Happy New Year

We welcomed 2008 by clanging a front porch dinner bell into the bitter north wind at midnight, and Judi yelling "Whooo... Pig.. Sooie" at the top of her lungs. Poor Sam, who has been staying with us since Dec. 27 while Doug and Matt are in Chicago, didn't know what to think.

This afternoon it was getting so cold (supposed to be 12 tonight with a -5 wind chill) that Judi got out a family heirloom for Sam to model. This hand knit sweater was made by Judi's Aunt Eadie sometime in the 1950s for Rags (1953-1969), Judi's first dog. It was later worn by Sandy (1969-1986) and Suzie (1986-1995) and it has the holes to show for it. Since Sam now lives in Sunny South Florida, he probably will only model this sweater on rare trips North in winter. Actually Sam (age 4-1/2) has enough wooly fur that he doesn't really need a sweater even in cold winds like the ones we are having this New Year's.

Our Christmas was quiet, with Judi succumbing to a sinus infection that kept her down all week and Norm preoccupied with the sermon he would preach at our church on Dec. 30 to give the pastor a longer holiday vacation. We did enjoy dinner with the Myerses, Doug and Matt on Christmas Eve. We are still preparing the holiday letter and it should be in the mail by this weekend. We're just running a little slow this year. May 2008 be good to us all.