The ice is in

Oh, nuts.

Guest blogger

Hi Papa!
I'm tracking santa at the moment and he seems to have delivered 3,430,837,935 gifts already! He's flying over the Czech Republic. How are things up in Maine? I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!
Sam

Brunch

Yesterday we hosted a neighborhood brunch for people to meet the newest residents of Doubling Point Road. In the picture to the left, they represent the youth on the block.
We are fortunate in our neighbors. Everyone seems to get along pretty well (and get along in years, as well) and we have a pleasant life with a bit of socializing thrown in.
Many thanks to Hannah for food prep and hosting, and to our bartenders, Emily and Gregg.

Tack the halls...

 A trip to Big Lots and a disbursement of $22.50 (ALL XMAS DECORATIONS HALF PRICE) brought us a friendly deer family: two does and a fawn (the stag was off rutting, I believe). One of the does swivels its head. They are just awesome. Cars slow to a crawl as they pass. Drivers puke out the Together with Grandma's lit tree and the jolly lights framing our front porch, we are a sight for the neighborhood, which otherwise is as dark as the nether regions. Come on, people!

Traveling around looking at lights on Christmas Eve used to be a family tradition. That is, until two years ago, when Jonas would not even look out the car window. Think what he missed. Stubborn young man. Holy mackerel. On the other hand, I am cheered that the banner of The Grinch will be raised high long after Papa is gone. Season's Greetings, everyone.

Death to the invader

Yesterday Grandma found a dead chickadee inside the green bird feeder. :(    Sic transit gloria mundi. On the other hand, Ms. Sharpears heard a FLYING SQUIRREL in the old familiar wall cavity the other night. The trap was set, and, just at midnight, FLOP! SCRAPE! BANG! was heard. "You'll have to get that thing, or else I will have to move downstairs," was the rallying cry. So the Great White Hunter got a pail of water, pulled out trap+squirrel and immersed same, and put the bucket in the vestibule, where it remains for a time as we watch the yard fill up with snow.
By the way, if you want to see a prime enabler of gun violence, just click here. Thank you, as always, Hillaire Belloc.

The humbug season

So far, the season has started quietly. Grandma put the lights on the little--but growing-- tree at the end of the driveway, and across the porch. Used to be Papa's chore, but things do change. And now the inside tree is up and being decorated as I write. Bah.

Yesterday Grandma and Molly took the boys on the Candy Cane train from Bath to Wiscasset, which features Santa Claus, stories, and cheerleaders as the elves. Very Maine. And that reminds me, it is time for the Maine Christmas carol. You'll remember this, right?
Bob Marley's "Christmas in Maine."

The Kennebec Sea Serpent

Wow! Good thing Woonie is not with us any more. She would go WOOO WOOO WOOO all day long.
Our tides are very high with the new moon.

A novel idea
With a long winter ahead, I am thinking about resuming work on one of the two noevls I started some years ago. Not sure if this is a good idea. Please see KalkTalk.

We're not usually like this

Noting some surface rips in our living room rug this morning, we measured the rug, and the bedroom, and the loft, and decided to take some steps. Off we went to Durfee's and looked at their rugs. There was one online on their website that we liked better than the many rugs they have upstairs, and we decided to order it. The living room rug will move upstairs, and the loft rug into our bedroom. This will be a gain all around.
But who would have thought that two curmudgeons could move so swiftly... and in concert, too?
Sometimes retirement is interesting. Yes, that's the new rug on the left.

Sunday

Yesterday morning we scaled Higgins Mountain, the highest peak in the Georgetown range, on our way to a delightful brunch at the McIlvains. The souffle was memorable, and preceded a tour of the enhanced sculpture gardens.
Later, the Eagles won, holy mackerel.
At 5 we walked in the cold dark to Mrs. Ceruti's original house, now occupied by Jeff and Karen, excellent new neighbors. Our other new neighbors, Jamie and Sawyer, were there, too. We feel the neighborhood is in very good shape, and we are especially glad for some (relative) youth among us.

The dynamics of razors and blades

How irritating to pay $1.70 for a razor blade that can't cost a quarter to make. When Andrea worked for Gillette she gave us blades, but mine are about gone by now (of course, I have a Norelco to explain why they lasted so long; also, I'm cheap). Flying back from NOLA, I saw in Sky Mall that I could get two "Blade Buddies" for the cost of one -- $26. They looked like little baby skatepark ramps, and claimed to extend blade life indefinitely. Hmmm. So, there must be even a cheaper way. Off to YouTube, where I found several good ideas. I tried this yesterday on a worn-out blade, and it worked just fine: the blade was renewed. So easy.
Some will say that it takes a very small mind to be interested in razor blades. And they would be on the right track. On the other hand, there is an important general principle here, or maybe two. Aside from examining the familiar business model of cheap razor/expensive blades, which (in the case of Gillette) turns out to be, historically, a myth, we should consider how many items in our lives we can renew instead of replace.

Les bon temps

We had a wonderful trip to New Orleans and now are back in gray old Maine, where at least we missed the cold snap. It was 70 or so in NOLA and a joy to be outdoors. Last year we visited the Botanical Gardens and saw them stringing Christmas lights for a big show that started Dec. 1, after we had left. So this year we did make it to Celebration in the Oaks in City Park, and it was spectacular, just magic for kids. And we heard lots of music, and saw a parade (not a very good one, but we did catch beads), and walked and walked and walked. But the best part of New Orleans is always the food, and we did perhaps a little too much along those lines this year. But WOW was it good. Short video is forthcoming.