The gress is stiil green

The grass is still green here in Berkeley Springs and the pond at CoolFont is now free of ice. It really has not even been cold lately. NY City had snow, but we didn't get any here. The green and orange gargoyle is still up there right now, flapping its wings on top of the castle roof. My son has been wearing a long-sleeved shirt but no jacket. Guests are still occupying the cabins at CoolFont, with more arriving today for  New Year's Eve. The burned-down lodge has been totally rebuilt, with its grand opening not yet scheduled. Cold weather with ice and smow are predicted, maybe even coming here this evening. 

Family members have just sent a photo of a gathering we had here at Christmas 7 years ago, back when I was still a youthful age 80. How fast those 7 years have flown by--the older we get, the faster time seems to speed along. It's almost tomorrow already. 

People, Mom of 7 'Couldn't Believe' She Was Pregnant with Ultra-Rare Quadruplets, 3 of Whom Are Identical 

A Texas mother, April Martinez, conceived quadruplets naturally and completely by surprise. She and her husband already had 3 children. (Since the birth, April has had a tubal ligation. Seven kids are quite enough.)

So this is why our flags here had been at flying half staff.                                                                      U.S. and Local Flags to Remain at Half-Staff through last Friday in Honor of Former NC Governor Jim Hunt   Funeral services were held on December 26

Google says: Many Kennedy Center performances have been canceled, largely due to protests and controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's takeover and renaming of the venue (the "Trump Kennedy Center") in late 2025.

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If Ashlee Buzzard had found caring for her 9-year-old daughter too burdensome, she might have asked to have the child placed in foster care to give her a break or even to be adopted, which would then rid her of the responsibility forever. Of course, that assumes that the mother could make a rational choice, which she apparently could not. Now the daughter is dead and the mother is facing life in prison after pleading "not guilty" to having killed her. Child welfare and school authorities were very concerned but had been unable to locate the pair, who had moved across state lines, with the mother always trying to evade them. She took her child to Utah, where she thought California officials would be unable to track them. Yet, since the girl was now 9, the mother had already done the hardest part of raising her. The child was killed by a shot to the head. RIP Melodee Buzzard. 

Now Melodee's mother, shown here with dyed hair as part of her disguise, is serving a life sentence. She should never be released, even for good behavior, as she is just lucky that California has no death penalty  

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A reader has sent me the following link, should anyone care to delve further into examining Van Gogh's painting  Starry Night, posted last time. 

Artwork Analysis: Starry Night by Van Gogh - Artsper Magazine https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/artwork-analysis-starry-night-by-van-gogh/

Let's post this now before the pending storm disrupts all our electricity here.