Happy New Year!!

Another year has come and gone. The drought, the war in Iraq and the national debt are still with us. Former President Gerald Ford and musician James Brown are no longer with us. Just to close out the year in a spiteful way, a few F2 tornados blew through central Texas in the last few days.

On New Year's Day, my children, my wife and I were out in the East Pasture in short sleeve shirts tossing a football around. When we sat down and relaxed for a few minutes, we could actually watch the grass, which has been brown due to the drought, actually start to turn green. New shoots are starting and some of the trees are starting to produce buds. This is supposed to be winter!

Of course, it could still get cold... If you read the news reports, the Europen ski resorts are hurting because they have no snow and it is too warm to make snow. Canada reports that some of the ancient Artic ice shelf is melting. The mid-west is getting snow, but it is a very wet snow - perfect for freezing on power and telephone cables and breaking them. Some parts of Kansas and Oklshoma may be without power for days.

Any way, have a happy New Year!!!