Happy New Year!

Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book." -- Thomas a Kempis


Every failure I've ever had is because I said yes when I should have said no.

One of the most time consuming things is to have an enemy.

"You know you're getting old when you stoop down to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there."--George Burns


"I have enough money to last me the rest of my life--unless I buy something." --Jackie Mason

"The best way out is always through." -- Robert Frost
Amen and Amen

Richard and I have enjoyed almost 2 whole weeks of time off from work for the holidays. What a great time it has been, with time to leisure over the morning paper together every morning, to take the boat out (twice) and kayak one early Sunday morning....to curl up with Catherine and watch her favorite cartoons, work out in the yard, tidy the house. Tonight, New Year's Eve, 2007, we have bonfire ready (just need a match) and champagne on ice and a chocolate fondue and we'll have a perfect New Year's toast.

Here are a couple pictures of our fishing trip last week.

Another Truth

Nothing stands out so conspicuously, or remains so firmly fixed in the memory, as something which you have blundered. --- Cicero

Catherine and Mya enjoying the holidays!

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Tis the season of hectic, frenetic baking, shopping, decorating, gift wrapping, card sending, holiday parties, school pagaents and checking our lists! Our house is lit up with ourdoor lights, nativity scenes are on the tabletop (except for baby Jesus) our door is wrapped in garland and bows; our tree is small this year but we let Catherine manage the ornament hanging and it is a lovely tree indeed-- just small enough for her to manage topping with a great big golden star.

Richard and I decided to scale back our shopping budget a bit this year as it's so easy to get carried away and stressed out with finding just-right-gift for everyone. "Everyone" on our list meant about 40 people. So this year it's down to about 20, a much more managable size. I believe I can enjoy the season without cramming too much spending, too much worrying, too much standing in line at check-out counters. I have, though, enjoyed more baking and telling Christmas stories at bedtime to my precious little one. We've watched Charlie Brown's Christmas and the Polar Express. We've talked about how little some less fortunate people have and how blessed we are to have what we have, to be grateful for our family and our time together---THAT's what's it's really about, right?

Catherine donned her chef's hat and apron the other night and we made a round of Christmas cookies--Round One of Four or Five Rounds of cookie baking. Here's her picture during Round One. We spilled colored sugar all over the place but Dylan (our Pekingnese dog) was right there cleaning up after us.