Don't Blame the Chicken!

Thanks go to Paul Cantin for sharing this knockout Little Feat mellow goodness. Gotta love "Dixie Chicken," especially with a lineup like this -- live in 1977 on The Midnight Special.

Thanks -- Christmas 2013/2014

Too much! That is all I can say to those who felt the need to spoil me this year. TOO much. But thank you.

Last year, I missed one sis as I was spoiled with attention and great kindness while snowed in with the other. This year, there wasn't much of me to go around -- and Mom and Pete did too much! Much of it is going back. I missed seeing the Marches and only saw one Pirkey (LOVE her!!), but I did split the day among time spent traveling with Pete, hanging with Mom and convalescing alone. Jackie made my day by sending back the sweetest pie from the celebration Mom was, I am so glad to report, well enough to attend!!!

I'm only a small part of what is essentially an opportunity to rekindle love in our hearts, tenderness in our relationships and peace in our communities and the world. I need for nothing and want for little. That having been said, I was happy to be able to buy myself a planning calendar and Santa Barbara (ha -- I wish) is only going to have to fill in from the extravaganza by picking up some indigo or navy Rit dye, some ink refills and looseleaf paper and dropping off or mailing a few late gifts. That's an embarrassingly short list, and there's nothing there I cannot live without! Sadly, only a few cards went out and those were a dog's breakfast, so please consider this yours and consider yourself lucky if you didn't get one. In addition to the family around me, I am grateful that 2013 was the first year I was able to knit a hat, and I was thrilled to be able to take two small trips out of the area -- one to Lake Placid (cool place, and I want to go back) and one to Chicago (I feel the same way about it). I do wish the joy of Christmas to hold you close all year long, and I hope that you, wherever you are, have a new year filled with friends, family, freedom and fulfillment.

The best gift from any of you would be actual snail mail correspondence -- a hobby I hope to revive, at least for myself, throughout 2014. If you don't have my address and would like it, please reach out through the contact link on this blog.

Help Wanted -- Storm Edition

For your practical help and general edification it might help to know this: If you're out of work, there is some work out there to do. Terra landscaping and hardscaping employees report that their company pays $20 an hour and often there's a need to hire when crews cannot or do not show up during snow and ice storms. Other companies are likely in the same boat and willing to take on capable hard workers. Check your Yellow Pages for landscaping companies. If it's Terra that you want, its local address to my part of the Delaware Valley is 3481 Germantown Pike; Collegeville, PA 19426. My sense is that showing up or just talking to the guys in the landscaping truck might be the best way to snag one of these jobs. Terra's number, though, should be in the book.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and much health and happiness to all in 2014!