Red Roof Farm

Greetings to all our friends and family at this special time of year. At this moment, as we write this, Mother Nature is getting us all in the mood for the holidays by giving us the first measurable snow this year. We never get very much, so we won't be able to swap war stories with the Minnesota contingent of our family, but we are happy to look out at our woods, see the snowflakes drifting down, and anticipate how pretty it will be later. Currier and Ives couldn't ask for a prettier scene.

This year in Indiana has been interesting in the weather department, to say the least. Last spring we got so much rain all the fields and lower areas in rural Bloomington were flooded for weeks. Some of the secondary roads were blocked by high water, and there were stories in the paper about folks who had to take canoes to get anywhere. Later this summer we had a horrible drought. Between the flooding and the drought the farmers around here were ready to throw in the towel! In June we experienced an earthquake! It was minor, and almost no damage occurred, but Beth was eating lunch, and the dining room table started to shake so hard her cup of tea slopped over. The dog slept right through the whole thing. So much for animals sensing things like earthquakes. This fall we had some terrifying tornados that did do some serious damage in some small towns close to us. We were never in any danger, but you can be sure we pay close attention to the weather reports around here. That's just part of the charm of the midwest!

Last March, Harold and Jewel took a father/daughter vacation and went to Mexico via a beautiful cruise ship. The ship left from Mobile, Alabama, so they had a nice drive and saw the sights on the way. They stopped in to see Beth's brother Wayne and his family in Pensecola, Florida. It was fun for Jewel to see a cousin she hadn't seen since they were both babies. The cruise lasted several days, and they saw Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. The weather was gorgeous, the food exquisite, and there was always something fun to do. Jewel won the first place trophy and much applause performing an original piano piece in the ship's talent competition before an audience of over a thousand people. Afterwards people treated her like a diva and even asked for autographs. Beth happily stayed at home taking care of the farm and indulging her passion for old movies, long novels and peace and quiet. Who needs to go to Mexico for a vacation when you live in the prettiest place on the planet?

Michael is just about finished with his degree. His final recital is coming up in February. He lives in Bloomington, and is learning the violin shop business and running the shop we have near Indiana University. We get to see him almost every day, and are looking forward to having him full time in the "family business". Harold has been busy as ever with the violin business and taking care of our property. Cutting wood for the stove was a major task this fall, but our new wood shed is full to the brim, and we never have to use our regular heating system anymore. Jewel is busily engaged in school. She is still home schooled, but is now enrolled in the Indiana University High School Program for some of her classes. It is a distance learning program supervised by professors and grad students at the university. She is still very involved in the IU music prep program in cello and piano, and is also studying jazz composition privately with the renowned jazz cellist David Baker. It is quite a trip to hear her wailing away on the cello with her jazz assignments. From Bach to Bebop, Jewel can do it all. Beth has finally returned to playing music after nearly 20 years. She has taken up viola da gamba, a Renaissance string instrument that predates violins and cellos. She is already in a little ensemble, and spends her Wednesday nights playing Renaissance dance music with 3 other IU students and a very tolerant professor. There's nothing like jamming on the top 40 tunes of the 15th century. Sometimes the gals get really daring and branch out to French music of the early 16th century. What a rowdy bunch!! Harold has been active in music as always, playing quartets with Jewel and Michael, and attending concerts galore at IU. There is always something good going on. That's why we moved here.

We all hope that this letter finds you well and happy, and that the year 2003 has good things in store for you. As the wheel of the year turns, we give thanks for the blessings of friends and family. Even though we may not see you in person, you are in our thoughts, especially this time of year. Blessed be.

The Evans Family

Postlude: This letter was composed early in December. We refrained from sending it out because of circumstances regarding Grandma Jewel. As you know she was residing in Nashville, Indiana, in a lovely nursing facility. She just turned 85, and was "Resident of the Month" for November. She was getting visits 3 or 4 times a week from family and friends, and was doing well there until mid-December when she became quite ill. She passed away quietly and peacefully on Dec. 20, a little after noon. She was surrounded by her family and dear friends at the end. Her service, with rites by the Order of the Eastern Star, was in Minnesota, and she is buried next to Dad in Jerusalem Cemetery. If you wish to make a memorial gift in her name, please consider a donation to your local Hospice organization.