Christmas and Hanukkah Blessings to everyone! I got a free trial membership to Apple Music, and I’ve been listening to Christmas choirs this morning. Personally, I don’t know how anyone can listen to those beautiful voices, and not think there is a God. And then, it suddenly went to Perry Como singing, “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas.” I love his voice. No vocal gymnastics, just the lyrics sung simply and beautifully. Life is good.
That is also beautiful, Doug. We grew up in a time when singers just sang. I’m not saying I don’t appreciate some of the newer singers, but too often it seems like a competition to see how much they can do with their vocals. For me, there’s nothing like a beautiful voice that just sings the song.
II’ve noticed that before from somewhere! Maybe I’m thinking of Japan, but interesting that Karaoke is so popular in both places. I don’t get the appeal either. I’ve never gone out of my way to attend any, but I remember being somewhere that had it, and mostly it’s hilarious!
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. I really enjoy this place and thank Marque for providing it to us. I know it’s a lot of work and it’s appreciated. Same to Cynthia and Kurt for their many contributions.
I feel like a kid today, can't wait to see people open their presents and to open mine...lol
There is nothing left to do other than cooking tomorrow. Rick has to work today, and then he is going to his family get-together, We open presents when he gets home...oh, I do have to wrap 2 fancy feast ornaments I got for my sister and my niece and I got one too...I have been collecting them since 1984 I think...and one of Rick's gifts, probably one of the ones he will really like ( 2019 Harry Potter Advent calendar with mini pop vinyls of the characters) is MIA...I got a new set, never opened from E-Bay and it was supposed to be here by yesterday but it didn't arrive...sigh...I hope the seller doesn't renege ( I never have had that happen) ...getting another new set will be nearly impossible...and not cheap...lol
I picked up an item from "ShopGoodwill.com" yesterday. And they had wrapped it in bubble wrap, nearly 20 feet of it! 😳 I'm taking it tomorrow to Coopers, to give to my MIL Janet, as a joke. If I could find a football helmet for her I'd get it for her.
For those of you curious, ShopGoodwill.com is sorta like eBay, for some of their higher end donations. The starting price on all bids is either $12.99 or $24.99. Shipping is generally about $10-$12, but you can pick it up for free from their warehouse, which is a mile from campus, along my route to work. So yeah, I save money and pick up items.
For Christmas this year I bought Katie some Willow Tree figurines, my daughter a pair of Russian nesting dolls (matroyshka), and my youngest a signed picture of Steph Curry & Klay Thompson. I also bought a used wii, so we can do wii bowling tonight when the kids are gathered. I did also buy them new gifts as well.
The local Goodwill was a client for one of my classes, and I was really pleased with how well they did with them. We recommended they add a "round up" feature, which we estimate provides them over $10k locally, annually. We made other recommendations, some of which they are implementing.
My roomie RIck, works at a local Goodwill as an assistant manager...I was surprised when I found out they sent higher-end items elsewhere to sell at higher, though still lower than retail items. They get a lot of high-end stuff and collectibles...mostly from estate sales, I am guessing.
He gets a discount on even the lower prices at the store...we have bought some cool things, like a new couch, ( $70, retails for $800)a dresser for his room, etc
The Local GM for the Dayton area Goodwill told my students his mission is to raise money for their mission, not provide cheap deals for customers. That may sound bad, but he truly loves the mission. They sell a lot of stuff cheap, but selling stuff is how they fund their mission.
Awesome Jay. My youngest brown was in attack Subs 1980s. Radio. Crypto. Sat. Gave him a full-time life both in the Navy and afterwards.
I have an unusual geekishness about our atomic weapon history. Books Car at WPAFB was the Nagaski bomber 1960s.. Been all over it inside. Also Enola Gay in the early 90s during its reconstruction. Both Bomb bays. Navigation bomber locations. Met Tibbets, van Kirk. Stood at Trinity, Hiroshima and Nagaski. Kinda know how to build one generally. Weird me!!
That's about the same year I visited; it was still relatively "new", as I recall. We lived for a year in Centerville, when it was still a separate little burg out in the country.
First of all my appreciation of the Morning Dispatch, and a special shout-out to Cynthia and Earl. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all and Bonnes Fettes to M. Jouffrey. This afternoon we have a village concert in the Church, with music from an expert on J.S. Bach, French folk songs and Hill Country Blues (myself). Laisse les bon temps roulez!
I write of bad news, partly inspired by CynthiaW's TSAF. USA Today sadly reported yesterday how the beloved star of that 1980s Down Under movie "Crocodile Dundee" has passed away. Burt, the crocodile had been living in the Crocosaurus Cove elderly living facility (no, this is not the one where Texan congresswoman Kay Granger was found) passed away at the age of 90.
Burt was beloved by all...well, except for those served to him for dinner, they could not be reached for comment. But his animal handlers called him a beautiful old bachelor, and they will miss him, if only because he helped keep the nearby rodent population down.
Funeral services are pending, as are orders for new "custom shoes", if you catch my drift.
Right! "The Founder" really wasn't. He took heinous advantage of the brothers, who I have to say, were dumb about all of it, particularly the handshake deal. All's fair in love, war, and definitely business.
One of Kroc's strengths was his ability to... wait for it... scale up his business.
Happy Christmas Eve, Kurt. It is Christmas Eve there yet, isn't it? IDK. I had to have a nap after cleaning barn stalls and ice off the vehicles early this morning and just woke up. For all I know in may be New Year's Eve by now.
Yeah, we're in it all the way right now. Christmas morning. We've done the scouting, the scouting report is in, and it's all clear for you folks over there.
Here's some good news from the usually totally awful Charlotte Observer. The article even presents clear facts in an organized way, which is unusual for them.
"A new uptown resource center for formerly incarcerated people is expected to help with their transition back into society by offering resources like mental health or job search support."
All joking aside, I do wish them much success with the facility. One of the lesser known tragedies of Covid was that unemployment had dropped so far by Thanksgiving 2019 that many businesses were hiring former criminal offenders, just due to labor shortages. Many were generally pleased with the results. But that hiring process died during the pandemic, and has not yet come back.
If ex-convicts can avoid drugs (a big IF) and if they find full time employment, their risks of recidivism go down substantially. So I root for them to find work.
Goodwill is a BIG second chance hiring proponent, they hire a lot of lower-level offenders and people with addiction problems ( both alcohol and drugs), many of who are in halfway houses after doing time , as mandated by the court.
I agree, it's a very important service, and I hope it produces good results. Some of my friends who volunteer in prison ministry also work with ex-inmates.
We got home yesterday from a three night quick strike trip to Iowa to see all the relatives. It will just be my husband, son and me until we head north next weekend to gather at the lake house. My daughters and their families will be at their in-laws this year. I’m thankful to be able to attend Christmas mass at my church this year. That’s only happened once in the past 31 years and only because I was 39 weeks pregnant at the time, 23 years ago. Merry Christmas to you all!
We are so used to being gone over Christmas and I thought it would change when I had grands. The daughter in Duluth is only interested in meeting at the lake house so I doubt we will ever host in our home. Kinda makes me sad. I just have to "get over of it" like she used to say as a toddler.
I keep wishful thinking that some day I will magically get to travel the world, like I always wanted to...
My parents put the kibosh on me going in HS as part of my French Class field trip...I did have a french pen pal ( and a German one) once, very long ago
Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Last night I made a Yorkshire pudding, something I’ve never attempted, in memory of my dad. He spent six months in England getting ready for the invasion and returned hating all English food except Yorkshire pudding, which he would request every Christmas. We will have a very quiet time here with no kids or grandkids, which is a little sad, but I’ll get over it fast!
Lol, Pam and I lived the farthest away from her parents, 20 minutes by car, 12 miles as the crow flies, provided he doesn't get shot down by locals. My folks lived 40 minutes away at the time.
Pam's middle sister lives 4.9 miles from her parents, and her baby sister lives across the street from them. Although, as they have aged in their home, having Jenni across the street to check on them has been a blessing. Katie and I live an hour from them. Interestingly, the road at the back of their property goes (more or less) straight to within half a mile of our house. But there's a creek with no bridge: without the bridge one must detour 5 miles each way around the creek.
I don't think Katie would risk driving over the bridge if I built it! 🤦♂️It's a highway in Ohio, but on the Indiana side of the line it turns into a country road. It'd be the best route with the bridge.
DQ and family are planning to have lunch with the other grandparents tomorrow and come here for supper. Baby Georgia weighs over 10 lbs. now, double her birth weight.
Today’s special animal friend is the Central African rock python, Python sebae, a large, nonvenomous, constrictor snake that can eat yesterday’s friend, the lechwe. This reminds me of a song. “The alligator ate my friend. He will eat your friend, too.” Only it’s a snake. One of ten species in the Python genus, it is the largest snake in Africa. The longest “considered to be authentic” individual was 24’7” long. Before you get too concerned, it is rare for one to be longer than 15 feet, and 10 feet or so is typical. The largest individuals are found in isolated areas.
Females are bigger than males and may weigh over 200 lbs. The rock python’s thick body is marked with irregular blotches in colors that blend into the local ground, such as brown, yellow, and olive. They have a white underside. There is a triangular dark mark under each eye. They have lots of sharp teeth, which hold on to their prey as they squeeze it to death and then swallow it.
They have a varied diet of mammals, birds, and reptiles. In agricultural or suburban areas, they will eat domestic poultry, goats, dogs, and cats, as well as rats and other rodents. In forests, they eat monkeys, bats, and birds. In the savannah, they eat antelope, young crocodiles, and the cubs of wild dogs and cats. One has been observed eating a large, adult hyena.
Rock pythons mate in the spring. The female lays between 20 and 200 eggs; older, larger females have larger clutches. She will lay the eggs in a termite mound, animal burrow, or cave. She will guard the eggs for about 90 days, until they hatch, and defend the babies for another two weeks or so. The hatchlings are 18 to 24 inches long. This is a very unusual level of parental care for a mother snake, although some other python species also guard their eggs.
The Central African rock python is rated Near Threatened by IUCN. They are hunted in some areas because people don’t like snakes, for their skins, and for “bushmeat.” Habitat loss is also a threat, but they are more adaptable than many animals and can live in disturbed habitats or even in towns, if there is sufficient food. There is some collection for the pet trade and captive breeding. They have been found in the Florida Everglades, along with the Burmese Python.
The rock python is rarely a threat to humans. There are a handful of reports of attacks in Africa over the past 50 years, and some children have been killed by pet snakes in the United States.
That is one long snake...I don't hate snakes, and little ones as long as I can watch and they don't come too near me, I find them fascinating...I assume the ones in Florida got here illegally, or through hiding on vessels or something? I don't think they are native, are they?
Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH, a well-known amusement park used to have an attraction with Jungle Larry, he exhibited wild animals all the time and was even on talk shows etc locally...once I went to see him and he had a very large snake, though I don't remember which kind , though it was not a native to the US...and he invited people to come touch them, and I did, and I was surprised how dry they were...I expected them not to be...
They are very adaptable indeed, some are living around Orlando. Disney reputedly greenlit an AI generated sitcom where a rock python hangs out at a local deli, gobbling up food. It becomes a chef, and she hollers at everyone in the restaurant "Do you smellllllll, what the Rock Python is cookin'!
Whether the lights on the tree or the menorah, may your day be merry and bright!
Wishing you the same!
Merry Christmas Anne to you and your family
1963. Me 9. Brother 7. Sister 6. Sister 5, Lil brother 1.
Mom read this from an ancient book . Maybe from 1910 ish. Maybe her mom's book. Her mom died 6 hrs after mom's birth. Pre-eclampsia.
This was the high water mark of my childhood.
I wonder if reading this to children is still a Christmas Eve tradition? I hope so. Merry Christmas all.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
I’m on vacation not awarding any 🚪s no matter how well deserved.
All I have to say is:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wishing the same to you and yours!
Merry Christmas, Phil!
Christmas and Hanukkah Blessings to everyone! I got a free trial membership to Apple Music, and I’ve been listening to Christmas choirs this morning. Personally, I don’t know how anyone can listen to those beautiful voices, and not think there is a God. And then, it suddenly went to Perry Como singing, “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas.” I love his voice. No vocal gymnastics, just the lyrics sung simply and beautifully. Life is good.
Bing Crosby White Christmas. 100% all time favorite.
That is also beautiful, Doug. We grew up in a time when singers just sang. I’m not saying I don’t appreciate some of the newer singers, but too often it seems like a competition to see how much they can do with their vocals. For me, there’s nothing like a beautiful voice that just sings the song.
There’s a greater appreciation for vocals over here. in fact, it seems to be the main popular music. Then, there’s karaoke….which I still don’t get.
II’ve noticed that before from somewhere! Maybe I’m thinking of Japan, but interesting that Karaoke is so popular in both places. I don’t get the appeal either. I’ve never gone out of my way to attend any, but I remember being somewhere that had it, and mostly it’s hilarious!
Yup. A different time
Best wishes to you and yours for a Merry Christmas, Anne.
❤️
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. I really enjoy this place and thank Marque for providing it to us. I know it’s a lot of work and it’s appreciated. Same to Cynthia and Kurt for their many contributions.
All the best to everyone today - may all last minute preparations and unexpected circumstances work out acceptably :-)
I have one (known) really high hurdle to get through today and it appears to have been successfully negotiated.
Safe travels to all travelling!
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to Everyone!
I feel like a kid today, can't wait to see people open their presents and to open mine...lol
There is nothing left to do other than cooking tomorrow. Rick has to work today, and then he is going to his family get-together, We open presents when he gets home...oh, I do have to wrap 2 fancy feast ornaments I got for my sister and my niece and I got one too...I have been collecting them since 1984 I think...and one of Rick's gifts, probably one of the ones he will really like ( 2019 Harry Potter Advent calendar with mini pop vinyls of the characters) is MIA...I got a new set, never opened from E-Bay and it was supposed to be here by yesterday but it didn't arrive...sigh...I hope the seller doesn't renege ( I never have had that happen) ...getting another new set will be nearly impossible...and not cheap...lol
Hope everyone has an awesome two days.
Merry Christmas Angie!
Hi John, I was just going to email you...
I still will...lol..
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Angie 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐪🐾🐾🎆
Thanks, Doug, right back at you...good to "see" you again
Merry Christmas to the other Angie in the group!
Thank you Angie, you too
Angie's should stick together...lol
Vlad ordered new headphones that were "supposed" to arrive yesterday. The tracking app said they were in The Hague, Netherlands, when last spotted.
If international call rates weren't as expensive as they are, they'd probably phone to give you a heads up...
Morning, Cynthia. Happy Christmas Eve.
Weirdly, , there is no tracking available, I am starting to get really worried
I picked up an item from "ShopGoodwill.com" yesterday. And they had wrapped it in bubble wrap, nearly 20 feet of it! 😳 I'm taking it tomorrow to Coopers, to give to my MIL Janet, as a joke. If I could find a football helmet for her I'd get it for her.
For those of you curious, ShopGoodwill.com is sorta like eBay, for some of their higher end donations. The starting price on all bids is either $12.99 or $24.99. Shipping is generally about $10-$12, but you can pick it up for free from their warehouse, which is a mile from campus, along my route to work. So yeah, I save money and pick up items.
For Christmas this year I bought Katie some Willow Tree figurines, my daughter a pair of Russian nesting dolls (matroyshka), and my youngest a signed picture of Steph Curry & Klay Thompson. I also bought a used wii, so we can do wii bowling tonight when the kids are gathered. I did also buy them new gifts as well.
The local Goodwill was a client for one of my classes, and I was really pleased with how well they did with them. We recommended they add a "round up" feature, which we estimate provides them over $10k locally, annually. We made other recommendations, some of which they are implementing.
My roomie RIck, works at a local Goodwill as an assistant manager...I was surprised when I found out they sent higher-end items elsewhere to sell at higher, though still lower than retail items. They get a lot of high-end stuff and collectibles...mostly from estate sales, I am guessing.
He gets a discount on even the lower prices at the store...we have bought some cool things, like a new couch, ( $70, retails for $800)a dresser for his room, etc
The Local GM for the Dayton area Goodwill told my students his mission is to raise money for their mission, not provide cheap deals for customers. That may sound bad, but he truly loves the mission. They sell a lot of stuff cheap, but selling stuff is how they fund their mission.
Dayton. First visited with my Boy Scout troop apx 1965. Went to WP AFB Museum. Still got the mugs
I love going to the WPAFB museum. It's peaceful, free, and fun.
My oldest son works on base. He works for NASIC; his entire building is a SCIF. He just got his TS clearance two weeks ago (after 8 months).
Awesome Jay. My youngest brown was in attack Subs 1980s. Radio. Crypto. Sat. Gave him a full-time life both in the Navy and afterwards.
I have an unusual geekishness about our atomic weapon history. Books Car at WPAFB was the Nagaski bomber 1960s.. Been all over it inside. Also Enola Gay in the early 90s during its reconstruction. Both Bomb bays. Navigation bomber locations. Met Tibbets, van Kirk. Stood at Trinity, Hiroshima and Nagaski. Kinda know how to build one generally. Weird me!!
That's about the same year I visited; it was still relatively "new", as I recall. We lived for a year in Centerville, when it was still a separate little burg out in the country.
First of all my appreciation of the Morning Dispatch, and a special shout-out to Cynthia and Earl. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all and Bonnes Fettes to M. Jouffrey. This afternoon we have a village concert in the Church, with music from an expert on J.S. Bach, French folk songs and Hill Country Blues (myself). Laisse les bon temps roulez!
That all sounds fantastic! My husband and I are going hiking this morning. None of the young persons seems up to it ...
Here's a song we would sing for Christmas Eve if we were allowed to have a Spanish service. Instead, we'll do it on Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irCLV1HEmSw
I write of bad news, partly inspired by CynthiaW's TSAF. USA Today sadly reported yesterday how the beloved star of that 1980s Down Under movie "Crocodile Dundee" has passed away. Burt, the crocodile had been living in the Crocosaurus Cove elderly living facility (no, this is not the one where Texan congresswoman Kay Granger was found) passed away at the age of 90.
Burt was beloved by all...well, except for those served to him for dinner, they could not be reached for comment. But his animal handlers called him a beautiful old bachelor, and they will miss him, if only because he helped keep the nearby rodent population down.
Funeral services are pending, as are orders for new "custom shoes", if you catch my drift.
Crikey.
I didn't know crocodiles lived that long...
Caught it...funny stuff.
Lots of crocodile tears shed, I imagine.
Oooh, that's almost worth a door ===>
It's hard to say it's too sad when someone dies at 90, but his family and friends and their remaining limbs have my sympathy.
Yeah, Burt had a good, long life, unlike many of his meals.
He was beloved. I suspect he is 2nd only to Ray as everyone's favorite Croc/Kroc.
Did you ever see the movie "The Founder" with Michael Keaton? It's about Ray Kroc and where McDonalds came from.
Phenomenal movie!!
Right! "The Founder" really wasn't. He took heinous advantage of the brothers, who I have to say, were dumb about all of it, particularly the handshake deal. All's fair in love, war, and definitely business.
One of Kroc's strengths was his ability to... wait for it... scale up his business.
Happy Christmas Eve, Kurt. It is Christmas Eve there yet, isn't it? IDK. I had to have a nap after cleaning barn stalls and ice off the vehicles early this morning and just woke up. For all I know in may be New Year's Eve by now.
Yeah, we're in it all the way right now. Christmas morning. We've done the scouting, the scouting report is in, and it's all clear for you folks over there.
Merry Christmas to you then, Kurt! Hope you have a wonderful day.
I haven't, but I'll look for it.
Here's some good news from the usually totally awful Charlotte Observer. The article even presents clear facts in an organized way, which is unusual for them.
"A new uptown resource center for formerly incarcerated people is expected to help with their transition back into society by offering resources like mental health or job search support."
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article297056919.html#storylink=cpy
All joking aside, I do wish them much success with the facility. One of the lesser known tragedies of Covid was that unemployment had dropped so far by Thanksgiving 2019 that many businesses were hiring former criminal offenders, just due to labor shortages. Many were generally pleased with the results. But that hiring process died during the pandemic, and has not yet come back.
If ex-convicts can avoid drugs (a big IF) and if they find full time employment, their risks of recidivism go down substantially. So I root for them to find work.
Goodwill is a BIG second chance hiring proponent, they hire a lot of lower-level offenders and people with addiction problems ( both alcohol and drugs), many of who are in halfway houses after doing time , as mandated by the court.
I agree, it's a very important service, and I hope it produces good results. Some of my friends who volunteer in prison ministry also work with ex-inmates.
We got home yesterday from a three night quick strike trip to Iowa to see all the relatives. It will just be my husband, son and me until we head north next weekend to gather at the lake house. My daughters and their families will be at their in-laws this year. I’m thankful to be able to attend Christmas mass at my church this year. That’s only happened once in the past 31 years and only because I was 39 weeks pregnant at the time, 23 years ago. Merry Christmas to you all!
The celebrations change slightly from year to year—and sometimes more than slightly.
Safe travels, and enjoy!
That's a lot of Christmastime travel!
We are so used to being gone over Christmas and I thought it would change when I had grands. The daughter in Duluth is only interested in meeting at the lake house so I doubt we will ever host in our home. Kinda makes me sad. I just have to "get over of it" like she used to say as a toddler.
Merry Christmas, straight from Santa Klaus himself: https://www.midilibre.fr/2024/12/14/pour-les-enfants-le-pere-noel-etait-au-rendez-vous-12391069.php
Merry Christmas Jouffrey.
Good to see you.
We need a long essay on your personal observations of the wonderful miracle restoration of Notre Dame!
I've been there 4 times. Lit candles for my wife
Shoot, my French is too rusty to read that page and it wouldn't go to English. I did read the title properly which impressed me...lol
Dear Angie,
I just happened to play Père Noël for the "festivity" of the Christmas Market in the small village (above 100 inhabitants), where I reside.
I made my entrance, accompanied by a Queen from Disney, in the coach of Cinderella after midnight: a trailer for grape-picking, pulled by a tractor.
It was very pastoral. 🙂
Sounds like a great time!
This made me smile, what a lovely vision...
I keep wishful thinking that some day I will magically get to travel the world, like I always wanted to...
My parents put the kibosh on me going in HS as part of my French Class field trip...I did have a french pen pal ( and a German one) once, very long ago
As the Parisians say: Noeliniz kutlu olsun!
I expect some of them do. Maybe Mayor Eric Adams says that, too, for pay.
Even J-CJ shows up on Christmas Eve! Joyeux Noel!
Joyeux Noel, M. Jouffrey, and all the wild boar of your habitat.
Good morning and Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Last night I made a Yorkshire pudding, something I’ve never attempted, in memory of my dad. He spent six months in England getting ready for the invasion and returned hating all English food except Yorkshire pudding, which he would request every Christmas. We will have a very quiet time here with no kids or grandkids, which is a little sad, but I’ll get over it fast!
My mother's mother used to make that. It was a big deal and I can still see her face as she focused on getting it right.
I’m loving being a Grammy but not loving how it changes up holidays. Like you, I’ll get over it.
I was kinda jealous when the other grandparents moved close to the kids, and then I thought, WHY?
Lol, Pam and I lived the farthest away from her parents, 20 minutes by car, 12 miles as the crow flies, provided he doesn't get shot down by locals. My folks lived 40 minutes away at the time.
Pam's middle sister lives 4.9 miles from her parents, and her baby sister lives across the street from them. Although, as they have aged in their home, having Jenni across the street to check on them has been a blessing. Katie and I live an hour from them. Interestingly, the road at the back of their property goes (more or less) straight to within half a mile of our house. But there's a creek with no bridge: without the bridge one must detour 5 miles each way around the creek.
Have you considered building a bridge?
I don't think Katie would risk driving over the bridge if I built it! 🤦♂️It's a highway in Ohio, but on the Indiana side of the line it turns into a country road. It'd be the best route with the bridge.
I lived in Mixerville, once. I think it’s close by.
DQ and family are planning to have lunch with the other grandparents tomorrow and come here for supper. Baby Georgia weighs over 10 lbs. now, double her birth weight.
Hmm. Exponential growth every month. That’s what I call progress!
If she weighs 20 lbs. next month, that will be unexpected.
If her weight continues to double every month you may want to rename her Jabba the Hut before she turns two! 😳
But I am sure the rate of growth will slow down before then.
Personally, I find this place warm and engaging, and a miracle of the first order in the otherwise awful sump of the interwebs.
Merry Christmas from Wuhan! I still think about the nice thing you said on my little piece about being locked up during Covid. High praise!
Woo Hoo! Merry Christmas Kurt to you and family.
Feliz Nochebuena, Julia. My mother would make Yorkshire pudding at Christmas with roast beef. I don't think I've ever tried it.
Today’s special animal friend is the Central African rock python, Python sebae, a large, nonvenomous, constrictor snake that can eat yesterday’s friend, the lechwe. This reminds me of a song. “The alligator ate my friend. He will eat your friend, too.” Only it’s a snake. One of ten species in the Python genus, it is the largest snake in Africa. The longest “considered to be authentic” individual was 24’7” long. Before you get too concerned, it is rare for one to be longer than 15 feet, and 10 feet or so is typical. The largest individuals are found in isolated areas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AubT3c1KVI
Females are bigger than males and may weigh over 200 lbs. The rock python’s thick body is marked with irregular blotches in colors that blend into the local ground, such as brown, yellow, and olive. They have a white underside. There is a triangular dark mark under each eye. They have lots of sharp teeth, which hold on to their prey as they squeeze it to death and then swallow it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyWBgKa1rKY
They have a varied diet of mammals, birds, and reptiles. In agricultural or suburban areas, they will eat domestic poultry, goats, dogs, and cats, as well as rats and other rodents. In forests, they eat monkeys, bats, and birds. In the savannah, they eat antelope, young crocodiles, and the cubs of wild dogs and cats. One has been observed eating a large, adult hyena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0rk5zh7RaE
Rock pythons mate in the spring. The female lays between 20 and 200 eggs; older, larger females have larger clutches. She will lay the eggs in a termite mound, animal burrow, or cave. She will guard the eggs for about 90 days, until they hatch, and defend the babies for another two weeks or so. The hatchlings are 18 to 24 inches long. This is a very unusual level of parental care for a mother snake, although some other python species also guard their eggs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=givdcP05rVQ
The Central African rock python is rated Near Threatened by IUCN. They are hunted in some areas because people don’t like snakes, for their skins, and for “bushmeat.” Habitat loss is also a threat, but they are more adaptable than many animals and can live in disturbed habitats or even in towns, if there is sufficient food. There is some collection for the pet trade and captive breeding. They have been found in the Florida Everglades, along with the Burmese Python.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MosOA408Ye8
The rock python is rarely a threat to humans. There are a handful of reports of attacks in Africa over the past 50 years, and some children have been killed by pet snakes in the United States.
That is one long snake...I don't hate snakes, and little ones as long as I can watch and they don't come too near me, I find them fascinating...I assume the ones in Florida got here illegally, or through hiding on vessels or something? I don't think they are native, are they?
Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH, a well-known amusement park used to have an attraction with Jungle Larry, he exhibited wild animals all the time and was even on talk shows etc locally...once I went to see him and he had a very large snake, though I don't remember which kind , though it was not a native to the US...and he invited people to come touch them, and I did, and I was surprised how dry they were...I expected them not to be...
They are very adaptable indeed, some are living around Orlando. Disney reputedly greenlit an AI generated sitcom where a rock python hangs out at a local deli, gobbling up food. It becomes a chef, and she hollers at everyone in the restaurant "Do you smellllllll, what the Rock Python is cookin'!
Sorry, I know, that one deserves a 🚪!
That reminds me of the Disney "Robin Hood" movie where Prince John's adviser was a snake.