We’ve had pleasant days here in Texas recently, and yesterday I took advantage of the warm weather to undecorate from Christmas and get things packed back in the garage. Normally I wait until after January 6, the day the three wise men visited baby Jesus, but it’s going to get wet and colder here. I don’t do wet and cold as easily as I did before.
These skaters are figures that belonged to my mother-in-law, and she’d given them to me when Carl and I were first married. Mom Miller had used them in her decorating for quite a long time before passing them on to me, along with a few other pieces that I really treasure, so I love that connection every year when I unpack them.
I’ve always loved setting up the little village, with the skaters as a centerpiece, but this year I couldn’t find the “rink” so I borrowed a small mirror from my daughter. I took this picture and sent it to my daughter texting that the skaters needed more ice.
Then, as I was packing things back up yesterday, guess what I found?
Yup. The larger square mirror. After wrapping it, and the skaters, in tissue paper, I put them together in the storage bin, so I shouldn’t miss the rink next year.
That has nothing to do with the guest post from Slim Randles today. I just thought you might like to see these cute little figurines.
Now, here’s Slim and the guys from the Mule Barn Truck Stop. Enjoy…
Steve and the other members of the world dilemma think tank looked in amazement as this old camp cook and cowboy came over with the coffee pot and topped off their coffee mugs. Windy had found a dish towel and wrapped it around his waist, too.
“Windy?” said Doc. “Mighty fine-looking dish towel you’re wearing.”
“Let me guess,” said Doc. “This must be your helping day, right?”
“Right as grain, Doc,” Windy said, cheerfully. “I thought about it and decisioned I’d devote my helpin’ day to the good ol’ Mule Barn.”
Windy looked around to see if the other 43 people in the café could hear, then leaned down toward Steve. “Lot warmer in here than it is in somebody’s yard, and thassa fact.”
Brought to you by Slim’s latest novel “Cock-a-Doodle Death” What happens when a chicken’s ghost haunts Home Country. Not yet available, but start saving up.
Check out all of Slim’s award-winning books at his Goodreads Page and in better bookstores and bunkhouses throughout the free world.
All of the posts here are from his syndicated column, Home Country that is read in hundreds of newspapers across the country. I am always happy to have him share his wit and wisdom here.
Slim Randles is a veteran newspaperman, hunting guide, cowboy and dog musher. He was a feature writer and columnist for The Anchorage Daily News for 10 years and guided hunters in the Alaska Range and the Talkeetna Mountains. A resident of New Mexico now for more than 30 years, Randles is the prize-winning author of a dozen books, and is host of two podcasts and a television program.
That’s all from me for today, folks. Do you leave Christmas decorations up way past the big day?
Stay safe and stay well.
your special decorations are just lovely. I didn’t have a tree this year as l was not home.
Always enjoy Slim. Have a good 2021. It’s got be better than last year, doesn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by the blog, Jan. I wouldn’t have decorated if one of my daughters hadn’t come to help me. That was a fun day. Taking it all down myself and getting it stored away wasn’t nearly as much fun. No company and no eggnog. LOL