Twelfth Night Tree-Lighting

The sky is a nice clear blue this morning; we had high winds last night and are expecting them again this afternoon. I've walked 3 miles so far this a.m., and am heading over to give Rosie and Remy a longish walk (it all depends on Rosie's hind leg). Afterwards, I'll get my hair cut, and then shop for goodies for another fruit tray. The kits have been running around like mad, in and out of the apartment - it's all of 25 here, and we hope to hit 40 - they are always so playful and full of energy when it's cool out; just like horses!

Kathy and Jim are having a Twelfth Night tree-lighting ceremony tonight; that's the reason for the fruit tray, again. They have invited the whole neighborhood over for light snacks and desserts. Jim loves Christmas, and with his illness from Peru, their Christmas tree was put up in the living room - all 14 feet of it - but it was not decorated. The tree was decorated over the weekend, including 30 to 40 traditional candles that Jim will light several times tonight. Don't worry! The fire extinguisher is kept about 6 feet away from the tree and candles. It's a really nice traditional German ceremony - and we did miss it this year.

I am taking Rosie and Remy on excursions three days a week now, and I'm booked for pet-sitting for a week in February and a week in April; and I just accepted a 10-week job for later this year. That's not to mention my jobs for Kathy and Jim - one is coming up soon for the Phoenix Marathon and Kathy's birthday.

I'm getting excited about the up-coming National Western Stock Show. I love wandering in the livestock areas and looking at all the wonderful examples of different breeds. (I dislike the crowd, but one must sacrifice comfort occasionally.) There is snow falling on the western slope today, and Vail is expecting 10 to 14 inches; visibility is poor starting at the Divide, and there might be blizzard conditions out on the slopes . At least Boulder was not inundated with snow in December like Silverton; they received 196 inches of snow in 24 days!!