Merry Christmas!

We spent a relatively quiet Monday at home here on the farm today. If nothing else there was no school commute which we all enjoyed.  Jen was up to her ears in last minute bookkeeping duties up at the Main Barn for most of the morning before coming down for the present wrap-a-thon after lunch. Kimmy ran one of our younger crias up to the vet clinic for X-rays on one of his legs after he got run over by one of the adult females in his feed group, the poor bugger. Good news for him was that there was no break, so it’ll be continued stall rest for him and his momma in the Arena’s warm room until we see some improvement and weight bearing again. For my part, I harangued our boys into the roles of playing human herding dogs as I took some photos of new prospective sales animals. Max’s new version of Frankenstein-walking-in-place seemed to do wonders when I needed some ears to perk up! It was cold enough out there that at one point the camera didn’t seem to respond all that well. Then again I couldn’t really feel my fingers after a while, so it’s always possible I was just pushing the wrong buttons as well!

There was of course also the running of a few last minute errands, all done with the knowledge that most of the world, minus the odd convenience store, will be closed around here tomorrow. All in all tomorrow will in fact be one of the mellower Christmas mornings we’ve had in many years. Having already celebrated Christmas with Jen’s family this past Saturday due to a scheduling conflict for my sister-in-law, and with my extended family all in NYC (we alternate Christmas every other year between the Lutz and the Croft clans), it’ll be just the four of us. The last time that happened was…well, never actually, now that I come to think of it. Of course there will be many a phone and Skype call with loved ones near and far so we won’t lack for cheer in spite of the miles that separate us all. There is also a smattering of snow in the forecast which both for the sake of tradition and the scenery, to say nothing of our pastures — which are getting absolutely hammered where they still have alpacas on them — would be most welcome indeed. In any case, our true Christmas present to each other (as well as the reason for the slightly panicked bookkeeping and picture taking) is that we are headed off on our annual family getaway to the BVI and a temporary home afloat a 58′ catamaran for next 10 days or so, leaving CCNF in the ever capable hands of Ms. Kimberly Duprey. Though it will be a bit more of a working vacation this time around than in years gone by (the boats nowadays, for better or for worse, come equipped with WiFi) for yours truly, it’ll still be a chance to unwind and kick back with family and friends. After all, any work day that involves copious amounts of beer, blue water, and reading some truly trashy novels is a good great “work” day. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year wherever you are!

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