Christy and the daycare kids were up collecting pinecones yesterday. She mentioned that Christmas was next week. WHAT? It can't be Christmas yet. I'm not only not ready, I haven't started on any of the things that I thought I would try to do this year for Christmas. This farm could be a winter wonderland and with a little decoration and a twilight bonfire it could create hallmark memories for all. Everything we need is right here and only a bit of time and effort would be required.
I see now that I should have started on the the grand kids presents sooner. Kris and I like to make presents but our imaginations have poor time management skills. As a result, making Christmas presents is a race with the clock when it should be humming Christmas Carols and drinking egg nog while you work on a present and savor the moment--putting love into each effort.
Instead, frantic frustration is a pretty apt description of Grampa Santa's workshop. Decorations and such are on hold until the presents are done and if history is any indication, late Christmas Eve will find us finishing up. Still, it is great fun, filled with love and exhaustion, the two Christmas spirits known to all Santa's elves.
Mercifully, Christmas finally comes and puts an end to this and hours of effort are rewarded with the look on the kids faces. Often times this look is less than you hoped and you try to explain what it is you've built and why they should like a personalized boot remover. Fortunately their parents have wisely purchased gifts and the day is still great fun. Over the years I have rationalized that our gifts build character and teach kids to deal with disappointment and this is a much better gift than a battery powered four wheeler they can sit in and drive. Okay, well at least they are usually unbreakable, small, will be around long after the jeep is toast and we enjoyed making them.
Gardening note: Kris picked broccoli from the garden yesterday afternoon (Dec. 14) and we ate it last night. This is close to 6 months of production from the same plants. We have had 10 degree weather and everything was frozen solid before this thaw. It is snowing and the ground has not refrozen yet. This means we will be eating parsnips out of the garden for the awhile longer. I find this amazing.
Sorry to have burst your bubble yesterday, I hate the Christmas countdown as much as anyone, but the looks on your faces was Christmas present enough for me - Knowing I wasn't the only one who had so much to do and so little time. Maybe you can come down to the house Christmas Eve with me and we can toil away together until 2 or 3.
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