Well it’s time for the annual update. Last year at this time Shelley had been on the new job for a few weeks. Now we can tell you that she has set a new personal record for not getting fired. Since she only works half time, Guiness will only credit it as seven months instead of fourteen, but even seven is better than ever before.

We bought a new truck in January. The only words to describe it are big and red. Actually, it is a dark metallic red, but it is big (four door, long bed, diesel). It is Shelley’s pride and joy, and JJ dubbed it "Clifford, the Big Red Truck". It took us, and the ponies, to Oklahoma and then out to Jack’s niece’s wedding in California with room for all. We even went shopping and it held everything Shelley bought. The next shopping expedition involved a sale though, so two more trips were necessary. However we have had a couple of heavy snowfalls recently, and the four wheel drive on the Big Red Truck has really proved it’s worth.

Shelley is now just ending her second semester of jewelry making classes, and plans to start again in January. Kind of varied so far on projects and results, but very satisfying nonetheless.

In September JJ started Head Start School. He absolutely loves it and it has really helped him too. His socialization has greatly improved, and he is also maturing faster, learning from the other kids. We had to really work on the "listen to your teacher and do what she says", but it is starting to payoff. Of course the other name for school is "Germ of the Week Club", so we all have had sniffles and coughs continuously ever since. JJ has had two ear infections and three courses of antibiotic so far – at what point do we reckon the cost /benefit is not positive any more.

We also bought a half a calf from a neighbor, and Shelley butchered the thing on the kitchen table. Of course, it was also necessary to buy a new cleaver, a set of knives, a new freezer and several chopping boards, and the process took about 2 weeks in all. We have not reckoned up the total price per pound – we don’t dare. However, the next one will be easier – we will take one quarter at a time, and leave the other at the butchers until the first is done. The reason for doing it at home was to make sure all the fat and waste was gotten rid of. The meat is fantastic – all of the animal is incredibly tender – and guaranteed free of any additives or anything else. This little beast was happy on grass all the way. We got a elk from Game and Fish in the spring – that is good meat too, although we gave away a good half of the animal as Shelley was totally unprepared for it and we had nowhere to keep it cool. All that dissection practice years ago really paid off this year.

We have a street name now. Dos Iglesias Road. We are the ones who chose the name, about 2 years ago and it became official late last year. Next year we may get a number.

We just went shoe shopping for JJ – more cowboy boots, snow boots with flashing lights, and sheepskin slippers. Not cheap, and we get to do it all again in 6 months or less. We swore up and down before we had him that we would never fall victims to the "merchandising", and that our little darling would not be exposed enough to the "merchandising" to care. Ha ha. He has a heap of Blues Clues videos, heaps of other "name" videos, and a taste for the latest and flashiest in footwear. There is no way to get around it – we are beaten although we have not quite given up yet, as he does not have the persistence of, say, a 14 year old yet. Though it’s a close thing.

Our pony herd has not actually increased this year, which is a good thing as the West has suffered from a horrible drought this year, leading to severe shortages of hay and other necessary items. The aquifer that feeds our community well is failing, and we are all on tight water rationing. (Those who can’t or won’t ration are horrified at the size of their bill). So far this winter we have had quite good snowfall in the mountains, where it is needed, as it is snowmelt that feeds the aquifers. It is not sure that this will do the trick, as no-one actually knows the timescale on which it refills. We have just been approved for a grant to dig a new, much deeper well, but our community is probably going to be on short rations for quite a while. Hopefully next year will have normal or above normal rainfall and the monsoons will come in on time and stay, and hay prices will drop again.

We have been working on the house bit by bit – an ongoing project is rewiring, and a major project was putting in a Multi-Flo septic unit, which when operating correctly takes all the household water including the contents of the toilet in at one end, and puts out clean, potable water at the other end. Currently the water is coming out very pale brown, apparently because we are not running enough water through the thing to really get the bacterial mats that do the filtering growing as thick and dense as they should. So looks like we will have to wait a while before starting the Presbyterian Brewing Co of Holman, NM.

Life here has been very good this year and we have nothing to complain about - JJ is a lot of fun and very funny too. The other day I put some Chinese style steak in front of him and he wanted nothing to do with it – when Jack and I regaled him he looked at his bowl and told us, "This food is not good for people to eat". My feelings would have been hurt I’m sure if I had not been laughing so hard. (It really wasn’t bad at all and we did persuade him to eat it in the end). I now have a cooktop with 5 burners instead of a campstove with two, but still no oven, so Christmas dinner will be wokked or flambéed on top of the woodstove in the living room. It might even be take away Pizza if I really mess up.

We had a few visitors this year, but still only a handful have been to visit us. We are rather remote, but it is beautiful. Anyone we send this letter to is welcome to visit. Jack flew to Oregon to have Thanksgiving with his parents. Thanksgiving dinner at Mary Ann’s included Dad & Mom, Jack, Pat & Jo Bonita, Emily & Heather, Mary Ann & Tim and Mia & Pilar.

We wish you a peaceful and contented Christmas, and a healthy, happy, prosperous New Year.