Bring On The Snow . . . And Christmas!

During a pleasant, relaxing dinner with friends last night, we were discussing the up-coming big snow that has been forecast for us within the next few days. J and L are heading out today at noon to drive about six hours to her hometown for the holidays and figured they'd be ahead of the predicted storm. Not a very convenient time for 10-12" of snow since I'm sure many people will be loading their cars and hitting the highways today or tomorrow. I'm very happy we're going to be snuggled home except for a day trip to daughter and son-in-law's for Christmas Day. Of course, that in itself could be interesting since they have a four-mile long winter driveway they have to keep plowed themselves.

Tonight will be our Christmas Eve celebration here with Chicken Mama and Chainsaw Tommy. Yes, we have our Christmas Eve on Christmas Eve eve. (Confused yet?) We traditionally have a simple soup dinner . . .

. . . Cheddar Cauliflower this time. I made it yesterday because it always tastes better the second day.

We'll have individual loaves of garlic cheese bread with it. Baked yesterday so I just have to slice, butter and add the cheese before popping it in the oven tonight.

I was going to make Kringler for dessert but I am so done with baking right now . . .

. . . that I'm just going to put out a plate of the assorted goodies I've already made. (This picture is for you, K-Poo. Flashback?)

Let's see, what else is happening on ye ol' homestead?

We've had an ugly, huge burn pile in our open field since the windstorm that took down so many trees this past fall. We've been waiting for snow cover before burning it. So, day before yesterday, we called the Forest Service to make sure it was okay to burn now that we'd received the 4" of snow. They said it would be fine but to notify DNR and Law Enforcement which we did before putting the torch to it. Above Roy is adding old motor oil and gasoline to the pile hoping that would help get the damp debris burning.

Success? Well, we've got a good start!

There she goes! The majority burned but there was enough left that Roy pulled the remnants together yesterday and had another much smaller blaze to get rid of the last of it.

Methinks our Christmas tree this year is going to be coming down right around New Year's Day. It's a spruce (which is notorious for NOT holding its needles) and I've had to sweep up this many dropped needles almost every day from Day One. It's still been a lovely, full, purdy little tree though.

Finally, finally, FINALLY! Our hens are coming out of their molt and we've now getting at least three eggs a day. Enough to keep us supplied. Now that the Christmas baking is over anyway. It was a loooong, (eggless) dry spell and we really missed having our own eggs.

We have nothing on the schedule out of the ordinary for the week between Christmas and New Year's so I'm looking forward to sleeping in these gray, cold mornings, doing some reading, and spending lots of time in my quilt studio. Last night at dinner with our friends, we were reminiscing about when Roy and I owned and operated the restaurant. The week between Christmas and New Year's was always busy, busy, busy. For us in our personal lives, it detracted from the holidays and certainly wasn't a restful time of year. But it went with the territory and we were grateful for the business . . . but I'm sure glad I can say today, "Been there, done that . . . no more!" Yup. I'm sleeping in all next week. And enjoying the snow we'll have gotten by then . . . maybe. If the "weatherdorks" (as friend J calls weather forecasters) get it right this time.