Christmas is finally over and the next holiday—Erin's Birthday Month—will soon begin. Most of you know I have not always been a fan of my birthday. This year I am going to try to be positive and enjoy gaining another year of wisdom (and many more gray hairs). 

Jon is off in sunny California helping our friends Tony and Beth move with their mother to Colorado. He said it was 66 degrees there yesterday. It was 29 degrees here. I am a bit jealous. I can't seem to get warm. I am grateful for the bit of sun we have had recently though. It breaks up the dreary days a bit. 

I do feel a bit lazy lately. I honestly had every intention of being productive during my winter vacation, but those plans have gone the way of the warm weather. I read a whole book yesterday and am partway through a second. Funny how exhilarating it is to come to the last page of a novel. I hadn't realized how little time I have spent reading these past few months. Reading also makes me want to write. I found myself sitting up in the middle of the night last night to write down a sentence I had dreamt. In the morning it was a little hard to decipher, but it wasn't bad. If I keep doing this I could have a whole notebook of single lines, but very little sleep.

Maybe that's what I will write next—a book entirely out of first lines. I'm good at opening lines, it's the middle and ending ones I get hung up on.  :)

Remember that scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when the squirrel jumps out of the Griswold's Christmas tree? I am constantly on edge about this happening in my house, only instead of a squirrel jumping out of the tree onto Jon, our squirrel (or other woodland creature) is going to fall out of the tree dead and gross and contaminate all the presents underneath. Keep that visual as you finish the tale of why we have the funkiest Christmas tree in the neighborhood.

This is the first time in about five years we have had a real tree. It's a beauty, too. We found a big, full Douglas Fir that smelled just like the perfect Christmas. About a week after we got it decorated it began to dry out a bit. It still looks gorgeous, but it is shedding needles at an alarming rate, and I am pretty sure by Christmas Eve it will look more like Charlie Brown's tree than the perfect, full tree it was when we bought it.

About the same time it began to dry up, a strange smell assailed my nostrils. Almost two weeks in and I still can't pinpoint it. Just when I think it's the tree, I smell it in another area of the living room. I thought it was the dogs —they got baths; I thought it was the floor—it got a bath too; I thought it was the furniture—the covers, pillows and pads came off and got baths and everything got doused in Febreze. I am now almost out of ideas. I am close to taking the tree down, because I am now convinced there is a dead animal in the branches somewhere—the smell of rotting flesh swept around our living room by the breeze made from Lulu's tail as she walks past the tree.

Kyle suggested another alternative to the traditional Christmas tree:

From: http://cubiclebot.com/pictures/this-worst-christmas-tree-ever-fail/

He has a point. It would solve two problems—the smell and the lack of smell. The rotting flesh smell would be gone, but we would still have a nice pine scent.

We'll see how long the tree lasts.

I uploaded photos from my camera this weekend and found all our pictures from Christmas and basically the last four months or so. I don't know how I have neglected it this long, but I thought I would share some snow photos.

Keep in mind, snow is not a thing of the past here in North Idaho. This last week, just when we though spring had finally started to bring us rain and some sun, it snowed on Friday. I'm crossing my fingers right now that it doesn't happen again until next winter. (It's kind of hard to type with your fingers crossed. They are beginning to cramp, so maybe I should just knock on wood.)

Jon got a little crazy with our snow blower this year and took all the snow in the backyard and blew it into a pile so the kids could sled. Later on, he actually made a maze with the additional snow so you had to weave around our yard to get out the back gate.

Kyle was buried alive at one point:

And of course, you can't go anywhere in the cold without your winter-weather wear. Moira can tell you that:

I know you're thinking she must be cold in shorts, but alas, she has her socks to keep her warm:

I have been away from my blog for far too long. I started to get itchy fingers this morning and decided there was no time like the present to post.


It's December and the city is filled with snow. Signs of the holiday are everywhere — you can't escape them. From the Christmas music playing in the stores, on the radio and even in the street to the tinseled streetlights and houses dripping with icicle lights.

I have had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit the last few years. Last year, it wasn't until just before Christmas Eve I felt really happy for the holiday. I put up my little tree this weekend, and even though I usually delight in placing the ornaments evenly around the circumference, this year, I let Moira and Maggie do all the decorating. They did a fabulous job. I sat on the couch and watched two, yes two, Hallmark Christmas movies this weekend. They both made me cry (one because of the emotional ending and one because the acting was so terrible). Still, I am not quite ready for the holidays to begin.

Each year we try to do something for someone less fortunate than ourselves. It brings a little humility and always makes us thankful for what we have. Most years we pick a family and do the 12 days of Christmas — leaving them small gifts and home baked goodies. This year, Jon had a different idea. For two weeks out of the month we are not having regular dinners. Instead, we are choosing two countries — the first is Mexico — and eating what those in the poorer regions eat. This week we will be dining on rice and beans (small portions), tortillas and maybe one dinner that involves chicken. The money we would normally spend has been put toward purchasing the items for a few Christmas dinners and miscellaneous non-perishable foods. We will take this all to the food bank this week.

I am grateful my kids don't have to be cajoled into doing this. They know we are blessed and have no problems giving to others. Hopefully, this will put me in the true Christmas spirit and I can enjoy the holiday with my wonderful family knowing we did something for someone else.

We would like to wish all our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and the very best of the New Year. Here's hoping you all are happy and healthy.

We love you,

The Harty Family

Jon, Erin, Kyle, Maggie and Moira

It's Christmas Eve and we are still in our pajamas at 10:30 a.m. We are watching Frosty the Snowman and though I have always loved this movie I find myself laughing at the voices of the animated characters. I don't think they used any children's voices. They are all adults, trying to sound like kids, which just ends up being creepy.


Later today Jon will dress up as Santa Claus and our family will go caroling around the neighborhood handing out candy canes. I feel as though I should send out a warning prior to the singing so our neighbors can buy earplugs. They are going to want more than candy canes. We are just trying to spread the Christmas tears, I mean cheer.

Jon tried on the the big guy's wig early and I must admit he looks like a jolly homeless man. Hopefully the look will improve with the red suit and hat.

Moira asked me this week to confirm that there is indeed a Santa Claus. Apparently, a boy in her class told everyone he was just made up. Moira has been on the cusp the last few years where the big, jolly man is concerned. I think this may be the last truly 'magical' Christmas for her. It's a little sad, but also a bit of a relief. It is hard work keeping Santa alive. There is a lot of whispering and covering Maggie and Kyle's mouths when they begin to slip.

So Santa, this may be goodbye. You have been wonderful to our family. Thank you for allowing our children to really feel the magic of your presence on Christmas Eve. And don't worry, Jon and I will continue to leave cookies and Coke and for you every year.

When I told anyone here in North Idaho that we were going to Southern California for Christmas they all said some variation of, "You are so lucky to be getting out of the cold."  Apparently they have never been to Tehachapi, Ca.  It snows there too, and did it ever.  Here are some pictures of the lattice above my parent's porch as the moisture froze, and also of the crazy fog that rolls into the valley with reliable frequency.