We have been enjoying some good weather, not too cold, not a lot of wind and no precipitation. Now we are heading for some cold weather, but we can’t complain and it is January.

First let me start off by wishing you all a Happy New Year. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I was away enjoying Christmas through the eyes of my great-nieces and -nephews and great-great-nephews, all from the age of 11 months to 7 years old. Needless to say it was not a quiet one but so worth it. Next year there will be another great-great-niece to add to the commotion.

Happy Birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Cuyler Fisher who celebrated her day Jan. 1; Kayla Bundza and Alexander Dunham, Jan. 3; Jedadyah Hartman, Aliyah Bennett, Amelia Russell Schaeffer and Tatum Thomas who all celebrated Jan. 4; Carron Marson, Jan. 5; Isabelly Belo, Jan. 6; and to Jack Laird who celebrated his day Jan. 9.

Congratulations to Zack Waller and Ellen Powell who became engaged over the holidays. Zack is in his third year of law school and will graduate June 13. He has taken a position at a London law firm. Ellen is in her first year of law school at Notre Dame. Ellen, who is from England, has the option of doing her second year at Notre Dame Law in London. No wedding date has been set yet but we wish them the best.

In celebration of their engagement, Pat Waller had a little gathering at her and her husband Steve’s home, and arranged for two alpacas to make an appearance, much to Ellen’s delight. It was a very nice afternoon to visit with Zack and Ellen, who had just arrived back from England before driving back to Indiana to return to school.

This has been on Facebook a lot, but I feel that there are many non-Facebook-users out there who are fans of Phillip Craig’s murder mystery books. Jamie Craig, Philip’s son, has been working with screenwriters to make a movie of A Beautiful Place to Die The book of course takes place on the Vineyard and is now a Hallmark movie which will air this Sunday on Comcast channel 738, channel 565 on Direct TV, and on 187 or 9444 on Dish Network. The movie will be on at 8 p.m.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.