Dear Maeve's meditative MidWinter Magus,

How wise of you to be so well prepared early in the season! It must be due to your many, many, many years of experience. I shall endeavor to behave in such a manner to make you proud.

By the bye- you said "I shall be posting one elf on permanent surveillance duties...". It is indeed thoughtful and meditative in the extreme for you to tell me, but I must say we have already spotted your little helper. I hesitate to ask... but did you not think it a mite extreme to have him appear in the form of a weasel? Dancing around between the chicken coop and the stone wall in broad daylight with the bantams out and about, and wearing a white coat when the grass is still green... It does make one wonder. He is welcome to munch on voles, but not the chickens.

Anyroad, I thank you for your efficient and thoughtful efforts.

Maeve-too-busy-working-to-misbehave