Kris Kringle Komes Through

Well, not exactly Kris Kringle. There was no miracle per se.* Just a commitment to live somewhat tighter than we've been living as students. But after

• some sobering inside information from current renters in university faculty housing (our hold-out hope) about the dire state of the university rental program this year,

• some sobering inside information from friends in real estate about the non-existence of rentals for people with pets in our price range in this area,

• some negotiation that yielded a bit of a price reduction on Edith's dream home,

we jumped. So we have a place to live come July 31st! One that we all really like. And that will allow us to get almost everywhere we need to go on a daily basis by foot or bike. Our pocketbooks will be even leaner than they've been during our student days, but we will not be homeless. Far from it. We count ourselves blessed. And we thank all of you who sent such thoughtful, sympathetic messages. It meant a great deal.

We don't yet have the keys, so for now we offer only outside shots. We took them today while showing the place to our friends Brian, Laura, and Julia, visiting from Hoboken. The backyard has now been duly christened by two preschoolers who couldn't hold it any longer...so let the games begin! Come visit any time.

*unless you count it a miracle that someone put a three-bedroom rental in good condition on the Princeton market for less than $2,500/month and was willing to let a dog live there

Back of the house. Note chimney for Santa Claus.

Backyard with storage shed. We now join the great American army of lawn mowers. Er, that is, people who mow lawns. And rake leaves. And shovel snow. Does it get any more domestic?