Well, it does snow in the winter

Margaret with her sons-in-law: me,

Jim, Steve; grandsons Ian, Mark

and his son Brock

There was no doubt on my part that the white stuff would eventually arrive so a good old fashion northeaster to herald its appearance shouldn't be a surprise. The snowblower is tuned up and has already done a preliminary run out to the road before Carol left for work. Me? Taking the week off, have vacation time, best use it. With the weekends binding the holidays together the whole week off a is natural choice. This was Carol and my first Christmas since Ian's birth we haven't all been together on the holiday though he and Ali were not far off in nearby New Hampshire at Ali's family since earlier in the week from their home in California. They arrived here late on Christmas day and are spending much of this week here with us with their dog Ajax. Saturday we had a holiday brunch and gift sharing at Lois and Jim's with Carol's side of the family. While here Ian and Ali who are teachers at a charter school in Oakland, CA have a ton of papers to grade and lesson plans to finish and submit by tomorrow. Not all fun and games on their vacation. In spite of the snow they'll be going to Portland to do some things and Carol and I will catch up to them at the civic center there for a hockey game between UMaine and UNH, their alma mater.

Sunday was a wet, dreary day but Carol and I wanted visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens for their annual Gardens Aglow event in Boothbay, ME - about a hour and a half ride. It was worth it to see all the trees and structures a lit for the season and the dampness may even have enhanced the experience.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and

wishing you a Happy New Year!

Quality company time

Office "Holiday" Party tonight. So I took the afternoon off. Not that simple to attend this event - leave town, run some errands, go home, take care of household things, light bit to eat (only hors d'oeuvres at the event) Carol and I dress up, drive back to town then back home again. This takes place at a hotel so there were discounted rooms available but I wasn't interested in the extra time to kennel the dog, a drive itself to and from twice. That said it should be a good time. Smooching with fellow employees with drinks in hand (cash bar). If only we could do that during office hours - those were the good old days.

Will the real December please step forward

Actually I'm not in a hurry for the real December to appear. The only snow I've seen so far was in November, a half inch about 3 weeks ago. Daytime temps in the 40s and 50s, getting more yardwork done than I would have expected. Yesterday was a long overdo trip to the transfer station, the truck loaded up with demolished building materials from recent and projects past. Today putting up fencing that cuts the backyard in half for the winter (if it ever snows). Relocated the birdfeeders closer to the house and trimmed the dog's nails. Even cleaned my desk off though not in the yardwork category. Still no snow in the forecasts around this region. No expectations of a White Christmas.