Monday, December 19, 2011

dreaming of a brown Christmas

Has it been over a month already since I've posted? 2011 will certainly not go down as a big blogging year for me. Yes, I'm still thinking of ideas for blog posts all the time, and there is always something interesting going on here to write about. But then there's this big disconnect between experiencing something, forming the words to describe it, getting to a medium where I can jot those words down for later use, and actually sitting down at the computer and connecting with Blogger. I've been going through my archives, and from what I see there it didn't used to be this difficult. Of course back then I didn't have teenage kids monopolizing the computer, and I didn't have Facebook for those moments I would have jotted down a quick blog post just to let the world know something.

This morning I have the computer to myself, finally. I stayed home from work with a bit of a sore throat and cold, just enough that work would have been somewhat miserable. I'm kind of glad to have a "me" day. The Hermit was out of town all last week, and between tending the wood stove and driving to various kids' activities, I didn't have much spare time. Fortunately the weather was very mild for December, even though some of the days were dark and gray, so heating was not a major issue. This has been one of the mildest Decembers I can remember, and what little snow we have has come an inch or so at a time. That means occasionally conditions on the pond have been perfect for ice skating, something I did not get to enjoy last year.


Christmas spirit is running at perhaps an all time high this year. Vinny found a very nice balsam fir on our property, and took it upon himself to cut it, bring it inside, and set it up by himself. Nina and Joe joined in for the decorating. I decided to make up for all the years I thought about making Christmas cookies but didn't get any further than that. Three batches done so far, about eight to go.

Brewing is also being done at the rate of about one five gallon batch a week. You'd think I'd have a lot of beer sitting around ready for consumption at that rate, but oddly enough it seems to disappear as soon as it has sat in bottles long enough to build carbonation.


Here's Frisky, official mascot of "Sixteen Pound Siamese Brewery", overseeing the transfer of a wheat beer from fermenter to carboy.

That's the news from Sand Creek for now. Come to think of it, it feels pretty good to be blogging again. I'll be back soon.

10 comments:

R.Powers said...

Yes! Welcome back!
I can't believe how your kids are growing!
Funny about that beer thing...

Deb said...

FC- I was just looking at Nina in that photo and thinking, if she had '80s big hair and the eyeliner was toned down a little and she had blue eyes, she would be ME as a teen. Yikes! :)

webb said...

Have really been missing you - glad you had a bit of time to post. Hope you and your family have a perfect Christmas together.

The word verification today is "magickle" - a perfect thought for the holidays.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Dang, but your kids have grown!

Pablo said...

"feels pretty good to be blogging again"

Lausten North said...

I'm sure our city friends are happy to NOT be shoveling. I'm laid up myself, so as yet, I'm not missing the winter activities.

Anonymous said...

Glad you're back, Deb-missed you. (Hi Pablo!) Head colds going on everywhere including here in KC-sick with it myself. Incredibly, we've had nothing but a tinge of snow so far this winter---nothing (yet)like last year's big hits, knock on wood. But is very gloomy here and parts of neighboring Kansas are really getting hit by a big, widespread blizzard.
vickie in kc---aka Momadness

Anonymous said...

Ooh Deb, just had a Junco sighting and got a pic. Have been waiting for them to show up!
vickie in kc

Deb said...

Webb- "Magickle" describes it. Hope your Christmas is just that!

Lynne- It's just a matter of days until Nina is taller than me.

Pablo- It feels more substantial than a status update.

LN- Laid up? Somehow I missed that! Hope you're out and about soon!

Vickie- Must be one of my juncos; they left a few weeks ago. I did see a robin this morning, a surprise even in this mild winter!

Patricia Lichen said...

It's been a mild winter December here in western Oregon, too--"mild" in this case meaning little rain. The driest Dec on record--very odd, tho I'm not complaining!

Hope you're feeling better!