The holiday season has begun

Last night, while the “old folks” were home enjoying dinner, the younger generations were in downtown Taylors Falls enjoying the Christmas lighting parade. Reports are that the two-year-old Granddaughter had a great time.

the Claus family arrives at Taylors Falls

Photo by J. Harrington

All five of us (grandparents, parents, grandchild) got together yesterday afternoon for a brief visit to the Gammelgarden museum in Scandia. Actually, we visited the gift shop, not the museum. I proved once again that I should not be permitted anywhere near anything that resembles a book shop unless I’m under the control of a responsible adult. While the Better Half was checking out Swedish washcloths and candy, I managed to pick up two books, one for the Granddaughter and the other for me. The Granddaughter has developed a thing for bunnies and I found a book about The Yule Tomte and the Little Rabbits. We’ll see if it meets with her approval or if rabbits aren’t as good as bunnies to a 2 year old. I found a book of Sami folk tales that I’m looking forward to reading. [I know yesterday was Buy Nothing Day but I’m filing my purchases under an early start for today’s Small Business Saturday, Buy Local.]

A couple of days after Thanksgiving, and a few more before the start of meteorological winter, this afternoon’s temperature will be in an unseasonable mid 50s here in the North Country. If you check back a few weeks, you’ll find me complaining commenting on the unseasonable cold, followed by daily snow for about a week or so. From the way it appears this autumn, we have unhinged the climate in the worst possible definition of that term. But at least the folks at last night’s parade didn’t freeze anything off, because the temperatures stayed above freezing all night I think.

We’re slowly getting Christmas decorations and lights up and functioning. Much of the snow on the drive has melted and what’s still there is compacted, frozen and slippery. Tuesday’s forecast snowfall should help roughen the surface. Yes, that’s correct, in the space of a few days we’re going from mid 50s and sunny to snowfall of an inch or two(?). It’s hard to plan activities with this kind of variability but  we do our best. Since many find this to be a season to travel and visit, we end today’s posting with this

Cherokee Travelers' Blessing III

loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

May Heaven’s warming winds blow gently there,
where you reside,
and may the Great Spirit bless all those you love,
this side of the farthest tide.
And wherever you go,
whether the journey is fast or slow,
may your moccasins leave many cunning footprints in the snow.
And when you look over your shoulder, may you always find the Rainbow. 

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Thanks for visiting. Come again when you can.
Please be kind to each other while you can.