Hmm, seems this is horribly outdated. I just realized the last picture of my hobbit hole is over three weeks old. I shall take a new one as soon as possible - the hole is almost done, half the bottom floor is showing, and I'm a little euphoric. However, the prospect of hauling everything I'm going to need (gravel, sand, rock, etc.) down the trail to Hobbitvale dampens that a little bit. I'm considering skipping the retaining wall again - perhaps using chain link fence, for all the good it will do... I don't know, really. I shall write to a friend of mine who is a civil engineer - if anybody can tell me what to do, he can.
...I should have thought of that about a month ago, at least.
I have two new companions in my little valley, too. A piliated woodpecker and his mate seem to think the trees nearby are absolutely scrumptious. The deer are getting used to me now too, and it's more of a surprise than a scare when I come along. Yes, Wendy, I understand that making friends with deer is tantamount to vegicide, but have you seen their eyes?
I also saw beaver kits (pups?) for the first time tonight, down by the creek... cutest little things ever! They're like miniature beavers with skinny tails, and they swim around up and down the creek like motorboats on patrol, squeaking the whole time.

Hmm. Exactly one year ago, give or take a few hours, I was in Christchurch, New Zealand. Forgetting I was in a backpacker hostel, I sat up too fast in the middle of the night and whacked my head on the bunk above me. I must have scared the poor girl to bits. Then when I went to get a drink of water, I came back in the dark and tripped over the ladder, which probably woke everybody else up too. Good times...