Hot off the Press!

The Lovestead Christmas bonfire is on for 2009. Bill made the announcement this morning after seeing that the ground is once again freezing, and no rain is in the forecast for the next several days.

He even has a big pile of brush, built up over the year, out in the same area where we had the bonfire two years ago. So, there won't be a lot of preparation needed.

We've been enjoying the event several times over the last few years, except last year. I think people's hearts weren't into it because they were all spending so much time digging out of the never-ending record amounts of snow. Plus, a lot of folks never made it to their destinations for Christmas last year, thanks to bad weather.

So, the festive event has taken a year's break, and this year looks prime for a great family time. The usual drill is that everyone does their thing---dinners, relaxing, playing with presents, watching movies---during Christmas Day. Then family and friends converge at either the Colburn home or the Lovestead, and before dessert, we enjoy the bonfire.

Adults and kids sing Christmas carols. Jim says he's bringing a didgerydo this year; that ought to wake up the hybernating bears. Bill spends his time stoking the fire. Snowballs go flying through the air, aimed at anyone and everyone except Grandma Tibbs, of course. I don't know if she'll be wanting to sit out there, but she'll surely be in the house waiting for dessert.

After we've spent enough time enjoying the revelry and roasting a few marshmallows or making smores, we head to the house to get "s'more" sweets----pies, cookies, cakes, candies, wine, cider, cocoa, whatever. During this time, there are usually a lot of wet, snowy clothes flung in the dryer.

There's plenty of visiting, lots of musical chairs cuz, of course, there's never enough room in the house for everyone who shows up. It's generally a free for all with plenty of good cheer.

So, this year it's on, and if the neighbors get tired of the noise, they can just come and join it all.

Well, enough of that. It's two more shopping days and two more days to finish up all those projects. For me, today will include some cookie plate deliveries, maybe even to my friend Gary's house.

Happy Wednesday.

Update: There might even be ice skating cuz Annie's already been out skating in the pasture on this gorgeous morning.