heading toward the solstice

It's mid-December and everyone is looking milky white, that is, with exception of those heading off to sunny destinations for the holidays. Others are toasty tan, from their hours in the tanning bed, attempting to preempt those crispy sunburns we Alaskans so easy succumb to in tropical climates.

We are just home from vacation, having had time with our adult kids and extended family. Fall was beautiful in Oregon, turning quite cold before we returned home.

Disappointing to me was catching a bad bug and having to cancel plans to see some precious folks that I'd hoped to spend time with. Nobody should have to share that crud, so as much as we were disappointed to cancel time together, it was best for all. I was glad that no one that I was around caught the nasty stuff.

It's hectic holiday times for people all around us. There are the millions of things to do before families show up for Christmas, gifts to buy, send off, decorations and baking, etc..

We are mostly just getting caught up from being gone three weeks.

Around the house I've placed a few decorations. We may do without a tree, just the two of us.

The stormy weather outside indeed feels like Christmas. Blowing, drifting snow and temperatures hovering around one degree have been today's constant status. The blizzard warning remains in place until tomorrow morning. We'll see how much clean-up and plowing are required to get us out of the driveway in the morning, once daylight breaks, about 10 AM..