Greetings to all folks near and far. I send all best wishes to you for a very happy and prosperous New Year.

This is a time when we can sit back and reflect on 2011 and what the year brought into your life and how it has helped you. Please join me in my forum in the "Reflections Of 2011" thread to share and comment with others.
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I can scarcely believe how our winter has been so far. Usually by now we have had snows and bitter cold here in Washoe Valley. The days have been clear and sunny with comfortable temperatures. The early afternoons have been wonderful for a good walk and enjoying the nature trail on the little mountain behind my home.

Somewhere up on that little mountain is a 7 foot (or longer) Bull Snake. I have not seen him myself, but my daughter and many others have. He is quite harmless to humans and everyone gives him plenty of room to continue his journey. He is greatly respected for surviving as long as he has -- with all the eagles and hawks we have here, this Bull Snake is a much loved critter of our community. He highly deserves the name "Bully" for he is never intimidated and knows his rights.
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"New Year's Day--Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. We shall also reflect pleasantly upon how we did the same old thing last year about this time. However, go in, community. New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls, and humbug resolutions, and we wish you to enjoy it with a looseness suited to the greatness of the occasion."
- Mark Twain, Letter to Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, Jan. 1863
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Here is my latest article from the Appalachia site at BellaOnline.com.

Hot Springs in North Carolina
Sometimes Mother Nature does an exceptional job of creating a place where beauty, healing, rejuvenation, and tranquility all blend together to provide an exquisite paradise.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art49646.asp

I always welcome feedback on my articles. Please join me in my forum to comment on this, or any other, article. There are many discussions and some games in my forum -- you are welcome to join them or start a discussion of your own. I am always available to help you learn how to navigate around all the forums if you need assistance. I look forward to meeting you.
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Till next time, may your home be filled with laughter and may it ring from floor to rafter.

Blessings and may you walk in peace and harmony.
Phyllis
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Please visit appalachia.bellaonline.com for even more great content about Appalachia.

To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Appalachia located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=373

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Phyllis Doyle Burns, Appalachia Editor
http://appalachia.bellaonline.com

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