On the first of the year we took a walk in the forest near Spies. It's unbelievable, the silence in the woods. Our feet crunch through the thin layer of snow and the rotting leaves beneath; I love the sound it makes. I love the whiteness of snow: purity, silence, peace.

Our roundabout route took us to Spieser Wand, where I was delighted to see that the "tent" of branches was still there, intact, from when we saw it in the summer. Some things, fortunately, last.

These darling ponies ambled over to us when they heard our footsteps down the path. They were such friendly, trusting animals. I think they're used for children's rides, how else could they behave like that with perfect strangers? If only some people around here were like that...

Blogworthy:
◊ You've seen the claymation rabbits on tv; this is the story behind the concept.
◊ Ads of the world.
◊ The International Herald Tribune's 2007 Year in Pictures.
◊ This is where I'd like to take Frank for his birthday. One day.
◊ Eleven phenomenal images of Earth.
◊ Demographics for Redondo Beach, by zip code.
◊ I think this is one of Conan O'Brien's better skits: the interruptor.
◊ Another Conan O'Brien skit, this time with Dan Jansen. Conan is way fucking weird.