Merry Christmas!!!
So, here it is, the annual capture the tree picture, this year with all children working hard to put on the happy Vermont family getting the tree look.

First race of the season

For those of you who wonder what ski races are like I offer the following pictures and just a few words about yesterday---blistering cold and windy. D came in 2nd, the friend pictured skiing below came in 3rd. Both teams (boys and girls) came in first! A good start to winter!

 Spectators!

 A bleak scene looking up the hill. The dark line across the trail is composed of the skiers waiting for the start.

 

Looking down the hill--coach checking running order. Notice the snow blowing up the hill. As I said, blistering.

Skier coming into and at the finish.

A fun day!!

Thanksgiving in snippets....6 pies for 7 people…one turkey for one sandwich…"that's nuts," he says, "your mom is making a whole turkey for one sandwich?".....discussion--Elijah & Christmas eve dinner in Poland & why American Christian culture does not have a holiday where an empty place is set at the table...(we are basically a selfish, unwelcoming culture)...sometimes more about who is gone than who is there..dead relatives whisper, clustering in shadows and corners...take pictures…Aunt Midgie's creamed onions, (her Baltimore neighbors were John Waters and Divine)...Jean's last Thanksgiving not too many years ago...what were we thinking with all these pies?...gotta get a picture…"You've never heard of Lady Gaga??!!"..."don't even ask, 'who is Divine?'"....is pc passé?...big argument over that one: does anyone care anymore?--Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah...Diwali, Kwanzaa, Eid--or do we still have to say nothing or Happy Holidays?......"coffee anyone?"

....maybe we rethink the pies next year...