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While Sarah had a playdate with her friends Anna and Lucy, Daisy had one with their dog, Saffron.

Despite a bit of squabbling over a favored stick, they got along very well.

I was relieved to see this robin today.  It suggests that winter may eventually end.

We had a brief, chilly weekend at the farm.  On Friday, Sarah had a birthday sleepover at her friend Marin’s house in Hastings.  We arrived at the farm Saturday morning to find that very little snow had melted.  Daisy, recovering from a Wednesday spaying, had to stay mostly indoors, even though she seemed to feel fine and would have loved to run around outside.   We (not including Daisy) played board games and lit a smoky inaugural fire in the living room.  On Sunday, Sarah had a riding lesson, and we then returned to New York to see “Beautiful — The Carole King Musical,”  a birthday present for Sarah, who is a big Carole King fan.

We are making the best of a seemingly endless winter through a combination of riding lessons at Southlands (Sarah), swimming at the Bard College pool (Jen and Sarah), soup-making (Bill), and musical-watching (all).  Last weekend we watched The Pirates of Penzance and The King and I; this weekend it was Oklahoma (at least until it got too scary).

We have a lot of snow.  I mean a lot of snow!  Our version of making lemonade is to go snowshoeing.

Daisy came with us.  Although her paws are large, they don’t work quite as well as snowshoes; after a while, we had to turn back while Jen and Sarah continued through the woods.

They made it to the top of the hill.

Daisy did some climbing of her own, reaching the top of the huge piles by the driveway.

She spent hours outside and seems more or less impervious to the cold.

At least someone’s enjoying it!

Sarah had a winter-themed birthday party Friday night.

We hope all her wishes come true!

Last weekend we were in San Francisco where it was 72°, but we were still happy to return to the frozen tundra that is Rhinebeck.  On Saturday, Sarah went riding for the first time in a month, and, perhaps as a result of the long layoff, she fell off Rocky when he veered to look at another horse out the window of the indoor riding ring.  Uninjured, she got right back in the saddle, as one must.  That night she had a sleepover — the first event in her multi-stage, town and country 10th birthday celebration.  This morning she went sledding, and she enjoyed it so much she’s doing it again right now in Central Park.

The icy weather put some color in her cheeks.

Daisy got a new bed.

Sarah kicked off a splendid Christmas holiday by planting the star atop the tree.  We had Jen’s parents and brother for Christmas, and her sister and Geoff for New Year’s, with a visit from the Scherr family in between.

Sarah’s stocking was quite full.

Even Daisy got presents, including a nice new bone.

After Christmas we got some snow (and bitterly cold temperatures).  Sarah ventured out to go sledding.

We all made a New Year’s resolution to improve our attitudes.  We have to put a dime in the jar each time we use sarcasm.  At the end of the year, we’re going to use the proceeds to buy a yacht.  Happy New Year to all!

Daisy was outnumbered ten to one, but she stared them down anyhow.