3:41 am 25th December down under. My report to those who are still locked in the 24th (i.e. all y’all):
No clouds. Lots of stars. No wind. No sounds except tiny little waves on the sand. Dog looks like he is listening intently to something thousands of miles away. Horse just looks his usual bland self. Livestock are safe and sound as a pound.
Town crier calling and swinging his bell, 3:42 and all’s well. Merry Christmas!
Baking cookies…and cookies…and cookies.
I was supposed to wrap them up for friends and neighbors days ago.
But something happened…fairies or mice or something got into the house and ate them all.
Tried it again and the same thing happened!
This is my last attempt.
On a related note, Mike and the boys finished our home gym in the basement last night.
The CF18s and Hercs of 8 wing have been practicing in fine form all afternoon.
Soon they will launch the Barrier Cap for the safe travel corridor over the lake and
just after sunset the close escort will go up to relieve 4 wing out of Cold Lake.
We take protecting Santa from those godless heathens across the border in Syracus seriously in this neck of the Canadian woods.
Will be partying at 1 a.m., after services, with the man who was my elementary school bandmaster, who is now an avuncular music director for the local Lutheran (Missouri Synod) church. He hosts us all night. Lefsa and “punch.”
Santa comes in brief pants down under, and is frequently to be seen on a surfboard. He doesn’t rely on reindeer for propulsion either, preferring to paraglide or go skydiving down decommissioned chimneys.
i was actually wondering a little about that. All our Santa iconography in the Northern Hemisphere is winter related, but I guess if you grow up where it’s “Christmas in July” Surfin’ Santa would be the norm.
Palm Springs, CA is in the Northern Hemisphere. And they have Christmas there. Santa had a little problem getting there last year because of all of the wind turbines they’ve installed on the approach to that area (a lot of wind blowing in off of the ocean through the mountain pass that leads to Palm Springs). Hopefully he has his GPS system fixed for this years try.
We swim and surf and dive and sail and sing songs about Santa and snow. “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” We don’t give any thought to the incongruity of it unless someone (usually an overseas visitor) points it out. Then we have a good laugh about it and go back to singing songs about snow.
The other thing about it is that NZ was the last country to be settled by humans and colonized by Europeans. Very few or our non-Maori people would be more than 4th generation NZers. We are close to our colonial roots. A lot of our traditions are pure European, especially British.
Nope, and I don’t want any. Well, okay, maybe a little this evening to set the mood, looks Christmasy with the lights and the little ones will go ooh and ah ;-D
Merry Christmas back to Ame. And yes, those things are huge. But in the “forest” that has grown up in the pass going to Palm Springs, they are of varying heigths and blade-span.
We had about 1.5 inches of rain about five days ago. Got everything well-soaked. Have another storm moving in tomorrow evening. 1 to 2 inches of rain for us. Snow level down to 2500 to 3000 feet. With the soil already wet we could see some mud slides. Fun and games for all. Some sliding on new snow. Others sliding on new mud.
On a bit of a somber note, we might give a Merry Christmas shout-out to Stephanie and her husband. She noted here a couple of days ago the tragedy that befell one of the officers in her husband’s group. The officer is dead. Stephanie and husband both have to sit on their grief and keep on the happy Christmas face for the sake of their children. That can’t be fun. Keep them in your thoughts tomorrow. And if you say prayers, you might mention them along with the others you mention. Regardless of whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere.
That flash mob is good. Nice reverb accoustics in the food court.
How can you beat that combination:. The Hallelujah Chorus and A & W Root Beer.
If you listen carefully, you hear a fairly high level of people noise, talking and stuff, while the last carol is being played on the piano. And then the opening organ chords of th Hallelujah Chorus being, and the noise audibly dies down. Maybe that is because most of the flks in that food court were part of the choir, and they knew what was coming?
With the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump so close to Christmas, it wasnโt long before partisan sham received itโs own holiday spin from the media. BBC arranged a professional choral performance of the โTwelve Days of Christmasโ updated with lyrics about the political hit job, because honestly, the congressional rebuke of the President is a more festive occasion for the liberal media than the birth of Jesus Christ
Ame, below is a recipe for lefsa (lefse). It’s a Norwegian potato flatbread. When dating, an important question is always, “Do you take your lefsa with butter, or butter and sugar?” (Butter and jam, for me.)
There are enough Iowegians left up here that even the Walmart carries lefsa — and does so year-round.
So much for optimism. It turns out that the true meaning of Christmas is that the Bad Orange Man is still Bad and we shouldnโt let a little thing like the celebration of the birth of the Savior get in the way of remembering that.
BuenaVista
10h ago
Ame, below is a recipe for lefsa (lefse). Itโs a Norwegian potato flatbread. When dating, an important question is always, โDo you take your lefsa with butter, or butter and sugar?โ (Butter and jam, for me.)
There are enough Iowegians left up here that even the Walmart carries lefsa โ and does so year-round.
that’s really interesting, BV … and i imagine they taste really yummy. do you eat them plain or with something in them … like with tortillas or crepes?
i have a friend i met thru my first blog many years ago, and we’re facebook friends now. when we met, her husband was in prison, and they had one, young son. she never left her husband. she stood by his side and stuck in there, even when they had hardly any food and a car that kept breaking down and little money b/c he was doing time. fast forward about ten plus years … he’s been out for a good while now … their son graduated from high school and is in the fire academy (or whatever it’s called where they live) … they have another young son who just turned six and is so smart and clever and hilarious! (really, i wish i could share the things he comes up with, but she has it set to private, so i can’t … but this kid has a following … he cracks us up all.the.time!) they don’t have a lot, so they live a simple life. apparently he has a favorite classic car … buying that is not an option in their life … so for christmas she found a steering wheel of his fav classic car and had it mounted on a piece of wood. it really looks nice. he LOVED it!
well … it *can* and *does* mean that … but it also means a lot of other things, too ๐ … including the truth that sometimes it actually does mean, bless.your.heart ๐
“the little ones going ooo and ahhh would be the best part ๐”
Agree, but it didn’t happen, although it is cold enough tonight that it might happen. Instead we had the traditional turkey with all the fixing including my wife’s favourite jellied fruit made by the sweetie…wild cherry jello with many blueberries and raspberries. I only take a couple of spoonfulls but the gobblers piled in, they always did.
I miss the days when they were just four or five and could take them to the bush to see Santa’s “reindeers” . We would sneak up on the SE slope where the sleeping deer enjoyed the warmth from the sun. Eventually the deer would sense our appearance and spook, and the exited kids would holler “I see them, I see them” …and once the sweetie, being a true believer, said one of them has a red nose ;-D
Rain lashing the windows, how much more festive could you want?
I hope you’re all doing better, Merry Christmas to all
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Merry Christmas to all you Spawny’s pub crawlers…now go home.
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This thread was started early for the sake of the โdown underโ mates
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3:41 am 25th December down under. My report to those who are still locked in the 24th (i.e. all y’all):
No clouds. Lots of stars. No wind. No sounds except tiny little waves on the sand. Dog looks like he is listening intently to something thousands of miles away. Horse just looks his usual bland self. Livestock are safe and sound as a pound.
Town crier calling and swinging his bell, 3:42 and all’s well. Merry Christmas!
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Which is why we don’t have a tree up this year, isn’t it Big Girl?
“Don’t blame me, I’m adorable!”
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It is as quiet as a dead dingos donger here as well my mates. 44 minutes to go before Christmas Day in the great southern land of Oz.
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4….3….2…..1… ding. Merry Christmas!
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I’m thinking I should go to the range. Ain’t nothing more festive than the melodic sound of gunfire.
Also, I should burn through my ammo before I have to deal with my family. Remove the temptation, so to speak.
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Bwhahahah! Always so good to hear from Sumo!
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You’re doxxing me via my country seat?

What did I do to you?
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Baking cookies…and cookies…and cookies.
I was supposed to wrap them up for friends and neighbors days ago.
But something happened…fairies or mice or something got into the house and ate them all.
Tried it again and the same thing happened!
This is my last attempt.
On a related note, Mike and the boys finished our home gym in the basement last night.
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Merry Christmas, you weirdos and degenerates.
Carry on.
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forgot to add: Merry Christmas, everyone!!
๐ค๐ค
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I resemble that remark, thank you very much! ๐๐ผ
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Nice calm Christmas Eve afternoon.
The CF18s and Hercs of 8 wing have been practicing in fine form all afternoon.
Soon they will launch the Barrier Cap for the safe travel corridor over the lake and
just after sunset the close escort will go up to relieve 4 wing out of Cold Lake.
We take protecting Santa from those godless heathens across the border in Syracus seriously in this neck of the Canadian woods.
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Merry Christmas, Choicy!
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Merry Christmas, Deti!
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Merry Christmas, Liz and Mike and boys!
can’t imagine why your cookies keep disappearing with four grown men in your home! lol!
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it’s really good to know Santa’s in good hands in your neck of the woods, Horseman! Merry Christmas!
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anything unique on your Christmas menu this year, Sumo?!
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To all men (not girly boys like Justin tho) and the ladies who luv them
HAVE A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
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Will be partying at 1 a.m., after services, with the man who was my elementary school bandmaster, who is now an avuncular music director for the local Lutheran (Missouri Synod) church. He hosts us all night. Lefsa and “punch.”
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“Merry Christmas, you weirdos and degenerates.”
That’s the most flattering compliment I’ve had in years.
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But something happenedโฆfairies or mice or something got into the house and ate them all.
Tried it again and the same thing happened!
You would think that a cat could take care of mice
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Hmmm, okay I’ll put it where it belongs. Wishing everybody have a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2020!
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“Rain lashing the windows”…
Sorry to rub it in me old mate, but we have magnificent weather down here.
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Santa comes in brief pants down under, and is frequently to be seen on a surfboard. He doesn’t rely on reindeer for propulsion either, preferring to paraglide or go skydiving down decommissioned chimneys.
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Merry Christmas, Molly and family ๐
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i was actually wondering a little about that. All our Santa iconography in the Northern Hemisphere is winter related, but I guess if you grow up where it’s “Christmas in July” Surfin’ Santa would be the norm.
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Palm Springs, CA is in the Northern Hemisphere. And they have Christmas there. Santa had a little problem getting there last year because of all of the wind turbines they’ve installed on the approach to that area (a lot of wind blowing in off of the ocean through the mountain pass that leads to Palm Springs). Hopefully he has his GPS system fixed for this years try.
Merry Christmas everyone.
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Down here Christmas is all Winter imagery for observers bathed in sunshine.
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Merry Christmas, Honeycomb!
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Merry Christmas, BV! I don’t believe i’ve ever had Lefsa … enjoy your time with your bandmaster and your Lefsa and ‘punch’ ๐
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Merry Christmas, Spawny! Hope that rain lets up for y’all over the pond ๐
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Merry Christmas, Scrooge … oops, Larry! ๐ lol!
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Merry Christmas, Farm Boy – thank you for all you do keeping this blog and group alive and kickin’ ๐
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Merry Christmas Cill and family ๐
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Merry Christmas, KH and your adorable pup – if i had a choice btw the pup and the tree, i’d choose that pup, too! ๐
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Merry Christmas, Richard! Hopefully Santa misses those wind turbines this year ๐
it’s amazing how HUGE those things are!
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Merry Christmas, BG! do y’all have snow up there?!
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We swim and surf and dive and sail and sing songs about Santa and snow. “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” We don’t give any thought to the incongruity of it unless someone (usually an overseas visitor) points it out. Then we have a good laugh about it and go back to singing songs about snow.
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The other thing about it is that NZ was the last country to be settled by humans and colonized by Europeans. Very few or our non-Maori people would be more than 4th generation NZers. We are close to our colonial roots. A lot of our traditions are pure European, especially British.
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Ame
Nope, and I don’t want any. Well, okay, maybe a little this evening to set the mood, looks Christmasy with the lights and the little ones will go ooh and ah ;-D
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the little ones going ooo and ahhh would be the best part ๐
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Merry Christmas back to Ame. And yes, those things are huge. But in the “forest” that has grown up in the pass going to Palm Springs, they are of varying heigths and blade-span.
We had about 1.5 inches of rain about five days ago. Got everything well-soaked. Have another storm moving in tomorrow evening. 1 to 2 inches of rain for us. Snow level down to 2500 to 3000 feet. With the soil already wet we could see some mud slides. Fun and games for all. Some sliding on new snow. Others sliding on new mud.
On a bit of a somber note, we might give a Merry Christmas shout-out to Stephanie and her husband. She noted here a couple of days ago the tragedy that befell one of the officers in her husband’s group. The officer is dead. Stephanie and husband both have to sit on their grief and keep on the happy Christmas face for the sake of their children. That can’t be fun. Keep them in your thoughts tomorrow. And if you say prayers, you might mention them along with the others you mention. Regardless of whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere.
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Liz, after a long day, fit to be tied
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That flash mob is good. Nice reverb accoustics in the food court.
How can you beat that combination:. The Hallelujah Chorus and A & W Root Beer.
If you listen carefully, you hear a fairly high level of people noise, talking and stuff, while the last carol is being played on the piano. And then the opening organ chords of th Hallelujah Chorus being, and the noise audibly dies down. Maybe that is because most of the flks in that food court were part of the choir, and they knew what was coming?
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Merry Christmas from Florida Yโall!
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Morning all. Merry Christmas.
Sadly I have already failed. I failed at this
I did laugh
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Merry Christmas.
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There’s a new one
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Merry Christmas, Ironhorse! Ahhh … Christmas in Florida …. memories of going to the beach on Christmas ๐
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that dog sitting on the cat is hilarious! lol!
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Merry Christmas, Hank Wade!
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With the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump so close to Christmas, it wasnโt long before partisan sham received itโs own holiday spin from the media. BBC arranged a professional choral performance of the โTwelve Days of Christmasโ updated with lyrics about the political hit job, because honestly, the congressional rebuke of the President is a more festive occasion for the liberal media than the birth of Jesus Christ
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/culture/gabriel-hays/2019/12/23/merry-impeachmas-bbc-commissions-choir-sing-12-days
[The Glorious Patriarchโs taxes pay for this they do]
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Ame, below is a recipe for lefsa (lefse). It’s a Norwegian potato flatbread. When dating, an important question is always, “Do you take your lefsa with butter, or butter and sugar?” (Butter and jam, for me.)
There are enough Iowegians left up here that even the Walmart carries lefsa — and does so year-round.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16077/norwegian-potato-lefsa/
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I cannot even begin to describe how much I loathe and despise the entire flash mob bullshit.
Ho ho ho.
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I’m afraid you all have more catching up to do. It’s Boxing Day here now.
7:21 am
Christmas Day 2019 is history.
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Christmas Day and me birthdee are the days when well-wishers take it upon themselves to replenish me Scotch cupboard.
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Me Scotch cupboard is groaning at the seams.
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Which reminds me, Epstein didn’t kill himself.
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So much for optimism. It turns out that the true meaning of Christmas is that the Bad Orange Man is still Bad and we shouldnโt let a little thing like the celebration of the birth of the Savior get in the way of remembering that.
https://hotair.com/archives/jazz-shaw/2019/12/25/wapo-true-meaning-christmas-trump-terrible/
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Liz, Christmas afternoon
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We can start by beginning to openly celebrate the patriarchy.
https://pushingrubberdownhill.com/2019/12/25/all-hail-the-patriarchy/
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Merry Christmas all you dirty animals. – And to the darlin’s here.
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Home Alone? Watching the traps being sprung is a guilty pleasure of mine
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What’s the worst that could happen?
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7487661/Broadcaster-John-Humphrys-lifts-lid-institutional-liberal-bias-BBC.html
Took the money for 33 years. Complains about bias after retiring
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There is a new post
https://spawnyspace.wordpress.com/2019/12/25/notes-from-the-corporate-holiday-party/
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BuenaVista
10h ago
Ame, below is a recipe for lefsa (lefse). Itโs a Norwegian potato flatbread. When dating, an important question is always, โDo you take your lefsa with butter, or butter and sugar?โ (Butter and jam, for me.)
There are enough Iowegians left up here that even the Walmart carries lefsa โ and does so year-round.
that’s really interesting, BV … and i imagine they taste really yummy. do you eat them plain or with something in them … like with tortillas or crepes?
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Merry Christmas, White Guy!
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Adam
9h ago
I cannot even begin to describe how much I loathe and despise the entire flash mob bullshit.
Ho ho ho.
lol! i actually like them ๐
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Christmas day is winding down here round these Texas parts . . . twas a nice, peaceful, simple day; perfect ๐
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unicorn christmas story of the day:
i have a friend i met thru my first blog many years ago, and we’re facebook friends now. when we met, her husband was in prison, and they had one, young son. she never left her husband. she stood by his side and stuck in there, even when they had hardly any food and a car that kept breaking down and little money b/c he was doing time. fast forward about ten plus years … he’s been out for a good while now … their son graduated from high school and is in the fire academy (or whatever it’s called where they live) … they have another young son who just turned six and is so smart and clever and hilarious! (really, i wish i could share the things he comes up with, but she has it set to private, so i can’t … but this kid has a following … he cracks us up all.the.time!) they don’t have a lot, so they live a simple life. apparently he has a favorite classic car … buying that is not an option in their life … so for christmas she found a steering wheel of his fav classic car and had it mounted on a piece of wood. it really looks nice. he LOVED it!
awesome ๐
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well … it *can* and *does* mean that … but it also means a lot of other things, too ๐ … including the truth that sometimes it actually does mean, bless.your.heart ๐
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Ame
“the little ones going ooo and ahhh would be the best part ๐”
Agree, but it didn’t happen, although it is cold enough tonight that it might happen. Instead we had the traditional turkey with all the fixing including my wife’s favourite jellied fruit made by the sweetie…wild cherry jello with many blueberries and raspberries. I only take a couple of spoonfulls but the gobblers piled in, they always did.
I miss the days when they were just four or five and could take them to the bush to see Santa’s “reindeers” . We would sneak up on the SE slope where the sleeping deer enjoyed the warmth from the sun. Eventually the deer would sense our appearance and spook, and the exited kids would holler “I see them, I see them” …and once the sweetie, being a true believer, said one of them has a red nose ;-D
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and especially Merry Christmas to Ton … and Tarn … and those who we don’t see round here much or anymore.
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