Friday, Dec. 20
8:01 a.m.

Dark, dark, dark still. Out the window there are eight-inch snow overhangs glued to the eaves from the storm we had yesterday. We assume the weather will be all right today for us to drive the boys to meet their dad, but until we get some light, I won’t be sure. At least it’s not blowing right now; that’s a good sign.

We’ve had a big dump of snow, so it’s going to look like Christmas. This photo was taken behind our house, just outside the garden area. It looks across the road to one of our bachelor-neighbour’s fields. You can see that he got his crop swathed but not picked up by combine, so it is laying out there for the winter. That is the state of many area farmers’ fields this year, as there was drought in the spring and early part of summer, and then heavy rains that got things growing but delayed harvesting because the farmers couldn’t get their machinery into the fields without getting it stuck.

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I went to Barney’s Christmas concert yesterday afternoon. He wore his housecoat (he was a staffer at the Bethlehem Inn) and never cracked a smile, but as soon as he saw me in the audience his eyes never left my face. Onstage during his songs, he waved at me. I felt my own importance, and was touched by it.

Rotten mother that I am (and I’m just kidding here, I’m far from a rotten mother), I found the 75-minute concert excruciatingly dull and could hardly wait for it to be over. Barney’s face never changed expression the whole time so even watching him couldn’t hold my attention.

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This morning I must pack for the boys’ next two weeks with their dad, and for Loverboy and I to spend the next two days in the city. We’ll stay at my best friend’s and go do our shopping, with a digital camera in mind. I hope to get some Irish Cream made so I can take it along. By the time we return home, it will be coming on Christmas and we will have to get our butts in gear to get some lefse made. I might go to Grandma’s and spend an afternoon doing it with her, to keep her company.

A big package of home-made treats is going with the boys so they will have their Christmas staples while they’re in Alberta. Last night I made the whipped shortbread. Mmm, melt-in-your-mouth good.

So I’d best get a move on if I want to be ready when it’s time to walk out the door.