We have several critters who call our place home. That includes many types of birds, 2 families of raccoons, blacktail deer, opposum, squirrels and a feral tom cat we've named "Kiki". It's Christmas morning and I've been up most of the night getting computer files backed up since our power went out again at midnight and came back on at about 2 AM. I just don't want to take the chance it may go out again today before I get some things finished.

I was born and raised in Washington with my twin sister and the last time I can remember this much snow was the Winter of '68, when we moved out to the country, but then again, this Winter has just gotten started!

We've been snowbound for a week, have lost power more than once, have had 3 structures
damaged by the snow and we've asked all of our family to not come to see us because we don't want them to risk their lives coming down our road. The snow is so deep that both our cars are stuck in the driveway. We have 5' long icicles haning from our house.

All being said, we have a lot to be thankful for. We have neighbors who are a real blessing to us. Our neighbor, Bob, helped me shovel 2 feet of snow off of a flat roof on our old shop. We took turns spelling each other so we could get the job done. We're spending our Christmas dinner with them and maybe some other neighbors who can walk done to their place.

We really need to keep in perspective the reason we celebrate Christmas. I know that there is a wave of people who don't want us to bring it up or even say "Merry Christmas", but I'm one who thinks that God smiles down at us everytime we do a kind deed or help another soul.

Merry Christmas to all and a blessed new year!

Vicki & Jim Keeling