Christmas

Christmas is over but the New Year isn't here yet. The loot has been tallied, the leftovers are in the fridge and the time of rest has come. Oh, would that that were so. I think I managed about 4 hours of quiet reading the whole weekend.
Christmas Eve was at the Sister-In-Law's. It was a good visit with cousins, nieces and such. There was too much food as usual, so much that some didn't even make it out. It went well.
Christmas Day was a visit with the Websters, my cousins. There was plenty of good food, some of which still didn't make it out. It was a good visit and Matthew greatly added to the entertainment with his Droid phone. If you happen to have a Droid, download the free talking cat app and tap the screen over the kittys crotch. That's good for an hours entertainment right there. More loot, the popcorn is good and I like the tin.
After the Websters left it was off to Christmas Day at the Mother-In-Laws. More good visiting and more loot. The Autobiography of Mark Twain Vol. 1 will take even me a year to read. I hope this isn't a 10 volume set. I'll have to bring in contractors to reinforce the floor. My SIL obviously remembered the cheese plate that I ordered on one of our trips to Las Vegas. The cheese assortment she gave me will be well enjoyed.
Our Christmas meal was excellent, a fine pork roast with mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. A special thanks for the San Pelligrino. I enjoyed that with my meal.
The Tube has been full of adds and commentators whining about Christmas sales being essential to our economy. WeNeedToSpendOurWayBackToProsperity!!!! No, that just isn't important. What's important is celebrating a Birthday with family. That's what's good.
Please don't feel slighted if I didn't mention your gift but given the the amount of loot, it would be tedious to read. Also, why give criminals a list to work from? For our North Carolina readers, Yes I know that Jesus was actually born at a different time of year and the Church just co-opted the pagan holiday of Saturnaila. Just eat your Spam and let the rest of us have fun.
Given the religious nature of the post, I've decided to close with a prayer.
Lord, give me enough snow to trap me on the farm for two weeks so I can enjoy the winter and get some work done but not so much as to take down the electric so I have to run the generator because that's a drag. Amen.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

I guess I should put together a Christmas entry today since I'll be away from the Net for a few days. Life is still accelerating. Stacey has been in continuous cookie mode for weeks. Batch after batch have gone out of the house for various charitable causes. It makes me weep. Those should be MY cookies.
I've finally sorted the sheep. I've had to cull heavily this year as the lambs are getting too small. It was my original plan to breed them down to the size of large rabbits so folks could keep a flock on their front lawn. That way, they wouldn't have to mow and one sheep would make a single meal plus having fine wool for spinning. Alas, there seems to be no support for that idea and I need to grow larger sheep for the Arab market. I've sorted out my larger ewes and I'll probably have to find some more to buy. I could use a new ram too. It's a shame to waste my work on shrinking the sheep as I'm convinced it's utility will be proved in the future. Someday, people will be cutting their lawns with scythes and push mowers and thinking “ If only Jim Laubacher had finished shrinking his sheep, I could be setting on the front porch eating half a sheep instead of sweating my butt off out here.”. They'll pay, yes they will.
I just got my 20 year achievement award from Transcore. This is the longest I've ever worked for any company. Every year for the past few years, I've put in the employee review that my goal is to survive to retirement. My goal remains unchanged. The company gave me a zippered case at five years. At ten, I think it was $50. I chose a little Sony stereo at 15 years. This time, I'm getting a Canon digital camera . The company uses a service that supplies different levels of awards for years worked. I took a look at the 40 year level and it's heavy with mountain bikes and camping equipment. Come on, by that time you need a traction table and a home pharmacy. I think a power chair would be more useful.
The garden is asleep but the seed companies aren't. I got my first catalog before Thanksgiving. I've got to set down and plan for next year. I know I'm going to try and grow more Sweet Dumpling squash. I don't like squash as a vegetable but I'll eat all of those I can get. I think I'll take another shot at watermelons . It worked ok this year and if I can get an early start, maybe I can grow some more yellow watermelons. I may take one more shot at potatoes. So far, it's been a lot of work for little gain but the 'tators are really tasty when they are freshly dug. There has to be a way.
Our Christmas is not surprising this year. Stacey and I both put in about $300 and bought a new computer. We didn't bother wrapping it. Stacey bought me a Hi-Lift jack that I had on my Christmas list. She didn't bother wrapping it either. I did manage to get a couple of gifts wrapped and under the tree for her. I wanted her to have something to unwrap. If any of you in-laws wonder why you don't get much from me at Christmas, it's because Stacey got everything. You should know that by now.
I could write about the books I'm reading or some other nonsense but I'm tired. I'm closing with a picture of some of our leek harvest and a picture of my wife and mistress waiting for me on the couch. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.