December Highlights

Christmas has come and gone already.  I was probably more unprepared than ever this year, which is an understatement.  I didn't get the tree up until two days before Christmas which is really too bad.  I like to have things decorated much earlier so we can enjoy the season beforehand, but time just got away from me. We had a white pine out in the Back Eight that had developed a double leader, so one night just before dark Carl and I cut off the smaller of the two trunks for our tree this year.   Not a perfect tree by any means, but the price was right.  Free.  And the best part is, the tree we sawed it off of will now grow stronger and straighter.

Merry Belated Christmas!

Though I wasn't ready for the holidays indoors, I did a lot of decorating outdoors.  Just because I wasn't prepared this season, doesn't mean other folks weren't.  I wanted to show you our little town's display for Christmas.  We were driving through town one Sunday evening during the first snowfall of December.  With the snow coming down, the scenes reminded me of my favorite holiday movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".  Our farm is a few miles away from this little city of just over three thousand people.  When we 'go to town' to buy groceries or gasoline, go to church or the doctor, this is the town we are headed for.





The city has an area set up for residents to honor their lost loved ones by decorating a memorial tree.

 This is Seymour, Wisconsin, Home of the Hamburger, by the way, and the big fella standing in the midst of the gorgeous trees is none other than Hamburger Charlie.   Every year the town celebrates 'Burger Fest' with a giant parade and other fun events, Joel even was able to take a ride in a hot air balloon one year.

It's all about the hamburger, even with a dusting of snow, this looks tasty, doesn't it?

Blurry pictures, I know, but this is Main Street on a snowy December night. 

 There is one grocery store in town, a post office, two schools, and an almost equal number of churches, gas stations and taverns.  This is a typical small town in our area, and though I do not like cities of any size, this one is my favorite.  Once upon a time in my childhood, there was even a movie theater; I'll never forget watching 'Gone With the Wind' in the red velvet seats. 

Statue of Hamburger Charlie Nagreen

Beautiful memorial trees

Every summer there are band concerts in the gazebo here. 

Snowman on the light pole partially illuminates the Giant Burger.

The old train depot.

There's a museum for the city and one for the railroad here, too.  This is one of the old railroad cars all decked out for Christmas.

Joel headed back to our car.  Time to head for home.

 Meanwhile, back at the farm, here's some of our holiday decorations:

I realize poor Ernie looks a little goofy this year.  Apparently a very large bird laid an egg in the nest of pine boughs.

I wonder what will hatch out?

Whatever is in the egg is pretty fantastic after dark.

Have to put the horses out by the fence, wouldn't be Christmas without them.

I put lights around the circles on the driveway grates.  You can't see it very well, but there's an arrangement of dried grasses and silk poinsettias in a pot in front. 

Can't miss our driveway.  C'mon in.

Gazebo and deer

The dome and icicles

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!  We certainly did.  Happy New Year, too!!