December 21, 2019 - Saturday morning

24 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Finally, the countdown is on. In my mind, the thought of Christmas remains in name only until the winter equinox, the shortest day of the year, after which, it become CHRISTMAS.

Since it's currently 7:30 AM and just now getting daylight, I'm officially infused with the Christmas spirit. It's time to rock 'n roll.... or, maybe finish writing this morning's diary before I get too carried away. 

Today's the shortest day of the year, for me, the beginning of Christmas, and almost as importantly, the day after which all others will grow longer, right up until June 21st. (<- Hey Miss Jody, is that a run on sentence or just extremely difficult to write with lots of commas and wandering thoughts?)

Friday morning began with the usual stroll as I hiked the steep hills to Pentoga Village and back. The only thing interesting were the remnants of a coyote kill. One or more of the wild canines are running around with bellies filled with wild turkey.

Sargie was ready to go to Iron Mountain by the time I arrived home. We ran here and there, all around the square, saying... "Where did all these people come from?"

One of the more important tasks was that of mailing out box after box after box of goodies to my sons and their families. No need to worry about the US Post Office going broke. They took enough money from me to last them for years to come.

The Walmart parking lot was so filled with cars that we had to park on the other side of the Canadian border. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but it seemed that way.

I see a picture like the one below and all I can think of is the movie, Christmas Vacation.

Today brings the first of several family gatherings over the next few days. Sargie's sons and their families are due in early this afternoon. 

I promised that I'd help clean and make our home company ready. With that in mind, I began spiffying up the house yesterday afternoon while Sargie finished wrapping presents.

Christmas music was filling the air and we often paused to sing along. It was a pleasant and fun afternoon and evening.

I thought our home was fairly clean when I went to bed last night. Sargie said she'd be up "shortly" which I discovered this morning was really around 1 AM. I walked down the steps earlier, flipped on the lights, and found a house that looks as though it should be featured in Better Homes and Gardens.

Sargie has everything just so. The Christmas decorations are beautiful and she's put her final touch on each room. I'm not sure if it's the winter equinox that has me in the spirit of Christmas so much as how she's made our home so beautiful.

So it's time to strap on the hikers and make the trek to Pentoga Village and back. No doubt, my Sargie will have some last minute honey-do jobs for me before everyone arrives and I want to be able and willing.

As many would say in the UP, "'Tis the season, don' cha know!

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Ivy's had her daddy call often via Facetime, so she can see Santa. He dances and sings and magically talks to her.