Thar I wuz, plum tired from a long day of chores, gettin' ready fer Christmas......Here at Bullock's Outpost it's chilly at 28F, scattered patches of snow and lots of icy patches here and there.

The ol' log house is cozy with a fire in the woodstove, lights on the tree twinkling bright, the cats curled up in comfortable places, dogs stretched out on the floor. I had drank a cup of Lapsang and then taken a much needed nap after the chores.

Later, I slowly awoke to the fine aroma of fresh baked snickerdoodles. I had the foggy memory of Wolfwoman saying she was going out fer abit...'n'...somethin' akin to "don't eat all of em".

Walnow, I stumbled out of my chair, tripped over tha beardog, that ran over tha malmute, who went after a cat, that jumped up on tha kitchen counter and ran over the platter of 'doodles, that flipped up into the air, 'n' scattered fer 'n' wide.

As I wuz picking up the 'doodles, in walks Wolfwoman......with a scorn she asks "what's tha matter 'n' what wuz that loud clatter!" She thought fer shor she had caught me red handed 'til she saw the dogs munchin' 'n' tha cat licking tha platter.

With an arched eyebrow 'n' lookin' askant she accepted my story......maybe!

Merry Christmas to all here at the Campfire!

Regards, xfox

A MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your's also.

We're going over to one of our daughter's homes, later, for dinner.
Wife and I opened presents here at home first thing this morning. Now she is busy in the kitchen making something to take when we go to dinner later.

Some time ago I had mentioned about the tree falling on our barn. We are still waiting for the insurance to come through and get it repaired.
However, a couple of days ago an acquaintance who has a tree service finally got over here. The giant ash tree that hangs over my barn has long worried me. I had expected that one to fall, not the smaller one that did. Anyway, Lee brought his big bucket truck and went up, cut the top off the tree and winched it down to the ground. Then he cut off the rest of the tree, piece by piece, finally laying down the last 20 foot section. That ash is nearly 3 feet in diameter!
He followed up that chore with cutting down 4 or 5 other ash and maple trees that had the potential of some day coming down on the barn.
But, the huge jumble of branches and tree trunks he left lying in a tangled mass on the ground beside the barn.
It is my job to get that cleaned up. I worked at it most of yesterday. Chainsawing and piling up the sticks and limbs, and making another pile of the chunks of trunk that will become firewood eventually. I think it will take me much of the winter to get it all done. Just working for a few hours each day.
I'm surprised that I'm not as sore as I thought I would be.
No work today, Christmas. But I'll be back at it tomorrow. Lee is bring a log splitter over here tomorrow to help out, and make a lot of firewood. Most of the firewood will be going to an elderly widow who needs it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR; everyone.

Crossfox; That there is a tragedy to those of us what appreciates 'doodles. Sorry to hear it.

Rancocas; Blessings on you for providing for that widow woman. That's what community and neighbors are all about. Our FATHER is smiling....
Merry Christmas all!

We were alone today, my squeeze and I, except for a visiting neighbor who brought treats. As the cook I whipped up a fine meal as always. It's been COLD and today was a very snowy day, "White Christmas" in other words. It's pretty but COLD! And did I mention that it was a COLD day? Street has been deserted today except for the snow plows and the rare POV. Dangerously slippery outside and is, before I forget, COLD!

Ya, it was in the 20's here...Today too.