This seems strange.

This tree is leaning west and south … I suspect it may not make it through the winter.

Spent the day building a trap door into the back fence – now I can open it up and blow all the leaves out, making my life a lot easier.

The Emo Dog and I got in some time on the porch.

A bamboo growth was cut back, revealing an older tree that was being engulfed. The bamboo will be back in a matter of weeks, I suspect.

Some things just persist, you know?

We strive for gifts with meaning each year, so the Mrs. gave me this wonderful cup – “Not all those who wander are lost” – complete with a camper graphic.

I gave the kids dogs that bounce around when you put coins in their food bowls. Pointless, but endlessly entertaining.

And the dogs, of course, got new toys.

We have a few holiday traditions in our house. The Mrs. likes to put candles in the windows, which is just a great message. And I like to make my grandmother’s Christmas Cake, which only the two gluten-tolerant folks in the house can now eat.

I’m not a baker, but this … this is something I’ll make until I’m no longer able to. Four generations have had this on their table every Christmas morning, I’ll be happy to pass it along someday.

Construciton, holiday traffic and rain … last day at the office for a while.