The last three weeks have been quite eventful here at the farm. A stomach virus with an attitude came to visit and knocked most of us down like bowling pins. Fortunately, Cedar, Sol and Skyler left for the East Coast just before it got a toehold here and missed the fun. Angelina and Stan managed to avoid getting sick, but the bug went on tour at Dancing Rabbit for a while after it got through with us. I think that both communities are glad to see the last of it(we hope).

Some of our members went over to see a video at Kurt and Alline's house at Dancing Rabbit on the evening of the fourteenth. While they were there, someone shot out the back window of our van which was parked off the road with some other vehicles. It was very dismaying and unsettling. We really appreciated the sheriff's prompt response to our report of the incident. Fortunately, we were able to locate another window and have it installed within a few days.

Despite the curve balls thrown at us, we have still had a nice holiday season. The Rabbits joined us for a solstice party on the twenty-first. Laird and Tamar made a really sensational dinner and we all enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the evening. Michael and I were also celebrating our twelfth wedding anniversary and we marked Jon's birthday since he would be gone on the twenty-fourth when it actually takes place.

One of the good things about this time of the year is that we get to see family and friends. Laird's son Ceilee and daughter Jo are here for extended visits during their school holidays. Michael and I had a visit from my son Andrew, who lives in southwest Missouri. Despite ten inches of snow down there and messy roads, he was able to make it up on Christmas Day and stayed until Sunday morning.

Our friend Geoph arrived on Friday and will be here for a couple of weeks. Geoph was visiting at East Wind Community in south central Missouri and had to stay a couple of extra days due to the heavy snow fall. Former member Lotus and her daughter Emma also arrived the same day after visiting family in St. Louis. Lotus and Emma now live at a community in Tennessee called The Farm.

With all the holiday company, there have been lots evenings of games. Jigsaw puzzles have been popular, too. Some of us have gone to see movies in Kirksville and Memphis and to hear some of the seasonal musical performances. A group went bowling on Monday evening.

We also have had brief visits by other travellers earlier in the month. Michael and Moe, a couple from Canada, stopped with us overnight on their way to Phoenix. Willow spent a couple of days with us. He is active in the communities movement and was travelling from Washington, DC to the West Coast.

Sandhill folks are off doing some visiting, too. As I mentioned before, Cedar, Sol and Skyler have gone east and are spending the holidays with her family in Maryland and in Virginia. Sue, Jon, Angelina, and Zoe rode together to Michigan. Sue is enjoying the holidays with her family there. Jon, Angelina and Zoe are visiting family in both Michigan and Wisconsin while they are away. The three of them had also been at East Wind for a week while Angelina attended the Fall Assembly of the Federation of

Egalitarian Communities. They had a week at home before they left again for the holidays.

.Our Sandhill travellers will return during the first week of January and we will be together for a very short while. Laird leaves for the West Coast on the eighth and on the same day Michael and I will be flying from Chicago to Italy for a family visit . It will be the end of January before we are all home together again.

However, this Tuesday night we will be having dinner with Dancing Rabbit and celebrating the beginning of the year. As we take stock of what has been and look forward to what will be, we want to wish all of you a very good new year.