Coffee, Chrstmas Eve, 2011

Merry Christmas one and all! I think someone sneaked a pinch of nut meg & cinnamon into the coffee grounds. It smells Christmasy in here. *smile* If you want a white Christmas, come here. We got 3 or 4" of fresh snow yesterday. Just enough to turn everything a beautiful white. It was a surprise to the weathermen...but isn't every day? A breakfast of tree shaped French toast and crisp bacon awaits. Join us, don't be shy.

My two girls will be up from Boston. I haven't seen my youngest since last Christmas. That's a first as she always has made it for a visit at least once during the summer. Life happens fast! I plan on good food & good smiles.

It seems I'm getting a reputation of the one to come to with coal questions. The manometer that I had is now hanging on someone else's wall and before I could order a replacement I needed a third! Another newbie had a need so I ordered one for him too.

I hope you all have a safe, warm, and happy Christmas.

Merry Christmas! I got up at 4:30 to wrap the rest of the presents, now everyone else is starting to stir. 9 degrees this morning, very still outside. Once the sun starts coming up I will get to see who is burning what...the wood burners are easy to spot, especially those with wood boilers.

We got about an inch of powdery snow, but nothing serious. Yesterday it was kind of a "wintery mix", and the roads were very slippery. Someone went off the road just past my house and hit a telephone pole. Looked like he hit a bump and the old truck didn't have much for shocks...it bounced a few times and away he went. Thankfully he was going slow and it didn't look like anyone got hurt.

We are having a house full of people tonight, so I better get started on my list of chores.

Yep, Merry Christmas indeed. 22* on the hill with a nice white dusting & still coming down slow but steady. That's pretty special. Once again, God lets the know all meteoroligists realize exactly how brilliant they are. Lots of visiting to do over the next couple days. All local, but pretty exciting for this old farmer. Dogs, horses & me all got stockings hanging by the Hitzer with care. Have a good week-end all. Special thoughts to all those serving in the Armed Forces & unable to be with thier families this Christmas.

freetown fred wrote: Special thoughts to all those serving in the Armed Forces & unable to be with thier families this Christmas.

Thanks for the reminder freetown fred, merry christmas to all.

good morning to all. freddy glad you and everyone else is here to help those who need a little help. 28 degrees here,green and brown outside,you can have all the snow up north.Merry Christmas to all and enjoy time with family,friends and loved ones. Dennis

Merry Christmas everyone.
Looks like we'll have a brown Christmas here too. And I'm OK with that.
We got more than our fair share last year. Remember last year? Four feet of snow on my roof!
Santa slid right off my roof and hit the chicken coop. So if you didn't get your gifts last year..... now you know why.

Merry Christmas Guys1!! Trying like hell to get into the spirit. Gots to get some mall time today Wish your Christmas is the best. Stay warm.

Yummmmm, coffee on Christmas Eve morning. The kids are still sleeping, the wife off to work, the dog taken for his walk, , now the Coal Forum to answer to.
Not even coaled enough for frost, this morning. It'll prolly be in the 60's once the sun pops out.

Freddy, that is good of you to help out the newbies. I remember a few of you helping me out when I just got started. It felt good, real neighborly. I WILL need a couple more coal bins, one for my DVC500, and a couple for my Highboy. Do you have a brake for stainless steel?

Well, no present to wrap here. The wife got her own present earlier this month, a new couch. She said she got a GREAT price on it, half the price of all the other couches. Now before it arrived, I'm I little worried why. As the delivery truck starts unloading it, I realize why.... printed in 4" tall letter on the side of the box is "MADE IN CHINA". Ok, they unbox it, get it inside, and ASSEMBLE it Ok, it looks pretty good, I must admit, both recliners are functional, but when I recline my side while sitting in it I find a BIG problem.... My feet dangle 12" off the end of the foot rest!! This Damn thing was built for 5 foot tall people! Its not even 1 month old, and already the foam cushion under my butt has bunched up, twisted, and folded over itsself, inside the fabric.
My wife loves it.
Ok, it will all be hers, once I buy my own couch...

Two days ago I get a call from the company that Laid me off 3 years ago. Now that they were bought by a larger company, it seems that they laid off too many key personnel, and are short-handed for U.S.-based employees. Would I want my old job back? Welll... I says... If the price is right... No problem! I get my old salary, and then some! It won't be official until Jan 2, and I haven't signed any papers yet, but its looking good. Ohhhh, and it will be 100% telecommuting from my house!

See,,, There is a Santa Claus !!!!! Good luck, hope it works out for you.

Top of the Christmas Eve morning (is that an oxymoron) to everyone. I awoke to a outside temp of 9 degrees. Tended both stoves and could tell that the Herald had been working out hard last night. House is right at 70 which is like a Christmas miracle around here . As the sumatran was brewing I went and dumped my ashes from yesterday. We had about 4-5in of heavy wet snow that I just left yesterday. Now its "firmed up" pretty well and my blower will actually throw it. Anyways, it was brisk to say the least as I dumped the ashes out there and grabbed my Bangor Daily news up at the end of the drive. Time I was back inside and stoves were tended, the coffee was ready and so was my bagel. Took out a nice leg of lamb to thaw for tomorrow. Gonna roast that baby up with taters, carrots, butternut squash etc.... Most of my family is off to Brazil today on a 2 weeks holiday to Rio. I choose to pass on the trip as I don't like leaving the house all that much in winter. We did have a nice "Holiday" dinner last weekend so that cool. Tomorrow It'll just be myself and my old Mum and my cat Slim. We'll still put a hurtin on that leg though!
Have a great Holiday everyone and enjoy your family and friends. Keep warm.

Good morning all, Freddie I will take some of that breakfast, sounds really good this morning. I already have my glass of pop poured and I am slowly enjoying it. It has been a very busy past few months and especially this past few weeks. First time in months I have found myself on the idling side. I was up late last night again trying to finish the last couple christmas orders. I can announce that as of 2 a.m. I finished the last order. So, today on the way to visit relatives I have a long laundry list of things that need to be accomplished. First I must deliver two of the orders, they are kind of on my route today, kind of. Second big item for today will be taking a look at some basement found coal. It is stove coal, however, it is still black gold to me and I can burn it. Guy says it is about a ton. I will pull some measurements and do the math to get a rough estimate and then schedule a time to get the coal. I already had customers at the shop today to pick up their orders.

I have one order I wish I could have finished for christmas, however, the customer is ok with it being late. I had a customer bring me an antique grandfather clock that was dropped while moving it from an upstairs bedroom to the down stairs living room. The case especially the base is heavily damaged. The hand blown glass in the door did not survive the fall. I usually do not fix antique furniture even though I can I don't, however, this customer had been told by everyone he contacted to get use to the fact the grandfather clock was a total loss and could not be fixed. The customer and his wife were telling me the story of how it became damaged and how it had been passed down through the family and they both looked like they were having a tough time holding back the tears. They had the clock with them and we carried it into the shop. I told them I would not be able to fix it by christmas, however, I would fix it. It will be awhile before they get the clock back. I was told the clock has not run since the early sixeties. At the time I thought hmm. The grandfather of a friend of mine happens to have spent his life repairing clocks. He is still alive and has looked at the works and is hand crafting the parts to make the clock run again. He said he knows the person who last worked on the clock since all old timers who work on clocks would sign and date the inside of the clock and leave a detailed description as to the work that had been done. He said it is too bad the guy who worked on the clock last died over thirty five years ago. In a round about way I believe working on the works for this clock has given my friends grandfather a renewed zest for life. This is cool.

I do not plan on telling the customer his clock will keep time again until I deliver the clock at which point I will open the door and start the swing of the pendulum. It is funny, it is almost like this clock was destined to end up at my shop. About ten months ago a neighbor to my parents lost their very old house in a fire that gutted the structure. I was able to save a lot of moldings, doors, and such. In my storage I have a large pane of hand blown glass I found in a closet in this burned out house. It is currently at a local glass works waiting to be cut. The owner will be cutting the glass himself so it does not get broke in the wrong size. This clock requires that I employ a lot of old style techniques and mix in some new to make the repairs to the clock unnoticeable. I am told this clock will resonate a deep throaty chime. Anyway, I digress, it will be very nice to see the clock work and the surprised look on faces of the owners.

This post is taking me awhile to write since I have had customers stop at the shop. Again, Freddie, thanks for the good food and I hope everyone has a safe christmas.

P.s. I awoke to a temp of -.03F this morning and three and a half inches of snow on the ground. Looks like a white christmas for us this year. The coal stove is hammering away and the house is at a comfy 74F. Life is good and the wife is warm and happy.

The snowman.

Good Morning and Very Merry Christmas to all my coal burning buddies!!! It's 22* here today and no snow which is a shame for my little ones but great for me. I have one more outside job to finish up this week coming, I was hoping to be done and have time off with my kids but the rain changed that for me. Looking forward to somewhat of a relaxing day tomorrow and even Monday then back to the race on Monday. May God Bless you all and Keep you safe in the New Year!!!

Merry Chritmas to all. My old coffee maker took a crap last week. Had to get a new one. Bought a Tecnivorm moccamaster. Yea it's a mouthfull but works like a champ, makes a full pot in about 3 minutes! It came with some samples of special coffee. This morning I'm having Etheopian. Very good.
This will be a nice quiet Christmas eve. Just my wife and me. This year all 3 of my children are out of town with their signicant others. Oldest son is in Brule Wisconsin with his girlfriend and her parents. When they return, she will be his fiancee'. Shhhh! don't tell anyone. She doesn't know yet.

Merry Christmas [Eve] !!!

We got a light dusting of snow last night, it's around 25*. But the forcast is for 38* and sunny this afternoon.. So we'll probably have yet another

"Mud Chirstmas".. oh well, at least the family [most of it] will be here, and we'll have a great feast and open presents, eat deserts, have a toast or
two, [I'm stocked up on Bailey's and Butterscotch snapps=ButteryNipples YUM ]

I've got a few presents to wrap yet and I need to go fill up the truck, I'm loaning it to some friends to play santa with.. their car won't hold all their
wrapped presents and all the kids to go to Grandma's house.. So the truck will get some exercise tonight.

OK, time to find the wrapping paper and tape..

Christmas wishes to all !! and don't forget our soldiers who are NOT at home with their families.

Greg L

28* here this morning, sunny expecting high 40's today, nice day to do some flying because my 90 day currency is about up, fix that today. Had family and neighbors last night, a good time was had by all. Bought a keg of Newcastle Nut Brown Ale, enjoyed it around the hitzer, everyone impressed with it. Trying to convert the neighbors.

Coffee and homemade waffles this morning, visit the father in law tonight, he was a liquor salesman until I married his daughter, then he retired! JERK!

bk