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.