The ‘Days of Christmas’ here in Oysterville – whether or not they be twelve – always seem to gallop by at an alarming rate.  Usually we have only four or five days together before someone has to return to life in one of the California fast lanes. This year, however, Marta will be here for a full two-and-a-half weeks and Charlie for the traditional dozen.  Wow!!  I can hear my own personal angels singing in exultation!!

It’s hard to believe that three of those precious days have already gone by in jam-packed fashion!  We’ve been decorating, trimming, wrapping, and readying… all the while talking and laughing and even shedding a sentimental tear or two.  Nyel, feeling better than he has in more than a year, is back to being Chief Chef –  though Marta has declared that today the kitchen is hers.  “Baking Day!” she says.  I think a pumpkin pie, some loaves of pumpkin bread and, maybe, oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies are in her plans.

Tomorrow, all things being equal, our new stove (back-ordered since October) arrives – a Christmas present for the house!  Since it is a gas stove and needs converting and hooking up by the propane folks, we aren’t quite sure when it will be operable.  Marta decided to count on our cranky old Jenn-Air for her baked delights.   Fingers crossed that it will be up to this last hurrah!

Meanwhile, today is “Lesson #2 Day” in this household.  Yesterday, my planned hour of instruction on “all things house” turned into three hours! Time rushed by with about a gazillion ‘birdwalks’ as Charlie’s and Marta’s questions came spewing forth!  Such great ‘students’ – Marta even took notes!!!  Mostly they wanted to know about all the most recent forebears – my grandparents who lived in this house and their parents, the pioneers.  Even with the many photos and written material and reminders of familiar stories, they wanted clarification – “Was Helen Harry’s mother?  Or his wife?”

Bottom line: we all felt “very much accomplished” when we called it a day, instruction-wise.  I hope the next four ‘lessons’ go as well, each one quicker than the last as familiarity with the ancestors increases.  After all, those old and absent forebears are the ones who are hovering around, just out of sight, singing the Hallelujah chorus — our very own Heavenly Host here to celebrate the season with us!