I’ve decided to take a little time off and enjoy the rest of the holidays, so check back January 3rd when things will resume. Until then Happy New Year.

I met Emily outside the Whistle Stop, Ashland’s ice cream shop on the tracks.

Greentop is an institution in this area. It’s Disneyland for hunters and fishermen, and like Disneyland, they’re not subtle about what they have to offer.

My wife makes terrariums and scatters them around the house. This one is at the foot of the bed. It’s getting pretty old with lots of condensation and stuff growing on the inside that diffuses the light. This morning a shaft of sunlight hit Woody just right, giving him a very ethereal look and making him look a little like he’s ready to fly out of there. It may be time to free Woody.

Some rabbit tobacco, weeds and leaves Mary keeps in the barn for decoratiing.

Mr. Foster’s job as a crossing guard is to get 90 school buses across the Ashland railroad tracks safely. He can pretty much tell the time by when each bus shows up. He’s waiting for the last seven that are running a few minutes late.