Publisher's Notes

Well, we have been through quite an ordeal here in New Hampshire.  We had an ice storm that turned into many days without electric.  We finally got our power back only to wake up on Christmas morning without it once again.  But believe it or not, there were many reasons to be grateful throughout the situation.  (You can read all about it in the Jan/Feb issue).  I am working like a crazy woman on the Jan/Feb issue of TPR after a lot of set backs and hope to have it printed soon but unfortunately it will be a little later than normal getting out.   (But worth it, of course.)         Amazingly enough, the theme of the next issue is "Winter Doldrums" so including an article on the ice storm was a "no brainer."   We are seriously going to have to be careful of what themes we come up with in the future if my life is going to coincide with them!   As I write, the New Year is only a day away - 2009 already!  Remember when it seemed strange to use 20 in front of the year instead of 19?   I am looking forward to another year of producing TPR and I think you will really enjoy the line up of artists that we have planned for the year.  Some well known and others will be new introductions, but all very talented and with interesting "stories." 

My family has a big wedding coming up on Valentine's Day.  It is my niece, Brooke's wedding and she is the only "girl" on my side of the family, the rest of us had boys.  So it has been fun being a part of dress fittings and favors and all the other arrangements, I am thrilled that Brooke and my sister included me.  I am in charge of the wedding centerpieces (for 300 people - about 30 centerpieces) so once I get this next issue of the newspaper out, my life is going to be ALL about the wedding.  What a special Valentine's Day it will be....   As we say good bye to 2008, have a safe New Years Eve.  May 2009 bring happy memories and add richness to our lives.    With joy........Tracy

I had hoped to write another entry before now but life certainly has its interesting twists and turns.     As I sit and write, I'm fighting some kind of virus.......seems to be more than a cold but not quite a flu.  I sit up and do a few things and then lay back down and rest for a while.    When I'm sick like this, it gives me time to be quiet and think. 

My family's Thanksgiving was very nice.  My husband Vic stuffed and roasted our turkey and as one of our guests put it "it was picture perfect!"   Why is it that although we can have turkey any day of the year, it always seems to taste so much better on Thanksgiving?     Only a few days after Thanksgiving Day, we had the opportunity to see the incredible sight in the night sky that is a once in a lifetime sight.  It was a bright and clear night when I saw the slivered moon with two bright stars dangling below it (Venus & Jupiter) and the three outshined anything else in the sky.    It is true, the best things in life are free.      It reminded me that there are a couple of painting patterns that have Santa resting on the slivered moon with stars hanging below.  If memory serves me, one was designed by Helan Barrick.     It's time for me to go back to resting.  Enjoy the time that remains until Christmas.   With joy, Tracy