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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - not! Pretty much all of our
snow has gone away with the mild temperatures that we have had the past
week. We had high 30s and 40s with the only snow predicted to fall Tuesday
of this week with temperatures still in the mid to high 30s - so that may not
even happen! Temperatures are supposed to fall some and be more seasonable
(20s and 30s) next week. The only precipitation that could come is on
the 23rd and that's just 10% so we may have a green/brown Christmas! But
you never know, on Christmas Eve you may just see a lot of snow falling!
*****
Even with the dense fog last weekend, there was a pretty good crowd for
the last Saturday at Santa's Secret Shop at Hill's Pub (formerly Thym's).
The youngsters had a great time shopping and the Elves who were helping
out did a great job! See the photo above. It's pretty nice when a kid has just
so much money to spend that the Elves get it just right for them - and sometimes
they throw in a little extra when their list is bigger than the money
they have to spend!
*****
I took Photos with Santa at the Senior Center on Sunday and we didn't
have many kids stop in. Santa did have a good time with the few who came
though as he went over their lists and gave them a treat. The seniors also
had punch and cookies for the families and some coffee for me! The food
and money collected went to the Iowa County Food Pantry.
*****
Saturday brother Patrick and I went to Waunakee to meet up with his kids
and grandkids who met at Kelly's (one of Pat's daughters) to make
Christmas cookies. It was a fun day with many of the youngsters really getting
into the decorating after the grown ups baked them. Some of the boys,
however, chose to just play instead of decorate - which was probably for the
best!
*****
We have an EARLY DEADLINE this week (19th) for our AD-VISOR so
we can put our paper(s) out on Tuesday (23rd) instead of the usual
Wednesday during Christmas week. We have a noon Friday deadline for the
shopper and a Monday noon deadline for the newspapers. The same deadlines
take place the following week for New Year's too!
*****
Another reason that we have the an early deadline for the newspapers is
so I can START my Christmas shopping early - on the 23rd instead of the
24th - but it has to be in the evening on the 23rd!
*****
Between Christmas/Holiday school programs and sports, it will be a busy
week this week and next. I'm hoping to have my sanity yet for Christmas!
One sure way to keep my sanity is to drink and stop at "my favorite bakery"
- but chances of me doing either are pretty slim!
*****
I received my first Christmas present in the mail the other day - the 2014
TAX bill! What great timing they have in sending them - just when maybe
I think I have a few extra bucks to spend!