Dear Family and Friends,

I finally figured out that if I put my hood up I would not get bits of itchy hay inside my clothes. Took a few days, partly I think, because of the "California" weather we've had for the past few weeks. I barely need a jacket when I go out in the morning to do my chores. Also, last winter I was feeding only 3 sheep, not 14, plus the cow and her calf. The logistics are now a bit more complicated-- how to give all the animals a fair shot at the hay. At first, when I was just throwing half a bale in armloads across the fence, Blue Bell would saunter over and the sheep would flee. Then I decided to coordinate with Paul's milking schedule. While he and Blue Bell and calf were in the barn I would dump the hay in piles so the sheep could get a head start. Within a few days the calf decided that chasing the sheep was more fun than hanging out with mom. She would peek around the side of the barn until they were well settled, then come charging over. So now I take the hay much farther down the pasture fence after leaving a pile for Blue Bell and the calf. It works, sort of. I keep thinking about the 90 year old Navajo weaver we met a few years ago at an Elderhostel in Arizona. She told us that only the day before she had informed her grandson she would no longer feed his livestock--driving his loaded pickup out to the pens and pushing bales of hay out the back.

Our cow managed to get out of the pasture the other day. I had just finished giving Madeline a bath and looked out the window. There, big as life, was Blue Bell grazing in my yard. I quickly got Madeline dressed and we got into my car so we could go over to the new place to alert Paul and Robin. As we were pulling out from my lower driveway I saw her sauntering along the upper driveway toward the road. I pulled out; then pulled into the upper drive very slowly to encourage her to turn around. She did and headed toward the open gate of the upper pasture. We continued on our way to find Paul and Robin. As we were coming back down the road from the new place, we met Blue Bell heading out from the lower driveway. I pulled in very slowly and she started to head back down the drive then took a detour across the front yard and up toward the road again. By the time I got out of the car she was in the road. As I was walking across the front yard a FedEx truck came along and, thank God, slowed down and stopped. The driver got out of the truck and started walking toward her just as another car appeared from the other direction. What a scene. Blue Bell standing dead center in the road with a Fed Ex truck on one side and a red sedan on the other. The Fed Ex driver must have had some animal sav-vy: he walked slowly toward her from the opposite side of the road. She nonchalantly turned and started back down the driveway. He walked behind her until she was well away from the road. By then the others were arriving. Paul eventually persuaded her to walk into the barn where she proceeded to bawl for her calf. We started to look for the calf. We found her curled up in the upper pasture, sleeping in the very spot where she was born.

Sasha and Madeline have had their Christmas trees up for a couple of weeks. I have helped each of them make ornaments when they come here for a "turn". One day Sasha brought over his collection of select pine cones and announced that he wanted me to help him wind yarn into them so he could hang them on his tree. We also collected milkweed pods and buttonballs. Madeline seems to enjoy cutting and pasting so we made a series of stars, circles, spirals for her tree. She asked if she could help me unpack the ornaments for my tree: "Then you can give me half of yours." Robin was thrilled when I suggested that the children should ask her to get some glitter to glue on their ornaments at their house.

The big attraction at my house these days is a couple of five-month old kittens adopted from the Glasgow Animal Shelter. (My solution to the hordes of mice that leave little deposits all over the kitchen). One is a lovely calico, Nutmeg; the other, sleek and black, Java. Sasha and Madeline vie for the chance to clean their litter box. They also love to hold them. I have to keep reminding them that kittens do not like to be chased-- even if the chasers are "only" walking or crawling. Of course, the kittens are well able to disappear when they have had enough.

Phoebe and Rob plan to celebrate the New Year in a new home, 25 Brahms St, Roslindale. They expect to close on December 28 and move in the next day. We are all so thrilled. The house seems just right for them.

Tonight I put my battery candles in the upstairs window to mark the longest night, the winter solstice. Even though we probably have the worst of winter ahead it is good to know the light is returning. It is good to think of each of you as well. In the morning I will look out to check on our calf and remember the prophecy of Malachi: But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall arise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall.

Love, Louise