Battening Down and Gearing Up

The Battening

We aren't exactly going out in shirtsleeves anymore or even light jackets if it comes to that. And though we're not facing winter yet, there were some shallow pockets of snow up at the cottage last weekend. So we ready ourselves for the next season to roll in. While we aren't ready to install snow tires yet, we have been emptying the garage for its winter occupant — the car — which we keep outside in the better weather. But come this time of year, the bicycles go down to the basement and lawnmowers and other items go up on shelves to make room for the vehicle which we prefer to keep protected in winter.


The Gearing

And we begin to gear up for Christmas. Next Saturday will be our annual tree decorating party at the kids' place. Cuppa began the tradition many years ago. We'd have my parents and sometimes other friends over to both help and celebrate the putting up of our tree. We'd have munchies and music and fellowship and dinner. Now, we are the grandparents and the invitees.

We don't put up a big tree anymore, but we do have two little, pre-lit ones and many other decorations to give the place a festive look and feel. In part we do it in preparation for the official tree decorating next Saturday as well as the town's Santa Claus parade, but we also want to make the place Christmasy for our niece who will be visiting us from Korea later this week. She misses Christmas, so we'd like to make it as nice as possible for her before she heads overseas again in about two weeks.

In the spirit of the season, the kids had this picture printed to send out with their Christmas cards. So, I scanned it for you to gush over. Isn't she the cutest baby ever?