The Approaching Xmas Holidays

I hear a lot of the song 'It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas', on the radio; but in fact, around here, it is NOT beginning to look like Xmas. We had a miniscule amount of snow fall a couple of days ago; maybe a cm or two, but it really did not cover the ground. Then it rained and the snow disappeared. Today, Dec. 20th, it's sunny and cool, with no snow covering the ground. The forecast for tomorrow is some rain (maybe freezing rain), and with four more days before Xmas, it will likely be a green Xmas.

There have been a lot of articles lately about our warming climate; my above paragraph is one indication. Just yesterday, I read an article by former Foreign Affairs Minister, Lloyd Axworthy, explaining that he had just returned home from a trip to Churchill and was shocked to see open water a mile off the coast in Hudson Bay. This, of course, means that the polar bears are pretty hungry as they cannot get on the ice to feed on seals, their main source of food. The Northern waters are freezing up later and later. Axworthy also denounced the Federal Government for abandoning the Kyoto Protocol, and suggests that each of us should do our share to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I do my best in that regard; use the green bin for recycling food scraps, etc; do laundry evenings or on weekends, and keep all unnecessary lights off. Though I have to admit that I drive a car to go shopping etc.

Hope you all have your Xmas shopping done; ours is mostly done. On Sunday I had five grandchildren over helping in making and decorating Xmas cookies. It was a bit of a riot as it included two 8-yearolds and two almost 7-yearolds, and one 19 year old. But it was a lot of fun, and thank heavens for the 19-year old, she was a big help. This has become a yearly ritual and has been going on since the 19-year old was a little girl, so she still wants to come.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year.