Santa! So good to hear from you!

Chocolate is always good, but you know how it goes--if it's here, I eat it. (I'd like to lose a few pounds and stay in those medium mudcat t-shirts I keep ordering!)

So you're used to a warm climate? Hmmm.

My garden didn't do much this year--we are in the middle of a drought. I have some onions and garlic harvested in the spring, but not much else. Do you have some interesting seeds perhaps, to send along? I'm into xeriscape (anything to kill the damned bermuda grass!)

There ARE others who share the holiday at my house. Two teenagers, two cats, two dogs, and an amiable ex-husband. Something the entire group would enjoy, perhaps a speciality from your area, would be wonderful. A food, a game, a book, or even better, music. What do you listen to and/or what do you perform?

I didn't mention that I seem to have a collection of decorative tiles and art in my kitchen. It evolved from tiles bought on a couple of trips and a gift from a friend who knows of my naturalist background. I have a wall with a couple of geckos and a cat and it has room for more tiles or artistic hanging critters. I like snakes and tarantulas, and would love to add some to the wall exhibit. What lives in your area? Anything similar?

I have done nothing with any calendars of late, so I think the answer to that last question must be "no."

Will your reindeer be launching themselves from caliche, or prairie grass, or perhaps a year-round wetland? Send some geographical hints, please!

SRS