer mascot, Yosef, woke up this morning to find his beard frozen to his face and icicles hanging from his hat, fists, and armpits. Icicles in the armpits could be quite uncomfortable, but Yosef seems to be saying, "Bring it on!!"

Over the course of 8 hours last night, ice coated the entire area, making it such that for Christmas dinner here at the Shook house on Russell Drive we dined on PB&J sandwiches and Petie's frozen packages of homemade soup which we literally heated on the hearth. Couldn't have been better!

The temps rose during the daylight hours, creating a lot of slush and yuk. One could hear branches breaking and falling all day, and when we ventured out to see an afternoon matinee, the debris covering the highways was pretty intense. Thankfully nothing fell on my new car (new to me at least), and Mom's house escaped getting bashed by lots of limbs. Tomorrow we'll have a better sense of what there is to clean up.

Actually, it's been a great day...If we couldn't get out to go to Grandma's house, the next best thing was to stay here all day, and that's exactly what we did. Lots of nice gifts, too much stuff to nibble on, and a really, really toasty fire in the fireplace created a good space to relax, knit, and read. For me, having the day with Samuel and Eliza and seeing them enjoy each other after five long months was my greatest gift.

It's barely 9:00 PM, and I'm off to bed...Hope everyone had a great day...May 2010 bring us all peace, lots of joy (and money) and fewer losses and problems.....

BRUGNANSIA - I'M IN AWE OF THIS FLOWER!

DECEMBER FLOWERS - 2009

I posted a shot of the irises in bloom outside a while back, but when the cold weather blew through last week, I went out and clipped the remaining buds from the plants out by the garage. Sure enough, one of them opened up. Irises in the house in December doesn't make the spring seem so far away.

A friend, Whitney Huck, brought this orchid to me when Molly shed her earthly coil and headed toward the light. It's been gloriously in bloom since early November.

FINALLY, I have a brugmansia in bloom! I've spoiled this plant, given to me by Sherm Koons, for two years, and when I brought it in in the fall, I thought I saw the beginning of a bud. Sure enough, the gargantuan plant that fills a good portion of my bedroom has successfully produced this amazing bloom. The photos doesn't do it justice. I'd estimate it to be at least a foot long, and it has a sweet, intoxicating, exotic aroma that fills my room.

Another view of the brugmansia...I tried to get better shots, but this plant is surrounded by all the others I have in my bedroom, and I just can't get situated for the perfect angle without rearranging 15 other plants. So for now, these record the images of the short-lived, but amazing blossom of this December flower.

GREETINGS OF THE SEASON FROM THE FARM - 2009

The holidays are upon us, and I'm counting the days until The Farm family comes home to spend precious time together in celebration of another year of love and blessings. Each year as I reflect on the gratitude I feel to be alive and thriving, I am reminded of the joy and laughter we experience here at The Farm, as well as the passages of those whose lives have been so much a part of ours. Life's perplexities keep me a ponderin' from time to time, but many, many more moments of unadulterated joy and laughter resonate in my heart as I look back on 2009.

Samuel will be home for a much needed week of farm R&R in a couple of weeks...Eliza returns to The Farm from her dad's house in just a few days...Joe's here and keeps the fire roarin'...Lori's counting the days until she flies in from Maui...I'm nudging Bobbi and Isabella to come this way to celebrate the New Year...keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Brett and Betsy will visit via Skype from Bulgaria (or from whatever exotic place they're choosing to visit for holiday break), and hopefully, we'll get some news from Dana, James and Wendy. Meera'll be in our hearts from the West Coast, and hopefully,we'll see Tom and Chintu, Norm, Diane and Andrew multiple times as the celebrations continue.

I'll default to my list making for an account of Farm happening for 2009....Here we go...

JOYS...

1. Joe's return to The Farm in July with his beloved bassett hound, Rufus Thomas.

2. Samuel's acceptance into the MFA program in Creative Writing at American University.

3. Eliza's selection as section leader of the Warren High School Marching Warriors Color Guard.

4. Petie's visit to The Farm in November and our subsequent trip to Indianapolis to see Eliza perform at the Grand Nationals band competition.

5. Seeing family at the huge Shook / Michael family reunion in July at the

MatneyCommunity Center.

6. Laida's visit with my family in Boone during Thanksgiving

7. Reconnection with many folks from my past and former students via Facebook..

8. Celebrating my mom's 91st birthday on December 10th.

SORROWS

1. The passages of Pepín Carro (March), Grandma Ruth (June), Sally Johnson (September), Molly, the corgi and sweet, little Rufus (November)

2. The passage of Diane's Grandma Gracie, also in June.

3. Tumultuous, dysfunctional, vicious happenings at my workplace.

BLESSINGS

1. Good health, lots of laughter, and fun.

2. The barn's still standing.

3. The bounty of the land...early veggies in the garden this past spring, lots of glorious flowers during the summer...an absolutely beautiful fall...

4. The love of family and friends.

FARM FASHION - COLD WEATHER

When we take to the fields here at The Farm, we grab whatever garment is near and available to keep us warm on our spur of the moment walks. Last Sunday's journey into the back pasture provides a clear picture of what the world of "haute couture" refers to as "FARM CHIC."

As she sets the trend in Farm Chic, the Farm Mom always follows Grandma Ruth's advice and wisdom - "Keep your head covered, your hands, neck and feet dry, and you won't get sick." Worthwhile advice to consider since in her 107 years on Earth, Grandma never had a cold.

Farm Wannabes should take note of Farm Mom's ensemble - seasoned clothes she slept in, accentuated with old farm jacket from days gone by, the double scarf look, woolen gloves, thick socks (white is always preferable), and handy garden shoes. Her accessories include The Farm's retro WalMart canvas beach bag and spunky hat (see close-up below), a loaner from José's MFA thesis show, "Cossett Canoodle."

Close-up: Cossett Canoodle hat with knotted scarves. (On colder winter days, Farm Mom would probably wrap her head in a wool scarf and top it off with one of her hand-knitted Farm Toboggans.)

José's head cover of choice is the bright orange ear-flapped flannel hat that's been sitting around at The Farm, waiting for someone with the right sized head to wear it. It's a flexible piece of headwear and can be sported backwards, as José models here. Joe's neck stays very warm as he wears Cato as his scarf.

Please feel free to call upon any current or former Farm resident for advice regarding staying warm, Farm fashion, or where to purchase Farm garments. Stay warm...Stay healthy...And have a good chuckle along the way!

HOLIDAY UPDATE #1

The holidays are upon us, and here at The Farm, we seek to manifest total joy and peace as we move toward Solstice, Christmas, and the New Year. The greening of the house is in progress, our Christmas tree is soaking up some preservative in the garage before we put it up, and as always, I'm contemplating when I'll get shopping done....a last minute thing for me always...

Today's list.....

1. Joy at the thought Samuel will be home for Christmas...the first time in a year....I can't wait!

2. Joy at the thought Eliza will return to The Farm in a few days to spend Christmas. When she's at her dad's, I miss her immensely.

3. Joy at the thought Joe is a permanent fixture at The Farm.

4. Joy at the thought Samuel, Eliza, Mom, Myra, and I will be in Boone together for Christmas Day.

5. Joy at the thought of sitting by the fire with the Christmas tree lights aglow.

6. Joy at the thought of New Year's Eve again here at The Farm.

7. Joy, great joy, in feeling the love all around.