Our neighbors down the road a piece, stopped by today to say "Hello" and wish us "Happy New Year." The Randall's hail from Long Island, N.Y., but love being in Vermont and I have to say, they have adapted remarkably well. With two of their youngsters at Lyndon State College and one in college in Keene, NH, their trips north are now a little less hectic, but once here, they move at a fairly frantic pace to keep up with friends and relatives and what the kids are involved in at school. We were delighted today they found time to come the short distance to our house (they are directly across the road from us) so we could catch up on the news.

The good news is, all three children are doing well in college and enjoying it, and their mom and dad are adapting well to being empty nesters. Coming from a long line of farmers on L.I., John has it in his genes, so has managed to not only build a very comfortable second home for his family here, he also plants a big productive garden and really, really enjoys getting out on his tractor. Liz, being the great sport she is, shares John's and the kids' enthusiasm for our North Country.