Happy New Year to all my Clearwater friends and thank you all for helping to make 2003 our best year ever at the Clearwater Guest House. I spent New Year's week at the house and can report that the three or four inches of fluffy snow that covered the valley made things even more beautiful than ever. Snow of any kind is rare in Clearwater-I think I've been there three times in 20 years when there was any at all-so it was quite a novelty. We took full advantage of it all by taking long walks in the sunshine and at night under a starry sky that Van Gogh, himself, would have appreciated. Temperatures were very cold and we needed our best outerwear but it was well worth the bother. Even Pepper decided to come in from the cold-and stay in! Eagles seemed everywhere and the jays and robins fought over whatever bits of food they could find around the snow-covered lawn. Winter wrens hopped from rhody to rhody in search of the odd victuals left over from summer and fall. As always, quiet was the first word that came to mind whenever we slowed down long enough to read, walk about or nap; wonderful silence enhanced by the rare blanket of snow. Sorry you couldn't make it but, as Cub fans always say, "Wait until next year!"