Are You Ready?

I've been asked this question more times than I can count. What does it mean? What are people really asking?
Am I ready to have 10 days off work? Well, yah.
Am I ready to see my daughter after 4 months away? Absolutely
Am I ready to spend a day with my sibs, in-laws, their families and my parents? For sure
Am I ready to indulge in some good food, laughter, sharing memories? Bring it on.
Am I ready to reflect on Peace, Joy, Love, and Hope? A definite yes.

Have I baked Christmas cookies, decorated the house, and purchased gifts yet? Well if that's the question then the answer would be no. This year there has been no preparation required. This Christmas season I haven't entered a mall. This year the trappings are absent. This year was the first time I thought the question, "Are you ready?", absurd.

This Christmas all that is required is that I am present, in the deepest sense of the word.

Shoot the Duck

We went skating on Texas Lake today. It was so much fun and an absolutely gorgeous day. It was one of those days when you are so happy that you have friends like the ones who come out on a friggin' cold day to play with you, that you live in a beautiful environment like the Hope area, that you have all your faculties intact (3 years ago to the day that I whacked my noggin badly at same location) and all your limbs work so that you can "shoot the duck" and pick up speed on your long blades and feel like you're flying.

Rudy and I got there first so we got the first zamboni shift. Rudy cleared a huge perfect figure 8 with his shovel. I tried out my cross-cuts on the corners. The snow was so light that I could skate where it hadn't been shovelled yet. It was a little freaky not being able to see the ice beneath my feet. The reason I could do this with a sense that it was safe was that Dan had been to the lake the day before when there was no snow and he said the ice was thick all the way across.

Everyone took their turn at clearing more ice. When the rink was big enough, a hockey game broke out. I stood on the edge of the lake watching because I was wearing speed skates and they don't work well in stop/start activities. At that point I was wishing for a pair of hockey skates. I don't ever do well standing on the sidelines.

Dan started a fire so that we could roast our farmer sausage and smokies. I brought some of Mom's pickles and some buns. Peter brought the necessary chocolate for the occasion and several people brought hot cocoa. Potato chips, nuts and bolts, Christmas cookies, and cashews made up the rest of the food groups. As far as parties go, it was topnotch.

Ice Castles

The lumber package arrived in Yale yesterday. It was promptly tarped to protect it from the forecasted dump of snow. I'm not sure if any framing is happening today as the wind is blowing the snow sideways.

I found myself worrying about the weather last week because of our housebuilding project. The sub zero temperatures were making the cement pour a little dicey. Worry is so pointless and energy sucking. On the walk to work this morning, I decided to enjoy the weather as I normally would if the snow had come down in any other year at this time.

A few of us have been discussing the probability of outdoor skating opportunities on one of the lakes in the area. We might have to shovel a bit but I'm thinking this coming weekend we could have a skating party. I'll keep you posted.

Before the Snow Flies

Inspection on the new forms should happen tomorrow morning. Concrete poured by afternoon. It's supposed to snow on Friday so were on a tight schedule.

Now That's Progress

Building permit has been given. Cement was poured today. Yeah! Rudy and I will strip forms on the weekend and build our lego walls. More cement to be poured early next week and then framing.