Holidays 2010

I figured that I ought to post on my blog before I'm charged with neglect and stripped of my guardianship status....

The last month has been one thing after the other. Always something to do, from the everyday maintenance tasks required in the household, to setting up all the trappings of the holiday, to dealing with the unexpected.

In the second year of our artificial tree, we got some new ornaments to fill out the increase in coverage area --- and replace ones that dated from the 70s and 80s and were in sad condition. I also had to string in some new lights to cover for half a string that wouldn't light. That's really disappointing, but it's not unexpected in these days where all the 'Made in China' products are designed to break in short order so we have to buy more 'Made in China' stuff. I try to 'Buy American' when it's possible and worthwhile, but that's often a fruitless and frustrating search.

We got our Christmas shopping done in spurts. Lincoln Log sets for my nieces along with some educational books and a snow tube. I'm not someone who believes in buying baubles for people, so my gifting is almost always things that are of everyday use. Mom & Dad got a set of 10" and 12" Calphalon nonstick frying pans. My brother got an apple peeler/slicer and a stainless steel food mill (the type for making tomato/apple/pear sauce and, come to find out, can be used for mashed potatoes). Also, we gave some maple cream ordered online from Sugarbush Hollow farm in upstate New York. Otherwise, we're filling in with some gift certificates that are earmarked for books or home wares.

I've been preparing quite a bit of comfort food and trying to maintain some sense of order in the refrigerator as things have been coming in. As one example, I've become something of a pusher for the bottles of beer that have accumulated and encroached on my leftover storage space.

The woodpile needed some replenishing, as we burn about 4-1/2 to 5 cords of wood per winter. We have plenty of unsplit supply at our woodlot, but the seasoned stacks are getting pretty low. I hope the two trailer loads we got will hold out. "Gettin' in the wood" and doing some splitting for next year's supply would seem to be the next project. That's going to be a little challenging, what with the near blizzard that is currently dumping a projected 12"-24" of snow by tomorrow morning. This isn't the best time of year to be outside splitting wood in terms of the weather, but I suppose it is the best time in an effort to avoid ticks and Lyme disease, which has a high incidence in this area.

So, onward and upward as we close out this year. I suppose I will be back shortly to post some New Years' resolutions. That's not something I've ever done with any seriousness, but it might not be a bad idea to list out some goals for 2011.