Memphis Democrat
November 28, 2002

A bunch of people left to spend Thanksgiving with their families. Kurt and Alline went up to Minnesota to be with Kurt's parents. Stephanie left to see her family in Saint Louis. Penn and Andra traveled west to spend Thanksgiving with Andra's family in Kansas City. Most of the rest of us live too far from our families and so we have a celebration here with each other. Gare's wife Erin came from Ohio to join us. And Tony returned home from his travels, too.

Sedge's friend Kerry came for a visit. Sedge and Kerry met in the Peace Corp, so were informative at dinner conversations about international politics. Then Kerry took Sedge away from us. We heard a rumor that he might be back though. Sedge was the last of our temporary residents. We are now just the group who will be here for the winter and beyond.

Meanwhile, a lot got done before folks scattered. Gare, Penn And Andra blew in the cellulose insulation into their roofs, just in time for a cold spell. Cecil worked overtime hooking up the electrical system in Skyhouse in its final location. I discovered that I sort of like cutting firewood with a chainsaw. Don harvested bucket loads of beets, carrots and cabbage. Yummy! Don has also been busy completing reports from the organic farms he inspected for the OCIA organic certifying organization. That is, he is completing reports when he doesn't get distracted by a game of an internet version of hearts.

Cecil went to the movies with someone who shares the same initials as him. He's also house sitting for Kurt and Alline and taking care of their dog Baloo while they are gone.

There have been many unusual animal sightings reported recently, from a coyote in the village to a screech owl on a post near Erik and Susan's house. As we spend more time indoors, the animals seem to get a little closer and a little more bold.

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