We snuck out to Mexico City for a few weeks to avoid some cold, flooding, and storms.  Still found time to make progress on the shower in the Cottage.

We planted tons of daffodils and other landscaping to remind ourselves that the cold, rainy winters won't last forever.

After growing up in Alaska, it always gives me a perverse pleasure to complain about California's brutal cold.

We prepped the Studio for stucco, putting an inch of styrofoam and a bunch of chicken wire.  Windows and doors are all in.

The Harlequins (sparaxis tricolor) go nuts in the spring. We also finished the stucco.

We trenched the water pipes and electrical conduit for the studio.

We installed the breaker boxes for the studio and Shedville.

Mmmm... blackberries...

Started insulating some of the interior rooms.

We had started using the Studio for storage, making it hard to work on, so we decided to finish two rooms quickly, so we could empty out the rest of it for easier working.

We went to Burning Man again, having a blast in the mud and the dust.

Among other things, we built this cute bench out of broken bits we found on the side of the road.

We had a big Friendsgiving party and made a cool mural that will go in the Studio, designed by John and painted by friends,

We built the back deck for the Cottage.  Actually I think we built it in October, but maybe this is the first complete picture I found.

The most important thing this month was that we won a court judgment against our neighbor, and ended a grueling lawsuit.