Family starting to trickle home for the holidays...

Well there has not been too much going on up here in the wet northwest. But it is raining. And raining some more. Gives me a great excuse to stay inside...
Baz is coming along quite nicely with "this weeks" project, and has now set himself up with the basement as a work shop instead of the back patio...

My mother managed to clean her living room for Xmas. She is pretty excited as she is going to have family around for Xmas, apparently it is something that has been in short supply for the last decade or two. I know I have not been here for Xmas for 20 years!

We have started Xmas early and every meal seems to include dessert of some kind...I managed to get my father mid mouthful!

Strange thing tonight, someone you don't hear about very much from me showed up tonight. My brother Dan. Dan is 3 years younger then me, and I don't see him often, and cannot even remember the last time I saw him at Xmas.

Dan lives in Alberta. Apparently for those coming from ALberta, where I hear it hit -45 below or something this week (does not matter whether it is celsius or fahrenheit, apparently when it gets that cold they are about the same, or it don't matter!) the coast is practically the tropics! Or maybe it is just my brother, but he showed up with roller blades and bike helmets and other assorted SUMMER things, not sure what he would need. Maybe we are going to California for Xmas and I just do not know about it!!!

Received this pic and email from my friend Sharyl, and it is funny. The story is below the pic!

"Good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my Christmas decorations. The bad news is that I had to take him down after 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever.Great stories. But two things made me take it down.
First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost wrecked when they drove by.
Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard."

That is it from me tonight, time to go continue my new rediscovered love affair with Directv!

OH! Saw this job request come across my desk...had to laugh, did not realize someone had to be "financially comfortable" to take a job feeding goats, doing "projects" (yes, I thought of my husband), and getting the benefit of a composting toilet and one small room in advance... I assume the "plus extras" is you also get to eat the organic veggies you tend and the goats milk you milk! If you are interested, let me know. I usually find these types of jobs on yachts, so at least this one is on land.

MINI-FARM CARETAKER wanted long term to help with a quiet, solar-powered homestead near Tucson. Duties include caring for and milking goats, tending poultry and parrot, watering plants, irrigation repair, helping in organic vegetable garden, and projects. Duties shared with owners except when vacationing. Applicant should be financially secure, handy, conservation minded and willing to live simply. A separate one room furnished guest room with cooking and sink area and a separate bathroom (with composting toilet) is provided. Trade rent plus extras for work. Enjoy sustainable living in the beautiful Sonoran desert. Non-smoker, no fragrances.

Talking about yachts, I was on one of the yacht job sites last night, and giggled as apparently there is about half a dozen boats owned by men in the Virgin Islands who are looking for the next hostess/cook/cleaner/mate/soulmate/romance partner/unpaid help! And don't forget you should not be older then 45. Otherwise how could you possibly fulfill all the jobs they want you to do?

My advice, marry them first before taking on those jobs, then at least you will get SOMETHING out of the deal!