Just one more sleigh ride shot from an afternoon full of them.

Just one more sleigh ride shot from an afternoon full of them.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

To cover a few more of the bases from our trip to 'Sconi, the following pics are a few of my faves. I hope you agree.

A sunset aflame over fields of white.

A sunset aflame over fields of white.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

My parents' quaint country church on Christmas Eve.

My parents' quaint country church on Christmas Eve.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Spike, the farm dog, at 17.

Spike, the farm dog, at 17.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

"Bosso Nova or Swing?"

"Bosso Nova or Swing?"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Grandma have one last stroll together before we head back to Seattle.

Maya and Grandma have one last stroll together before we head back to Seattle.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Sarah checks out Sham - our sleigh ride muscle.

Sarah checks out Sham - our sleigh ride muscle.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Time warp

Time warp
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Sarah get prepped for their turn in the sleigh.

Maya and Sarah get prepped for their turn in the sleigh.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya and Sarah with a wintry backdrop for the ages.

Maya and Sarah with a wintry backdrop for the ages.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Grandma and Grandpa head out for a spin around the field, in a one-horse open sleigh.

Grandma and Grandpa head out for a spin around the field, in a one-horse open sleigh.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya's first Santa experience went better than anyone could have hoped.

Maya's first Santa experience went better than anyone could have hoped.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Christmas in 'Sconi

Happy Holidaze to all on this fourth day of Festivus. We're back safe and sound in Seattle after a trip to my 'rents place in Ogema, Wisconsin. I've taken a few weeks off from posting, but you can bet your bottom Swedish pancake that I've got some good shtick upcoming. Sounds like most of the country missed out on a white Jesusmas. That's surely what we were expecting. Even though my Dad had been working for months on the idea of staging one-horse open sleigh rides on the fields behind their house for Maya and her two cousins that live in Wausau. When we got in to the impossibly cute airport in Eau Claire after yet another badluck Northwest Airlines layover (my official badluck airline), all we saw was ice. Then more rain. But then a hearty, perfectly-cured 5 inches of the best snowman snow you ever saw dropped the early morning hours of the 23rd and stuck like glue to everything in sight. A thousand people in the vacinity of where I grew up lost power when lines broke beneath the weight of what appeared to be Christmas chandaliers, made of ice and branches. Up therebouts, a thousand people cover some serious territory. Sadly, many were still unjuiced on Christmas. I can only assume the vistas were less stunning viewed over a camp stove or while struggling with a generator. From my point of view, however, it was the most idyllic Holiday I've ever seen. In all earnestness. Please check back later for pics.

Hope all your hangovers today are easily cleared with a broom or long board. Rock on.

Maya weathered the downpour as we gathered our tree in true Seattle style.

Maya weathered the downpour as we gathered our tree in true Seattle style.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya warmed up to Seattle's three-day winter like a champ.

Maya warmed up to Seattle's three-day winter like a champ.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Here's a few shots for those of you worried that we'd never post wintery photos from last week's freakish Seattle snowstorm. The snow's as gone as James Baker's midlife-crisis mullet. But it was fun while it was there to see. Maya truly loved it. Hope your own climate is normalish these days. Rock on.

"Snow is nice - high five!"

"Snow is nice - high five!"
Originally uploaded by emaggie.

Maya preferred charcoal to my suggestion for buttons - cow eyes.

Maya preferred charcoal to my suggestion for buttons - cow eyes.
Originally uploaded by emaggie.