It's Not a White Christmas - It's A Colorful One With Cards and Gifts

So, it's official - we're having a "green" Christmas this year up here in the Frozen Northlands. On the one hand, I'm very happy. Although it's cold, it's not bone-chilling cold (yet!), and it's actually really nice to head to the gym in the mornings without having to shovel the driveway. Of course, I know that won't last forever, but damn. It's really nice. 

Isn't this a sweet card? I saw it on-line and thought 
it depicted a "green Christmas" pretty well. All of 
those multicolored trees of different shapes. So very 
much like our area (without the mountains, of 
course). 

The lack of snowpack up here in the north, however, will mean lack of water for farmers and for those living south of us, which isn't a good thing. And that brings to mind the reality - one small thing happening to a single person can affect a wide circle of other people. Our warm December might bring wilted crops to those planting farther south which could cause hardship for others while I'm reveling in the fact that we might reach 50 F over the weekend. Crazy temps for a December when Christmas Day is Monday. 

We're having a "green Christmas" - no snow, and no 
snowpack. This might be a problem later on when 
our waterways have low levels, but right now I'll 
enjoy it as a really nice change from last year's 
early and horrible snows. 

I got two more cards in yesterday's mail, and thanks go out to "Sam" and my longtime overseas friend Curious Wombat. The cards are absolutely lovely and are joining a nice line of cards along my fireplace mantle. It's such a treat to get cards from my on-line friends. It seems that every day is bringing me another small bit of happiness in the day's mail. 

I don't get holiday cards from my family any more. 
Their kids are growing up and very active in a 
million things, and it's relatively expensive to send 
cards too. I rather miss those, however. It was nice 
to get them - photo cards or not. Still, it's not as if 
I don't see them over the year - we do get together 
several times and will be getting together again on 
New Year's Eve for an afternoon get-together. 

So, although I may not have a "White Christmas" (and really, I'm not minding that at all), I'm still determined to have a good holiday. I work today and Saturday, then I'm off for three days before diving into our four-day "End of the Year Sale" days. The beast is slowly defrosting in the refrigerator (it'll probably have to sit out on the counter too - it's a big hunk of meat), and I have one final day of grocery shopping tomorrow before the holiday. I'm quite sure the grocery store will be busier than usual. May your day be bright, may everything you plan come to fruition, and I'll be back tomorrow. Have an excellent Thursday. Slava Ukraini and חיים למען ישראל.