White Christmas

Our little door-yard walk, from the start of the snow on Sunday to Christmas Eve morning.

I'm happy to report that apple dumplings and chowder ingredients made it up to Christmas Eve, and yet again I peeled frozen shrimp until I couldn't feel my fingertips. (That's one way I can tell it's Christmas eve: I'm standing at the sink peeling shrimp, and my fingers are freezing.)

The highway was clear and dry, although I heard on the radio that the power was out at the Gerald R. Ford airport in Grand Rapids for about 14 hours. (The backup system powered some lighting and no heat -- had to be cold in there when it was 27 deg. F/-2 C outside!)

Before we left, I filled the birdfeeders and took the apple cores and peelings, celery leaves, and parsley stems out to the compost pile for the rabbits' Christmas eve.

We got home very late and very tired, and I had to wait until an excited kid fell asleep before sneaking the Santa gifts under the tree.

(He says, "Mom, I know you're Santa Claus" -- hey, do I look like a guy with a white beard to you?)

Now the trash is full of wrapping paper and it's time to get ready to go and visit my parents!