...and every mouse...had fled frozen fields for the warmth of my house.
My wife found their droppings and said, "I'm not pleased, to think that these varmints are taking their ease...
"...inside my warm dwelling; this outrage won't stand!
What will you do?" Then I raised my hand:
"These mice, they are finished! Kaput and Kersplatz!
No way they'll survive for we have three cats!"
Then we beheld our mog desperados...
Kitty...
...and Smokey...
Disciples of Garfield were these lazy creatures,
with eating and sleeping their dominant features.
Ignoring those three hebetudinous chaps,
I scrounged all around til I found an old trap.
And later that evening 'ere mice came a-creeping,
I set the cruel deadfall then got busy sleeping.
So early next 'morn, at dawn's early light,
I sprang from my bed to find what I might.
But what did my wondering eyes finally see,
but a clean, empty trap and a note left for me:
"Thanks for the cheese, but what would be better,
instead of old muenster, could we have fresh cheddar?"
"And what's with this platter?" my mousy pals asked.
"We might have been killed if we hadn't been fast!"
'Twas then that I thought of the great Robert Burns
and his famous lament to a mouse that he turned
Out of warm hearth and home as he plowed in his field.
Did I want to partake in his life time of guilt?
The best laid plans it is easy to see,
Gang aft agley and I think you'll agree
There was nothing to do but give them their cheddar.
After all, 'twas Christmas, and what could be better
Than showing the love God has for His swarm,
by letting them stay inside where it's warm?
So out went the trap, but the mice? Man alive!
We're quite overrun but I guess we'll survive.
And lifting a quote from St. Nick's yearly flight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!"
 |
| original artwork by Diane Dempsey |
No need to thank me; just doing my job.
Decorating continued this past week, and one of the things Karen decided to do this year was create a Christmas village above the soffit in our circular kitchen:
 |
| one third of the overhead view... |
 |
| ...and another third... |
Here's a closer look at some of the individual vignettes...
 |
| the paintings were done by Wayne Wirgau |
 |
| love the forest of birch trees as the backdrop |
 |
| tough to see in this pic, but the yellow smiley face rock is a tip o' the hat to Rogers City |
The really exciting part?
In a few weeks we get to take it all down.
Overnight we've gone from this...
...to this:
...with temps in the 50's and wind gusts of 55 mph.
Watching out for falling widow makers...
...and hoping Santa and his reindeer really DON'T know how to fly...
Gotta love Michigan weather.
If you've got a coat on, just spread your arms, give a little jump in the air and you'll be blown out the back door...
...as we fly through the parting shots department...
 |
| no, I did NOT clap my hands |
 |
| sunrise at Larry's cottage... |
 |
| ...and sunset on the frozen shores. |
 |
| told ya it would look better when it snowed |
 |
| never drink “elf lemonade" at Christmas time |
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| a small but satisfying victory for us IT guys |
 |
| gotta be climate change, or maybe systemic racism? hmm... |
Christmas is racing upon us and will be here before you blink, but remember:
Or, as the Apostle Paul encourages us in Ephesians 5, verses 15 and 16:
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Aren't they ever:
Hang in, mcm fans...
* Crass Commercialism Corner *
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