Let’s get the weather oddities out of the way first – it is 3 degrees Celsius here!!! – high of 9-11 tomorrow – hello winter??? I cannot recall so mild a December 24th and while I am not complaining – a white Christmas would be nice – not white mixed with brown mud!!!
Which brings me to my next topic – Christmas.
Here already – wow – time flies.
I’ve been bouncing back and forth most of the day trying to make this post epic!! – scribbling notes here and there while I wrap and prep and wander around the house.
I was off work today – well not off – I am never really off unless I actually delete my work email app from my phone.
Had to be in the city early this morning to pick up my son and take him to campus to pay homage to the tuition Gods – CHACHING!!! Bank account empty. My Mother in Law -wise woman – put that very succinctly – it’s an investment. An investment in my son’s future. So he can take care of me when I am a drooling old lady.
Blazing out of the city at warp 8 to the candy store – grocery store – all important liquor store and home to unpack – wrap presents and prep for dinner on Friday.
A delightful visit from my sister and her two booger monsters with fresh baked cookies and treats. Children at Christmas are like hamster on Red Bull!!! Now if I could only figure out how to bottle that energy – I would not have to freak out about those bastard tuition Gods!!!
Nap and off we go to Mother in Laws for dinner.
That is a tradition!! For the last 14 years- we have gathered at my Mother in Laws for home made enchiladas and wine and fun.
Stuffed to the gills and home again – and off to my favourite part of the evening – I wander to the barn to toss the herd each a flake of hay and give them each a candy cane and sit in the mild weather. Such a nice night.
Inside again – finish wrapping – gather my scribbles to sit down and write and well – none of them really make sense – so off the cuff.
This Christmas was the Christmas of the “re-gift”. Last year was the thrift shop, dollar store, discount store.
Why do we needs to empty our bank accounts to get so and so that chocolate fountain that they will use once??
We don’t. Hence the re-gift – the rule was that one gift had to be a re-gift OR home made and if it had to be purchased -it had to be inexpensive.
I personally don’t want my family to be stressed about having to spend hard earned money in this stupid economy on me – so I made it mandatory for everyone to dial it down.
For me – a hug is fine – a thank you – a bottle of wine – a tin of cookies or cakes or sweets – a poem – whatever.
One thing that I have learned in this last year is that money is evil and scarce in (and I use the term loosely) a farmer (very loosely).
Bottom line – Merry Christmas to all my family and friends – I am sending a hug – hope you get it – it is not refundable but it is reciprocal.
I appreciate everything that you have done for me this past year and I am thankful for all you.
I wish you joy and happiness in this season.
Orange Acres 