6 January 2007

Dear Friends,

Lawrence and I send you warm greetings from our cozy log cabin at the beginning of a New Year. We enjoyed Christmas celebrations at church and with extended family in various homes. A Christmas highlight for me was playing carols on the piano while granddaughters Gabrielle and Aurora played them on their bassoon and clarinet with assembled family and friends singing along. We cherish the cards, letters and news received from family and friends.

2006 was a good year for us. We love living near Sharon and Mackay, Gabrielle and Aurora(16) and Jasmine(14) and working with them on their "farm". We had a big garden again this year with time and energy expended in the planning, planting, weeding, harvesting and processing. Now we are enjoying "the fruits of our labors" and have had plenty to share. Lawrence was particularly pleased to be able to give 250 pounds of potatoes to the church for its Harvest Dinner. Strawberries, green beans, potatoes, onions and broccoli were particularly good this year.

Lawrence continues to take much pleasure in his herd of 7 American Milking Devon Cattle. Year by year he improves the pastures with helpful consultations with agronomist son, Jon. We had 3 heifer calves this year. Calf Julia needed to be bottle fed so she became very tame. Lawrence milked Trixy all summer. Once again, we enjoyed the abundance of milk and the pastimes of cheese and ice cream making.

Farmers don't travel much but we managed two special trips this year. In March we drove to Maryland to join a family gathering as my sister Dorothy and her husband Alvin celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. In October we flew to Texas to help Jon celebrate his 40th birthday and to visit Jon and Michelle, Ian(9) and Cameron(7)in their new home near Dalhart.

We are delighted to report that the number of visits of family and friends is on the increase. We would like to remind all of you that we are conveniently located just 15 miles from the New York Thruway and have guest accommodation. Some of our visitors were en route to somewhere else. Some came to join the farm crew for a few days or a week. Glenda & Ray, Cassie(12) and Sarah(7) came from Michigan for Easter and again during the summer.

In November I celebrated my 70th birthday by attending a Peter, Paul and Mary Concert. I loved hearing the folksongs I had learned nearly 50 years ago.

Lawrence and I wish each of you a blessed New Year.

Peace,

         Carol

Think Peace