It felt like being trapped in a dark and spinning whirlwind, but all is healthy Christmas lives and shines brightly.

My stomach bug has retreated along with the rating storm, and Lulu is walking well (see animal parable), thanks to our farrier Matt Ross.

Our Internet is working, our power is back on, the plumbing is working,  the temperature is rising into the mid-teens (typical for our winters), and a friend is here for Christmas lunch. We’re listening to Bruce Cockburn’s Christmas album.

Monday night, we’re going to Vermont to stay in our favorite inn for a night.

Maria made banana pancakes for breakfast; the sun is out, and the sky is blue and beautiful, and guess what?

We’ve adopted an elephant named Kinyei – more later. The world is strange and wonderful.

My thoughts are that many people are still struggling to be warm, dry, and safe.

We were tested pretty thoroughly, but we are well and whole.